The weakest link in the chain

Rasmus Faber · 10th June 2007

Wanna do some studio upgrades, but I'm a little unsure where to start, so I thought I'd ask. What do you think is the weakest link in my recording/production chain? The first thing you'd exchange/complement with another piece of equipment.

My setup, from source to the computer.

Room: Good sounding, accoustically variable

Mics: Brauner C, two AKG451C (stereo pair), two SM57

Cables: Normal mic cables

Mic pre: Amek CIB

Sound Card: Fireface 800

Computer: 2x2.7ghz macG5, Logic 7.2, waves Gold, SSL, V-Series

Monitoring: Samson C-control, Genelec 8040, Sennheiser HD600

Anything catch your eye as the first thing you would upgrade?

jdjustice · 10th June 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rasmus Faber

Anything catch your eye as the first thing you would upgrade?

personally i would get another microphone first, then upgrade the preamplifier.

the Brauner and CIB are good tools, but imo there are better mic/preamp combinations (of course it REALLY depends on what YOU want and are going for; that may be a superb combination for your purposes)....

nothing wrong with the Gennies (i love 'em) and nothing wrong with the FireFace.
nothing wrong with your computer and acoustically treated room == thumbsup thumbsup

then maybe consider an outboard compressor if you go with a seperate preamp and not another channel strip....

just my 2 pennies.
~j.d.

stevep · 10th June 2007

Yes more mics !

then save your $$ for some more mics

Rasmus Faber · 10th June 2007

Thanks for the tips guys! Anymore suggestions? Any mic models you'd like to recommend that would complement the Brauner and AKG's nicely?

One thing I've been thinking of getting is another stereo pair with less narrow angle.
The AKG's are great, but tend to hear quite precisely what you point them at.
Has been a problem sometimes when recording marimba, piano, and stuff like that that needs a more balanced intake throughout the length of the instrument.. Thoughts?

thethrillfactor · 10th June 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rasmus Faber

Anymore suggestions?

What are you gonna record or produce?

Knowing what you are trying to accomplish helps.

HIGHENDONLY · 10th June 2007

upgrade your cables

Rasmus Faber · 10th June 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by HIGHENDONLY

upgrade your cables

I've been thinking about that. It really does make a significant difference? What brands would you recommend? Heard of Monster, are there any other brands I should know about?

Quote:

What are you gonna record or produce?
Knowing what you are trying to accomplish helps.

Well, I produce house, soul, jazz, latin, stuff like that. No techno and rock.
Generally striving for a clean, crisp, but still slightly vintage sound, not too hifi..

Recording a lot of vocals and percussion, also accoustic guitars, horns, strings, bass (but DI though). Had the pleasure of getting a full size marimba in the studio, what a treasure! So will record that too..

Feel free to check my myspace for lot of listening examples
http://www.myspace.com/rasmusfaber

**Reptil** · 10th June 2007

ditch the samson and get a coleman (there's one in the classifieds right now, & TB)
or SPL, or NTHpro or...

HIGHENDONLY · 10th June 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rasmus Faber

I've been thinking about that. It really does make a significant difference? What brands would you recommend? Heard of Monster, are there any other brands I should know about?

Well, I produce house, soul, jazz, latin, stuff like that. No techno and rock.
Generally striving for a clean, crisp, but still slightly vintage sound, not too hifi..

Recording a lot of vocals and percussion, also accoustic guitars, horns, strings, bass (but DI though). Had the pleasure of getting a full size marimba in the studio, what a treasure! So will record that too..

Feel free to check my myspace for lot of listening examples
www.myspace.com/rasmusfaber

Right now i'm using evidence audio lyric hg cable for monitoring and tara labs cable for everything else. I get everything from lavacable.com

peeder · 10th June 2007

Quote:

upgrade your cables

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rasmus Faber

I've been thinking about that. It really does make a significant difference? What brands would you recommend? Heard of Monster, are there any other brands I should know about?

I think he was joking. Your cables (if they work) aren't going to be the weak link in your chain for another century or so.

Rasmus Faber · 10th June 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by peeder

I think he was joking. Your cables (if they work) aren't going to be the weak link in your chain for another century or so.

That may be, but check the site he was referring to (lavacable.com), some pretty serious cable guys there...

peeder · 10th June 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rasmus Faber

That may be, but check the site he was referring to (lavacable.com), some pretty serious cable guys there...

I'd like reproducible evidence they make a measurable difference over cables 1/10th the cost...

lowfreq33 · 10th June 2007

You've got good stuff, you just need more of it for variety. Start with a few new mics, then go to pres and comps. C414's are a good place to start, they sound good on most sources. Get a ribbon mic, that's a flavor you don't have, a Royer 121 would be great for what you do. A 500 series api rack would be good too, lots of different modules available for that.

10th June 2007	#1
Rasmus Faber Gear maniac Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 260 Thread Starter	The weakest link in the chain Wanna do some studio upgrades, but I'm a little unsure where to start, so I thought I'd ask. What do you think is the weakest link in my recording/production chain? The first thing you'd exchange/complement with another piece of equipment. My setup, from source to the computer. Room: Good sounding, accoustically variable Mics: Brauner C, two AKG451C (stereo pair), two SM57 Cables: Normal mic cables Mic pre: Amek CIB Sound Card: Fireface 800 Computer: 2x2.7ghz macG5, Logic 7.2, waves Gold, SSL, V-Series Monitoring: Samson C-control, Genelec 8040, Sennheiser HD600 Anything catch your eye as the first thing you would upgrade?

10th June 2007	#8
Reptil Moderator Joined: Dec 2004 Location: in a low orbit Posts: 19,390 1 Review written	ditch the samson and get a coleman (there's one in the classifieds right now, & TB) or SPL, or NTHpro or... __________________ CONVERTERS FOR SALE HERE: link

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10th June 2007	#3
stevep Lives for Jesus Joined: Oct 2005 Location: orange county ca. Posts: 2,935	Yes more mics ! then save your $$ for some more mics

10th June 2007	#6
HIGHENDONLY Lives for gear Joined: Jan 2007 Location: Middlebury CT Posts: 824	upgrade your cables

10th June 2007	#13
lowfreq33 Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2007 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 2,186	You've got good stuff, you just need more of it for variety. Start with a few new mics, then go to pres and comps. C414's are a good place to start, they sound good on most sources. Get a ribbon mic, that's a flavor you don't have, a Royer 121 would be great for what you do. A 500 series api rack would be good too, lots of different modules available for that.