Recording gear purchase advice requested...

[ConcreteVampire]

Heya!

Budget, $1000-$1200

Have imac 27, Yamaha HS7's

Want,

Interface, Current 2i2 (crap) Looking at Apollo, Roland, Babyface, Audient

Mic Pre- (prefer hardware) Looking at Golden Age 73, Warm WA12, Warm ToneBeast, ART MPA

Compressor - ART, Golden Age, Definitely consider plugins.

EQ? would be gravy on top.

I have a MXR V63 Mic, (Cheap but not bad) will definitely get an SM7B, would suit my voice. Not part of the budget.

Recommend, review, Shoot down, whatever, gimme your knowledge!

Thanks in advance!

 

[garey77]

I have an Apollo Twin solo, I love it. I wish I would have gotten the duo. UA makes killer stuff. So much useful utility implemented into the design. Also, Apogee is really awesome from what I've heard.

 

[ConcreteVampire]

I have an Apollo Twin solo, I love it. I wish I would have gotten the duo. UA makes killer stuff. So much useful utility implemented into the design. Also, Apogee is really awesome from what I've heard.

Why do you wish you got the DUO?

At NAMM the dude was hard selling me on the DUO. "The Solo probably doesn't have enough horsepower with the one chip to run the Friedman sim well without latency". WTF?! I didn't call him on it but...

Makes me leary about the solo.

 

[rokket2005]

If you have a small home studio I kind of feel that hardware eq's are the least useful of things to spend money on right away. Tons of great eq plugs from waves/slate/fabfilter if you want to pay, but also Antress and Variety of Sound for really nice free plugs.

As far as the mic pre's go, I have both the GAP Pre73 MKII and the Tonebeast. I use the TB12 on guitars and it sounds great, but I prefer the GAP for vocals and DI in on monosynths. A lot more options on the TB12, but ultimately past the first week of having it and messing around I've left all the switches in the same config save for if I'm using the 3 different inputs on it and needing to switch to that specific in. Being they're both basically clones of a 1073 and an API 512 respectively, it depends on which of those vibes you'd rather go for your specific needs. If you end up going UA they have mic pre simulation too I believe, so that might be another possible direction.

For compressor, one that you don't have listed but is a great compressor for the price is the FMR RNC1773. Again I only use it on vox and the occasional aux percussion thing, but I also use a lot of plug in comps too.

 

[ConcreteVampire]

If you have a small home studio I kind of feel that hardware eq's are the least useful of things to spend money on right away. Tons of great eq plugs from waves/slate/fabfilter if you want to pay, but also Antress and Variety of Sound for really nice free plugs.

As far as the mic pre's go, I have both the GAP Pre73 MKII and the Tonebeast. I use the TB12 on guitars and it sounds great, but I prefer the GAP for vocals and DI in on monosynths. A lot more options on the TB12, but ultimately past the first week of having it and messing around I've left all the switches in the same config save for if I'm using the 3 different inputs on it and needing to switch to that specific in. Being they're both basically clones of a 1073 and an API 512 respectively, it depends on which of those vibes you'd rather go for your specific needs. If you end up going UA they have mic pre simulation too I believe, so that might be another possible direction.

For compressor, one that you don't have listed but is a great compressor for the price is the FMR RNC1773. Again I only use it on vox and the occasional aux percussion thing, but I also use a lot of plug in comps too.

Thanks for the reply!

it seems after every 24 hours of research I totally change my mind again!

Was able to chat with a buddy for a while, (who knows me and my musical leanings) which always helps.


AT THIS TIME- haha, I'm thinking,

Ditch outboard EQ. The friends gonna give me a little Presonus tube pre, for the little bit of color I desire. (for free) I will keep an eye out for a used WA12, or 73 Mk2 over time for fun and variety.

Excellent recommend on the RNC 1773! great reviews and cheap. I will pick one up!

The Apogee is $600, needs plug ins. that adds $200. Either from Waves, or Slate. $800 total

the Apollo Duo 2, $700ish. Comes with an EQ & Comp bundle. (I figure upgrade from the SOLO, should last longer on the desk)

I have been strongly advised, (LOL) from getting cheap ART outboard rack crap that take up space and wont do as well as the plugins.

It's hard. I'm a child of the 80's and had ART posters and shit. haha...

What say RT?

 

[bwgintegra]

I just ordered a UA Apollo Duo MKII, just released at Namm last week. Sweetwater has them in stock, $899.

 

[brianiac5150]

I've said it within RT elsewhere and am gonna repeat it: as a guitarist only tracking myself (guitar/bass) and using Superior Drummer, my recent Audient iD14 and Mixbus 32C gives me everything I need and wish I'd'a found before sinking the moola mountain into all the recording gear (hardware, software, plugins, etc...) I now have sitting.

Enjoy your journey and I hope you find all you're looking for, while the reality is most of it can/should be accomplished before tracking, which'll save you loads of money.

All the preceding being applicable to one simply wanting to record/track versus music design. The latter: buy away...there's something new every few seconds and around every "corner."

