More !!!!

Also thinking about a decent ribbon mic for cutting fiddle with. Royer 121 any other suggestions to go with the above ???
David B.

How to go?

Sounds like you've laid-in a nice stock of stuff so far..? Nuendo, nice computer, Layla's, Sebatron, Groove Tubes, all hard to beat.

What else?

4-5 g's sounds like the world and all, budget-wise, to me! Though, it wouldn't allow one to buy BOTH a single channel Doug Fern pre AND his tube compressor(If "great" is neccessary, that's where I'd start, though again, not with this budget...). Hummm. A pendulum audio Quartet! "Only" 3 grand! And then, what for mics?(As they might say in the PA Dutch Country, where I live.). Certainly, something rare and fabulous, but, after the Quartet(Certainly after either part of the Fern picture!), no money left for a mic "worthy" of the pres?

So where.....?

I guess, if I was you... I'd try what I have and see how it sounds. Matter of fact, I'd track through the Spirit, using it's pre's at first, using the mics I have to hear what I get. Then, if there were tracks that sounded like they could be improved, I'd get out one of the ooutboard pre's and give it a shot, then the other pre, trying all the different mics and pick the best takes. It would be "0" surprise to me that the 57's and the Spirit pre's would find their comfy niche, more than once.

EQ? Compression? Effects? I think your budget would allow for a fair number of nice 3rd. party "plug-ins" for Nuendo, at least comparable to the RNC's? I'd record "dry" if at all possible and add effects "in the mix" - though I know it is convenient, maybe even neccessary, at times, to do a little going in, which you still may be able to do with the computer alone? Or pick up an RNC, and give it a try.

Other mics? I, personally, would have at least one EV RE-20 and one AKG C414B ULS - just because. With their factory shock mounts, less than 1300 for the both of them. The EV-20 might make a good "kick" mic? The 414 should be good on everything else you throw at it(Including as a "backed-away", second kick mic?)... I don't "know" your mic contingent, so can't comment...(Well, the 57's, which are fine for lots of things, though you already may have better than they for specific situations.).

I wonder about your speakers? I just don't know the Blue Sky desk monitors?(They look cool! That I know.). Just seems that if I was going to get serious, recording... Well, I just don't know...... I will look them up. Maybe they are really fine? I truly don't know. The term "desk monitor" alone, kind've scares me..... Sounds like "computer speakers"??? Like my Yamaha YST-MS50's(100 bucks). GREAT! For 100 bucks, but..?

To kill your dollars, I guess if you are happy with your speakers, I'd suggest two(2) C414's and two singles(Or one double) John Hardy preamp(s). Though I wonder how much real difference you'd hear over what you already have pre and mic-wise?

So. Where are we?

Yeah. 5 grand.

1 Pendulum Quartet. Usable with it's own EQ/comp, etc.(Or hard-wire bypassable as a nice tube mic pre only.).

Plus -

1 John Hardy single channel pre - Maybe with the custom Jenson option? I don't know? Like to have one with, one without? What I plan to do is ask JH if he could put both options in the same box, with a switch!

1 C414B ULS. Fantabulous for nearly everything. Not the latest! But, definitely the greatest. The SM-57 of fine, affordable, condenser mics. Or the SM-57 is the C414 of fine, affordable dynamics? - Whatever... Really, thats why I also want an RE-20 - it compares so well, dynamically, with the C414.

I think you could do all three for 5 g's? Twist the right dealers arm and they might even throw in an RE-20???

Or, just upgrade the speakers so you could at least hear - well - how everything else sounds and get everything you already have as right as it can be. On the speakers, any number of them could suck-up all your money, no prob. A nice pair of DynAudio 15's, perhaps - with the sub! Maybe overbudget? Just the 15's, maybe...

How about.....? 2,500 of your coin into the room accoustics and the other 25 c's into a nice set of speakers?

So many ways to spend your money.

This stuff is fun!

TG

Decent ribbon! Ooh! Ooh!(My hand is up and waving!!! Mr. Kottah, Mr. Kottah!). Beyer Dynamic makes one - the M160??? Cheap!, like 300 bucks??? Looks funny! Disparaged by some, but not by all! BUY ONE, so you can tell me how it is! C'mon, you got the money...

TG

Any other takers on this one..........Kurt ??

Anybody else care to chime in on this one.............Kurt ????