Project studio tracking chain ideas - medium price range

[musictech]

I'll be upgrading and streamlining my studio next year, and am thinking about putting together a medium price range tracking channel with pre-amp and compressor that will give me a wide range of tracking sounds/color in my professional project studio.

I think the Focusrite Liquid Channel looks like a cool idea, but would have to wait for some real world feedback on it and get a unit to test out. Pendulum Quartet 2 looks very cool, but $5000 might be a bit much to justify at this time.

After lurking a long time and reading posts here and other groups/forums, I'm thinking that the Great River 1NV would be a nice pre-amp, and then follow that by either a Distressor or a Trakker.

Any ideas on this? Preferences for Distressor or Trakker if I can only pick one at this time?

I also have an RNP/RNC combo that I'll probably keep, which will give me that particular flavor.

The majority of the time I'm tracking vocals here, followed closely by Acoustic Guitar, then some electric guitar, and on occasion some saxophone or other solo horns and instruments.

My current mic collection consists of Neumann TLM 193 & 103, AT 4033 and 4031, Studio Projects C1, SM57 (2), and Sennheiser MD421mkII.

I don't do drums or large groups here. Just vocals and solo instruments in a dead Whisper Room booth (6' x 6').

I need a combo that can be very clean and open sounding, but that I can also add some nice color and attitude with when needed.

Thoughts and suggestions greatly appreciated. The above mentioned units would fit into my budget.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING everyone, and thanks in advance for any help!

Steve

[NathanEldred]

Originally posted by musictech
Any ideas on this? Preferences for Distressor or Trakker if I can only pick one at this time?

The majority of the time I'm tracking vocals here, followed closely by Acoustic Guitar, then some electric guitar, and on occasion some saxophone or other solo horns and instruments.

Based on the criteria you have given here (more acoustic sources in general), I would recommend the Trakker quite a bit over the Distressor. I love the Distressor, but I use it on things that I want to be made in-your-face and more aggressive, like highly distorted guitar cabs and close mic'ed rock drums. The Trakker is a lot more subtle and 'hi-fi', but can still give you a little bit of attitude if needed.

Originally posted by musictech


I also have an RNP/RNC combo that I'll probably keep, which will give me that particular flavor.

After lurking a long time and reading posts here and other groups/forums, I'm thinking that the Great River 1NV would be a nice pre-amp.

The Great River 1NV is a nice preamp, and more importantly very different than the RNP that you already have (In general the NV has more coloration, more lows & a slightly less airy top than the RNP), so you won't be in a redundant situation by having two similar sounding pieces.

[musictech]

Thanks Nathan!

Any other opinions or suggestions? Anything else I should be considering in the same price range?

[NathanEldred]

Originally posted by musictech
Thanks Nathan!

Any other opinions or suggestions? Anything else I should be considering in the same price range?

There is never a shortage of good pieces in any relatively high end price range, but I think you are on the right track for the reasons I stated above.

[tunesmith]

Nathan, can you think of a better front end / track re-amping / EQ sweetning / 2 bus compressor chain for a demo / project studio than a pair of STT-1's? My budget is about 6-7k. I do not, I repeat DO NOT have other good outboard gear. This is my first foray into truly pro audio, not prosumer gear. I need something that's as close to a swiss army knife as I can get, although I know such a thing does not exist.

I would really like to be able to go stereo, although the preamp could be mono for most of my current applications.

Go!



Tunes

[NathanEldred]

Originally posted by tunesmith
Nathan, can you think of a better front end / track re-amping / EQ sweetning / 2 bus compressor chain for a demo / project studio than a pair of STT-1's? My budget is about 6-7k. I do not, I repeat DO NOT have other good outboard gear. This is my first foray into truly pro audio, not prosumer gear. I need something that's as close to a swiss army knife as I can get, although I know such a thing does not exist.

I would really like to be able to go stereo, although the preamp could be mono for most of my current applications.

Go!



Tunes

That's definitely one viable option. There are also other options in your price range for a stereo preamp/EQ/compressor setup (actually room for 4 preamps, 2 EQ's and 2 compressors). If you only need a single preamp, you have a hell of a lot of wiggle room for the processing too. The kind of music you do and instruments you record would influence my suggestions as well.

[tunesmith]

I will be recording vocals mostly...

BUT, I do a lot of programming / sound design, so I want to be able to reamp / compress / EQ track elements in stereo.

Mostly pop / rock kind of stuff.

Got any suggestions?

Thanks