I need help with picking my new setup!

[jakromm]

Let me begin by introducing my current setup.

Compaq evo laptop, 1.8ghz, 1 gig ram (pc133?) and very unsure on harddrive speed, probably should look that up.
Maudio Duo USB preamp (dead, I had 2 and both are dead)
2x ADK SC-T mics, http://www.adkmic.com/specs/SC.html They are older version without the cardioid / omni switching, they are strictly cardioid

After both preamps shitted out on me, I decided its time to upgrade. I will warn you now I will have ALOT of questions, and I'll try to put them all in first post.

I am also considering sellign my laptop for more equipment money and jsut using my desktop to record (its a beast)

1.) Does recording software choice have any effect on the recording quality? Or is it just post when doing effects taht it matters? I am using Adobe Audition, is this plenty or should I upgrade?

2.) What parts are most important, mics, preamps, interface? Where should I focus money on more, will dumping alot of money into a preamp pay off, or will it be more determined by mics?

3.) This is giong to snowball into other questions. What way of interfacing with comptuer will provide me the best results? Should I just use a preamp with built in firewire support? I would like to get a stand alone preamp like the presonus bluetube http://www.presonus.com/bluetubedp.html And then interface it with computer, using a firewire interface of some sort.

This is my main issue, how to interface with the computer. I want to know which way yields better results. Using a PCI card, using a firewire preamp, and will using a preamp then interfacing through firewire be less quality then just using a straight firewire preamp?

One more question about a device like this, http://www.behringer.com/FCA202/index.cfm?lang=ENG would that hurt my signal? Is that just meant for like people dickign around with crappy stuff, or meant to be high end? I like the idea of that, but I don't want to sacrifice quality (it claims around 120db sound to noise ratio which sounds great, but I dont know how it would work in practice)

Or should I just get an m-audio Audiophile?

Also if anyone wouldnt mind could you contact me on AIM with my sn Jakromm so I can discuss one on one, I think this would help me alot.

edit: Is a 95db noise to sound acceptable on that bluetube preamp? I heard tube preamps typically have more noise, but don't know acceptable level. I should mention I am recording classical piano, which is why I thought tube preamp would be good, let me know what you think.

[frontierfran]

this is a loaded post, and if you search on here for particular aspects of your questions, you will find more info than you'll know what to do with.

ill say a couple things, and i will assume your budget from the things you've said you have/had:

I think many people might agree that order of importance if a DAW chain is: preamp, converter, mic, then software. as long as people like Bono are tracking vox while holding an SM57, I wont place mics too far up front in terms of importance, ya know? but itall about a sound your looking for.

So the presonus isnt a terrible starter preamp, but couple that with a decent interface like an RME or something, if you can afford it. if not, a digi mbox2, 002, or a MOTU isnt terrible either. get a decent dynamic mic and a half decent condenser and youre good to go. it sounds like your on the small project studio thing, so a Marshall MXL condenser mic might suit you. 57/58 is good to have as well. i don think you mentioned what mics you had. your computer sounds beefy enough to handle any LE system, so youre good there, and if your not concerned with mobiule recording, then ditch the laptop and upgrade your preamp or something. Hell, Ill sell you one of my grace design 101's if you want to step it up from the presonus. behringer doesnt make the cleanest sounding gear, but good enough if one is just learning or beginning. their headphone amp is decent.

otherwise, your post is pretty general, so be more specific as to what projects youre getting into, and budgets, and so forth...

and search too. youll find lots.

[jakromm]

Alright, let me be more specific, and explain my situation.

I am using this equipment to record classical piano in a concert hall for personal distribution and mainly for auditioning into internation competitions, so I really need the best quailty for my buck.

My budget is very hard to tell, I am figuring around 400 if I don't sell my laptop, and 700 if I do. I think my 2 mics are pretty decent and I am going to keep them, and maybe add an ADK A-51s or something smiliar. Again I have 2 mics right now ADK SC-T's.

Both of my preamps are dead right now, and I am replacing them, but at the same time re-evaluating my connection process. I don't want to jsut buy the most convenient thing, but buy the best solution, if it happens to be the convenient option then great.

I am shopping for a mic preamp, and a way to interface it with computer, wheter it is built into the preamp, or a seperate unit.

My main problem is that I read all these reviews, and a product sounds good, but It is hard to tell who these reviews are coming from, and if it will be good for my standards. Like if the product is mainly bought by people moving from onboard sound to the product sure they think it sounds amazing, but it might not really be good. Example is that behringer product I linked to, it has good reviews, but I dont know if it will be good for "pro" audio (i know its not pro but my intentions) or if its just good enough for those people recording a record onto their computer. I would still like some input on my preamp choice in my first post, and if you think buying that then interfacing it using a m-audio audiophile firewire model would have good results, and if not if you have a better interface idea.

[frontierfran]

ok. well, for your application it would be best for you to get the cleanest signal you possibly can. rock music, there is a bit of "nasty forgiveness" that can be had, but classical piano, you dont want anything but clean preamps and mics for that...

700 is tight for a nice converter and preamp. your mics sound ok already, which is good. are you looking to triple mic the piano, or double micing it then the 3rd for roomtone? i would imagine in a big hall youd like to capture some of that hall sound (be a shame not to).

again, the grace 101 preamp, which i have for sale (nudge nudge) is a good pre for your application for the buck. its SUPER clean, despite the wall wart, and virtually little coloration. pair that with a decent mic and you got a nice clean signal. so, in theory, if you got an mbox and the grace for example, you could make out fairly well. but on 700 budget youre just not going to get top notch conversion going on, so get a decent pre and an interface like mbox 2 and your good. ( i say mbox cos then at least you wont need to shell out for software, and pro tools 7 is great compared to earlier versions, plus an mbox youll get digital input, midi, and 2 "mildly usable" pres in addition.)

[jakromm]

I already have adobe audition. How much would you want for your preamp? You think I should use that preamp with a mic like http://www.adkmic.com/specs/A-51s.html and pass that along to lets say mbox (dont know if I can afford it though) where I have my 2 small condensors hooked into, and maybe do a MS-stereo style of micing, then of course run that to PC. I thought that tube preamps were supposed to be preferred in classical music becuase of the warmth they add, still no opinion on that bluetube preamp? I was thinking of running that to mbox with earlier mics.

How about this instead of the mbox http://www.presonus.com/firebox.html

edit: can you suggest a slightly lower end of the mbox that has good performance? I know, I'm poor. I think the quality of piano and room will be able to help make up for it though.

[frontierfran]

the presonus pre is on par with the built in mbox2 pres.
ill take $400 for the grace. add another $300 or so for the mbox and your in your limits.

tube pres add color with that warmth, which may be fine for classical. I've just heard that with classical and orchestra recordings, you usually want clean clean uncolored clean.

ur not going to get a much cheaper feature/performace to price ratio than the mbox, unfortunately. behringer i think put out an interface, and i can almost guarantee it wont get cheaper than that. look into it...but dont expect gold sound.

[warhead]

An M-Audio DMP3 preamp is worth a listen on a super low budget. Very clean, decent preamps.

The Saffire from Focusrite = not a bad box to choose either.

When the Echo Audiofire2 / Audiofire4 come out I expect them to be a new "go to" as far as clean conversion on the budget end of things.

War

[frontierfran]

agreed.
hey War, does the saphire use the same pres as in the mbox?