Best mic/preamp combo

Skilf · 25th January 2009

Just wondering if anyone can help me, I'm looking to spend about £1300 on a new mic setup, it's mainly going to be used for recording rap vocals. I was thinking the Blue Kiwi and the Focusrite Isa 1, any other suggestions...

manning1 · 25th January 2009

i know many will disagree, but i can record rap (or any vocals for that matter..)
useing a 57 into a cassette dek mic pre that costs nothing.
done carefully the normal consumer wouldnt know the difference.
try it sometime.
if you disagree...heres an interesting experiment.
get a bunch of normal consumers in a room , play back a recording of vocs done
useing say a hi end mic into a hi end pre.
rent if you dont have such.
then repeat with 57 into a cassette dek mic pre.
the key is to condition the vocs after recording.
on my motagator site..some vocs used all hi end while others used
57/cass pre or diy pre i build. see if you can tell which is which.

sorry but i have very strong views bout gear.
if you doubt me i'll even post a likkle vocal rap as an attachment if you wish.
with the 57/cass pre no cost approach.

for example the song summer used a el cheapo mp plus 57 n cass pre
on the vocs on the song.

but if you really wanna spend the buks...i would look into a 57 into a jlmaudio.com mic pre.
lots of folks like the jlm pre's. mebe try one ?? very interesting product imho.
or say a great river mic pre. run tests once again/rent before buying.
seriously ...testing before buying is the way to go.
some AE's say the dacs mic pre is superb..made in uk.
but very expensive.
god bless from an english bloke whose been around the gear block.

Trev@Circle · 25th January 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skilf

Just wondering if anyone can help me, I'm looking to spend about £1300 on a new mic setup, it's mainly going to be used for recording rap vocals. I was thinking the Blue Kiwi and the Focusrite Isa 1, any other suggestions...

The 'best set up' is the one that you most like the sound of with your voice. It's subjective both in respect of what your voice sounds like and what quality you like to be brought out. This kind of question will get a list of other peoples favourite pieces for their voice from home studio users and pros asking you what flavour of chocolate you like best. You need to take the time testing mics to see which you like if it is for your voice.

DeepSpace · 25th January 2009

Notwithstanding what Trev has said, which is good advice (including the bit about polishing a turd), there is also the issue of budget (or rather, a lack of it...).

The thread title cites the absolute goal "Best mic/preamp combo" but that's way inconsistent with looking to spend about £1300. I'm afraid you're not particularly likely to get either the best mic or the best pre alone (best in general or even "best for your particular voice") within that budget, let alone both.

manning1 · 25th January 2009

addendum to my post....
(agree 100 per cent bout testing/renting ?? lotsa solutions.)
for fun heres a likkle comical vocal rap done in cokney.
lyrics made up while recording.
57 into cassette pre. no cost. cept for 57.
i screwed up a bit but you get the idea.
twas eatin me breakfast at the time. done fast.
no conditioning , just a smidge of fx on vocs.

i would be interested to hear someone repeat ..
use same lyrics if you wish...thru a 3k chain or wotever.
to compare.

Skilf · 26th January 2009

Cheers for the advice guys, I think I'm gonna go for a Brauner Phantom Classic and a Focusrite Isa 1. Heard good things about both bits of kit. That 'cockney' clip was class! The recording did actually sound pretty good as well, but I'm just feeling to splash out on some top gear and make the investment...

Skilf

(ps check out my tunes on Skilf - now on Itunes on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Videos)

manning1 · 26th January 2009

Skilf
re cockney..twas just a bit of fun for giggles.
i gotta admit, i'm a bit surprised you didnt check out the jlmaudio pre's.
sadly i cant afford one yet..., but ive seen so many good comments bout em
from lots of people. i'm thinking bout one.

a forum you might find interesting re mic pre's also is...prodigy pro...
DIY - Index
there are some very fascinating heavy electronics engineering folks on there.
i have a fair electronics background...but the prodigy users amaze me with their knowledge.
also lots of circuit discussions etc.
always discussing various mic pre n other topologies.
you might find it interesting to peruse sometime.

frankly i'm in love with an audient console right now.. but cant afford one.
made in wales if i remember.

god bless.

