Hey Dean, thanks for the comments. I have a question. The portico 5012 is a dual channel pre. You don't think that would work?

If I wanted to go with the U87 and ditch the Kiwi, what would be another mic with a different color that you'd recommend?

One other thing that I'd like to add that I had originally posted. This set up will basically solely be used for our trio's writing/ recording projects. Which is country/folk.

Thanks again..

Hi liv4ree,
Oh...well I'll be...so it is. Well that's cool (and now I kinda want one dammit). Yep, should work fine.

re: the Kiwi - I don't own one, but I do own  some 414's which, from what I read, is more or less the flavor the Kiwi is doing. The thing about the Kiwi is it's a solid state LDC, as is the 87. Were it me and I was getting a pair of LDC's, I'd likely be looking at a solid state and a tube mic (unless I was getting a matched pair)...that way you cover more sonic territory. I own a Blue Bottle Rocket Stage II that I quite like, and it certainly gives a different flavor than a U87, particularly with (e.g.) a B7 cap.

Now, I'm not saying that the Kiwi is going to sound like an 87...it probably won't and I don't own one so I can't say one way or another. But if you got a tube mic to go with the 87 you would likely be covering a wider spectrum than you will be with a pair of solid state LDC's. It's really just a matter of versatility. 

Another option is a ribbon, though (IMHO) they're not as versatile as LDC's. I own a couple ribbons and, while I like them, if I had to choose between my ribbons and my LDC's I'd keep the LDC's every time.

I know I keep saying this, so my apologies, but really try out stuff first if you can...even if you have to spend a couple hundred bucks to do so. A plane ticket to a place that you can demo stuff is cheaper than a $3000 piece of gear that you hate. Believe me, I've found that out the hard way.

Dean

Thanks Dean.

liv4ree


Hey all. Looks like I have a wind fall coming. Going to be upgrading my studio in the new year. I've spent a ton of time researching the items that I'm going to be purchasing. One item that I can't decide on is my audio interface. First let me explain my situation. I only record the trio that I'm in. We write and record our own material, Folk/Country. We record acoustic guitars, banjo, flute, harmonica, electric guitars (direct, no amps), percussion, if we use drums on a tune, I use EZ drummer, vocals, and bass (direct).    I haven't upgraded my set up for about 4 or 5 years. I'm totally replacing what I have now, and I have a pretty sweet budget. 30,000.00.
Here's what I have on my list thus far, but can't decide on my audio interface. Was looking at the apollo quad, and the fireface ufx. 

The rackmount pro rack from studiocat  
Matched Pair of Neumann KM183 primarily for acoustic guitars, banjo
Blue Microphones Kiwi Vocals
LA-610 pre/comp
LA2A comp 
1176 pre 
API The Channel Strip pre/comp/eq 
Shure sm7 
Neumann TLM 49 
sE Electronics Reflexion Filter 
Avid Eleven Rack (guitar effects)
Avid Eleven Rack Expansion Pack 
Avid eleven rack Expression Pedal 
Yamaha HS80M studio monitors 

Fostex TP50 headphones
I'm going to keep my current headphone amp.
Studiocat offers both the apollo and fireface so they must have great drivers.
Thanks guys..

Buy a new compter with Windows 7 x64 or Windows 8x64 include 2x 28HD monitors or better. That should be your first priority before you consider anything else. You still use XP32 today?
 
Secondly. Buy new audio interface.
RME MADI FX or RayDAT (PCIexpress card + best drivers)
http://www.rme-audio.de/en_products_hdspe_madi_fx.php
http://www.rme-audio.de/en_products_hdspe_raydat.php

Hooked up to-----> SSL Alpha Link
http://www.solid-state-logic.com/music/xlogic%20alpha-link/

or Lynx Aurora 16
http://www.lynxstudio.com/product_detail.asp?i=1



Or perhaps UAD Apollo. Be aware that Apollo's routing isn't the best. Its really stupid controlpanel if you want to hook up hardware.
http://www.uaudio.com/apollo
 