 

[thefyn]

I a/b'd a lot of interfaces. The Tascam UH7000 beat out the next best which was the RME.

The Tascam has underrated stuff like dedicated power, burr brown converters and a crazy good preamp.

I never tried an Apollo. I don't really use many vst plugs.

If anyone has an Apollo lying around in USA they can loan me, I would love to do a shootout!

See if the hype is warranted.

There was a blind test by a recording mag and there were surprising results. I think it was a MOTU interface which got most votes. But a lot of of cheap interfaces got a lot of votes.

Preamps these days are so clean there isn't a lot in it.

 

[ConcreteVampire]

I've said it within RT elsewhere and am gonna repeat it: as a guitarist only tracking myself (guitar/bass) and using Superior Drummer, my recent Audient iD14 and Mixbus 32C gives me everything I need and wish I'd'a found before sinking the moola mountain into all the recording gear (hardware, software, plugins, etc...) I now have sitting.

Enjoy your journey and I hope you find all you're looking for, while the reality is most of it can/should be accomplished before tracking, which'll save you loads of money.

All the preceding being applicable to one simply wanting to record/track versus music design. The latter: buy away...there's something new every few seconds and around every "corner."

Thing is I also am a one man band, but wish to do quality full songs, mixed right, etc... (Not, that your not!

I need the EQ's, and Compressors, etc, that come bundled with say the Apollo. my first idea was all hardware, id14/GAP Pre, Comp...etc... but it's more expensive and limited.

 

[ConcreteVampire]

I a/b'd a lot of interfaces. The Tascam UH7000 beat out the next best which was the RME.

The Tascam has underrated stuff like dedicated power, burr brown converters and a crazy good preamp.

I never tried an Apollo. I don't really use many vst plugs.

If anyone has an Apollo lying around in USA they can loan me, I would love to do a shootout!

See if the hype is warranted.

There was a blind test by a recording mag and there were surprising results. I think it was a MOTU interface which got most votes. But a lot of of cheap interfaces got a lot of votes.

Preamps these days are so clean there isn't a lot in it.

I agree with all that. How does it work with Mac? I've already googled issues.

And what do you use for Comp? EQ?

thnx!

 

[garey77]

I have an Apollo Twin solo, I love it. I wish I would have gotten the duo. UA makes killer stuff. So much useful utility implemented into the design. Also, Apogee is really awesome from what I've heard.

Why do you wish you got the DUO?

At NAMM the dude was hard selling me on the DUO. "The Solo probably doesn't have enough horsepower with the one chip to run the Friedman sim well without latency". WTF?! I didn't call him on it but...

Makes me leary about the solo.

I have the Friedman and the Engl sims, both run fine. On the single, but when you get to doing a dense mix w/a lot of plugins, it'll choke up on ya. The duo would be better if you're using a fuckload of processing. For instance, on my bands' demo EP, when I was getting toward the end, I was having problems. Not big ones, but enough to wher I couldn't run a big session exactly the way I wanted.

 

[ConcreteVampire]

I have an Apollo Twin solo, I love it. I wish I would have gotten the duo. UA makes killer stuff. So much useful utility implemented into the design. Also, Apogee is really awesome from what I've heard.

Why do you wish you got the DUO?

At NAMM the dude was hard selling me on the DUO. "The Solo probably doesn't have enough horsepower with the one chip to run the Friedman sim well without latency". WTF?! I didn't call him on it but...

Makes me leary about the solo.

I have the Friedman and the Engl sims, both run fine. On the single, but when you get to doing a dense mix w/a lot of plugins, it'll choke up on ya. The duo would be better if you're using a fuckload of processing. For instance, on my bands' demo EP, when I was getting toward the end, I was having problems. Not big ones, but enough to wher I couldn't run a big session exactly the way I wanted.

Excellent answer!

I'm a newbie to this, do you mean running the UA efx on all tracks in a bus? like mastering it?(Comp on all tracks?)
I may be way off

if so at that juncture wouldn't you just go to the in box Plugins?

 

[garey77]

I have an Apollo Twin solo, I love it. I wish I would have gotten the duo. UA makes killer stuff. So much useful utility implemented into the design. Also, Apogee is really awesome from what I've heard.

Why do you wish you got the DUO?

At NAMM the dude was hard selling me on the DUO. "The Solo probably doesn't have enough horsepower with the one chip to run the Friedman sim well without latency". WTF?! I didn't call him on it but...

Makes me leary about the solo.

I have the Friedman and the Engl sims, both run fine. On the single, but when you get to doing a dense mix w/a lot of plugins, it'll choke up on ya. The duo would be better if you're using a fuckload of processing. For instance, on my bands' demo EP, when I was getting toward the end, I was having problems. Not big ones, but enough to wher I couldn't run a big session exactly the way I wanted.

Excellent answer!

I'm a newbie to this, do you mean running the UA efx on all tracks in a bus? like mastering it?(Comp on all tracks?)
I may be way off

if so at that juncture wouldn't you just go to the in box Plugins?

