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Hey everyone! New to the forum, but I've been at this a while now. I recently purchased a house with a finished detached garage (a-frame, 20'+ ceiling) that I am planning to use as a project studio for myself and freelance recording gigs. Mostly rock/funk/jazz - transparency is important to me and I don't want to lose the room sound that I bought the U87s to attain.

My setup is:
Macbook Pro running Pro Tools 7.4.2 & Logic 8
Digi 002R + PreSonus Digimax LT
Mackie HR624s

Mics:

  • 2 - Neumann U87s (matched)
  • 3 - Sennheiser e604s
  • 1 - Shure Beta 52a
  • 3 - Shure SM57s
  • 2 - Shure SM58s

So my question is what is a (relatively) inexpensive pre-amp that will do the U87s justice as overheads/room mics or single one as a vocal mic? My budget is limited as I just blew my wad on the Neumanns . I've looked at the black lion mod for the 002 (upgrading ADC and Pres), and that's an option. I'd like to keep it under $600 if possible.

Suggestions? Let me know if there's any other info I can provide!

Comments

anonymous Fri, 10/03/2008 - 08:16

Stop it with the body fluids. I get it, the mics are nice.

What kind of conceivable budget do you have for pres?

Like, can you save for a few months extra and get something drool worthy or do you need to get something slightly slick now?

For one thing, dropping 3k on mics then feeding them into ten bucks worth of electronics is decadence.

anonymous Fri, 10/03/2008 - 08:49

Greener wrote: Stop it with the body fluids. I get it, the mics are nice.

What kind of conceivable budget do you have for pres?

Like, can you save for a few months extra and get something drool worthy or do you need to get something slightly slick now?

For one thing, dropping 3k on mics then feeding them into ten bucks worth of electronics is decadence.

That's exactly my thought. After researching and talking with some former colleagues I think the best thing to do is "suffer through" some months with the 002 pres and save some cash for a tube pre/compressor like a UA LA-610 (or a pr of them for that matter). I think I need to take some time to see how everything sounds on the stock pres before I jump at something.

I could probably save and throw $2-3k at it in a few months. Probably the best idea...

Davedog Fri, 10/03/2008 - 17:07

As long as you operate under the assumption that you can very easily overload the preamps in your 002, and you use this as your absolute limit in your gain staging, and you get to know the sweet spots in the pattern of those mics and adhere to it closely, you'll make great sounding recordings.

You could go with the RNP and be very very happy with it until something else comes along. They're fairly transparent and the soundfield through that circuit will be a bit clearer and more defined than the 002 pres.

Thye LA 610 is anything but transparent. If you're going to save up then look into the likes of the John Hardy stuff or George Massenburg. Sytec is another decent unit that doesnt add much to the noise.

anonymous Fri, 10/03/2008 - 23:34

Davedog wrote: As long as you operate under the assumption that you can very easily overload the preamps in your 002, and you use this as your absolute limit in your gain staging, and you get to know the sweet spots in the pattern of those mics and adhere to it closely, you'll make great sounding recordings.

You could go with the RNP and be very very happy with it until something else comes along. They're fairly transparent and the soundfield through that circuit will be a bit clearer and more defined than the 002 pres.

Thye LA 610 is anything but transparent. If you're going to save up then look into the likes of the John Hardy stuff or George Massenburg. Sytec is another decent unit that doesnt add much to the noise.

What are your thoughts on Manley gear? I've been looking at the dual mono pre as an option.