What is my next step/Purchase????

[DonGraham]

Thanks for all the replies guys I have a a ton of pro-sound experience (10 years as a concert sound engineer) but am "relatively green" when it comes to recording.

Right now my GT55 is a reasonable start for a condenser but I am definetely looking to add a higher quality LDC maybe a TLM103 or AKG414 (or used U87 if I could find one for ~$1200). The room is going to have only minimal mods as I am renting right now until I finish my B.S.E.E this spring. ( I would like to eventualy design and build my own high end mic pre as my specialty is in analog design)

Once I get my house i will complety renovate a couple of rooms for studio use.

 

[kats]

Hi Don...I kinda went through this process last year that your embarking on. I have a good relationship with a major dealer and I basically had their whole store in my place demo'ing everything

I'm going to go with chessrock here and say that mics make all the difference in the world. As an example I recorded an acoustic with chinese SDC's and it made the guitar sound like a cheaper model, whereas hi end (I use jospeshson c42's) was so natural sounding that my Martin sounded like a Martin. No preamp would have fixed the sound I was getting from the lower end mics.

Now for mic's, I demoed all the big names and there's a certain theme between the companies. You have to choose your flavours. Neumann and Geffel mics seem to sound cleaner and have more air - very versatile mics. Soundelux are more colorfull mics, the kind of sound bigger than the source - I personally like them, but YMMV. The rest seem to fall somewhere in between - but when your dealing with hi end mics, it's really a matter of your taste - so demo them all.

One thing I'd like to add specific to your genre of music (similar to mine) is that a Chandler TG2 preamp was made for you. You'll notice a big difference over your 002 pre's -Moreso than UA pre's. I have a La-610 and it is basically operating as an expensive bass DI - not bad for vocals though. The TG2, really has a sonic footprint and is amazing on electric guitars, and great on drums, and great on acoustic

Anyhow, great mics you'll keep for a very very long time and have the biggest impact in the RECORDING chain. Pre's won't make a shitty mic sound good, but your 002 pres are certainly good enough to benefit from a great mic. YOu definately need a good LDC. Actually Soundelux make a versatile make - the ifet7 which has two modes that really work well on any instrument as well as voice - it would be worth you checking out

 

[Middleman]

The old preamp vs mic debate....again...is there a smilie which is screaming and slitting it's own throat? Let me see...this will have to do...

 

[chessrock]

The old preamp vs mic debate....again...is there a smilie which is screaming and slitting it's own throat? Let me see...this will have to do...

Didn't you know? It's the new "analog versus digital."

 

[Warhead]

Didn't you know? It's the new "analog versus digital."

The anal...AND the og...the only way to go! (sorry...ripping off an odd Swedish guy who used to post on Harmony Central)

Geez Chess, you're approaching 10k posts. You really should hit more porn sites!

War

 

[chessrock]

Geez Chess, you're approaching 10k posts. You really should hit more porn sites!

This is kinda' like a porn site, in a way.

In fact, I'm spankin' it right now.

 

[Warhead]

It's amazing how many posts you can accomplish one handed then. Or have you concockted some type of spanking device?

War

 

[xfinsterx]

The Pre's in the 002 are better than most can take advantage of..

Sorry.

Those pres are crap, crap, crap.

Id think about getting 1 nice preamp.

 

[Joseph Hanna]

Those pre's are crap, crap, crap.................yes finster now that you put it that way..

To all you young engineers out there struggling to get your chops up with the 002 you just bought....all hope is lost. Finster has graciously proclaimed (thus sparring you from any further horrific mixes) the pre amps you're using are crap, crap, crap and your only hope is to BUY something.

Finster.... your statement is not qualified, incorrect, misleading and above all confusing to a whole bunch of young engineers whom otherwise would be inclined to believe this type of BLATHER.


It would be totally appropriate to come to the table with a statement like. "I've had some problems with the 002 pre amps and here they are....." Perhaps in doing so someone could point out (god forbid) something that you (as an engineer) could do to help remedy the situation.

Here are some statements of FACT. With an 002, a good room, a good mic, a good guitar player and his good guitar anyone, with a modicum of talent, could create a mix that was absolutely indistinguishable from any other contemporary mic pre on the planet.

The 002 pre amps are more capable than many engineers on this forum . To suggest that they are crap, crap, crap and one needs to BUY a new one is ludicrous.

Once again I would instruct those (who are serious about the biz) to ignore the witness last statement as complete hearsay. Work hard at understanding and mastering the great equipment that's at your disposal and when a major label comes calling let them purchase all the mic pres, compressors, soundcards, monitors and while they're at it matching 911's for you and your wife.
Until then the mic pres on an 002 ARE NOT crap, crap, crap

 

[SonicAlbert]

Hey Joseph, are you related to the Hanna family as in Hanna-Barbera? You probably get asked that a lot.

 

[xfinsterx]

Those pre's are crap, crap, crap.................yes finster now that you put it that way..

To all you young engineers out there struggling to get your chops up with the 002 you just bought....all hope is lost. Finster has graciously proclaimed (thus sparring you from any further horrific mixes) the pre amps you're using are crap, crap, crap and your only hope is to BUY something.

