Best preamp+compressor combo for commercials?

[soundworx]

Hi all.

I'm doing more and more commercials lately and have managed sofar with Brauner mike going into Universal Audio solo 110 and 610 preamps, going into PTHD. In there I use Waves RenComp and L1 for mastering (amongst others).

I think I want to invest in a better preamp and a nice hardware compressor to dial up the "crunch" I hear in most national commercials here, but can't get using what I have...

Any suggestions?

[mr.armadillo]

You might want to try the Urei 1176.

[BradLyons]

Which mic is it exactly that you have? I ask because, they make some good mics...that may not be the answer. When you say commercials, are you talking Voiceover here?

[soundworx]

I use a Brauner Phantom Anniversary, which is within my budget. I like it, but maybe I need to get a U87 as an alternative. But I'm guessing it's more in the processing. And yeah, voice-overs (along with the sounddesign and music composition I do)

[John S. Hetrick]

U87, 416 into a Focusrite Red or Apogee depending on taste.
Squish away.
HTH.

[hef]

I like the John Hardy pres into a UA 1176 comp.