Guidance on upgrading a few bits please.

[juicylime]

When I went looking for advice on a simple but high quality A/D converter on a budget I was told to look no further than the LynxOne, which while a few years old offers very high quality conversion for, wait for it, $150. I love it and it was very, very good advice. But I still need to make some improvements to get my home set up able to get my recordings ready to justify sending off to a good mixer and would love some similar pointers on other gear. (and before anyone says it, yes I have improved my monitoring first and my room is about to be treated too)

I'm after:
* Hardware stereo compressor that I will sometimes hit on the way to record but mostly routing from ITB looking for nice controlled shape on my vocals for example but also some heavy colour and pumping on bass and loops. My DBX266xl just doesn't cut it anymore.
* Pre-amp that will sound broad and posh with my light baritone, smoothish voice (on my AKG C3000b I need to open up the EQ around 6.5k. On my my Nuemann KM140 I need to cut the siblance around 8k. On a SM58beta, I sound like um, a star). I'll also probably DI my PODs and bass through it too. I have a good quality A&H saber desk, but I'm hoping that another pre-amp will offer me the same step up that my change in conversion did.

I have no problem going with stuff that is hugely untrendy, American or European power is cool. Looking to spend in the 00's rather than the 000's.
Any pointers appreciated.

[emkay]

Originally Posted by juicylime

When I went looking for advice on a simple but high quality A/D converter on a budget I was told to look no further than the LynxOne, which while a few years old offers very high quality conversion for, wait for it, $150. I love it and it was very, very good advice. But I still need to make some improvements to get my home set up able to get my recordings ready to justify sending off to a good mixer and would love some similar pointers on other gear. (and before anyone says it, yes I have improved my monitoring first and my room is about to be treated too)

I'm after:
* Hardware stereo compressor that I will sometimes hit on the way to record but mostly routing from ITB looking for nice controlled shape on my vocals for example but also some heavy colour and pumping on bass and loops. My DBX266xl just doesn't cut it anymore.
* Pre-amp that will sound broad and posh with my light baritone, smoothish voice (on my AKG C3000b I need to open up the EQ around 6.5k. On my my Nuemann KM140 I need to cut the siblance around 8k. On a SM58beta, I sound like um, a star). I'll also probably DI my PODs and bass through it too. I have a good quality A&H saber desk, but I'm hoping that another pre-amp will offer me the same step up that my change in conversion did.

I have no problem going with stuff that is hugely untrendy, American or European power is cool. Looking to spend in the 00's rather than the 000's.
Any pointers appreciated.

I think had you purchased the dbx 160A, within your budget, you wouldn't have tired of it. In my opinion a much better compressor than the 266. It is also versatile, but only one channel! There has been much talk here about boh the FMR RNC and RNLA, can't vouch for either, but might be atleast worth investigating, also within your budget and both stereo. I myself have had good "success" with my Groove Tubes Brick(one of my pres), at only 55 db gain, once dialed in, it sounds great on vox, bass and guitars. A friend of mine uses the Summit Audio TL 50 tube compressor and the Summit TL 221? mic pre. Both sound good to my ears. All these are within the budget you're talking about. I would strongly advise that you don't make your purchase without hearing the gear first hand, for obvious reasons.....good luck......

[juicylime]

The Brick and RNC seem to have a lot of fans round here alright. I'm not sure
if I can try before buy here in Dublin though so I might go second hand to negate any loss of costs should I decide I don't want to stick with it.

Any other suggestions out there?

[Tom H]

The problem here is that, as mentioned by emkay, you really want to try before you buy. But that's no news of course.

In your situation i'd have a good look at the Safesound P1. Seems to fit your needs for bass and vocals.

I don't see the need for a stereo compressor in your case here but i personally like the RNLA more than the RNC for tracking. For a stereo buss comp you need to look a lot further IMO.

[juicylime]

Buying without hearing is kind of a golden no no I reckon BUT, it's something that those of us far from good quality audio shops have to do.

I've just bought an RNC and a Grooves Tube Brick off a fellow gearslut so I'll be making my own mind up on them pretty soon.