My studio's weakest link? Need your help

[REDBOX04]

Hey guys,

I'm currently looking to expand my studio rig. I'm achieving a great sound so far but I would like to improve on it. I have an RME Fireface 400 as my main interface, running through Cubase.

I'm pretty much satisfied with the Fireface. The pres and converters are pretty damn good for an all in one interface but I'm not sure which would be the most important to upgrade first.

What do you guys think? The preamps or the converters? I'm looking to get a top quality one channel preamp, or a 2 channel converter.

The preamps I'm looking at are:
- Universal Audio SOLO/610
- Great River MP-500NV

and the converter...
- Apogee Rosetta 200

I know the saying is "your studio is only as strong as your weakest link"
I'm just not sure which weakest link should be replaced first when your satisfied with the weakest links but you still know you could upgrade and become more satisfied! lol

Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[Metaltastic]

Preamps are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much more important than converters, especially if you have a Fireface - honestly, I don't ever see a reason to get anything better than the Fireface for A/D conversion (since you I assume are predominately recording individual tracks at a time for a multi-track metal/rock/pop/whatever production, not classical), and if you REALLY wanted the best listening audio quality, then eventually picking up something like a Benchmark DAC-1 for top-of-the-line monitoring would probably provide the slightest of noticeable improvements since a whole stereo mix is being piped through it.

Thus, I'd go for some preamps, though as for what to suggest, I dunno - the modular nature of the 500 series is pretty fucking amazing; you can get a 2-slot chassis (by A-designs), a 6-slot lunchbox (by API or Brent Averill) or an 11-slot monstrosity, and each time you only need to buy a module to slip in it, not a new power supply with each preamp (hence why the modules are such amazing bang for the buck, at least when you buy more than 3 or 4, otherwise there really aren't any savings, but it's incredibly easy to try all sorts of different types of preamps without having to drop like $2k each time! Modules available in the 500 series format include preamps by A-designs, API, Great River, Purple Audio, Chandler, Shadow Hills, it's epic)

Or there's the good ol' API A2D, two API preamps and onboard A/D conversion so you could run it into the SPDIF input on the FF400 and not have to worry about taking up two more analog in's on the Fireface!

 

[Metaltastic]

However, that said, the source (whether it be a new drumset, new guitar, new amp/cab, etc.) is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much more important than the preamp, so make sure you have those squared away too!

 

[Ben Johnson]

How's your acoustic treatment?

 

[REDBOX04]

Thanks for the info Metaltastic! You were right on about my recording needs haha I will definitely have to check out that API A2D. I've been hearing nothing but good things about it.

Ben Johnson: I'm actually going to start work tomorrow on making and installing homemade acoustic panels made from OC703. My room acoustics should pretty much be covered after that.

 

[Jackal_Strain]

Ben Johnson: I'm actually going to start work tomorrow on making and installing homemade acoustic panels made from OC703. My room acoustics should pretty much be covered after that.

This is a huuuge oversimplification of the truth. Those panels will do nada for standing waves or bass treatment. That said, I still strongly urge you to install them. They will help a lot with flutter echoes etc.
After that I recommend some bass traps for the corners.

 

[REDBOX04]

Jackal_Strain: I definitely agree. Based on what I've read here and on several other sites, my plan is to use 4" thick OC703 Panels covering all four corners. Then I'm planning on using 2" thick panels on the ceiling (above mixing position), front wall (across from mixing position) and side walls (using the "mirror technique" lol to find appropriate placement).

 

[Metaltastic]

Someone's done his homework, that's exactly what I would do if I had the wall-space! There may be even more that can be done, but I doubt it's worth the money, effort, and claustrophobic factor of being surrounded by big monolithic panels everywhere!

 

[egan.]

Hey guys,

I'm currently looking to expand my studio rig. I'm achieving a great sound so far but I would like to improve on it. I have an RME Fireface 400 as my main interface, running through Cubase.

I'm pretty much satisfied with the Fireface. The pres and converters are pretty damn good for an all in one interface but I'm not sure which would be the most important to upgrade first.

What do you guys think? The preamps or the converters? I'm looking to get a top quality one channel preamp, or a 2 channel converter.

The preamps I'm looking at are:
- Universal Audio SOLO/610
- Great River MP-500NV

and the converter...
- Apogee Rosetta 200

Get the Great River. The 610 is cool, but IMO too dark to be a swiss army knife. Your converters are already pretty good.
OTOH you don't mention mics which can be the shortest path to better/different sounds.

 

[beyond dead]

Someone's done his homework, that's exactly what I would do if I had the wall-space! There may be even more that can be done, but I doubt it's worth the money, effort, and claustrophobic factor of being surrounded by big monolithic panels everywhere!

thats how I had my last studio. This time, I will have my room with no parallel walls and lots of traps.

redbox: what are you using for monitors?

 

[REDBOX04]

Metaltastic: hahaha agreed!

egan.: Yeah, I was definitely considering the Great River over the UA. Its a tough decision. In the mics department I'm pretty satisfied with my Shure SM7B (for vocals). I still would like to get an AKG C414 but I've been so satisfied with the Shure that I figured a preamp would be a better investment for now.

beyond dead: I'm currently using the Mackie HR624mk2. IMO They are great monitors for the $500 price range. My mixes translate really well.
Of course I would LOVE to get a pair of the Genelec 8040's or 8050's...those are so amazing! ...Some day...some day... haha

 

[LydonB]

What kind of mics do you have? Upgrades in that area may yield more improvement than a pre.

 

[colonel kurtz]

Get the Great River. The 610 is cool, but IMO too dark to be a swiss army knife. Your converters are already pretty good.

+1000

the 610 is a great pre for DI bass, and can be cool on vocals and some other random shit here and there, but the GR should shine on damn near everything you throw at it

 

[REDBOX04]

BlackestEyes: For right now, my mic selection is very small but I am pretty satisified. I only have a Shure SM7B, Shure SM58, and Shure SM57.
I've been meaning to pick up a cheap LDC for around $100-200, and eventually I want to get a AKG C414( I love those!)

 

[wishtheend]

Don't forget cables ? I just redid my whole rig with Mogami Golds and everything sounds much cleaner.

 

[colonel kurtz]

BlackestEyes: For right now, my mic selection is very small but I am pretty satisified. I only have a Shure SM7B, Shure SM58, and Shure SM57.
I've been meaning to pick up a cheap LDC for around $100-200, and eventually I want to get a AKG C414( I love those!)

in all honesty, there's not a lot of LDC's in that range that i would fuck with...maybe an AT4040 used, or even a 3035. i'd say that, given you plan on using it fairly often, i would save up for something in the class of the 414.

 

[REDBOX04]

colonel kurtz: Thanks man, good to know. Perhaps I should invest in the 414 instead of a pre or converter. Sounds like that may be the better option.

I appreciate all your advise!