Should I get...

[R3k]

Hi. I was hoping for a bit of advice on my next high end gear purchase.

A bit of background... I compose, program, and engineer film score... So im not exactly an ameteur when it comes to sound and mixing, however, because we need to syncronise our cues between 5 systems, we mainly mix inside the box.

This leads to my (relative) inexperience to record engineering (mics etc) and outboard gear.

But recently, I am producing an engineering my own project that is sort of an electronic vs indi accoutic guitar, drums, synths, vocals type thing, where I m looking for a smooth non fatiguing, and expensive sound. I am still learning alot about tracking. Anyhow, I was wondering what you guys think the best piece of gear would be for my next purchase, something that will give me that A grade soup.

My current recording kit includes

Neuman Gefell Vintage CMV-563 Tube Mic with M7 Capsule
2 x Rode NT-5s
Rode K2
2 x Cinemag 9888 modded Apex 205 Ribbon mics
AKG D112
SM 57's

A-Designs Pacifica Preamp
RME Fireface 800 (with its 4 preamps)
Empirical Labs Fatso (the Distresssor esq comp section I currently use for tracking and bass compression)
SPL Charisma 2
SPL Transient Designer.
Air 6 Monitors with RME ADI-4DD AES Converter
AUD-1 with relevent pugs
Treated room.

So some of the many options Ive been thinking of are.

1/ Neve 8816 Line Mixer Summer on my front end, and and Extra RME FF88 so I have 16 analogue outs, and an Apogee 2 channel D/A converter to get the Neve back into the box

2/ A Universal Audio 2-1176 (for tracking and mixdown)

3/ A Pair of LA2a's (for tracking and mixdown)

4/ A Pair of LA3a's (i would probably do this over the LA2a's, because I get the impression that they are more utilitarian, and function better in stereo mode?)

Smooth and thick is what Im going for, and Im not so adverse to dark sounding hardware

If anyone has any advice or thoughts, it would much appreciated

Please dont say "buy all of them" lol

[walth]

I"ve heard some really bad things about the NEve summing amplifier. I'd also look at the API summing amplifier.

Can't go wrong with LA2As or 1176LNs. Personally i'd go with the LA2A. I love the way they sound on Bass and Vocals. My personal opinion.

If you like the empirical labs fatso for bass then the 1176LNs would be a good way to go.

[R3k]

Originally Posted by walth

I"ve heard some really bad things about the NEve summing amplifier. I'd also look at the API summing amplifier.

Can't go wrong with LA2As or 1176LNs. Personally i'd go with the LA2A. I love the way they sound on Bass and Vocals. My personal opinion.

If you like the empirical labs fatso for bass then the 1176LNs would be a good way to go.

Thanks for the feedback man..

May I ask what dirt you have heard about the 8816?

Is it the distortion that some people hear in their units?

[walth]

Thanks for the feedback man..

May I ask what dirt you have heard about the 8816?

Is it the distortion that some people hear in their units?

Any time bro.

As for the problem with the 8816. I think it was a distortion problem. I'll ask my buddy what problems he had wit his.

[mrguitarguy]

The LA-2A's would be awesome for just about anything, including warming up your final mixes. You can use them kick, guitar, bass, vox, strings, etc. A killer compressor!

1176's would be awesome if you want to add more puch to things. Personally, I might go with a couple of Purple MC-77's stereo linked since they have transformers and sound more like the legendary 1176's of yore.

[R3k]

Thanks guys :-)