ChaosCreation · 27th January 2009

i tried the isa one and didn't like it for rap, just nothing special and the impedance switch didn't help much

Try and save a bit more and get a api 512c in a lunch box
and run a shure sm7b into that . that should be close to your budget and will be better than the isa for rap.

25th January 2009	#1
Skilf Gear interested Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 19 Thread Starter	Best mic/preamp combo Just wondering if anyone can help me, I'm looking to spend about £1300 on a new mic setup, it's mainly going to be used for recording rap vocals. I was thinking the Blue Kiwi and the Focusrite Isa 1, any other suggestions...

25th January 2009	#2
manning1 Lives for gear Join Date: May 2004 Location: canada Posts: 3,998	i know many will disagree, but i can record rap (or any vocals for that matter..) useing a 57 into a cassette dek mic pre that costs nothing. done carefully the normal consumer wouldnt know the difference. try it sometime. if you disagree...heres an interesting experiment. get a bunch of normal consumers in a room , play back a recording of vocs done useing say a hi end mic into a hi end pre. rent if you dont have such. then repeat with 57 into a cassette dek mic pre. the key is to condition the vocs after recording. on my motagator site..some vocs used all hi end while others used 57/cass pre or diy pre i build. see if you can tell which is which. sorry but i have very strong views bout gear. if you doubt me i'll even post a likkle vocal rap as an attachment if you wish. with the 57/cass pre no cost approach. for example the song summer used a el cheapo mp plus 57 n cass pre on the vocs on the song. but if you really wanna spend the buks...i would look into a 57 into a jlmaudio.com mic pre. lots of folks like the jlm pre's. mebe try one ?? very interesting product imho. or say a great river mic pre. run tests once again/rent before buying. seriously ...testing before buying is the way to go. some AE's say the dacs mic pre is superb..made in uk. but very expensive. god bless from an english bloke whose been around the gear block. __________________ i'm just a dumb computer engr (ret'd)...."quantum computing is the future" running a native software studio daw...Powertracks and Reaper on amd. new cockney album released http://therockingbloodbrothers.blogspot.com/ my other little songs www.motagator.com/bmanning

25th January 2009	#4
DeepSpace Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside the Outside Posts: 1,195	Notwithstanding what Trev has said, which is good advice (including the bit about polishing a turd), there is also the issue of budget (or rather, a lack of it...). The thread title cites the absolute goal "Best mic/preamp combo" but that's way inconsistent with looking to spend about £1300. I'm afraid you're not particularly likely to get either the best mic or the best pre alone (best in general or even "best for your particular voice") within that budget, let alone both. __________________ .

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
A hi-end mic with a normal preamp combo or a hi-end preamp with a normal mic combo??	sj2six	So much gear, so little time!	4	29th November 2008 06:25 PM
What is YOUR ABSOLUTELY BEST/Favourite PREAMP & MIC Combo You used on vocals?	perx	So much gear, so little time!	40	20th September 2007 03:03 PM
Help With Mic+Preamp Combo	HittMann	Rap + Hip Hop engineering & production	8	9th November 2006 10:12 PM
opinions on mic/preamp combo app	bleudevel05	Low End Theory	0	10th October 2006 09:32 PM
mic/preamp combo for particular quality.	PJD3	Low End Theory	3	20th October 2005 01:45 AM

26th January 2009	#6
Skilf Gear interested Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 19 Thread Starter	Cheers for the advice guys, I think I'm gonna go for a Brauner Phantom Classic and a Focusrite Isa 1. Heard good things about both bits of kit. That 'cockney' clip was class! The recording did actually sound pretty good as well, but I'm just feeling to splash out on some top gear and make the investment... Skilf (ps check out my tunes on Skilf - now on Itunes on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Videos)

27th January 2009	#8
ChaosCreation Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 586	i tried the isa one and didn't like it for rap, just nothing special and the impedance switch didn't help much Try and save a bit more and get a api 512c in a lunch box and run a shure sm7b into that . that should be close to your budget and will be better than the isa for rap.