$1000 to spend, please help me

Marando · 14th March 2007, 08:58 AM

We recently purchased the SE Electronics Z5600a mic and we now would like to add a mic preamp and a compressor/limiter to our list of gear.

At the moment, all our EQ/compression/limiting/reverb/delay/etc... is done by Waves Diamond bundle and Waves SSL bundle, wich I like very much. However, I still have the feeling that a nice piece of hardware compressor/limiter, used at the final stage of the mix (and perhaps also on the vocals?) would be a nice improvement to our studio.

I have found some gear that might be what I'm looking for, but I have no experience with them yet:

Is Focusrite something nice?
Focusrite Trakmaster Pro
Focusrite Voicemaster Pro
Focusrite Compounder

Looking forward to your advice!

Janesaid2me · 14th March 2007, 11:13 AM

I would stay away from any of that low end Focusrite gear...just my opinion though....

tdoranpalmer · 14th March 2007, 02:25 PM

I'm affraid your choices are kind of limited in this price range.

Check out the Empirical Labs EL-8X or the EL-8 very nice sounding units, a little over your budget.

Also LA Audio carries a couple very nice compressers in this range. Presonus is a possibility as well. Focusrite has great compressers, but you will more then likely pay way more then your budget for the good ones.

It will be very difficult to find a single unit in this price range that does all the things you are doing with your sequencer.

Marando · 14th March 2007, 03:08 PM

Thanks to the both of you for your feedback. I have been searching the internet a bit more and already came to the conclusion that I have 2 options:

a) Finding a way to higher my budged
b) enjoy the software I have and forget about the hardware (for now)

Hmmmm.. difficult..

FossilTooth · 14th March 2007, 03:58 PM

Focusrite silver? Yuck.

feyshay · 14th March 2007, 05:09 PM

You could take the $1000 and get a nice single channel preamp.
Go with your current plug-ins. Maybe look at Voxengo or PSP to augment.
Then save up for a compressor in the >$2000 range. Crane Song, UA, Purple, etc.

walth · 14th March 2007, 06:30 PM

Quote:

We recently purchased the SE Electronics Z5600a mic and we now would like to add a mic preamp and a compressor/limiter to our list of gear.

At the moment, all our EQ/compression/limiting/reverb/delay/etc... is done by Waves Diamond bundle and Waves SSL bundle, wich I like very much. However, I still have the feeling that a nice piece of hardware compressor/limiter, used at the final stage of the mix (and perhaps also on the vocals?) would be a nice improvement to our studio.

I have found some gear that might be what I'm looking for, but I have no experience with them yet:

Is Focusrite something nice?
Focusrite Trakmaster Pro
Focusrite Voicemaster Pro
Focusrite Compounder

Universal Audio has some great pres for under $1000. Also check out Brent Averill pres, Summit has a great solid stat/tube pre all for under $1000. You can get a RNC 1773 limiter for under $300. It isn't very well known but it rivals compressors in the $2k to 3k range. It's probably one of the best kept secrets out there.

Stay away from the low end focusrite stuff. It's a shame what that junk has done to focusrite's reputation in recent years.

If you have a grand you might be able to find a ISA-110 on ebay. It's made by focusrite but the design is from focusrite's early days when rupert neve had control of the company.

Marando · 14th March 2007, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walth

.....You can get a RNC 1773 limiter for under $300. It isn't very well known but it rivals compressors in the $2k to 3k range. It's probably one of the best kept secrets out there.....

Wow, did some research on this one and it realy is very interesting! However, I did not find a Dutch reseller yet... Perhaps I have to get it from a Germany webshop...

Ironklad Audio · 14th March 2007, 10:33 PM

how's bout the toft ATC-2? i've seen fletcher pimping this to no end elsewhere...$1000 even from mercenary for a dual channel pre/comp/eq

Toft Audio Designs ATC-2

Pericles · 15th March 2007, 09:33 PM

You could go RNC 1773 and a DAV BG-1. That would be around $1000.00. Check ebay; my friend found a RNC 1773 for $75.00! We still have it in the rack.

I own the Toft ATC-2. The comp/EQ section rocks, but the pres are only average. Still, a two channel pre/comp/EQ for a grand is a great bang for the buck. Plus, Toft makes a single channel version for around $600.00.

I think the low-end Focusrite stuff is trash...but I heard a well-known producer get some darn good results with a Voicemaster Pro. I was surprised.

If you can get an RNC cheap somewhere you can probably afford a BAE 312a pre. That is a fine investment.

Also, Universal Audio makes a few single channel pres under a grand. Well worth a look.

Marando · 16th March 2007, 07:49 AM

Thanks for all the feedback!

