What Can I Improve?

[road2music]

I currently own a home recording studio with vocal booth.
i mainly record vocals,
my equipment is
Rode Nt2000 Mic
Behringer Xenyx 2442fx
Behringer MDX2600
Edirol Fa66 Firewire Soundcard
Samson 40a' Monitors.
Equipment Chain Mic>Mixer/ >Soundcard
Compressor
Any Ideas What I Can Upgrade On Or Improve?

[Bhang]

If you mainly track vocals I would look into a dedicated channel strip. Something like the focusrite VoiceMaster Pro or Presonus Eureka. There are tons to choose from.

[road2music]

someone recommended the FMR RNP pre amp?
also would i need to scrap my mixer and compressor if i get a channel strip?
ive seen the focusrite trackmaster pro that any good?

[cbc459]

A nice quality preamp/strip would definitely have a place in that setup. I've never used the RNP, but heard many great things about, plus it's cheap. A Solo-610 maybe?

And no, you wouldn't need to ditch anything you own by getting a channel strip/preamp. Your mixer most probably has 1/4 in. line inputs, and you can run the output of preamps in there.

Also, I would eventually want to change that Edirol soundcard. I don't speak from experience, but I wouldn't trust the converters in that thing.

[Bhang]

The RNP and RNC are pretty nice little units. I have two RNC and I don't really use them anymore because they are not balanced. With the RNP you can use the RNC in the sidechain in order to get a balanced signal along the whole chain. These units are cheap and they really do sound good. Far better than anything in its price range.

[road2music]

got hold of a trackmaster pro that any good?
also one question how would i connect it to my mixing desk?
and does anyone know if the MDX2600 is a good compressor for vocals?

[shaneoconnor]

the vocalist

[road2music]

true,
thinking equipment wise same as above is the mdx2600 good for vocals,
and how would i connect the trackmaster pro to the mixing desk the trackmaster has = monitor out, monitor in, <<been told its not these and it is either one of these in the line out section +4dbu or -10dbv what single port do i connect to the line in on the mixing desk? as i have a single jack cable to connect to the line in,

[Roc Mixwell]

Originally Posted by Bhang

With the RNP you can use the RNC in the sidechain in order to get a balanced signal along the whole chain.

The Side chain input is used to trigger compression. I think you mean the insert point of the RNP can be used so you can take the output of the RNP which is balanced. All you need to hook the RNLA/RNC up to a +4 balanced connection is a 1/4 TS unbalanced wired with cold and ground tying together on the TS side [from RNC/RNLA] to a balanced XLR/1/4 TRS [tip, ring sleeve connection] to your balanced equipment.

You can however use a TRS cable like a "mackie" insert point to the RNC/RNLA, where TIP is the send and RING is the return using the ONE TRS cable to make the I/O connection through the device. The Great River ME-INV also features this style insert patch.

[Roc Mixwell]

Originally Posted by road2music

I currently own a home recording studio with vocal booth.
i mainly record vocals,
my equipment is
Rode Nt2000 Mic
Behringer Xenyx 2442fx
Behringer MDX2600
Edirol Fa66 Firewire Soundcard
Samson 40a' Monitors.
Equipment Chain Mic>Mixer/ >Soundcard
Compressor
Any Ideas What I Can Upgrade On Or Improve?

Get a better preamp, perhaps the RNP to start.....its much more true to the source than the other preamp's mentioned in this thread. You'll be able to really hear "what the microphone is doing" with your music.

From there, you should really be think about a better converter/interface for your computer, perhaps one with mic amps that are right before good conversion. As well, monitors and room treatment would certainly help you record better with what you have now, and show you where you are lacking in strength. With every step you develop your listening skill, so you want to really zone in on "whats not working" towards your aesthetic and taste to find what will....


Oh yea.....take the microphone out of the booth every once and awhile. I like a good live sounding vocal....it puts some space on the texture.

[road2music]

is a Art Tube MP V3 pre amp worth considering in the chain or shall i keep the mic plugged into the xenyx mixer as ive herd the inbuilt pre amps are good to have..
if so anyone interested in a Art Tube MP V3 new boxed???

[NEEK]

maybe even a ad converter to run at 192???for a more honest sound??

got a nice good setup tho only thing people will tell you is just get a little bit more high end gear where you may need it like a pre-amp or another mic


you can never have enough microphones!!

[dykstraster@gmai]

Originally Posted by Roc Mixwell

From there, you should really be think about a better converter/interface for your computer, perhaps one with mic amps that are right before good conversion. As well, monitors and room treatment would certainly help you record better with what you have now, and show you where you are lacking in strength. With every step you develop your listening skill, so you want to really zone in on "whats not working" towards your aesthetic and taste to find what will....


Oh yea.....take the microphone out of the booth every once and awhile. I like a good live sounding vocal....it puts some space on the texture.

I like this suggestion best so far. If you're planning on staying relatively low-end, then this box would set you pretty straight to replace the mixer and soundcard:

Mackie - 400F

Really nice pres and the conversion is solid.

Outside of that some better monitors:

KRK VXT6 2-Way Powered Monitor Speaker, 6", 90W Bi-Amp | Full Compass

And probably most importantly (but least sexy-ly) room treatment:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=***********
edit: I don't know why this link won't work anymore, so hit Youtube and type in "bass traps". It's the first video.