Help me pick a Pre

[JoRillo]

Hey Guys -

I'm looking to add some new color to the equation. Duet 2 Pre's are fantastic - but really clean - I want something to change up the sound a bit.

Mics - in the order I would use them.

AKG C2000
Sm7b
AKG Perception 200
OSP STM-1300C (not often used)
Sm58 - but it's not really a recording mic in my arsenal

My budget is Semi Flexable - anywhere from $300-$1k probably. I'm thinking of getting a GAP - from what I hear they have a nice color to them and are pretty inexpensive - who thinks it would be beneficial with the mics I have? The Duet can give enough gain for the Sm7b - so even if the new pre can't (still hope it will) I can live.

Should I start building up a 500 series lunchbox? I would think for a rap recording artist that would be pretty good to start - get some Neve, API, SSL, etc etc somewhere in the near future. Although from what I have heard the SSL and Neve are very clean (idk about the API - but I hear they are amazing)

Thanks in advance guys.

[KT1]

Lunchs are great some nice comps eq and pres. Take a look at the neve!

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[dimag333]

610, don't listen to the haters, daking mic pre is awesome also

[JoRillo]

Thanks guys -

KT1 - How clean are the Neves? I have heard they are very clean. Never gotten the pleasure of using one. I'll definitely get a Neve soon enough - but I want to add some color, so do you think it's a good choice?

dimag - I have actually only heard good thinks about the Danking Pre(s)

[PsilohsaiBiN]

You should either get a Great River, be it an Me1nv or better yet, a lunchbox and Mp500nv. Would go great with the SM7. Or if you wanna save a few bucks, grab a modded GAP 73.

The GR and GAP give you way more versatility than the Daking, because of the gain and output controls. Not that the Daking sounds bad at all, but It would be nice if instead of the high pass filter, it had gain and output.

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[Chris Lago]

Bae 1073 mp.

[KT1]

Originally Posted by Chris Lago

Bae 1073 mp.

This is what i meant ^^ J. Yes it has color! My ears dont lie!

[TYPHY]

My SM7b just came in the mail.
I'm bout to order a GAP73 with TT mod from Zenaudio.

I also have a Shure KSM27 mic.

I think my set up will be good enough for home studio projects.

No need to go super crazy with equipment if you're doing it all in your bedroom.

I've come to the conclusion that I can not compete with the Pro's quality-wise unless I go record in a real studio with u87s and Avalon pre's. So I say get some good inexpensive equipment and work on the music, don't worry so much about the equipment.. you gear slut!

[gehauser]

+1 for the UA Solo 610.

FYI, the 610 has plenty of gain for the SM7b. Gain at 5 and Level at 8 works great. The 610 is my favorite pre for the SM7b.

[PsilohsaiBiN]

The BAE, GAP or Great River, or even a Vintech would take care of your Neve needs. Hell you could even try and find a Neve Portico 5012 on eBay for like $1kish...gets kinda 1073ish with the silk button and ballsy gain. By the way, Neves aren't clean, especially with the gain high and output low. Smooth and huge(that's what she said) is more like it!

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[KT1]

I love the Neve 1073's. Absolute classic --even the new ones! The BAE sounds almost identical to the new Neve side by side. I understand its the same components. To my ears they are a little dark and BIG sound. A lot will debate this..Bottom line is for the price of a BAE you can not go wrong. It's a quality pre and you wont be in a rush to get rid!

[KT1]

Originally Posted by PsilohsaiBiN

The BAE, GAP or Great River, or even a Vintech would take care of your Neve needs. Hell you could even try and find a Neve Portico 5012 on eBay for like $1kish...gets kinda 1073ish with the silk button and ballsy gain. By the way, Neves aren't clean, especially with the gain high and output low. Smooth and huge(that's what she said) is more like it!

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^^ agree!

[dimag333]

Originally Posted by JoRillo

Thanks guys -

KT1 - How clean are the Neves? I have heard they are very clean. Never gotten the pleasure of using one. I'll definitely get a Neve soon enough - but I want to add some color, so do you think it's a good choice?

dimag - I have actually only heard good thinks about the Danking Pre(s)

Yeah I was thinking the daking would be good for the sm7b, since I own both, I have a 610 and it is great for thinner condensers, I was saying don't believe the bad stuff about the 610

[Chris Lago]

It's just so easy to mix stuff that was tracked with a Neve style pre, especially vocals, it sits right in there perfectly (well after Pulteq EQ).

[JoRillo]

Originally Posted by TYPHY

My SM7b just came in the mail.
I'm bout to order a GAP73 with TT mod from Zenaudio.

I also have a Shure KSM27 mic.

I think my set up will be good enough for home studio projects.

No need to go super crazy with equipment if you're doing it all in your bedroom.

I've come to the conclusion that I can not compete with the Pro's quality-wise unless I go record in a real studio with u87s and Avalon pre's. So I say get some good inexpensive equipment and work on the music, don't worry so much about the equipment.. you gear slut!

Your crazy - I've only been doing this for 5 months and my recordings are already better then the ones at the "vocal/rap studio" back home. Give me a few more months and I'll be killin it. Listen to Chris's songs - clear as shit - recorded at home. Now he has a $8,000 mic... so I guess you can put up an argument there - but home studios are where it's at now a days.

Not to mention I plan to start tracking other people for money - so having extra pres and shit is a good face for a home studio regardless.

I actually am really good about my purchases. Everything I own has been used to its worth without doubt. I'm in this shit for life.


Thanks for all the suggestions guys! Your puttin um out faster then I am googling them.

[TYPHY]

Originally Posted by JoRillo

Your crazy - I've only been doing this for 5 months and my recordings are already better then the ones at the "vocal/rap studio" back home. Give me a few more months and I'll be killin it. Listen to Chris's songs - clear as shit - recorded at home. Now he has a $8,000 mic... so I guess you can put up an argument there - but home studios are where it's at now a days.