Finster.... your statement is not qualified, incorrect, misleading and above all confusing to a whole bunch of young engineers whom otherwise would be inclined to believe this type of BLATHER.


It would be totally appropriate to come to the table with a statement like. "I've had some problems with the 002 pre amps and here they are....." Perhaps in doing so someone could point out (god forbid) something that you (as an engineer) could do to help remedy the situation.

Here are some statements of FACT. With an 002, a good room, a good mic, a good guitar player and his good guitar anyone, with a modicum of talent, could create a mix that was absolutely indistinguishable from any other contemporary mic pre on the planet.

The 002 pre amps are more capable than many engineers on this forum . To suggest that they are crap, crap, crap and one needs to BUY a new one is ludicrous.

Once again I would instruct those (who are serious about the biz) to ignore the witness last statement as complete hearsay. Work hard at understanding and mastering the great equipment that's at your disposal and when a major label comes calling let them purchase all the mic pres, compressors, soundcards, monitors and while they're at it matching 911's for you and your wife.
Until then the mic pres on an 002 ARE NOT crap, crap, crap

Youre a jerk my man.
And yes the digi002 pres are indeed crap.

Have a nice day!!

Oh and and by the way.

Look butt-nugget, if you have some flaming proof of an astounding recording youve done with the pre's ////lets hear it!

Heres the link to post it www.lightningmp3.com

Dont post it with compression, reverb or anything, just the pres and the room and instruments.

Put your pre where your obnoxious mouth is.

Other wise cool it with the childish flaming routine.

It makes you look like an over-emotional person.

-Finster

 

[Joseph Hanna]

Look butt-nugget, if you have some flaming proof of an astounding recording youve done with the pre's ////lets hear it!

Heres the link to post it www.lightningmp3.com

Dont post it with compression, reverb or anything, just the pres and the room and instruments.

Put your pre where your obnoxious mouth is.

Other wise cool it with the childish flaming routine.

It makes you look like an over-emotional person.

-Finster

Okay...


Butt-Nugget

 

[Joseph Hanna]

Okay I've got 5 or 6 snippets of cues for you. I don't have mp3 capabilities here so I'll send you stuff tomorrow afternoon after taping is done. I cut them into small snippet's so as not to bore you. I can provide track sheets if you'd like. All are straight out of Pro Tools. Some out of an 001. All of these cues were mastered before air however I sent you the pre-mastered comps.
All of the samples I sent you were recorded in my home "rooms". All guitars and basses are live..no samples. I don't however remember which were mixed in Studio City. All have aired or were used in soundtracks with the exception of one which was purchased by a national collegic basketball team.
None of them stellar musical events although I've managed to make some decent dough. I am fortunate to have been nominated for two Emmy's although a win still escapes me. All reverbs eq's and compressors have been muted. Levels are wickedly wacked because you've asked for them without any dynamics and they have not been mastered. Any echoish reverbish stuff is direct from the source. I left time based stuff (chorus and flange) on. Pan automation has been left intact

All were recorded (I think) at my home studio (rooms) in Topanga.

Mic's are two AT 4041's, a Lawson, and an AKG Solid Tube. No room treatment except for empty beer cans.

Signed

Butt-nugget

 

[Joseph Hanna]

Hey Joseph, are you related to the Hanna family as in Hanna-Barbera? You probably get asked that a lot.

No not that I'm aware but it is sad to see the original Hanna-Barbera building on Cahuenga being torn down.

That wonderful "jetsons" looking building for a Starbucks.

 

[SonicAlbert]

No not that I'm aware but it is sad to see the original Hanna-Barbera building on Cahuenga being torn down.

That wonderful "jetsons" looking building for a Starbucks.

I loved that building! That's the problem with LA, there's no sense of history. They just keep tearing everything down. Between that and buildings coming down because of earthquakes a lot of great architecture has been lost.

 

[Middleman]

Unfortunately, there are some areas that should be torn down and replaced but never get the treatment. East LA comes to mind.

 

[DonGraham]

Well...I just took the plunge and bought a new Neumann TLM 103. I guess the preamp will have to wait....at least my mic selction is getting better

 

[Joseph Hanna]

Youre a jerk my man.
And yes the digi002 pres are indeed crap.

Have a nice day!!

Oh and and by the way.

Look butt-nugget, if you have some flaming proof of an astounding recording youve done with the pre's ////lets hear it!

Heres the link to post it www.lightningmp3.com

Dont post it with compression, reverb or anything, just the pres and the room and instruments.

Put your pre where your obnoxious mouth is.

Other wise cool it with the childish flaming routine.

It makes you look like an over-emotional person.

-Finster

I've tried all weekend...all snips of audio are mp3 and under 16MB. Can't make the connection.

Any suggestions for posting the cues to your site would be helpful?

 

[xfinsterx]

I've tried all weekend...all snips of audio are mp3 and under 16MB. Can't make the connection.

Any suggestions for posting the cues to your site would be helpful?

Youll need to use either Internet exporer, or safari only.

So if you arent allready, use one of those two Joseph.

 

[DonGraham]

Not to hijack my own thread..... but I did (after buying a Neumann mic) spend the entire day acoustically treating my room...so I guess a new mic pre....some talent (Anyone have any for sale) and a bong hit and I am ready for the big time...