Just about to buy a Portico/AKG414/Royer, any last minute advice?

[simonv]

Hi guys,
After months of lurking, dreaming, and planning, I am finally ready to invest a slutty amount of cash in gear (slutty.. at least for me).

The mission:
Record a whole CD containing: percussions, classical guitar, acousitc guitar, electric guitar, vocals, electric bass. The style is roots reggae/acoustic/world beat

Everything will be done with the same 2 tracks. No live band.

Here is the tracking equipement that I have, and what I will buy. If any of you have any last minute suggestions, let me know!

What I have:
Focusrite Sapphire
Apogee AD 48k (which I will use through the Sapphire's SPDIF input)
Shure SM7b

What I'm planning to buy:
Portico 5012 preamp (will be used for everything)
Royer R121
Matched pair of AKG 414 XLS


Do you think that my setup would be good for pretty much everything?
Please throw your suggestions! (I know that the 414 are not universally loved. I'll be using them for percussion overheads and guitars)

Thanks everybody

[Matt Grondin]

I'd get a matched pair of Gefell m930's instead of the AKG's, although they are only cardioid which could be a drawback. I think they sound fantastic.

You can't go wrong with the R121... it's an amazing mic... perfect on electric guitar amps.

[wagz]

Well, i can't advise you against the portico...because i use it. I REALLY like mine. When i plug it in i no longer wonder if my preamp is good enough....well, except when i come here. People on gearslutz have ridiculous amounts of money it seems.

I had to really save for the portico so i understand where you're coming from man.

I like mine. you can hear it if you listen to "How to See" at the site in my signature.

the vox were recorded with an sm7b, too.

the portico kinda has a round sound. it just sounds musical.

if possible, check out some of the preamps in the portico's price range. you might find something you like more.

If i had to do it over again I'd buy the Portico, but i would still like to hear some of the preamps people say they like more than the portico.....cuz mine sounds gOOD!

[20to20]

If anything, I'd recommend considering an active R122...

Great on ac. strings, horns, percussion, etc. (and gtr amps)...

Also, a matched pair of Earthworks mics can
capture some pretty incredible soundscapes...

Good luck,

[minister]

i have a Portico. GET ONE! thumbsup you put it on stuff like, bass, guitars, kick, snare and with the right mic and placement you go, "OH! that's the sound i always wanted. there it is, the sounds i hear on good records. well, there it is."

i have a royer thumbsup ...though i have the active 122. you might want to at least look at that to see if it will suit you. but, either way.

i am not fan of the 414's. i say, check out B.L.U.E. for set of matching mics (maybe the baby bottles in that $$ range), you'll get more lows and clearer, cleaner highs. or maybve som Gefells.

if you had any spare $$, get a senn e609, i think only $100. on guitar, MUCH better than a sm57.

for bass, i suppose you could use your SM7b.

maybe pick up a senn 421 too, they are faily inexpensive and are great for drum perc, congas...

at leat that is my 2¢. have fun!

[Jules]

Will you be relying on software compression?

Perhaps a RNC might be a good idea..? Or a Behringer Composer? (shoot me now!) or turn finding cheap compressors into a hobby!

Not using compression isn't illegal of course!

But is it a feature of a lot of productions..

Is there a dynamic control plan for this project?

[simonv]

Yes, only software compression. And I can't say anything about that Behringer gear: I personnally don't hate the Sony Vegas Track Compressor (shoot ME now .)

I won't use any outboard compression during tracking, but I'm planning on renting a Manley Variable Mue + Manley EQ for the mixing part.


edit: BTW you guys are incredibly helpful, thanks a lot

[kendog]

You'll love the Portico and the Royer. I'm not a fan of the 414 either, but many great tracks have been done with those mics.

[Reptil]

don't like the 414 either, but it is not a bad mic.
instead of thoseI'd go for a pair of second hand gefell MV 691 with M94 capsules for overhead (500$), some nice dynamic mic, like a sennheiser 441 or 421 (200$), to get the twack of the snare in one go. and if you have money to spare then for bright detailed an audio technica mic, or one of the new gefells. More fun, more options, helps to get a difference going. a royer is a good investment, so is the portico. eumm dub you say?
are you on a mac? just came across a nice AU plugin

maybe you can use it: http://www.lowcoders.net/

cheers,
Reptil

[simonv]

That plug looks fun! unfortunately im on a PC, but i'll check it out. If it's cheaper than renting a Space Echo I could borrow a Mac for an afternoon.

[Reptil]

the plug is nice, I'm using it right now. not the spaaaaaace of a well maintained Roland: the real thing is better sounding, and adds a dimension..
as for plugs, I'm sure there is freeware vst stuff plenty
Steinberg did a reasonable good one, I used it, it has multiple head emulation, before everything turned AU all of the sudden

best of luck with your search: not to put the portico down (a tape sim is still on my shortlist) but did you consider a cheaper (per channel) 4 pre unit? You could do the drums in one go then...

http://gearslutz.com/board/showthread.php3?t=51358

and get the portico after that of course

[simonv]

What I'm planning to do, if I need to go up to 4 inputs, is to use the Sapphire's 2 pres and converters. (which sound a bit better when clocked to the Apogee, btw).

That way, I'll have 2 golden channels of Apogee + Neve, and 2 OK channels of Sapphire.

[Reptil]

Originally Posted by simonv

What I'm planning to do, if I need to go up to 4 inputs, is to use the Sapphire's 2 pres and converters. (which sound a bit better when clocked to the Apogee, btw).

That way, I'll have 2 golden channels of Apogee + Neve, and 2 OK channels of Sapphire.

aha, ok, don't really know the apogee, don't think it was ever distributed to the Netherlands.. eumm instead of the gefells, you could go for a pair of Nady/shinybox/... ribbons.., ordered a pair of Tbone (simular) myself, heard good things about those, and 2 nice dynamic, or 1 dynamic and one condenser.. really really like the sennheiser 441: good on everything, great on snare and percussion (djembe, conga, ..)