[david1103]

Hello everyone,

I am new to the forum, sorry to start my posting here with a question that might annoy some people, but I am very interesed in and respect the opinions I am reading here. I do think that the only way to know if what you have is not that good is when you hear something better!

I have done much searching the forum, and much research. I am not in a position to hear the hardware I am interested in before I buy, so am relying on people's opinions.

My setup is basic, but will expand as soon as cash allows. I am mainly producing my own music, but am expanding to produce for others too. Heres the setup:

Cubase SX2 + Various Plugs and VSTi's
Doepher 404 monosynth
Cheeta ms6 polysynth
roland sh101
shure sm57 mic
cheap behringer desk (shudder)
event echo mia sound card

I produce electronic music, with some vocals and guitar. It is varied from ambient/dub to full on hardcore with screaming vocals and guitars.

I am always trying to make things sound more 'old'/'not out of cubase'/'analogue'/'3d'. The only way to put it is that modern albums often sound totally flat compared to releases from the late 70's, like they are made of plastic, everything is an emulation and sounds somehow fake.

I am hoping to improve my recordings by putting my synths/soft synths/guitars through a valve pre-amp in the hope of making them sound 'better' (you could say more like the recordings from the late 70's, or 'vintage')

I have player with vintage warmer and like this type of effect, but my question is would it be a 'night and day' difference (I keep on reading that phrase here) if I got something like the TAB-Funkenwerk V71DI to go straight into the balanced inputs of my sound card, and run stuff through it?

Is it possible to say how much better the valve distortion/warming effect would be over software? I am looking for something that will sound authentic, not full on boards of canada tape wow. Something that software can't provide. I am not only after valve sound, but that magic something that I am sure only high quality gear can provide.

Thanks!! And please nobody tell me that what I am hearing on the records I like is a combination of amazing musicians, best vintage equipment, etc etc. I know I can't get that great a sound on what I have, but would real valves blow away software emulations and bring me a step closer?

David