 
 
 
For the third.
Buy a new Monitors. EVENT OPAL or ADAM better series. + Softwares Nomad Factory and Waves plugins, Melodyne.
 http://www.eventelectronics.com/opal
 
  
 
For the fourth.
MIC Manley Reference Cardioid Microphone  http://www.manley.com/refcard.php
 
Hooked up to a----> Manley VOICBOX http://www.manley.com/mvbx.php
 
 
Five 
Forget UAD 1176 get better stuff like Daking, Daking FET III http://www.transaudiogroup.com/daking/fet-iii.shtml
and
http://www.elysia.com/
 
 
 
Six
 
Dangerous 2bus  make great stuff too! But do you really need it? I mean this talk about you need to sum outside its just a myth.
Any analog gear color the sound period. 
 
 
Seven
Often cheap stuff bad, high end stuff sound great but it isn't always true! 
 
ART PRO VLAII is kind of cheap stuff that sound really good too! Check it out!
http://artproaudio.com/art_products/signal_processing/tube_compressors/product/pro_vla_ii/
 
  allround mic SM57 or SM58

Thanks Freddie.,,,

liv4ee: ive been following this post . Freddie's list is bang on !! clearly cutting edge !!

My opinion is our mic choices are a little sterile...not a HUGE difference between the Nuemann and the Blue...and with the Sm7 you really are kinda hitting the same frequency range...

Not a fan of the newer U87 ai ...nor am I a fan of Blue...and the TLM49 is another FET design if I'm not mistaken...

If it were me I would change one of those.

The Sm7 is a great product.

The Manley is a good suggestion, but I prefer Cathedral over Manley any day since I know Chucks work, but the main point here is to get some "tube" into the tool-box somewhere.

I second the lack of need for the Dangerous stuff, great concept, over-hyped and WAAAY expensive compared to the actual stuff inside the box...(analog is really mostly a bunch and bunch of wire...transformers etc...bottom line its not made of gold...its just wire)...the idea is good if you plan on mastering your own stuff, but honestly there's plenty to do without trying to reinvent the wheel...I've seen stuff go to MAJOR mastering houses with super expensive listening set-ups and come back to us completely butchered...we fixed it on a set of Rokits and the client (and mastering house) wanted to know how we fixed it...(we used an actual console---with our Lynx stuff, go figure).

I think as I survey your list you're pretty much there but have kind of limited your tools to one flavor...of course I am a bit of a tube freak and prefer the real over the digital any day, but I also build a lot of my stuff.

Bottom line is to give yourself some options in the recording chain...if you are not doing a LOT of channels in at once, (folk/acoustic/country/etc) then having more tools to work with with is mo' better...

If you run into a scenario with some harsh acoustic instruments, like a really bright guitar or fiddle, perhaps a shrill voice, then the clean pre's (API) and brit styles (Neve) are not going to tame those sources, thats why I suggest something tubey...

Look around there's some good stuff at Manley, Greg Hanks makes a 660 that you will draw clients with...as a channel strip you could eliminate all the UA stuff and just get his...

My final opinion...to many FET mics, and not enough tube stuff...

Thanks Billy Bob, the TLM49 is a tube mic. I had decided against the dangerous 2 bus. It gets allot of great reviews, but it's allot of money for what you get. I'll take a look at the Manley stuff. And will also look at Freddies suggestions. Does the Lynx stuff have good/great drivers? I read allot of really good reviews about it. 

Wow, the Greg Hanks BA-660 will seriously set you back a few bucks...

Actually if I am not mistaken the TLM49 is a FET emulation of a tube mic...it was based on the M49 which was a tube I believe, but the "TL" stands for transformerless...and you can pretty much tell its not a tube mic because it does not come with a separate PSU to heat up the tube.


While it does use the same capsule...the design is different, nothing wrong with a condenser like this....but for the money you're in tube-price-land and could actually get a decent knock off for maybe a 1/4 of the cost...


They do some sneaky adverting by comparing it to a tube design...but it is solid state.