Feedback: use what equipment for my recording session?

[Matt Brown]

Hey DUC,

In a couple weeks I'm heading to a professional studio to record for one hour. I've been writing, recording, and mixing my own material for a number of years now and have top-notch in-the-box mixing software, I'm just lacking in quality hardware (have a Rode NT2A and MBox 2...). When I go I'll just record vocals, and I'd love to prepare by getting some feedback on what equipment to use.

Here's the equipment available:
http://www.winterwoodstudios.com/equipment.html

Or here:
Microphones
AKG C 414 EB Vintage Matched Pair
AKG C 24 Stereo Vintage Tube
AKG C 451 E Vintage Matched Pair
AKG D 200E
EV CS 15 Vintage Matched Pair
EV N/D 868
EV 635 A Vintage
Neumann U47 Fet Vintage Matched Pair
Naumann U87 Fet Vintage
RCA 77-D Ribbon Vintage Matched Pair
Sennheiser MD 421 (4)
Shure SM 57 (5)
Shure Beta SM 58A
Shure SM 58
SE 1 Matched Pair
SE 3500 Matched Pair
SE 5000 (Original) 2 Matched Pairs
Studer SKH 54u Vintage

Instrument Preamps/Direct/Isolation Boxes
Avalon U5 Direct Instrument Preamp (2)
Pro Co MS-42 4 Channel Splitter (2)
Pro Co CB-1 Direct Box (2)
Sescom SM-1A Vintage (2)
Whirlwind IMP 2 Direct Box (2)

Preamps
Amek / Neve 9098EQ (2)
Avalon AD 2022 2 Channel
Avalon 737sp Tube
Bellari RP 520 Tube 2 Channel
Drawmer MX 60 (2)
John Hardy M-1 4 Channel
Prosonus Eureka (2)
TC Electronic Gold Channel (2 Channel)

Convertors
Apogee AD-16X
Apogee Mini DAC 192
Motu 2408 / PCI 424

This first trip is just sort of to see how much the quality will affect my mix, and what equipment I might want to use on the next visit; e.g. I might take all the recordings on various equipment home and listen to them in my mix to see what equipment I like the sound of most. Personally, I really look forward to trying the tube mics and preamps. My songs (full instrumentation and production works), especially the one I'm taking in, might benefit most from a warm sound.

Throw me some suggestions! Preamp and Mic combos, whatever. And thanks in advance; the DUC is always great about answering my questions.

Sincerely,
Matthew Brown

[beggehorn]

Hi Matt,

A bit off topic here, but we have family friends in Xiamen by the same name. Are you by chance related to Bill and Sue?

Feel free to email me directly

Ben

[email protected]