Do I Really Need a Great River Pre?

> > > Do I Really Need a Great River Pre?

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Member Since: Oct 30, 2007

I'm new here, so please be gentle.

I'm a non-pro, home recording "hobbyist" (for lack of a better term). I record mostly vocals and acoustic guitar (some bass) into a Korg D1600 DAW (no computer) using an inexpensive MXL v57m LDC mic into an ART tube pre. I just sold some old gear, and have some $ to upgrade my pre (and maybe mic).

I know a couple of folks that rave about the Great River ME-1NV pre, and I do like the idea of gain-staging so I can dial in just the amount of color I want (I do prefer a little "warmth" to "extra bright").

But I can't help thinking that for half the price of the Great River pre a FMR RNP and RNC would be a nice upgrade from my $69 ART pre, and would be all I would need.

So now I'm torn between throwing everything I've got at the $1000 Great River pre or going for the FMR pre + comp, and having enough left over to start mic shopping.

What do you folks think. I know it's completely subjective, but I can really use some direction here.

Thanks.

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Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002

Oct 30, 2007 03:58 pm

for your "hobby" do you think you need to spend $1000? I don't...

Member
Since: Jan 24, 2006

Oct 30, 2007 04:00 pm

No way you need it for Home-hobby use. No way you need to spend $500 either. Most likely you'll end up with MP3 and the advantages are lost even if the average listener can hear them in the first place.

That $1000 could be spent on a nice mic + a great recording interface, maybe some stereo mics for recording guitar.

If you really want to throw the money away just give it to me and I'll tell you that the your songs sound better :)

Member
Since: Oct 30, 2007

Oct 30, 2007 04:45 pm

Your point's well taken. The project we're working on is a combination of originals and covers that we plan to turn into a cd for our friends and family, so I guess if I could get a good capture using a tin can with a string attached, that would be fine.

I guess as a "hobby", I still want to produce better recordings, so I read, ask a lot of dumb questions to improve my technique, and when I've got some extra money I like to put it towards better gear (just like many of my friends spend lots a dough on new golf clubs -- they're not headed to the PGA tour).

Anyway, the ART pre I've been using is a little noisy, and I thought trying a better pre, and a better mic would be good additions to my studio.

I guess I needed a little sense knocked into me regarding the Great River pre (I think a lot of "gear heads" need a good slap every now and then). So maybe you might suggest a good pre and LDC mic combination that would be a good step up for me.

Don't know if this helps, but here's a link to one of the songs that's going to be on the cd:
www.bonxo.com/detail.php?id=VNE1654

Member
Since: Jan 24, 2006

Oct 30, 2007 05:11 pm

Hey there, I'm in no way knocking your wish to spend money aka "Gear Lust" but I think you could get a lot more bang for your buck. Your listeners won't be able to tell the difference between that preamp and the one's that come on a $200 Line6 Toneport or similar.

Can't help you with dedicated preamps though :)

Send your songs to my show www.homemadehitshow.com at [email protected]

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002

Oct 30, 2007 05:33 pm

Better gear won't always make better quality songs, I suggest perhaps learning to use the gear you have to it's fullest...we have people here that make great music with a SoundDisaster card, an 8 channel Behringer mixer, and SM57 and a freeware tracking app than I can with all the gear I have had...

> > > Do I Really Need a Great River Pre?

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