Bigger improvement in quality - which one?

[shamalamadong]

I have about $1K to spend on new gear (selling some old stuff). I've bought a lot of stuff over the past few years and I'm looking for a piece(s) that will make a noticeable difference in my recording chain since this will be my last big ticket purchase for awhile. I've narrowed it down to either a Brett Averill BAE 312A for roughly $900 or an RNP and an SM7 (roughly $1000).

I can't really try out either one since they are both mail order, so I thought I'd ask people that may be familiar with the gear I mentioned above. I'm more or less looking for a noticeable upgrade to my recordings , nothing specific, just a "wow, I'm so much better off for buying this" and I'm not clear if the 312A will be a slight improvement or knock-me-off-my-chair improvement vs. a new mic and slightly less expensive preamp.

If it matters, I will say that I record one track at a time by myself and layer my recordings. Style of music is similar to Steve Earle and early Wilco.

Right now I use:

002r with stock preamps
Blue Baby bottle
AKG C3000
Rode NT3
Shure SM57
Shure SM58
Joe Meek VC3Q (occasionally, for direct bass and some vocals)

Thanks everyone.

[nicksense15]

Looks like you have some decent mics already. Id go with the API, you could even get a dual Vintech 1272 neve copy for under a grand used.

Nick

[dynomike]

Go with pre's, yeah.

And btw, 1000 bucks is a BAD price for an sm7.

Buy used. 400 bucks!

You do need some large diaphrahm dynamics though, imo. Try to pick up at least a beyer m88, sm7, re20, or 421. Or all of em.

Mike

[bigtoe]

the sm7 will take you far further in my opinion...i have the 312 it's a weird beast to me but it stil does nice things...but your mics are kinda lackluster...the sm7 rules.

if you want my used sm7 for 4 let me know...i'll buy one new for 3 at full compass.

Mike

[sonikbliss]

You could build 1 channel of the Neve or API clones from Seventh Circle here and the Sm7, both for right about $1000.