Buy a Mic pre or Reverb?

[coldsnow]

OK, I currently have an Avalon 737 as my only mic pre and a Lexicon MPX500 and TC M One as my reverbs. I'm not unhappy with the sound of either, but would like other options. I do plan on purchasing another compressor as well but that's a different topic. I use a 24 track HD, home studio, rock music. So my current thinking is to purchase either another good mic pre (Manley Mono, Great River neve, UA) or a Lexicon PCM 91. Not in the budget to buy both. Which ONE?

 

[anonymous]

Skip the cheese, go for the pre

 

[Recording Engineer]

Agreed.

 

[try2break]

Reverb is free if you mike a room and play your tracks thru a PA. So you need the pre. Really you aren't going to get MUCH better than cheap digital effects, because to me, they all sound digital and repetative and repetative.

 

[drumsound]

If you do decide on a reverb, check out the TC M3000. They have this early reflection algorithm that sounds more natural than the Lexi, though the Lexi is cool too.

 

[atlasproaudio]

The PCM 91 will sound significantly better than a MPX500, so much that your imagination can't even begin to quantify it. Sure reverb is "free" if you have a big room, but if you are in your closet or small room a great reverb is essential IMO. The Avalon is a fine unit, so if you are doing lots of overdubs you are going to have good quality from the pre, although not a lot of sonic variety (Believe me, multiple pre's are icing on the cake. There are still plenty of pro's going through all of one thing usually Neve, API, or SSL preamps). Decide whether you would like to have multiple channels running through great pre's...if that is even necessary for you in your home setup. Or would you rather have greater realism and quality in your reverb? IMO there should be at least one, or a pair of professional tools (mics, pre's, reverb/efx, eq's, etc) in the studio if you want a pro sound in the end.

 

[miketholen]

undeniably the most realistic sounding/feeling reverb is the Quantec Room Simulator.
A German unit once again. surprise surprise.
http://www.quantec.com/
TC and Lexi have nothing on it.

 

[Bob Olhsson]

So much depends on exactly what you are trying to do, especially in the area of reverb.

I'd go check out some different new reverb units and if one didn't REALLY knock my socks off over what I already had, I'd probably go for the Great River mike preamp.

 

[atlasproaudio]

Originally posted by Bob Olhsson:
So much depends on exactly what you are trying to do, especially in the area of reverb.I'd go check out some different new reverb units and if one didn't REALLY knock my socks off over what I already had,

Which a PCM91 will do compared to a MPX500. Lexicon is really cut and dry on price to quality ratios. That's why every big studio has a 480L...

I'd probably go for the Great River mike preamp.

That's a great pre, but I would maybe lean towards a little more color since you have something more on the clean side with the Avalon. A 1272/1073 would be nice or an API pre. Specifically a Vintech or a 3124 API are the best bang for the buck in that department. YOMV