[Micah Tolentino]

k Imma about to save you about 8k.

Spend as MUCH AS YOU CAN on a good pre. Im talking at LEAST 700$ and up to 3K. UA, BA, GR, pac... etc.

A good pre will make even the worlds crappiest mic sound listenable.

Listen to "He needs Me" on my page. I recorded her on a great pre and not so great mic and got great results that the artist was very happy with. Shoot, I've had rappers cut records on a plain old Beta 58.

So if you want results start with a PRE first and work your way backwards from there. Then Mic, then converters, compressors, etc. In fact you dont even need to compress on the way in if you have a trained vocalist that can even out her transients. Lower the gain also, we're talking about 24 bit here right? You've got the headroom.

Also, Plugs cannot replace pres. EQ's and Comps, yes and pretty good.. but not pres.

-M1