I want to build a small home setup with relatively nice stuff...

[deathtodesign]

I have an MBox that I've been using for my home setup, running out of Dynaudio BM5As. I know that I can't get bitten too badly by the gear bug and obsess over perfect sound, but I'd like to buy a couple of things to make my home recordings sound pretty good.

I'm recording vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, bass, and electric piano. For any drums, I'll probably be using drum machines, so no mic concerns there.

So what I want - a good mic that works well for amps, acoustic guitars, and vocals, and some kind of preamp. I've thought about getting the Blue Blueberry - as far as preamps, I've thought about getting the Robbie or the Chameleon Labs 7602. I know the Robbie would add the tube warmth, but the 7602 also has an EQ.

So there's my dilemma - I've got about 2 grand to spend, and I'm pretty much into one nice, versatile mic and a piece or two of useful outboard gear. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated... I know I'm talking preamps here, but I'm open to advice about compressors, etc as well. If you've got any experience with the stuff mentioned above, or have a similar home setup you'd like to share, I'd be really into hearing about it.

[tsd]

Originally Posted by deathtodesign

So what I want - a good mic that works well for amps, acoustic guitars, and vocals ... I've got about 2 grand to spend

id go for a soundelux U195. a great mic for the price (about $1K)and a Brent Averall 1272 for the pre (also about $1k)

then you have a Neve/ Neumann sound with your budget.

[tsd]

and add $200 to your budget and get a sm57 and an sm58.

even if you spent big bucks on your studio you would still want a soundelux an averall and a handfull shure mics

[Empire 21 Music]

Another option is a Neumann TLM103 ($750) and a Universal Audio LA610 ($1250. It has a Mic-Pre/EQ/DI section and a T4 Opto-compressor into a single 2U unit)

I spent $1000 on an ADK CE Tube Mic. It rivals the $3000 ones.

Kevin V.

[tsd]

Originally Posted by Empire 21 Music

Another option is a Neumann TLM103 ($750) and a Universal Audio LA610 ($1250. It has a Mic-Pre/EQ/DI section and a T4 Opto-compressor into a single 2U unit)

I spent $1000 on an ADK CE Tube Mic. It rivals the $3000 ones.

Kevin V.

in responding to your post as requested by PM... i would personally not buy the UA pre amp if it will be the only pre you own, i think they sound great on a lot of things, but the front end is very easy to overload = distortion esp on dynamic vocals. but that works for some things, just not a sound im into. if you have the first gain stage right down and the second one up it seems to distort less.

the tlm 103 is a great mic, i use it fairly often. but it can sound a bit to bottom heavy or boomy without carefull placement. it works for some vocals and most accustic guitars thou.

whatever you buy, make sure its gear that you would keep even if you had mega $$$ to spend. so when you have more money its a case of getting MORE gear not doing an upgrade.

[dolo]

Originally Posted by deathtodesign

I have an MBox that I've been using for my home setup, running out of Dynaudio BM5As. I know that I can't get bitten too badly by the gear bug and obsess over perfect sound, but I'd like to buy a couple of things to make my home recordings sound pretty good.

I'm recording vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, bass, and electric piano. For any drums, I'll probably be using drum machines, so no mic concerns there.

So what I want - a good mic that works well for amps, acoustic guitars, and vocals, and some kind of preamp. I've thought about getting the Blue Blueberry - as far as preamps, I've thought about getting the Robbie or the Chameleon Labs 7602. I know the Robbie would add the tube warmth, but the 7602 also has an EQ.

So there's my dilemma - I've got about 2 grand to spend, and I'm pretty much into one nice, versatile mic and a piece or two of useful outboard gear. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated... I know I'm talking preamps here, but I'm open to advice about compressors, etc as well. If you've got any experience with the stuff mentioned above, or have a similar home setup you'd like to share, I'd be really into hearing about it.

get a used langevin dvc for about $1k. then get the at4047 New $550 (used 350) and finally get a shure 5m75 ($90), sm58 ($100), and sennheiser 609 silver ($110) and have $150 left. $350 if you buy the at4047 used. you can used the $350 on a used beyer m160. this should cover a lot of grounds.

[Empire 21 Music]

Originally Posted by tsd

in responding to your post as requested by PM...

Actually, I was referring to MY thread about the next step in my studio :) :) :) if you could give me your take on it. But there are a myriad of options for your budget here - its all in what your gonna be comfortable with.
Kev

[mount helikon]

In my opinion, you have a much wider group of instruments that you want to record than one mic would cover. I would suggest not putting all your eggs into one basket. Say you bought a neumann, spent all your money on it, and then decide that you want to record an acc. gtr. in stereo? I'm not saying not to go with the nuemann, but look into other things as well. I really like my audix d-series drum pack. There's a mic in there for just about everything. I would also suggest looking into Rode, and Earthworks mics as well. High end mics are great for high end studios, but it doesn't matter what kind of mic you have if you preamps suck. (You follow me?) A mic is only as good as the rest of your signal chain. Focusrite pre's on an m-box sound good, but they're not exactly strait of a Neve console. I can't say anything about the blueberry because i've never used it personally. The key to everything is balance my friend.

[deathtodesign]

Alright, well a couple of explanations and further questions... In response to what was said earlier about say, wanting to record something in stereo, I'd thought of buying a matched pair of Oktavas down the line, not sure when. I don't intend this "ONE mic" to be the only mic I ever buy, but I'd like it to be a good, versatile starting point.

Bringing up Neumann mics kind of brought up a question I've always been meaning to ask... Neumanns have always been completely out of my leage, but I've never thought about buying the new ones. Professional studios I've used in the past (Inner Ear in VA, Atomic in Brooklyn, NY) have always stocked a large selection of vintage mics, always including holy grail Neumanns and Telefunkens. Are the new models any good? The reason why a company like Blue appealed to me is that they're a small company that makes hand made microphones, imitating the manufacturing techniques of vintage mic companies. Neumman is now owned by Sennheiser, right?

Nonetheless, I really really appreciate the advice. By making this purchase, like I said, I'm trying not to be bitten by the recording bug - I'd just like to make a few purchases that'll allow me to record some simple but great sounding tracks. I do like the idea, though, that if I someday want to build a REAL studio, buying more gear will be exactly that - MORE gear, not upgrades.

Thanks a ton

Pal

[dolo]

Originally Posted by deathtodesign

By making this purchase, like I said, I'm trying not to be bitten by the recording bug - I'd just like to make a few purchases that'll allow me to record some simple but great sounding tracks.

i think the idea that i gave you would do just that and leave you in a very versatile position. you might want to substitute a piece here and there for your own taste but any of these pieces you'll most likely hold on to even if you upgrade later.

i don't like the newer neumann personally. thet don't seem to have the same magic as the older one.

yes they are own by sennheiser now.