Not to mention I plan to start tracking other people for money - so having extra pres and shit is a good face for a home studio regardless.

I actually am really good about my purchases. Everything I own has been used to its worth without doubt. I'm in this shit for life.

Well, that sounds cool.

Give me a link to your recordings.

I wanna hear how good they sound.

[JoRillo]

Here's One I mixed - and on a set of cheapo speakers too. (I get my HS80's today! Can't wait)

http://soundcloud.com/jorillo-1/mischievous-until-we-die-ft

Here's one I recorded back home at a studio -

http://soundcloud.com/jorillo-1/gimme-moe-ft-mischievious

In the studios defense though - he mixed it in the same two hour block that we payed for to record. Shit is brick wall limited to a crazy degree though.

[TYPHY]

Where do you come in on "Until We Die"? And what mic/pre did you use?

Sorry to flood your thread with these questions, last post I swear, lol.

[JoRillo]

Your cool bro - I was the second verse and second half of the hook - I actually don't really like my verse so much on this song. Not that I don't like it - I just got out shined like a MoFo by my roommate. It was his song though - so it's all good. Regardless though everything was recorded and mixed by me.

AKG C2000 > Duet 2 > Macbook Pro > Samson Media One 5a

That's the entire chain.

[Chris Lago]

Good stuff, If you want to produce a song on my next album give me a shout. Actually might be interested in you spitting a verse on a song of mine.

[JoRillo]

Originally Posted by Chris Lago

Good stuff, If you want to produce a song on my next album give me a shout. Actually might be interested in you spitting a verse on a song of mine.

I'm down whenever. And I mean that seriously lol.

[JoRillo]

I didn't mean to kill the pre suggestions guys. Keep um coming. lol

[RonGherkins]

lol 610 solo, hell to the no. Especially as your first good preamp for rap.

1073dmp/mp/mpf from BAE
or a vintech x73i is my recommendation (over your budget but a FULL EQ section AND a good pre)
the dakings are good from what I've used of them
Honestly the ISA one isn't terrible either (and I'd get that over the gap just because it will retain its use as a clean solid pre longer than the gap will once you upgrade again) for a bunch cheaper. Then again I haven't heard the gap mkiii

Used I bet you could get a good deal on some api's/dakings. A lunchbox really is not the worst call at this stage of your life either, except you'll want to fill it up and you may need to eventually replace your interface or buy a patchbay for that.

[dimag333]

610 would kill on the perception mics, it you want to warm up your sound

[JoRillo]

On a side note to life - I just watched Air Force 1 fly over my area - the air port is 30 minutes from my house - I heard him about 15 seconds after he took off. lmao

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by RonGherkins

lol 610 solo, hell to the no. Especially as your first good preamp for rap.

1073dmp/mp/mpf from BAE
or a vintech x73i is my recommendation (over your budget but a FULL EQ section AND a good pre)
the dakings are good from what I've used of them
Honestly the ISA one isn't terrible either (and I'd get that over the gap just because it will retain its use as a clean solid pre longer than the gap will once you upgrade again) for a bunch cheaper. Then again I haven't heard the gap mkiii

Used I bet you could get a good deal on some api's/dakings. A lunchbox really is not the worst call at this stage of your life either, except you'll want to fill it up and you may need to eventually replace your interface or buy a patchbay for that.

The only problem with a lunchbox is it looks like a toy to "outsiders".

MA5 is awesome, though... and in your price range.

[RonGherkins]

Wow I actually can't believe I forgot the avedis. Jorillo those have near universal acclaim as excellent pres.

You could start with one (Avedis Audio MA5) and a lunchbox. Upgrade to a pair and then either get some API Eq or a chandler little devil for compression. If you get the six slot you could eventually do 2x avedis, 2x api eq, 2x api compressors or a stereo pair of pres, 2 flavour pres, and 2 eq. Literally the possibilities are endless. I decided to build a rack a few months ago instead and now I'm just a bit bummed thinking of all the lunchbox possibilities haha. I like that you can have lunchbox modules in a rack on their side though.

To engineers lunchboxes look badass too :P Bun the artists (not really but you knowww)

[KT1]

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

The only problem with a lunchbox is it looks like a toy to "outsiders".

MA5 is awesome, though... and in your price range.

Tony I like the way they look. Then again I like the way the looptrotter monster looks! Cant to try that pup on Monday!

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[KT1]

Originally Posted by RonGherkins

lol 610 solo, hell to the no. Especially as your first good preamp for rap.

1073dmp/mp/mpf from BAE
or a vintech x73i is my recommendation (over your budget but a FULL EQ section AND a good pre)
the dakings are good from what I've used of them
Honestly the ISA one isn't terrible either (and I'd get that over the gap just because it will retain its use as a clean solid pre longer than the gap will once you upgrade again) for a bunch cheaper. Then again I haven't heard the gap mkiii

Used I bet you could get a good deal on some api's/dakings. A lunchbox really is not the worst call at this stage of your life either, except you'll want to fill it up and you may need to eventually replace your interface or buy a patchbay for that.

Lol at hell to the no! Hahahahah

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[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by KT1

Tony I like the way they look. Then again I like the way the looptrotter monster looks! Cant to try that pup on Monday!

I know some people that have $30k invested in 500 series gear and their studio racks are pretty unimpressive looking to the non engineer crowd.

I like the 500 series... But, it's like the Pokemon of the audio world... Cute little things that had a HUGE following for a while and then kind of faded away once people collected all the cards (or in this case modules)..

MA5 will always be top notch regardless of the format, though. There's not another pre under $2k I would rather have.