I would buy a nice big fat tube pre amp or channel strip :) Your gear is pretty good actually. The presonus pres aren't too bad in there, but they're a little sterile for something like vocals. How much do you want to spend?

Yeah, a tube pre amp would be a nice addition and something that will make heads turn.
We need to know how much you want to throw down on some real gear.
Something like a Vipre would be nice, or a Sebatron Thorax, or a Millennia ST-1, but those are really nice, what do you want? Something nice or something not near as nice?
We need to know how much $$$$ you got?

Thanks for the replies guys i had a feeling i would hear tube pre :wink: . I actually dont have a limit but i dont plan on spending more than $3000. What would be my best bet? A channel strip would prolly be easier but then i wouldnt have that range of different preamps right?

Now your talking. $3000 will get you something killer, and maybe even have a little change left over. (key word there is maybe)

If you go with a Groove Tubes Vipre, I wanted to share that they sell for almost $2800 new, BUT if you watch ebay, you can get super deals on practically brand new units that are a fraction of the price. I've seen some Vipre's on ebay go for as little as $1600 (and that's the winning bid)
Now if you want to get something like an API 3124, then you will have 4 awesome pre's, instead of just 1 awesome pre.
Guess the next thing you need to ponder is...

"How many pre amp's do you want in your rack?"

For instance if you went with a Sebatron, you need to decide if you want 1 or 2 or 4 pre amp's. And the more you buy the better the over all price is "per pre amp".
There are also unit's with twin topology, like the Millennia, and the SSL XLogic has a simular design, with a different approach. These units have 2 different types of inputs. But you can only use 1 type at a time. They both are on ebay from time to time as well, at a great deal from the usual price.
The D.W. Fearn stuff has a nice reputation. And Chandler is a BIG favorite in reguards to high end /top notch gear as well. All of these suggestions are in your price range.

If you cared...I went through this same phase a year ago. I had $5000 to spend and I opted for an API 3124+ (four channel) and a Great River MP2NV (two channel). Which gave me 6 channels for around $5000.

Ok Here is my honest opinion here, I briefly scanned your gear, and you dont have a good vocal mic. The Rode NT1a is the cheapie verion of the NT1000 if memory serves me correct. I use an NTK, and am pleased with it. If I were in your shoes I would get something like the GT Brick, which will also serve as a DI, and a better voacl mic, maybe a Blue baby bottle, an NTK, something. That mic, and pre package would run you less than a grand.

That mic is "the weakest link"...
You might look at an AT4050 which would give you some selectable pattern options, seeing that your rooms are treated. That would also leave enough $$$ left over for a nice Sebatron Thorax or even a Drawmer 1969. The 1969 is a dual-channel tube pre/DI/EQ/compressor that will cover many tasks. It sounds great, is versatil, reliable, and looks great, to boot!

Eleganceofadream wrote: I own some tannoy reveal active monitors. .

I would suggest you spend most of your budget on some better full range monitors.

If you have enough left over, consider a Beyer M160 ribbon mic which will "warm up" your sound nicely when you need to.

(y)

I'm in a very similiar situation with basically the same gear. And rather than skimp on a mic package (mic + pre) I put all of my budget into the mic, the Rode K2. I just love this freakin mic. So now I'm at the point where I need to nail these tracks going in - mic pre & compressor / limiter. I have been looking at, way under your 3,000.00 budget though-

Summit Audio 2BA-221 (flexibility tube/solid state)
Grace 101 (straight clean, unweighted, all-arounder)

Can you bypass the Firepod's preamps?