Advice on spending 2,500$

[Wakena2003]

Hi,

this is my studio equipment and want you to advice me on spending this money:

Monitors:

ADAM p22a
Genelec 1029A
Ultrasone HFI 650 trackmaster (headphones)
2x Extreme Headphones
Mackie Big Knob

DAW and computers and pre's:

Tascam fw 1884 (8 pre's)
Macintosh G5 2gb Dual w/ Logic 7.2 - 2,5 Gb RAM (160Gb HD + 250 Gb HD2)
Api Lunchbox 6B with 2 x API 512c (still 4 empy spaces)
HCL affinity a2 (2 tube preamps)

Converter

Lynx Aurora 8 w/ LT ADAT exp.

Outboard

Dbx 266XL
Dbx 166
Roland SN550
Great divide splitter (for guitar)

Mics

1 x Rode k2 (tube)
2 x Senheisser md421
1 x Senheisser e602
1 x Senheisser md421N (vintage)
3 x Shure sm 57
1 x Shure sm 81
3 x Shure sm 58
1 x Shure beta 58
1 x Shure beta 57
1 x T.Bone RB-500 (ribbon) (modded)
1 x EV 635a (vintage)
1 x Behringuer B-2

This is the list I think is needed, but I don't know what that I need firstly for a better job;

Lynx AES 16 - Now I plug the Aurora 8 to Tascam FW with ADAT optical cable. Then for the tascam to G5 with FW. Sometimes the recording overloads memory and stop. Perhaps this PCI card helps me. (700$ spanish price)


Oktava mc012 matche pair w/ 3 capsule pairs. 500$. I need a SCD because I don't have it.

UAD-1 flexi pack Logic 7 dinamics plugins are not so good, and UAD has good dinamics, isn't it?


tube compressor what about ART VLA? I read good things on it?

SPL GOLD MIKE 9844 it has a goo price in Deutchland shops. (400$)

A-desing P1 pair, AKG 414 XL II or XLS, DFH EZ or Superior, ketron SD2 for GM sounds, logic hasn't good sound for GM

What's your advice? Thanks!

[Fletcher]

My advice would be to go for "quality" over "quantity". The stuff you've outlined, with the exception of the AES-16 is for the most part pretty low end crap. The fact that the ART has a thing inside that glows is all well and good... but all the rest of the stuff that surrounds the "glowing thing" is crap.

Transformers, or lack of transformers will make more of a difference to the sound that whether or not the output amplifier has a glowing thing in the path or not. The ART's glowing thing is there so people can buy into having a "toooooooob" unit, not because it improves the quality of the audio.

I would kinda suggest you don't be in a hurry to get a lot of stuff... but look at getting yourself a quality tool here, a quality tool there... spend time with each piece in your current arsenal and try to figure out how to make it sound as good as you can [and start to understand the weaknesses of those pieces] as you'll then grow a greater appreciation for what really good tools can do for you.

Best of luck with your search!!!

[warhead]

The obvious hole is the lack of a pair of SDC. The Oktava are certainly well worth their asking price. You can do better by spending more money of course.

UAD-1 kicks major ass with their plug ins, particularly comps / limiters.

"Low end crap" I would not call either of those pieces, "bang for the buck" I would (maybe this post doesn't belong in the HIGH END forum).

Of course, YMMV.

War

[Wakena2003]

thanks Fletcher and warhead for your advices. What does the expresion "kicks major ass" means? It means "is one of the best"?

I have problems while recording, and I have no control on Aurora 8 input signal, only -10dB / + 5dB switch. Is the AES16 the solution?

And what about a better dynamics plugins for LOGIC 7. UAD is the way?

[lucey]

This is the list I think is needed, but I don't know what that I need firstly for a better job;

That's your challenge right there. Only you can identify your weakest link. Upgrading that link in the chain is the easy part. There are many, too many, good choices!

tracking or mixing Room.
the Monitors
the Converters
the Mics or pres.

which is the weakest link?

[pianokeys]

Since when did the AKG 414 TLII become a low end piece of crap?

[jitterybit]

buy the ADAM A7s instead, same some $ and put it toward a central station over the bigknob. the bigknob is as dark and muddy as everything else with "mackie" on it. or, if you don't have the $ for the central station look at the sm pro audio unit. can't sound any worse and costs less.
And a pair of ultrasone proline 750s(thank me later)

[nandoanalog]

Go to taiwan, buy a hot asian babe, marry her.

Have nice sex with a hot asian babe, dinner cooked by a hot asian babe, and your studio cleaned by a hot asian babe.

Life is beautiful.

[slaves666]

I'd throw in a Chameleon labs 7602 pre-amp. Get close to the Neve sound for less than another API. I also agree with the A7 comment, get them and a Central Station. Adistressor might be nice to track vocals with, also a Bass Pre, Sansamp would be a nice addition.