OVERHAUL

[WILLIAM HAUBRICH]

DearSlutz,

I'm sure y'all's sick of "I'm too lazy to think for myself, please help me upgrade" scenarios, but here goes:

I've done a library album
(stream at
http://www.mathambo.com/
>> Albums
>> "Reflections of Africa"
>> Play Demo)

and various other projects with the following setup:

? Logic
? JV2080
? G4 dual 1.25
? M-audio Delta 66
? Two Rode N1
? Dbx 586 pre
? Behringer Mx 2804a (monitoring/routing)
? JL monitors (S. African make)
? Mosfet power amps of Linsley Hood (?) design

Lots of recording of African/jazz/classical instruments and vocals (1-4 at a time). Great experience for me.

Though the company was satisfied, I gleaned the following comments from respected colleagues:

? Occasional booming on certain systems (room not great);
? Some "sameness" due to same mic/preamp used on everything.

I now am negotiating another album with another company, and thought this in-between period might be a good chance to upgrade. I'm considering the following:

? Bass traps;
? Onyx 1220 desk or similar
? Onyx firewire card or Apogee Ensemble (with G4?!)
? Buying one classy mic no more than $1000.

My reasoning is thus:

? Onyx will give me more detailed/accurate monitoring and perhaps better work-flow;
? Onyx Firewire card, though supposedly of similar quality to Delta-66, will assist workflow;
? Mic will add variety, depth, sparkle, je-ne-sais-quoi to overall project.

Please, please comment on my reasoning, provide recommendations and mic choices.

Many Thanks

WILLIAM

[The Byre]

I think you are on the right track there.

Sort out the room and then perhaps an alternative set of monitors with a sub to hear that bottom end.

Mic, hmm, depends on what you are recording. Voice - try a KMS104 or 105 from Neumann. Well within budget and sounds great.

[Jonboy79]

"Sameness" is not a word I ever hear used when talking about a recording. There have been thousands upon thousands of records cut using the same mic pre's throughout the entire project.

[gurubuzz]

Originally Posted by WILLIAM HAUBRICH

DearSlutz,

I'm sure y'all's sick of "I'm too lazy to think for myself, please help me upgrade" scenarios, but here goes:

I've done a library album
(stream at
Mathambo Production Music
>> Albums
>> "Reflections of Africa"
>> Play Demo)

and various other projects with the following setup:

? Logic
? JV2080
? G4 dual 1.25
? M-audio Delta 66
? Two Rode N1
? Dbx 586 pre
? Behringer Mx 2804a (monitoring/routing)
? JL monitors (S. African make)
? Mosfet power amps of Linsley Hood (?) design

Lots of recording of African/jazz/classical instruments and vocals (1-4 at a time). Great experience for me.

Though the company was satisfied, I gleaned the following comments from respected colleagues:

? Occasional booming on certain systems (room not great);
? Some "sameness" due to same mic/preamp used on everything.

I now am negotiating another album with another company, and thought this in-between period might be a good chance to upgrade. I'm considering the following:

? Bass traps;
? Onyx 1220 desk or similar
? Onyx firewire card or Apogee Ensemble (with G4?!)
? Buying one classy mic no more than $1000.

My reasoning is thus:

? Onyx will give me more detailed/accurate monitoring and perhaps better work-flow;
? Onyx Firewire card, though supposedly of similar quality to Delta-66, will assist workflow;
? Mic will add variety, depth, sparkle, je-ne-sais-quoi to overall project.

Please, please comment on my reasoning, provide recommendations and mic choices.

Many Thanks

WILLIAM

The behringer is fine to monitor through... Just remember that the master channel hasn't got as much head room as a Mackie... so keep clear of the yellow and definately keep clear of the red....

Rode NT1s are fine, if you want different sounds try different angles on the mic, don't always point the front to your source even try having the bottom of the mic facing the source... sideways anything to capture different responses. OR try EQing while tracking ???


Without listening to your stuff I would say the usual problem with boominess is really muddiness so try to loose anything around 125 - 130 hz.

Bass traps? ..... well if you want to know how to make one that really works PM me...cause the analysis is the most important part not the making...