what to buy next...?

Posted on

Member Since: Nov 15, 2007

Hi! I have about €900 to spend on new gear , so I'm wondering... What to get next? My home studio goes like this:

PC:
Cubase SX3 on Dual Core Intel, 3gb ram with some nice plugins

+MOTU Traveler

Monitors:
EVENT TR-8 XL

Outboard:
2x Joemeek ThreeQ,
Drawmer DL231 compressor

MICS:
SM-57, Beta58, Sennheiser Blackfire518
AKG C3000B, Neumann TLM 103, 2xSamson CO2, 2xJoemeek JM37

My room has been treated acoustically with wavepanels foam and I will soon have some bass traps built.

So, what do you think I should buy next? Maybe a good pre? What do you suggest?


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Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Dec 27, 2007 09:12 am

Questions like this crack me up...I mean, I understand the intent, which is all good, but to me, the bottom line is if you have to ask, then you don't really need anything...when you need something, you'll discover it...

Member
Since: Nov 15, 2007


Dec 27, 2007 09:38 am

Ok, maybe my question was not as clear as I thought. What I really meant was: I think that a better pre would improve my recordings. The pres on the MOTU are good, but do you think that a pre around 900€ would give me a noticeable improvement?


Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Dec 27, 2007 09:40 am

It could, but the sound is just as much in the engineer as it is the gear, I know a few guys with all the greatest everything, they still suck...I also know some guys with very entry-level gear that make phenomenal recordings...

I will always suggest people get by with what they have and learn to get the most from it until they realize they CAN'T...it makes you a better engineer.

Member
Since: Nov 15, 2007


Dec 27, 2007 09:49 am

I totally agree. Ok, maybe I'll spend that money on a trip to Egypt :P

Anyway, everytime a song is finished I always think that the vocal track sucks. Maybe it's the singer... Anyway, I'm waiting for some advice from this community, since I posted two songs. Hope I can learn something! Thanks.

Czar of Turd Polish
Member
Since: Jun 20, 2006


Dec 27, 2007 11:47 am

I think your vocal tone is pretty good. I like to use some delay (15-20% wet) to set things in the mix but yours are far from sucky.

Czar of Turd Polish
Member
Since: Jun 20, 2006


Dec 27, 2007 11:47 am

Deleted By CptTripps

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Member
Since: Jan 28, 2003


Dec 27, 2007 02:09 pm

So, I'm listening to little ann. On the vocals, I'd say, i'm not sure what you're looking for. They don't sound super over produced, if thats the sound you're looking for, well, I don't know how to achieve it. I would say that they are pretty out front during the verse, but for the bridge/hook when the extra guitars come in, they kinda get overwhelmed and don't shine through the mix. Maybe I would experiment with compressing and boosting in the mix the delay you have on the lead vocals during the verses (for personal taste I would prolly move the delay more to the center too). Also, I really like the way it sounds when you double up the vocals on the verses (noticed it specifically in the first verse). I bet if you threw some multiband compression on the master, you could find a setting where the vocals and guitars evened themselves out a bit. But overall the sound of your vocals is good, my comments are just nit picky.

On Seven days, the vocals are not really shining through the mix as much as I would want them to. I think maybe they might be compressed slightly much. Maybe they just need a bit of boost in volume? I really like the vocoder touch you put in here and there. That's awesome. These songs are pretty effing polished. Congrats.

You've got some pretty nice gear. For a nice solid state pre, I will vouch for the grace line. I have a model 101 which I think you can still get for about $600 which I guess is around 400 pounds??? I think they have a 606 unit which is the same, but more inputs (and much more bank). I use the Model 101 with the neumann tlm 103, and I really like the sound that comes out of it. I do mostly rap vocals though...

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Dec 27, 2007 08:18 pm

I'll ask what mic or mic's your using on vocals before I make any comments on possible gear?

Listening to the tracks now. I'll pop back tonight or tomorrow with some comments. But on quick listen to the Seven Days track I'll also ask if you are using EQ while recording or just recording straight up and processing vocals in the DAW?

As well, are you EQing any of the instruments as they are being recorded?

If so, you might try recording them completely dry and then EQing and such after they are recorded in the DAW.

I'll be back with more comments later.

Member
Since: Nov 15, 2007


Dec 28, 2007 03:52 am

Thanks a lot for your comments!
Well, I usually don't EQ the instruments as they are being recorded. Sometimes I just add a bit of hi-end to the vocals with the ThreeQ, but I don't need that as far as I use the MOTU pres, because they sound much more "pristine" than the JoeMeek.
The vocals are recorded with the Neumann TLM103 into the JoeMeek, and a ESI Esp 1010 Soundcard (my old soundcard).

As far as the vocals go, my singer is obsessed with vocals "buried in the mix". Maybe it's some sort of reaction to italian pop music (we come from italy), where the vocals are always very loud and up front. Who knows.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Dec 28, 2007 08:07 pm

Have you tried running the mic straight into the MOTU without going through the Joe Meek unit? The fewer cables and boxes in the sginal chain will help keep the sound of the TLM clear and clean.

Member
Since: Nov 15, 2007


Dec 29, 2007 08:53 am

That's what I do now! But when I recorded those 2 songs I didn't have the MOTU, I used an ESI Esp1010 and the Meek was my only choice, since I couldn't go straight into the ESI! I like how the MOTU pre sounds! I really appreciate your comments! Thanks.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Dec 29, 2007 04:59 pm

I love my ESP 1010, but I am going to it from a mixing desk with decent pre's so I don't have a need for an out board pre. As well if I want the sound of a high end pre amp I use the Line 6 UX-2 which has some killer pre amp models in it and then go directly into the 1010 with that as well. Or record through it directly to disk.

You do have a very good set up with what you have for now. And if your happy with the pre's on the MOTU then I would try to think of another mic you would like to add to your gear. The money you have set aside can get you a decent pre if that is really what you want. It could as well be used toward a dedicated recording channel which is a combination of things you already have though.

Member
Since: Nov 15, 2007


Dec 30, 2007 07:51 am

Maybe a mic would be useful, I can get a good mic with that money. Maybe with a selectable polar pattern.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Dec 30, 2007 04:32 pm

Oh ya, you can get a very good mic of that type for that money.

Have a look at the K58 tube condesner here. www.karmaaudio.com/products.html

For $600 US you can buy a matched pair if that will help out. Otherwise there are a few other choices out there as well. You can drop the whole wad on a single mic as well from the likes of Nuemman or Telefunken.

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