Home Studio Hardware Upgrades - So Many Choices

One of these:
https://www.amazon.com/LabelManager-Handheld-Label-Maker-1790415/dp/B005X9VZ70/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1473421432&sr=8-2&keywords=label+maker
 
With THIS Tape:
https://www.amazon.com/DYMO-Standard-LabelManager-cartridge-40910/dp/B00004Z5WG/ref=pd_sim_229_7?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=SCGWH12P6DAVGC0TBTNJ
 
Should work and look pretty good.  You only see the actual tape close up...
 
Just a thought....And you can use it with the tape that came with it (black on white) for studio clean up...wire labels etc.
 
 
 
Uhh, never mind brain faded out... I replied to this when I meant to reply elsewhere...Senior Moment.....Aging musician....Please ignore

patm300e
One of these:
 
Should work and look pretty good.  You only see the actual tape close up...
 
Just a thought....And you can use it with the tape that came with it (black on white) for studio clean up...wire labels etc.

 
Huh?
 

The Warm stuff is outstanding, so anything you grab there is outstanding.  2 WA Pultecs would be perfect to complement the RNC for buss work, although matching un- and balanced ins/outs could introduce noise.  I wouldn't let that stop me, tho.  The 2 WA comp units are great effects comps, but not standard master-buss fare. 
 
Depending on your needs, I would skip a lower-cost board if you want to go for the highest quality possible, esp. for going in.  I am really happy with the TASCAM UH-7000, which is a superb quality unit that punches above its weight.  Great converters and really excellent pres, too.  Precise and clean, opposite of the GAP, which makes for a good combo.  A really good deal for $400 and you can probably run it in tandem (spdif) with your quad.  Of course, if you need more than 4 inputs, it doesn't help as much.
 
Sorry to muddy up the waters even more.  Good hunting.

Ya, not sure why you would add a "mixer" to that chain unless it was on par with the rest. 
I use a mixer for monitoring,, but not in the signal path going in,,, only going out. 
And I myself am lusting after the Tascam UH 7000. I keep reading stellar reviews about the pre amps. 

Zargg71
Hi. You are probably good to go as you are.
But I have, and would like to suggest a Drawmer MXPRO 60 (front end one), into a RME Ucx.

 
Given the sparse amount of time I spend in the studio these days you may be right:)  The RME gear is too pricey for me.  I'll keep that Drawmer in mind though.
 
p.s.  I guess Drawmer is of the opinion that it's better to Compress before EQ.  Interesting.
 

Mosvalve
I just upgrade my signal chain as follows: Motu 828MK3 >Warm TB12 ToneBeast Pre >Warm WA76 Comp.
Can't go wrong with the Warm Audio stuff. Soon I am incorporating the Pultec Eq.
 
The pre's on the 828 are nice also. I also use a Presonus D8 Pre as well.

Thanks.  I'm seriously looking at that 828mk3, but also the UltraLite-mk3.  Other than the number of I/O's, I don't see much difference between the two.  The UltraLite is $200 less at Sweetwater.

olemon
I'm limited by the gear I already own and by the money I'm willing to spend, up to $1500 maybe, but I'm considering an improved external signal chain for recording vocals and guitar and being able to use the same hardware as external inserts in SPlat.
 
At the moment I'm thinking that a decent analog mixer with Channel Inserts like the Mackie 1402 VLZ4 or the Allen & Heath ZED14 may work for recording, but the Quad Capture only has a pair of TRS Outputs, so when it comes to using External Inserts with SPlat, that's a problem, isn't it?  The single USB 3.0 on my laptop is dedicated to the external HDD, so a USB 2.0 Interface is required.
 
Existing recording chain:  GAP Pre73 -> FMR RNC (Insert on Pre73) -> Quad Capture
 
Option 1:  GAP Pre73 -> Warm Audio Pultec -> Mixer -> FMR RNC (Insert on Mixer) -> Quad Capture
Option 2:  GAP Pre73 -> Warm Audio Pultec -> Warm Audio WA2A or WA76 -> Quad Capture
Option 3:  GAP Pre73 -> Warm Audio Pultec -> Warm Audio WA2A or WA76 -> New Interface
Option 4:  ???
 
Does one need a pair of external units to process and return a stereo signal?
 
Thanks for your time:)

Unless you're going to spend a lot, your current front-end chain is pretty good.
I'd avoid an external mixer.  The shorter the signal path, the better your ultimate fidelity.
 
If want/need more I/O, I'd look at a higher-end audio interface.
That combined with option 3 from above would be fantastic (especially if you had both LA-2A and 1176).
 
If you didn't already have front-end gear, I'd suggest checking out the Neve Portico II channel strip.
Mic-pre, 4-band EQ, and compressor are all world-class.
Mics that sound "strident" with mediocre preamps suddenly sound large/focused.
The compressor does both softer and more aggressive compression (LA-2A and 1176 ish).
It's a budget buster (~$2750), but the quality/versatility is as good as it gets.
 

AT
Yea Jim, the Portico II  is the most flexible front end I've come across and covers about every function one needs.  It is hard to make it sound bad.  But it costs.

It's fantastic sounding on DI electric bass too!
I'm trying to find something (significant) I can liquidate to help fund a second.  
 

Let us know what you end up with, and how you like it. It might help others in your situation.
All the best.

brconflict
Something to consider for cash spending on upgrades is to spend in this order of impact:

1) talent/instruments/amps/research
2) mics
3) monitors
4) room
5) cabling/connections
6) pre-amp
7) A/D
8) Better power conditioning/cabling


In this order, you'll work toward better results. This assumes you're investing in improvements vs. just starting out. Many times, starting out, even just a cheap, but decent pre-amp is enough to get you through until you've made yourself a better environment (1-5), for example.

 
Sound advice, pun intended.  So far, the cash remains in my pocket....
 

An update, just in case someone cares:)

I just returned the Motu UltraLite Mk3. Thankfully, Sweetwater is giving me a credit, even after three months, so the search for a new A/I continues. My initial impressions of the Motu were mostly positive. Solid and well built, easy to install and setup with SPlat. To my ears it sounded better than my Quad Capture, more clear, more crisp. I wasn't crazy about the knobs on the front panel though. The group of four on the right side are too close together. The trim and volume knobs are better spaced, but still a little tough to access. The real problem had to do with CueMix, the Windows app and in the A/I itself. At times the Input meters on the app registered no signal even while the meters on the A/I itself were dancing. At other times the Mixes tab on the app was locked up and/or I couldn't get audio to the phones. Motu suggested reinstalling software, repairing driver, swapping the usb cable, the usual. That might fix the Meters temporarily, until the next time. Never could resize the CueMix window. After another frustrating attempt to sort it out over the holidays I called Sweetwater.

I haven't given up on Motu altogether. The Mk4's are slightly redesigned and the new 624 looks good too. I prefer the hybrid footprint. CueMix has been updated or replaced or renamed on these newest interfaces.

Another option is the RME UCX, but that's bigger bucks.

On another note, I did pick-up a Summit Audio TLA-50 and two decent mics, the Sure SM7B and the SM81.