Need advice for next studio buy

[TJP]

Hey Folks. I hope i´m posting thin in the right forum. As i sayed i need some advice. I make edm on a semi-professional level. I´m on a budged so my studio is manly ITB. I have a mac pro 2011 octo 2,4 GHz with 8 GB Ram, 3 TB HD (Cavia Black). I use Logic an Maschine manly for arrangement. I do sampling and beats with maschine and export it afterwards as audio to logic where i do the mixdown. I have several dsp cards. Liquid mix (witch i rarely use). Powercore PCIe, Uad duo. I own also the waves diamond and some other fx-plugins. I use software Instruments lot of the time (Komplete 6, Rob Papen, Arturia, Korg, fx-spansion). I use a lot of samples. My soundcard ist Konnekt 24d. The drivers are solid, but i was asking myself if i can improve driver-wise and sonically (sound quality). I use Krk Ergo as monitor controller and my only Speakers are the dynaudio bm12´s. I´ve noticed that i have some trouble with the translation of my mixes to other scenarios (car hi-fi, Club PA, etc.). I record thru my la-610 and the konnekt pres. Manly the la-610 for bass, the k24d for vocals. I record vocals with the se2200t in conjunction with the k24d pres (witch i really like as combo... but i´m not so experienced with Preamps). I like possibility of applying a bit (technical) EQ-ing and Compression just to get a decent level while recording. I found out that the se2200t + la.610 are not a good combo (i think it´s too much tube distorsion to my ears...).
I have 2 hardware synths: SE1X and MicroKorg. I like the Se1x for Bass and Bread&Butter sounds (i have found out that using this thing in conjunction with the la-610 sounds really good. It helped to give my mixes a solid foundation). I like the MicroKorg because it kinda sounds like the ms2000 :D. But lately i don´t use it often.
My controllers are the akai mpk49 + remote zero-sl (only for automap-automation tasks).

So this is my situation. I have aprox. 1,5k € to invest and would ask what would be better for me:

Basically the Question is: Another Interface (ff800 used) or another synth (a true analog poly (Jupiter 4 used) or master comp (culture vulture), another plugin for my UAD: Studer or Fatso (i really like the fatso and i think this could get my drums to another level). Or a second Speaker Pair ( NS10, Mixcubes, or another one that complemets my bm12´s) or a sub (bm14 used). I was thinking a lot and really need some advice... i was also Planning: When i buy a ff800 used, i can use my k24d as a preamp and monitor box (it has Rev and Ch-strip dsp inside). I could buy another 8channel adat in the future and also a 16X2 Summing box. Would this improove my sound significally?? Or would it be a better investment if i buy a good analog bus compressor (xlogic g comp or culture vulture)??

Soundwise i like the early dirty detroit sound (yeah i do a lot of SR and BC within the maschine...) I also like a very organic sound (like the buttrich stuff). I have noticed that my mixes tend so sound clean and not that round and organic. I would love to get so help of more experienced House Producers.

[maverickrenegade]

Not the most exciting thing ever, but get good monitors. You can achieve a lot when you can hear exactly what it is you're doing.. If you have any spare cash, get a moog rogue 2nd hand for bass and lead lines. Don't waste time with summing, I had a neve 8816 and some bits were lovely on it, but not all. Bit of tweaking and you can get it sounding the same ITB..

[TJP]

Originally Posted by maverickrenegade

Don't waste time with summing, I had a neve 8816 and some bits were lovely on it, but not all. Bit of tweaking and you can get it sounding the same ITB..

Yeah i was guessing it... nice to have a confirmation.

But the Monitor thing: Do you have something in mind?? I mean the bm12 are quite decent imho. I know they tend to sound quite dynamic so that it is hard to do a Mix that sounds "compact" and "clubby" in a way (witch is my main aim) ;D. But i would like to have a complementary Pair of speakers so i can switch between them and therefore mix longer and make better decisions. Do you think i lack on low-end or why do you think that the bm12´s are not that good??

Thx for your help

[TJP]

Another thing i´ve forgotten to tell: I know that my fw-interface k24d works thru a Dice II Chip. I´ve read that this chip is very precise (better that steady-clock from rme) but i´ve also read that the rme-fw chips are very solid and have the best performance. I´m on a mac so my question is: Do the rme-dirver/fw-chip have a better performance that the Dice II chip? If yeah buying a ff800 would increase the stability and performance of my hole system. Should i invest in this??

[Syncamorea]

You said that the LA-610 with the 2200t was too much tube distortion. Have you tried the LA610 at lower gain settings? On the other hand you said your mixes sound too clean so I'm thinking your idea of picking up the UAD Fatso is a good one. Ditto on the Studer and if you don't have the Massive Passive, maybe demo it and decide. Those three plugs are getting a ton of use in my mix room. They are like having a dial to turn up the groove on many tracks. It's hard to have too many flavors of compression in my opinion, so look at your options and consider plugs that allow mid-side processing.

I wouldn't worry about the interface at this time. Maybe look at a mic that will give you more variety in your current setup, like an inexpensive ribbon such as a Cascade Fathead. The trouble translating you mention could be due to acoustics issues in your room. Maybe jump into some DIY room treatments if you're in need there.

[TJP]

Hey Syncamorea! Thx for the reply. Okay i´m just about to purchase the fatso! But first i will demo it a few hours. Okay The Studer is verynice too but maybe too sublte for me now... I def. have to check out the massive passive too!

Yeah turning down the gain on the 610 is the only way to get useful takes, but still i don´t like it on vocals... to my ears the results are mutch better with the k24d pres... I love the idea of the ribbon mic. will check this out.

I´ll have a room-in.room construction with a lot of treatment. I´ve also measured with the Ergo and i´ve found out that the unit doesn´t change that much in my room. So i guess that my room doesn´t sound that bad... Still it´s not dry at all. I think that my mixing skills are not the best ones

Yeah ms has help a lot... Lately i´ll try to mix into the uad fairchild followed by a 1176 or elysia to catch the transients. But i need more experience with that setup. The main think i want to try is how the fatso will work on the drumbus to get things fatter. I have to watch out that Master and drumbus work well together... I´m also thinking to use the studer on the master at first place... but maybe this will be too much character....

But thx for the advice :D

[maverickrenegade]

Hey TJP,

I haven't used the BM12s so I don't have an opinion on them. I only suggested new speakers because you said that your mixes didn't transfer well onto other speakers..

I used RME for a bit and liked it, but then I went with Apogee and I was really impressed..

If you want to catch transients try using the Waves SSL Comp or the waves API 2500 Comp..

I you had to pick 3 things you'd want to improve in your mixing/production, what would they be?

[TJP]

Hi sry for the late answer, had a lot of work...

3 things:

1) more depth I tend to kinda sound one-dimensional
2) a bit overall character so that it sounds more credible (something like a sound-branding or something)
3) glue everything more together ... Maybe I can improve on that with a hardware master comp??

Thx for your advice