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At present my setup consists of (simplified):

Live room with:

C-Audio power amp running Bose 802/302 system
Rivera Valve Amp
Voice Valvetronix
Trace Elliot Bass Amp
Pearl Export drumkit

Studio kit:

Mackie 1604VLZ Pro
Edirol FA301
G5 running Cubase SL, Waves Platinum
Joemeek VC1Q
RODE K2
Beyer M201
SP C4s
D112
Sm57s, 58s
Samson Studio 150 servoamp
Tannoy Reveal Passives
Yamaha MSP5 actives

****

I am planning to spend about £5k on getting to a good level of recording equipment. I am looking for analog warmth and smooth sounds, mainly for rock, funk, punk styles.

Technically I don't need the mixing desk at all. A lot of what I do is recording 8 tracks live. However people expect to see a desk. I could free up another £500 for this upgrade if I could sell it and put in a control surface of some kind. Anybody have any ideas on this front?

My suggested choices are:

Premier "Premier Series" Kit: £1700
TMP8 as recommended here or something else 8-ch: £1500 ass.

This takes £3200 of my money and gives me a top-level kit (which the shop owner will bring down, tune, and give me torque settings for all the lugs so I can retune to same specs every head change), and enough pres to record a band 8-channel or the drums themselves 8-channel using D112, C4s, and 57s on toms/ 57 plus M201 snare.

Then I guess I need to look at converters. MOTU Fireface should sort that and leave me £800, which I reckon I can get a U87 thrown in for.

Catch is, if I want to do that, I need to get it all at the same place to get a £500 discount on top. Or sell my mixer.

I don't think I'll get the TMP8 unless I buy direct.

I think I really need a good 8-ch preamp and this is all I have seen apart from s/h Neve unit which came out of an American studio but I missed it on eBay.

I think I can manage with the Waves onboard compressors and channel strips just now.

Am I missing anything? Suggestions?

Thanks chaps,

Jamie

Comments

LittleDogAudio Sun, 11/28/2004 - 09:23

I can't see anything missing except a cue system. How are you getting headphone mixes to the bands? Or are you not using cans? That's cool.

I've never heard the TMP, but if Kurt's review is any indication, I'm sure it's very nice.

You may want to think again about getting a control surface. I've tried several and all they really did was frustrate me. I can certainly mix way faster with a mouse then a control surface. But that's just me.

I understand what you mean by "people want to see a desk" this is the reason I have an 8' long MCI in my studio. It's there as a visual thing, mostly. I use it mainly to monitor PT and setup a headphone mix. Other than that, it's just a room heater/boat anchor.

Good luck,
Chris

inLoco Sun, 11/28/2004 - 09:33

do you mean motu products or rme fireface???

i wouldn't buy the drums! i think you'll be fine with those! if you want an upgrade buy just a good snare!
as for the desk maybe those cheap behringer's will do the trick!
as for the rest of the money i'd buy maybe md 421 for the toms or audix d2
if you've got the money how about the rosetta 800? can't go wrong with that!
and a sebatron would be great too...
just remember that it's not quantity but quality! if you buy a few things and get that studio rolling with the money you make you can buy new things! just don't buy something to replace later!

Jeemy Sun, 11/28/2004 - 11:56

I never thought of a headphone mix, although the Edirol can probably manage this it is 10-out. I was looking at the MOTU Fireface, InLoco. I have to have an 8-channel preamp and I don't think yours would suit (even 4 2-channel Vintechs is an option, perhaps - or do they make an 8? Audient do an 8 which I have heard nothing about - anyone use this, D008 I think its called).

Convertor unit will need to have direct monitoring if I lose the desk.

Can't put a Behringer in, prospective clients need for aesthetics is too high.

I did quite fancy getting a very old, broken analog desk and cleaning it up, fixing it up etc as a wee project which would fill the desk space.

And I have got to have the drums - non?. I only have an old Pearl Export, and you can't polish a turd!

LittleDogAudio Sun, 11/28/2004 - 12:18

Well the nice thing about analog consoles today is that they are being given away.

One thing to consider though is the electric bill. After installing a med-large console, your electric bill will go up, sometimes a lot depending on the console.

If you are seriously considering an older analog console, you should get something that could be useable. Unlike the MCI I have, which is a piece of shit, you could go for something like a DDA or a Soundtracs. They will give you some value as exrta mic pres and as a possible break-out for DAW stems.

You are right about the drum set. If you are going to use it often, then get a good one. A shitty drumset will sound just as shitty through great mic pres.

Chris

inLoco Sun, 11/28/2004 - 13:27

jeeymy there isn't a motu fireface!
you have motu 828 mkII, motu 896HD that are firewire!
the fireface is rme fireface 800 which i've been getting great reviews!
the thing about the headphone mix with edirol is latency! the motu has zero monitoring latency which is great!
the edirol i think doesn't perform that well with latency (i think! but for the price may be great)
if you're considering buying a drum set i'd recommend the sonor force 3003 drums! if you can get the old 3001 for a cool price you'll be fine with it! my drummer loves that kit!
what are your plans for pre-amps?

anonymous Sun, 11/28/2004 - 16:34

Jeemy wrote: preamps i am awaiting a price from oz for the TMP8, if not, waiting for advice on the Audient and have looked at the Sebatron VMP quad unit, two of those might do it, but might have to cut budget elsewhere, drumkit is a good suggestion, ta.

If you're a build it yourselfer, you should check out the seventh circle audio stuff. It's been getting amazing reviews and you can mix and match a few different types of pres in an 8 unit 3 rack space box (by the way, the pre kits available include a really nice neve 1272 clone (n72)). And if you don't want to DIY, they'll build em for you for not too much more $$$.

seventhcirclestudios.com

If I needed eight channels of front end I'd do it in a second. But I don't at this point....and no use having a huge empty 8 unit shell in my rack with only 2 n72's in it (that's all I could spend right now)

Jeemy Mon, 11/29/2004 - 09:27

Those units look amazing: at $273 per unit, not including casing, they work out a bit more expensive than the TMP8s for a load of work.

I don't think I am taking a shortcut by the tmp8s, so I think I will go that route.

if I want to add a few single channels of Neve or other for flavour, these guys would be next on the list!!

But I think I am on the right lines here.

TMP8, Fireface to G5 is a good little signal path, and am looking at my drumkit options just now.