what's the skinny on focusrite isa 220?

[studiohead]

so i'm finally building my complete in house studio...and i'm taking it very seriously. i'm an artist and songwriter so tracking GOOD/GREAT vocals is the goal. i use logic pro.

-getting the neumann tl 103 mic, genelec monitors, apogee interface, all the headphones and acoustic conditioning equipment. the part i'm having difficulty with is the preamp and compressor units.
i dont want to spend over $2000 (ideally $1500) for them, but i've gotten a few recommendations:

* chameleon labs preamp/compressor
* focusrite isa 220 .... i know they are usually top of the line besides avalon. need more feedback from experienced users and if you recommend any other preamp/compressors in one or invidividual units that dont completely break the bank but are great quality for tracking vocals

[Benmrx]

IMHO, the Langevin DVC would be perfect for your needs.

[NS Stickman]

Search Guitar Center Used for "Focusrite Red 7" pre+comp, there's one in a Calif store for $1,500!!! I've been eyeballing it since Dec but have come to an abrubt understanding (via my wife) that it won't be mine.

Not a lot of love on GS for Focusrite in general but $1,500 for a Red 7, if it's in good shape, is nothing to sneeze at. I have a Red 6 (discontinued pre+eq) and love it. I haven't heard the CL comp yet but I was unimpressed with their pre. I'd take this Red over the 220 in a heartbeat.

And no, I don't work for GC, I just constantly lurk on the used site for deals, of which there are many.




104968014
USED FOCUSRITE RED 7 PREAMP 112008

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Recording Guitar Center ConcordConcord, California 94520925-363-7770View Store's Used Inventory Request More InfoBuy NowNow Only
$1,500.00MICROPHONE SYSTEM | MICROPHONE PREAMP Available In: Concord Telephone: 925-363-7770Manager: Chad ZammutoUSED FOCUSRITE RED 7 PREAMP 112008

[NS Stickman]

Just lurked again and there's a BLUE Kiwi for $800 on GC used as well. I'd absolutely consider that in place of the TLM. I've done a few shootouts with those two and the Kiwi always won.

[rty5150]

Originally Posted by NS Stickman

Just lurked again and there's a BLUE Kiwi for $800 on GC used as well. I'd absolutely consider that in place of the TLM. I've done a few shootouts with those two and the Kiwi always won.

kiwi will always kick the tlm103's ass. the tlm103 is not a great sounding mic, imo. the isa series has good sounding pres. good channel strip, but i would recommend the DVC or a nice dual channel pre and the CL 7802. the sytek with a CL7802 would be versatile. 4 channels ant 2 with la2a style compression. no eq, but you could do that in post.

rich