Upgrade Suggestions

[picostudios]

Ok, here is what I have:

Recording Gear
Alesis M1 Active Monitors
M-Audio Delta 1010
Mackie 1604 VLZ mixer
Behringer Eurorack UB802 mixer

Microphones
(1) Audio Technica AT4040
(2) Shure SM 57
(1) Samson Q snare
(3) Samson Q tom
(1) Samson Q kick
(2) Samson Co2 pencil condensers



Other Stuff
Adobe Audition 1.0
T-Racks Mastering Software
Ahead Nero


Any suggestions on what upgrades I should consider getting? I was thinking maybe some extra pre amps or better drums mics definately.

 

[shevsound]

Need to be clearer

It totally depends on the size of your wallet and what you want to upgrade. Obviously there is loads of gear out there that could be reccomended, but what do you actually do with the gear you have and what are you trying to achieve.

 

[picostudios]

I'm just trying to get a better sound out of my mics. I preferibly would like some nice over head condensors. A kick ass kick mic?

 

[shevsound]

Hmmm

I find its all down to personal preference.

After working in live sound for 3 years, I have seen and been reccomended a hell of a lot of different mics. You have to listen to them for yourself and decide whether you like them or not. I find that engineers can get very protective over what mics they use and you can end up getting into long drawn out techno-bi**hing. It also depends on your price range.

For example, a co-worker and I set up a "Pepsi Challenge" between a Rode NT2 (£265 GBP) and a Neumann U87 (£1500 GBP) and the performer chose the Rode.

I have used MXL990s (which are currently causing a row in one of the other forums) as overheads for recording straight to stereo with no EQ and they sounded great. You could also use AKG C1000s, Rode NT3s, Senheiser MD421s (Senn's equivilant to the SM57), there are so many variables to it. You might purchase a great mic, but it doesnt sound any different to a budget mic on your monitoring system.

As for kick mics - I used to really like a Beyer TG-X50 (or something) until its diaphragm was blown by a 17-year old drummer from a band called "Kingskin". The industry standard seems to be the AKG D112, but I have recently purchased a drum kit set from red 5 audio (a new Scottish company) for £200 and the kick mic included in that was as good sounding and durable as anything else I used.

The most important bit of kit that people seem to ignore is the ears! If its sounds good to you, thats more important that what you are told is good!

Hope some of that babble helps!

 

[Michael Jones]

THE most significant upgrade you can make, the one that will go the furthest in improving your sound, and give you the biggest bang for your buck, is to treat your recording environment with proper acoustics.

A couple hundred bucks worth of 703 and fabric is a hell of a lot more sexy than the mic or pre-amp of the day.

 

[picostudios]

That's something I wish I could to, but being that I still live with my parent sucks. I can't do anything to the rooms I record in, only the room I stay in. I'm still looking for a small space to run my studio, but that may take a lil while.