It is always hard to make a specific suggestion when there are so many unkown variables. While the Presonus is nothing to brag about, it should be capable of obtaining a good vocal recording. If you only have one mic, then I would likely suggest you get a high quality mic. The U87 and more modersn U87ai are great studio standards, but there are many otrher choices these days that my be better suited and provide more for your money. Rent some mics or take your Presonus and book some studio time from a place that has some great mic''s to audition some great mic's. You may find that you would be better waiting a while saving some more money to get exactly what is best for you then to settle becuase you have a limited budget.

Mindcrime, the microphone and microphone preamplifier you are using or more than adequate to provide you with a quality sound recording. I happen to like that microphone. I've used those preamplifiers and I think they sound good? I have both U87s & U67s along with 2 vintage Neve consoles, not to mention my other fine microphones and API preamplifiers. I have used exactly what you have and have recorded beautiful vocals with exactly that set up. I think your biggest problem is your 4x4 vocal booth? That's a telephone booth. I hate vocals in little enclosures like that! They never sound good! Especially if you have lined them with foam. It always sounds like your brains are being sucked out of your ears like that. Just like you and your lungs, your voice needs space to "breathe". It's stuffy and those little boxes. My best vocal sounds that I've gotten in the past have been when the microphone is 2 feet away from the singer in the middle of a room that's 49' x 35' with 23 foot ceilings. They were the only person performing at the time and along with a little compression, a bit of EQ was beautiful presence in your face. No stinking boxes for me.

Now put that microphone in the middle of your living room, do your vocals and be amazed at how great it sounds! You do not even need to invest in any kind of acoustic foam or stuff since all of your living room peripherals are diffusers and absorbers. Relax, enjoy you will live longer.

RAD BAD AND GLAD
Ms. Remy Ann David

Aside from announcers doing VOs for TV and movies, I never understood vocal "booths" for musical stuff. Remy's right: you could try singing in a big room without the foam, if your place is quiet enough, and compare the results with the "Booth" effect.

i just spent a little more than that on an fmr rnp and a stereo pair of c414xls's from ebay. the 414s sound great through the rnp, and with two good multipattern mics, your world of possibilities opens up besides just vocals. i also have an mxl v69me that sounds cool on my voice and it's only $300ish.

rob

Mindcrime wrote: I have $1500.00 the area in which I lack most in my studio (home studio)
Is a high end vocal mic or preamp, my main mic now is a rode NT1 and a presonus pre, if you had the money what would you get? a U87 vox mic or a high end pre, I am not knowledgeable in this area I just know my vox arent up to par with the rest of the recordings, I use a 4X4 vocal booth,
any help would be great, Thanks in advance

If it's mainly your voice you'll be recording, you need to find the best mic for you - which means getting out and trying some.

Whilst the U87 is a very nice mic and can do a great job on most things, it may well be there's something better out there for you.

I also agree about the room (or lack of it ;))

your setup seems to be ok, only your booth is way to small

but if you want to spent money on some equipment, i woul replace the preamp with something more decent like a chandler germanium or A Designs Audio Pacifica cause that will improve your sound the most. But i think your booth is the main weak point, cause presonus pre's are rather ok, surely for their price.