Studio Gear suggestions for a Solo Acoustic Artist

[danciestsnoops]

Hello, I may just need to search around and do more research. But I feel like I am over researched at the moment so I thought I would start a new thread.

Getting to the topic. I am a solo acoustic guitar artist. I have a small studio set up right now, I'll give a list down below, and I'm looking to upgrade my studio to get better recordings. You can take a listen to one of my songs here to see where I'm at with my recording quality. GarageBand.com : song profile for Whispers in a Busy place by Coo

I used to play in a 5 piece rock band so I have a bit more equipment than you would think a solo acoustic guitar player would need. I also want to grow my studio so that I can eventually record full bands and such for fun.

My location I have right now isn't the best environment for recording, but I tend to travel around with my setup and find good places to record in, like churches and such. The song I have recorded in the link above was recorded in my parents basement and it didn't turn out as well as I would have liked but the song gets good reviews.


Here is what I have so far

AD/DA
Firface 400
MOTU 896 HD (AD/DA not working but i can use the pres on it)

Software
Sonar 6 Pro
iZotope Ozone3
Vienna Symphonic Library Speacial edition

Monitors
Resolv 65a Active Studio Monitor
Sennheiser HD 280 Pro - headphones

Mics
AT 4047
AT 4041 (2x)
AT AE2500
Blue Bluebird
Blue Dragonfly
Sure Sm57(3x)
Sure beta 57
Sure Beta 52a

Outboard gear
dbx 166xl

Midi
M-audio Axiom 61

Instruments
Avalon Legacy L25C (acoustic)
Marshal TSL100 w/1960a
American deluxe Telecaster
Gibson SG standard
and way too many guitar pedals to list

I'm looking for a good mic pre or whatever else you might recomend to get warm full acoustic tracks. Any feed back would be great.

I've researched all the typical $2000 range mic pres you can find at any online music store (sweetwater etc.) like the Avalon mic pres, Focusrite ISA 428, Universal Audio, PreSonus ADL and etc. I'd like something with 2 channels for potential mastering, but I can live with one good solid single channel or maybe 2.

At one time I was recomended the Groove Tubes SuPRE by a sweetwater salesman? But i was weary to go forward with that.


Thanks for the help.

[BIGT-1]

I'd take a serious look at the API A2D.

[danciestsnoops]

Thanks for the reply. I took a look at the API A2D online and read a review on it from 2006 API A2D Dual Mic Preamplifier/A-D. It seems like a good pre. Have you personally used the device or seen it in action?

[BIGT-1]

Haven't used the A2D, but have used API pres aplenty. The attraction is that, with the conversion as part of the package, you can kill two upgrade birds with one stone (for about the same $ as comparable 2 channel pres).

[blim]

You've already got some relatively good mics -- the 4047 and the Dragonfly are both good mics for acoustic guitar, and the 4047 is underrated as a vocal mic.

If you're just going to be recording your voice and an acoustic guitar (something I do a lot of), I'd think seriously about investing in preamps and/or compressors that can give your recordings more warmth (unless you prefer a cleaner, more detailed sound). Great River and Pacifica preamps are no-brainers, both for vocals and acoustic guitar. The John Hardy (a slightly cleaner sound) is widely recommended for acoustic guitar. Two-channel versions of each of these preamps will sell for less (sometimes a lot less) than $1500 used. An LA-2A compressor can do wonders on (non-rock) vocals, and the reissues can easily be had for under $2000 used. These are all excellent pieces, and you can't go wrong with any of them

If you want to go the extra mile, buy a tube mic. Mojave has one for around $1,000 that is highly thought of at that price point, but, if you really want a great U-47ish mic (especially for your vocals), think about the Pearlman TM-1 or Lawson L47 -- both are no-compromise mics that regularly sell for less than $1,500 used.

[Unclenny]

Originally Posted by blim

If you want to go the extra mile, buy a tube mic.

I agree.

Got my Peluso for less than $1K.

Set yourself up with a 'money channel'.....the best you can afford in a mic/pre combo.

Also....consider a channel strip.....you can sculpt 'your' sound on the way in with a good Pre/EQ/Comp.

[danciestsnoops]

Thanks for all the info. I checked into the John Hardy mic pres. I really like how you can add on to the mic pres. So if you don't have enough to get the two channel, you can buy the 1 channel and upgrade an additional channel when you have more funding. And there isn't a price difference if I buy the 1 channel and then add on a channel later or if I buy a 2 channel version up front.