Yes, sort of. It really depends on the amount of memory you're working with on you computer. For basic compression, like on an acoustic, I'd use the native plugin from protools, also I am fine with using the native EQ for a lot of things. Reverb, compression, those are the big ones that use up a ton of RAM. Also, make sure to lower the buffer size when tracking, raising it during playback. Also, the UA Satellite (if you can afford it) is upposed to be killer for upping the RAM usage for your sessions, allowing to free up a bunch of your computer's memory.

 

[ConcreteVampire]

I have an Apollo Twin solo, I love it. I wish I would have gotten the duo. UA makes killer stuff. So much useful utility implemented into the design. Also, Apogee is really awesome from what I've heard.

Why do you wish you got the DUO?

At NAMM the dude was hard selling me on the DUO. "The Solo probably doesn't have enough horsepower with the one chip to run the Friedman sim well without latency". WTF?! I didn't call him on it but...

Makes me leary about the solo.

I have the Friedman and the Engl sims, both run fine. On the single, but when you get to doing a dense mix w/a lot of plugins, it'll choke up on ya. The duo would be better if you're using a fuckload of processing. For instance, on my bands' demo EP, when I was getting toward the end, I was having problems. Not big ones, but enough to wher I couldn't run a big session exactly the way I wanted.

Excellent answer!

I'm a newbie to this, do you mean running the UA efx on all tracks in a bus? like mastering it?(Comp on all tracks?)
I may be way off

if so at that juncture wouldn't you just go to the in box Plugins?

Yes, sort of. It really depends on the amount of memory you're working with on you computer. For basic compression, like on an acoustic, I'd use the native plugin from protools, also I am fine with using the native EQ for a lot of things. Reverb, compression, those are the big ones that use up a ton of RAM. Also, make sure to lower the buffer size when tracking, raising it during playback. Also, the UA Satellite (if you can afford it) is upposed to be killer for upping the RAM usage for your sessions, allowing to free up a bunch of your computer's memory.

Saved information! Good intel.

I will look up the Satellite, although I THINK I will go with the DUO with more juice onboard. They introduced the Mk2 versions at NAMM so the prices should drop.

I'm running a new imac with 8 gigs, I can up it to 16... (Thinking that should be my next step as well)

 

[thefyn]

I a/b'd a lot of interfaces. The Tascam UH7000 beat out the next best which was the RME.

The Tascam has underrated stuff like dedicated power, burr brown converters and a crazy good preamp.

I never tried an Apollo. I don't really use many vst plugs.

If anyone has an Apollo lying around in USA they can loan me, I would love to do a shootout!

See if the hype is warranted.

There was a blind test by a recording mag and there were surprising results. I think it was a MOTU interface which got most votes. But a lot of of cheap interfaces got a lot of votes.

Preamps these days are so clean there isn't a lot in it.

I agree with all that. How does it work with Mac? I've already googled issues.

And what do you use for Comp? EQ? I have hardware eq too. I do mostbon the way in.

thnx!

No idea re mac.

But if I had a mac I'd be tempted to go Apollo due to thunderbolt. Just for future proofing.

I use hardware compression. DBX 160. I kept seeing it in pro studios.

 

[brianiac5150]

I need the EQ's, and Compressors, etc...

EQ's, compressor, limiter, tape saturation, complex routing, metering, full export capabilities, Mixbus delay compensation, etc... all built into Mixbus 32C

Here's a quick throw-down of drums, bass and a couple guitars

Understandably so...I was very close many times myself...it seems you're focused on the UA Apollo stuff and it'll definitely give you excellent results. Having gone this route many times before, I've learned the expensive hard way that all that stuff really isn't needed, although, is quite entertaining.

 

[Monkey Man]

Have you considered the Slate VMS (virtual microphone system)?

There'd be no need for a fancy, schmancy preamp and no danger of committing to a mic that might not always suit.

As a bonus, you could swap out the preamp in addition to the mic model using Slate's included plugins. For one thing, both the mic's and preamps modelled are many leagues above what you or I could afford quality-wise. The package currently comes with, I think, at least 6 mic models with many more to come.

The "flat-response" preamp that's part of the package apparently makes a very-good all-'round pre in that it's essentially-colourless. Great DI for guitar and bass too.

Lastly, the package, as opposed to buying what you were looking at, will save you a bunch too.

 

[155]

Id spend the money on a nice interface with good pres and get some nice plugins , I wouldnt buy any hardware , but thats just me as long as you have a good amount of RAM (24-32GB)

 

[ConcreteVampire]

Thanks everyone for the replies!

Got an Apollo Duo demo from SW today, $650. Free lighting cable.

Enough internal horsepower to run the Plugins from the interface, and then on behalf of the daw

2 eq, 2 comp, tube Pre, channel Strip, and Amp pack plugins included.

Can optical in 8 more channels

The types of tones I desire, Cheaper than most options. 2x UA's warranty.

Stoked!

 

[studiodunn]

Never used UA stuff, but Steinberg drivers are the most stable I've ever used. Internet on, downloading music, pornhub.....and record, without pops or blips.