Pre, for vox and more, + mics.

[Hexfix93]

Ok.......... let me start.....

right now i have a tg-2, and i love it. but i dont think it will cut it for my vox. now i am looking to get something along side it. now we are looking at an api lunchbox with 512 pre, eq etc.. or a chandler ltd-1, or a vintech 1081 clone. or maybe even a tg channel mkII.

Looking to spend about 2000 to 2500.

Ok. which will suit vocals like raidiohead, coldplay, and muse? Singer is kind of whiney, we also do insustrial music ala puppy, ministry, nin, with seething angry screaming vocals, sometimes whispery...

what mic? now we have a tlm-103 and a u87. they are ok but i dunno, they seem kind of tinny, tin can like, kinda glassy... i feel dumb for buying them..

are there mics in the 1200 dollar range or under that will help me out here more than these mics? or can i just eq the neumans? will the eq's on the pres i mention above do?

do i need all those? can't i just use a sm58? lol? what dynamic mics are good? do i really need the condenser?

i still don't understand what mics match up with what pres well.



i really wan't thrillfactor to chime in. or anyone else...

[C.Lambrechts]

Originally Posted by Hexfix93

are there mics in the 1200 dollar range or under that will help me out here more than these mics? or can i just eq the neumans? will the eq's on the pres i mention above do?

Who will tell ? ... nobody imo and you should avoid someone who claims he does. If you have to EQ to 'save' you sound you started out wrong alltogether. And while applyiong heavy EQ can be nice, NEVER rely on it to make up for what you or someone else did wrong in the recording stage.

Originally Posted by Hexfix93

do i need all those? can't i just use a sm58? lol? what dynamic mics are good? do i really need the condenser?

Well ... defintaly get a SM58 if you don't allready have one. I think together with the SM57 they're the only 2 mics I would advice people to buy as 'no brainers'.

Do you realy need the condensor ? hmmm ... no I don't think so and yes you definately do. Again ... who will tell ? Sometimes the dynamic will cut it - on other occasions you'll need a condensor - or a ribbon. All depends on what sound you want for that particular aplication at that particular point.

Originally Posted by Hexfix93

i still don't understand what mics match up with what pres well.

I started out by saying something about avoiding people who claim they do.....; well .... same here .... walk away from them. There are no 'rules' . Once you get into a 'minimum' quality of mics and pre's ... combine them at will. You'd be surprised how different combinations can sound good or bad.


You also mentioned examples like Radiohead , Coldplay etc ... that being the sound you're looking for. Well ... the VERY LAST REASON those people / bands sound like they do is the gear they use. And again .... walk away from anybody who tells you differently.

Of course it is good to look at how and what those people use to achieve their sound and learn from it but do not think for one split second that the same setup will give you the same sound ...; because it won't. Once you know WHY you have to buy gear , buy it ....; untill you do .... save your money ... imo that is.