Buying new gear, Your suggestions ?

[jomppa]

Hi Folks, my first post here

It´s time to spend my hard-earned-money (about $4000) and buy some gear before we will start to record our album. Our music goes to nu-jazz/ worldmusic/ downtempo category (vocals, piano, saxophone/clarinet, acoustis bass, drums and some sampler stuff).

Now I have the following :

- Digi 002 Rack

- Sebatron VMP-2000eVu mic pre (2ch)

- Sytek MPX-4Aii mic pre (4ch)

- Pro-X AK112 monitors (great monitors, better than Genelec 1029 I think)

- Mics: ADK TC, MXL V69ME, 441, 421 (2), Oktava ML-19(2) ,Beyer M260, Beyer 201, Rode NT-1, AKG C1000, Studio Projects C4 pair,
I have access to borrow AKG 414 B-ULS pair and Oktava MC-012 pair

- Waves, Voxengo and Elemental Audio Systems Plugins

- Well-treated live recording space and mixing room

So what should I buy :

1. New converters (for example Mytek 8x96 ADC and Benchmark DAC-1)

2. Another 2ch mic pre (Pendulum Audio, Phoenix Audio, Great River), Benchmark DAC-1 and some great mic (Soundelux U195, AEA R84 ...)

3. Focusrite ISA-428 and a/d card, d/a (DAC-1) and mic

We will record about half of our songs by overdubbing and half live, 8 channels at time is fine.

Here I am trying to decide what would be the biggest improvement to our sound quality. I think the weakest link in 002 is d/a. So I think buying good d/a converters (like DAC-1) makes a lot of sense: if I hear everything better, I will do better recordings and mixes. Please let me know what would You do in my situation.

Cheers,
Jomppa

 

[AudioGaff]

What makes you think you have to buy anything? Seems to me that you have got all your basic needs met for what your trying to do. Money might be better spent on mastering and duplication services after your've recorded. I guess if your rellay itching to spend money I'd suggest gettting at least one great and expensive mic.

 

[LittleDogAudio]

I'd go for the Great River. I have several and love them on just about everything. They will make all of your current mics into a whole new collection.

Chris

 

[Davedog]

Ditto...though theres a lot to be said for highend conversion...but still...you described a very workable set-up....my advice....shut-up and record...smile...repeat.Spend the dough on mastering.