need to buy nice pres--first time

bannerj · Post by **bannerj** » Tue Apr 27, 2004 12:19 pm

I tried to find forums on this...I know its already been addressed by someone somewhere...but I am new here and stil trying to find my way around...if you can find the link to such forums that would be great.

i need to get some pres. I will be tracking my first drum session at my house--hard wood floors, high ceilings, throw rug, big couch...I am going to have to experiment a bit...I am really excited

So the sound I am working toward is mostly that earthy warm maybe even a bit dirty sound that many of you seem to like here in Tapeop land. I am running to a digital HD. I have access to both DP4 and Protools although I know PT better right now. I have a AKG 414 TLII and my buddy has a mess of Sure mics. I am planning to use a 91 or 52 kick mic, two small condensors 109s on the sides to capture the room, the 414 at tom level, and a 57 on the snare.

I want a good warm drum sound. I have about $2500 maybe $3000. I am looking at the Great River stuff the MP2, the MP-2NV, maybe four channels with the MP-4M.
I am also interested in some of the other Neve type remakes. I have looked at the Dan Alexanders and Vintech.

I have also considered combining a nicer $2000 piece with a lower priced like the RNP...or getting the funklogic rack so that I can do the RNP and an RNC.

At this point I will not be doing much EQ up front or compression because I don't know what I am doing with all that yet.

I also have access to 8 channels on a metric halo piece. I haven't used it yet on drums though and from what I have heard they might be too transparent for my taste.

One final clue: of course I will want these pres to do more things in the future ie. vocals, and acoustic instruments, synths.

Do I go for four channels of the same pre or should I have some variety? Suggestions?

meblumen · Post by **meblumen** » Tue Apr 27, 2004 1:00 pm

There is a search button under the big Tape-Op messageboard v3.0 icon at the top right of your screen. Also in the general recording forum there are a bunch of stickies (threads perminantly placed at the top of the thread list) including one called "best of" which you should check before posting.

As for mic pres take a look at API and sytek. You could probably get 4 channels of each for just under 3 grand. The Dan Alexander stuff has gotten luke warm reviews as many complain of his workmanship but I haven't had any personal experience with any of his products. The Great River stuff is cool too and I imagen so is the Vintech stuff but I don't have any personal experience with it either. Just do a search here, check the stickies, search google (or some other search engine) check out other forums like prosoundweb and if all possible try to test out the pres before you buy them. Good Luck.

dMiurge · Post by **dMiurge** » Tue Apr 27, 2004 1:46 pm

I will second the API recomendation. They are the go-to pres for drums in many studios. OSA make cheaper API clones, I prefer real API. Some like the OSA clones better though. Brent Averill also makes some nice API clones at a competitive price. They will all rock your socks off on drums.

nick_a · Post by **nick_a** » Tue Apr 27, 2004 5:15 pm

i picked up a universal audio 2108 that i use on drums. It saturates a little bit and sounds so bad ass on kick and snare; larry crane said he shit his pants when he first heard it. I found one on ebay for like 1100, which, if you wanted to get that, would leave you y'know like another 1400 to buy other channels/"colors", like api stuff or whatever.

norton · Post by **norton** » Tue Apr 27, 2004 5:43 pm

check out the post a few days ago on the chicago mic pre listening party.

you'll get to hear a bunch of those mic pre's ON DRUMS! sweet.

i wasn't there or anything, but i thought the audio files were pretty educational (thanks chi-town folks!)

mixcritique · Post by **mixcritique** » Tue Apr 27, 2004 7:08 pm

Check out the Drawmer 1960 - it's a studio staple. They flat out rock on kick & snare, vocals, even as a Bass DI. Track record longer than your arm.

Variety: yup - you'll need that. I would advise getting a few different pre's for different situations; they're like spices to a chef - it all depends on what you're cooking today.

Check out the M-Audio TAMPA too. Not for drums, but I use it more than many of my big $$$ pre's for vocals, acoustic, & for bass DI. They dropped from $629 to $399 recently so you can snag one for cheap.

Just a tip...
-Mike

jajjguy · Post by **jajjguy** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 10:38 am

since you've got em anyway, you should really try the pres on the metric halo 2882. i think they sound great, except for the noise problem at higher gains, which makes them perfect for a loud source like drums. lots of 2882 owners really like them on drums. try and let us know!

nipsy · Post by **nipsy** » Thu Apr 29, 2004 6:12 am

syteks.....

amazing for the price....slammin'

PatrickBrown · Post by **PatrickBrown** » Thu Apr 29, 2004 6:20 am

I've got a UA2108 coming in tomorrow. I can't wait. I already have a Langevin Dual Vocal Combo. That baby kicks ass. I have 4 channel strips too. The best one is a Drawmer MX60 Front End One. It's nice too. The JoeMeek VC1Qcs isn't bad either. The other two are cheap, but workable. Finally, the only wall warts I have are on my 2 RNC's. That I'll allow.

Jan Folkson · Post by **Jan Folkson** » Thu Apr 29, 2004 8:54 am

The 2108 is a great box. Have fun with it.

aurelialuz · Post by **aurelialuz** » Thu Apr 29, 2004 9:06 am

bannerj · Post by **bannerj** » Thu Apr 29, 2004 9:07 am

thanks for all your help and suggestions. after doing the search, I have found so much on here about pres. Tape-op is a truly amazing resource. I am sorry to find so many people aggrivated by such a simple question about which pre to buy. I guess its like trying to teach a kid to tie his shoes again and again, but for the most part everyone here seems to be really encouraging and non-elitist about recording. I think this is the type of community that will eventually make better and more interesting music: more studios, more experimentation, more discovery, more music...and hopefully better music.

After talking with an engineer I am working with, I am going to start with the UA 2108. Then I think I might go for a API lunchbox and gather a sampling of their various models. If anybody needs to part with either or knows someone who does email joshuabanner@juno.com I already posted something in the Buy/Sell.

Thanks again

PatrickBrown · Post by **PatrickBrown** » Thu Apr 29, 2004 9:10 am

Thanks Joe. I plan to. Finally getting into the quality gear situation, so I've no excuses now.

I'm going to put my single unit Langevin ELOP behind it for starters, and if that fails to please, experiment further. I really do have enough comps to not merit further expenditure, right off, but have my eye on a couple of Summit TLA-50's, if they are fast enough.

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