I know this topic comes up a lot, but I've been shopping around for a good microphone and a mic preamp. My budget is around $2,000 for everything, maybe a little more if I can stretch it.
Overall seems like people are happy with the RODE K2, Blue Baby Bottle, Blueberry, and Bluebird, and for Mic preamp there seems to be so many options. The Vintech X73 is more than I want to spend but people seem to like it. I thought about the Blue Robbie but cannot find much user feedback, probably because it's fairly new to the market. The other one I was checking out is the new Universal Audio LA-610 which is a full channel strip with 610 and Teletronix components. What I'm after is a mic and mic preamp that will allow me to sing softly and really warm things up nicely. Usually I sing soft and I rarely sing hard or loud. My style is mostly new age and ambient, so the overall mix is not harsh.
Can anyone either provide some feedback on their experiences with this equipment compared to others? Or why something else would be better? I appreciate ALL the help!
Regards,
MarkH
Comments
I am inclined to agree with Fletcher. I would add that everyth
I am inclined to agree with Fletcher.
I would add that everything on your list is very colored which means it may sound great or it may sound terrible when combined with your voice, your style and yourr goals so yould need a demo for sure.
I wouldn't recommend the LA-610 unless you get to try it for a period of time and compare it to a lot of other choices. The M-610 is a great mic pre for a very limited set of applications, you say you never sing loud so you won't overdrive like a lot of singers do , but it could also mean you will be subject to the noise of the tube circuit.
The LA-2 type compressor in the LA-610 is very mission specific. It is typically more of a bass compressor than vocal compressor and it has a certain vintage sound for a certain vintage vibe. There are much better sounding and flexible compressors available these days, but there is no other way to get that specific sound.
Good luck.
Steve
sdevino wrote: The M-610 is a great mic pre for a very limited
sdevino wrote:
The M-610 is a great mic pre for a very limited set of applications,The LA-2 type compressor in the LA-610 is very mission specific. It is typically more of a bass compressor than vocal compressor and it has a certain vintage sound for a certain vintage vibe.
Good luck.
Steve
I disagree .... Bill Putnam made a TON of wonderful sounding records with only 610 type pres that included all different types of musical styles & elements, from Howlin' Wolf to to Hank Williams to Count Bassie and everything in between... to state as fact, the 610 is limited in application is just wrong ... it may be a valid opinion but one mans trash is anothers treasure ... Additionally, I think EL OP comps are the best thing around (if someone mentions the Distressor one more time, I might throw up) .... so as with all things audio, it is good to listen to others opinions but in the end, YMMV ... listen for yourself before you finally commit to any choice...
On the other hand, I concure with Fletcher ... IMO, the MPNV is very flexible and is one of the best sounding mic pres currently available. Fletcher (Mercenary) will in many cases, send out a few things and then refund on any returned items as long as they are still in new condition. If you can't see / hear the stuff in your neck of the woods, work with Fletcher and he will get you where you need to be.
Kurt Foster wrote: I disagree .... Bill Putnam made a TON of won
Kurt Foster wrote: I disagree .... Bill Putnam made a TON of wonderful sounding records with only 610 type pres that included all different types of musical styles & elements, from Howlin' Wolf to to Hank Williams to Count Bassie and everything in between... to state as fact, the 610 is limited in application is just wrong ...
Yep, Bill did a whole lot of great work with original 610 pre-amps... in a couple of great sounding rooms [like the one that is once again called "Western Recorders", formerly known as "Cello", formerly known as Ocean Way]... and without the aid of Rode mics or ADK mics or Studio Projects, etc... he had like real U-47's, M-49's, C-12's, ELA M 251's [etc.]... so the pre's, while part of the equation aren't on the right of the 'equals' sign.
Fast forward 35-40 years and we have the kids building Dad's stuff with different transformers, attenuation circuits that didn't exist in the original amplifiers, with other components that weren't in the originals and basically building an entirely different unit from the original 610... but putting Dad's model number on it with ads featuring Pop's smoking a cigarette.
Sorry, it ain't the same hardware.
If anyone wants and original 610, I have one. They're OK... nothing to write home about, certainly no magic bullet... but it's OK.
well, 2k is a solid fund to start. you've got a big dilema I kno
well, 2k is a solid fund to start. you've got a big dilema I know :) you can divide the budget in two equal parts. for expl.combine amazing brent averill dmp with some stellar 1k mic . or the empirical labs mike e(channel strip) with some decent 500$ . or that mic with summit audio 2b 221 and save 1k for bad times. good luck,billy.
With a $2k budget for everything... I would recommend a Soundelu
With a $2k budget for everything... I would recommend a Soundelux "U-195" or MicroTech Gefell "M-930" for a microphone and something like a Great River "ME-1NV" which by virtue of the loading switch, impedance switch, insert point and availabilty to work the sound of the unit via gain staging should give you a myriad of options.