Upgrading gear, NEED your opinions!!

  • Thread starter Thread starter FattMusiek
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FattMusiek

FattMusiek

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Over the summer, when I get a job, (I was fired from my most recent one haha) I will be upgrading my gear. My setup right now is:

Delta 44 soundcard/breakout box (4 I/O)
Behringer 1604A 4 mic input mixer
2 Oktava MK012 Cardioid Condenser mics, 2 57s (though I can only use one of them with my current setup), and a Beta 52.

My main purpose for upgrading is to be able to mic a drumset COMPLETELY: 2 overheads (I'd use my Oktavas ), kick drum (my Beta 52) micing snare with 2 mics (two 57s over and under), micing all toms, and hi-hat micing.

Now, to do this I would need at least a 9 I/O soundcard and a 9 XLR input mixer and more mics.

<b>What I need are YOUR opinions about what SOUNDCARD and MIXER to buy! </b> I am not sure that I trust those soundcard/breakout boxes that have lots of built in preamps, I would rather have a mixing console.

Help would be appreciated <b>so much! </b>
 
Also, I am not crazy about staying within a certain budget since all of my summer earnings will go solely to new equipment. I am thinking $2000 or under, don't hold back too much...
 
You could buy a mixer and a soundcard (or) you could buy something like Motu, aadvark and multichannel pre amp. Buying a mixer should be a smart choice since it is less expensive. Just look for a mixer with good preamps, like the mackies pro series. You already have a very good sound card , so you will be happy with their combined performance.
 
I would avoid getting a mixer if you're just needing preamps. It makes more sense and gives you more options if you use standalone preamps.

Slackmaster 2000
 
The purpose for the upgrade is to be able to record lots of tracks at once (drum micing and recording bands live).

I am really iffy on the whole Aardvark type preamp consoles. Do they require the same brand's soundcard to function? Can you give me more info? I would much rather have a large mixer.
 
I looked at the Spirit mixer, looks cool. The Delta 1010 only seems to have 8 I/Os and 2 digital, not exactly what I'm after. I was thinking either getting a Mark of the Unicorn (MOTU) audio interface or an Aardvark audio interface (they have to have at least 12 I/Os, I want at least 12 I/Os. If these interfaces have built in preamps they're no goes, I want to buy a mixer as well.) I was thinking a Mackie 1604-VLZ PRO:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7...00/g=rec/s=mixers/search/detail/base_id/39734

Whaddya think?
 
Do you think the Spirit preamps are better than the Mackie 1604-VLZ PRO preamps?
 
I recall something about the Spirit mixers not having good "headroom". Can someone explain what that means simply? I am considering buying the Spirit mixer...
 
FattMusiek said:
I recall something about the Spirit mixers not having good "headroom". Can someone explain what that means simply? I am considering buying the Spirit mixer...
Click to expand...
Actually, I remember something about Mackie not having much headroom. I probably heard wrong.

Anyway, aside from the preamp wars (some people think that the M series has the same pres as the Ghosts), the Soundcrafts always get a thumbs up as having kick ass eqs compared to the Mackies.
 
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