Choices...choices...$2000 need input

[Black Seal]

Hello,
I'm about to part with $2000, and I have three different ideas where to go with this one. By the way, I've been recording vox(rap/r&b/rock-folk), and guitar(acoustic and electric) only. I mix ITB only. Any other opinions are greatly appreciated.

1) Soundelux I-fet7

2) Soundelux U195, AT4047, and a Shure SM7

3) Soundelux U195 and a Great River MV1 or 2 Grace 101's

Current equipment:
MICS
AT4033,3525
MXL V69, 67
RODE NTK
SHURE sm58
Studio Projects C3

PRES
A DESIGNS MP2
Behringer IMPx8channels(ADA8000)

COMP
Distressor(with British mod)

CONVERTERS
Lucid AD/DA 9624 2ch
Behringer ADA8000

MONITORING
Dynaudio BM15 with Rotel RB-991
AKG K141,240,240DF

PLUG-INS
Voxengo
UAD-1
Sonalksis

Thanks,
P

P.S. I will be starting an Indie label 1st quarter of 2006. More info when it gets closer.

[Sqye]

http://cgi.ebay.com/MICROPHONE-GT-AM...QQcmdZViewItem

I paid about $300 on ebay for mine - and I LOVE IT.

LD multi pattern tube condenser. My new favorite mic.

Good luck

[jazzgitter]

You might get more bang for your buck going for a Pearlman TM1(U47ish) and an RNP. I have a U195 and the Pearlman makes it sound like an sm57! Perhaps a great mic with a good preamp would be better than a good mic with a great preamp. Hope that makes sense.

[maskedman72]

mp2nv.

[Black Seal]

Groove tubes? I don't mean to sound like a snot, but that name just doesn't conjure up any warm fuzzies for me. From this point on I would only like to stick with higher end stuff, things that I'll still use in 5 years. But, that doesn't mean that it isn't a contender for the right ap. Thanks for the heads up on the GT,Sqye. I'll do more research.
Jazz, Pearlman hmmm. I've things mentioned about them here and there. Nothing bad to say about them. It just sucks not to be able to audition them. I know that a lot of places will do that.
As far as the great river pre goes, you're right. I would want a stereo version. I guess I'm leaning toward a good mic more so than a good pre. I have a good pre for I'm doing. If I ever move to doing percussion I know I would have to get another one of those.
I'm interested in the Peluso mics, just because I've heard a lot of things about them. But I also remember hearing good things about the Studio Projects stuff. Not to say the SP's are close to Peluso's, but as far as I'm concerned the jury is still out. I talked to John Peluso about upgrading the capsule on my V69. He said it would be around $200. Like the mic overall, but the highend get weird when driven a little louder. I guess all of my mics are like that with the exception of my sm58.
Thanks for all of your input so far. Keep it coming!
P

[Sqye]

Originally Posted by Black Seal

Groove tubes? I don't mean to sound like a snot, but that name just doesn't conjure up any warm fuzzies for me. From this point on I would only like to stick with higher end stuff, things that I'll still use in 5 years. But, that doesn't mean that it isn't a contender for the right ap. Thanks for the heads up on the GT,Sqye. I'll do more research.
Jazz, Pearlman hmmm. I've things mentioned about them here and there. Nothing bad to say about them. It just sucks not to be able to audition them. I know that a lot of places will do that.
As far as the great river pre goes, you're right. I would want a stereo version. I guess I'm leaning toward a good mic more so than a good pre. I have a good pre for I'm doing. If I ever move to doing percussion I know I would have to get another one of those.
I'm interested in the Peluso mics, just because I've heard a lot of things about them. But I also remember hearing good things about the Studio Projects stuff. Not to say the SP's are close to Peluso's, but as far as I'm concerned the jury is still out. I talked to John Peluso about upgrading the capsule on my V69. He said it would be around $200. Like the mic overall, but the highend get weird when driven a little louder. I guess all of my mics are like that with the exception of my sm58.
Thanks for all of your input so far. Keep it coming!
P

That audition, and subsequent purchase had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with NAME, and EVERYTHING to do with EARS. Since, when I heard it first, I didnt know what I was listening to - I only knew that it was true to the male and female voice in all the ways that are most important to me - frequency response acorss the spectrum, treatment of proximity & sibilance, detail, certain amount of natural compression, not too much color or dirt, presence, articulation, punch and a certain amount of tube warmth and sizzle. On Lynn's CD I believe it was tracked through GR pre.

Since then, I've used it on a ton of different vocal and acoustic guitar sessions, and been EXTREMELY HAPPY with it.

But whataver floats your boat - JMHO.

Good luck

[Black Seal]

Sqye,
I'm glad that you've found you've found a mic that works on a different male/female vox consistently. Unfortunately for me, I do not have access to a lot resources that I would be able to audition anything worthwhile. I guess I'm just so skeptical about buying things sight unseen, or heard. It's been two years since I asked Banjo Center about their mic return policy. From what I remember they don't accept mic returns. That's why I mentioned that I needed to look for something with a track record of consistency. Finally, this year I was able to purchase a set monitors that reveal more to me than headphones. Never had that experience before. Anyway, keep those opinions on different mics coming. All input is greatly appreciated.
P

[Sqye]

Hey, man.

No problem.

And, don't get me wrong. I've had and used plenty of high end mics over the years - some that worked for a specific ap, and some that didn't. In this case, I was looking for something that had all the characteristics described above for more aggressive pop and urban vocals, and I was VERY surprised how cheap it was and how good it sounds. Bottom line is I didn't think a mic could be this good for this little $$$. I've been looking for a consistent mic for a while. Had 67s, 87s and c12s, etc. that didn't perform as well and as consitently for me.

Good luck.