I found a RNC for about $125,= so I think I will get me that one.. I will do some research on the gear you all have mentioned!

tINY · 16th March 2007, 04:17 PM

The Safe sound audio P1 was pretty impressive at the last AES.

They're made in England somewhere - which might make them easier to forn in Holland.

-tINY

Marando · 16th March 2007, 06:08 PM

I did some good talking with a friend of mine (we are both running our wannebee studio) and we decided to wait a bit longer, get some more money, and come back for advice when we can spend 2 or 3 times the money.

Thanks for all the feedback and advice! I have learned a bit more about compressors I never heard of before!!

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14th March 2007, 08:58 AM	#1
Marando Gear Head Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 64	$1000 to spend, please help me We recently purchased the SE Electronics Z5600a mic and we now would like to add a mic preamp and a compressor/limiter to our list of gear. At the moment, all our EQ/compression/limiting/reverb/delay/etc... is done by Waves Diamond bundle and Waves SSL bundle, wich I like very much. However, I still have the feeling that a nice piece of hardware compressor/limiter, used at the final stage of the mix (and perhaps also on the vocals?) would be a nice improvement to our studio. I have found some gear that might be what I'm looking for, but I have no experience with them yet: Is Focusrite something nice? Focusrite Trakmaster Pro Focusrite Voicemaster Pro Focusrite Compounder Looking forward to your advice!

14th March 2007, 11:13 AM	#2
Janesaid2me Gear addict Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 352	I would stay away from any of that low end Focusrite gear...just my opinion though.... __________________ www.myspace.com/meteorstudios (studio) www.myspace.com/insecrecy (band) www.myspace.com/gerrycorsi (myself) Gerry

14th March 2007, 02:25 PM	#3
tdoranpalmer Gear nut Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: US Posts: 78	I'm affraid your choices are kind of limited in this price range. Check out the Empirical Labs EL-8X or the EL-8 very nice sounding units, a little over your budget. Also LA Audio carries a couple very nice compressers in this range. Presonus is a possibility as well. Focusrite has great compressers, but you will more then likely pay way more then your budget for the good ones. It will be very difficult to find a single unit in this price range that does all the things you are doing with your sequencer. __________________ If at first you DO Succeed, try not to look astonished! Doran Palmer Audient-RME-SSL-TubeTech - Sales

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14th March 2007, 03:08 PM	#4
Marando Gear Head Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 64	Thanks to the both of you for your feedback. I have been searching the internet a bit more and already came to the conclusion that I have 2 options: a) Finding a way to higher my budged b) enjoy the software I have and forget about the hardware (for now) Hmmmm.. difficult..

14th March 2007, 03:58 PM	#5
FossilTooth Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 883	Focusrite silver? Yuck.

14th March 2007, 05:09 PM	#6
feyshay Lives for gear Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,263	You could take the $1000 and get a nice single channel preamp. Go with your current plug-ins. Maybe look at Voxengo or PSP to augment. Then save up for a compressor in the >$2000 range. Crane Song, UA, Purple, etc.

14th March 2007, 10:33 PM	#9
Ironklad Audio Gear addict Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 482	how's bout the toft ATC-2? i've seen fletcher pimping this to no end elsewhere...$1000 even from mercenary for a dual channel pre/comp/eq Toft Audio Designs ATC-2

15th March 2007, 09:33 PM	#10
Pericles Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 591	You could go RNC 1773 and a DAV BG-1. That would be around $1000.00. Check ebay; my friend found a RNC 1773 for $75.00! We still have it in the rack. I own the Toft ATC-2. The comp/EQ section rocks, but the pres are only average. Still, a two channel pre/comp/EQ for a grand is a great bang for the buck. Plus, Toft makes a single channel version for around $600.00. I think the low-end Focusrite stuff is trash...but I heard a well-known producer get some darn good results with a Voicemaster Pro. I was surprised. If you can get an RNC cheap somewhere you can probably afford a BAE 312a pre. That is a fine investment. Also, Universal Audio makes a few single channel pres under a grand. Well worth a look.

16th March 2007, 07:49 AM	#11
Marando Gear Head Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 64	Thanks for all the feedback! I found a RNC for about $125,= so I think I will get me that one.. I will do some research on the gear you all have mentioned!

16th March 2007, 04:17 PM	#12
tINY Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 5,699	The Safe sound audio P1 was pretty impressive at the last AES. They're made in England somewhere - which might make them easier to forn in Holland. -tINY

16th March 2007, 06:08 PM	#13
Marando Gear Head Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 64	I did some good talking with a friend of mine (we are both running our wannebee studio) and we decided to wait a bit longer, get some more money, and come back for advice when we can spend 2 or 3 times the money. Thanks for all the feedback and advice! I have learned a bit more about compressors I never heard of before!!