Best Upgrade choice

[tunethis]

Hey guys,
It's my first post on here so hello!
I'm looking to upgrade my current setup by purchasing some pro quality gear.
Currenty I use/own:

Cubase SX2.0.1
Motu 896HD for pres and conversion
Oktava MK 319
Shure Beta 52
Shure SM 57
3x Sennheiser e604
2x Audio Technica AT3035

I'm looking into either getting a nice tube mic such as the Audio Technica AT4060 or a nice preamp/digital conversion such as found in the Chandler TG2.

My question is this: What do you think is the better choice/produce the most noticeable gain in sound quality?

1) Getting a nice tube mic and running it through my MOTU pres and conversion

OR

2) Using the mics I have running through something like a Chandler TG2.

I am looking for a solution that will work generally well on both vocals and guitar. I am also in the marker for "keeper" gear, so if you have any other suggestions for this upgrade they would be grealy appreciated.

Thank you to the forum for your generous replies and time.

Andrew

[tunethis]

And sorry, I know this is the HIGH END forum.
You guys know the most though I assume

[JonCraig]

how much are you looking to spend? you have to get into some larger dollars before the *tube* in *tube mic* is more than a gimmick.

that said, the mic will almost always make a bigger sonic impact than anything else in the chain. i'd much rather plug a 67 into an mbox, than a 57 into an mp2nv.

so, buy a mic. but don't concern yourself with whether or not it glows.

--jon

[Playback]

Buy a neve console they are getting pretty cheap tutt tutt

[tunethis]

All good replies. Thanks guys. My largest concern is that I am using MOTU 896 preamps. I bought the MOTU 896HD knowing nothing and they sound quite muddy and dark to me. I'm thinking that getting a preamp might be the better choice here?

[u b k]

the most important question: what's your budget?

my thinking is that for the price of a tg2 you could get a single channel daking, or great river, or phoenix, coupled with something like a peluso ldc. the combo of those two would dramatically improve your tracks over what you have now, and would sound really sweet, far better than having one half of the mic/pre combo be mediocre.


gregoire
del ubik

[tunethis]

My budget is about $2000-3000. Higher if I can get something that will replace my MOTU 896HD such as the Lynx Aurora.