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Firstly here is my set-up as of Dec-08 (i'm yet to buy one or two things).

System
Yamaha N12 Interface
Cubase 4
High end PC

Monitors
KRK RP8s

Microphones
1 x Blue Bluebird Condenser
1 x Studio Projects C1
5 x Shure SM57
1 x Shure Beta 52a

I'm primarily interested in making and recording folk and neo-soul music

Which pre-amp in your opinion would best suit my set-up and my interests?
Keep in mind i'm on a budget of approx US$700.

Many thanks!

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Comments

BobRogers Tue, 10/14/2008 - 21:53

I wouldn't be too quick to buy another preamp. You have eight in the Yamaha. In my experience there is not as big a gap between the mixer level preamps and the preamps a step up (say $200-300 per channel) as there is between those and the ($700-$900 per channel).

In my case I have:
Level 1: a Digi 002, an A&H mixwiz, and a Focurite Octopre
Level 2: FMR RNP and a Brick (you might put the Octopre here)
Level 3: API 3124 and a Langevin DVC

I can make good recordings with all of them, but the differences between level one and two is more one of flavor than, say, a big difference in headroom. The pres at level 3 can be driven hard and still handle big quick transients.

If I were starting from scratch I'd get a good interface with a bunch of mixer level preamps (like your Yamaha) and add preamps at level three as the budget allows. Right now there is no question that the API 3124 is my favorite piece of gear.