what's a good chain to use?

[dwayne00]

I want to know what is a good chain to use pre daw.I know about a good preamp and compressor, But what else would be good and which products are good ones to use, within none expensive price range?
(under $1000)

[Monstadrums]

I've been wondering why nobody is replying to this post so I thought I'd give it a go. If you've got a good mic pre and comp you dont really need anything else. It depends what you're trying to do. The only other thing I've got pre Daw is a nice sounding mixing board which I use for gain structure and pads on more than two mics (I have the Digi 001 which only has two mic pre's). Like 8 mics on drums kinda thing. I also use it to control play back, headphone mix, cd player etc... If I'm only using two mics I go direct into the Digi 001. Hope that was useful otherwise I didnt understand the question hehe

[IntelDoc]

Not to sound rude, but probably why nobody is answering is this...

It really depends on the project. You know the routine, "every project is different" One mic is good on one voice, but terrible on the next. The same goes with a guitar player. How percussive he/she is. It is all dependent on the player and the effect that you are going for. You can have the "best pre/comp combo" but it may not work for the next session.

In my experience, it is all about trial and error (more error than not) but dependent on the performance.

Just make the decision to what sounds best and commit to it.

Hope this helps?

Doc

[Monstadrums]

I agree with Doc but I also understand budget constraints.

I have over the years gathered a wee collection of mics and found that I spend more time auditioning them to find the right combination per project/performer than anything else. With my mixing desk, comp and other outboard fx units I have flexibility. But hardly feel the need to change my input chain when tracking. I dont use comp (except maybe on kick drums) or fx in the chain at all when tracking as I prefer to keep the input signal as clean as possible.

Maybe you should look at investing in mics or mic-pre's that offer different flavours.

[albee1952]

Well said above. Remember that the sound will only be as good as the weakest piece so a crap mic into a NEVE pre will still sound like crap and so will a Lawson mic thru a Behringer preamp. I would check out as many reviews as you can find(including google searches). If you don't subscribe to these magazines, you should....EQ, Pro Audio Review, MIX and a few others. Many of these can actually be had for free if you have a studio and you DO have a studio...wink wink. Some solid contenders: mics-Neumann, Mojave, Rode, Lawson, Blue. Some preamps, Vintech, Grace, Avalon, API. Compressors-UA-1176 or Distressor.

[TheLEM]

Please please please,

Resist the urge to buy inexpensive components and mics. There are great mics out there in the $300-$400 range. Put your $ into good pre amps...i cant stress it enough you should work towards having one AMAZING pre amp and enough good pre amps to mic several instruments/vocalists at one time. for the overdubs you pic from the cream of the crop for the peticular application. find a local studio, make friends with the staff and hang out and ask questions...periodically, they sell of gear and you can get a good deal from someone who knows what the piece of equipment is best suited for.

happy recording!

[IntelDoc]

Please please please,

Resist the urge to buy inexpensive components and mics. There are great mics out there in the $300-$400 range. Put your $ into good pre amps...i cant stress it enough you should work towards having one AMAZING pre amp and enough good pre amps to mic several instruments/vocalists at one time. for the overdubs you pic from the cream of the crop for the peticular application. find a local studio, make friends with the staff and hang out and ask questions...periodically, they sell of gear and you can get a good deal from someone who knows what the piece of equipment is best suited for.

happy recording!

I have always said this.... Save that extra 100 bucks to buy what you want... not what you think is decent enough. Get things ya want and "buy in pairs" for pre's. Ya never know when you will need a stereo setup. same goes for compressors.

[Monstadrums]

Making friends with local studios is a great idea! I have several and am now doing contra deals with the top studio/producer in this country and end up getting to use his million dollar facility to record vocals, mix and edit and then he masters it for me! I help him with tracking bands, editing, producing, and session drumming and the guys and girl in my band also do sessions for him in order to give me studio time to work on our stuff.

Here's a list of the gear in his studio:

Soundtracs DPC II automated mixing console (160 channels with effects)
Fairlight Dream Satellite 48 track DAW
Fairlight MFX 2 16 track DAW
Fairlight Series II 8 track Sampler/Sequencer
Avalon Vacuum Tube Vt737sp
Avalon Vacuum Tube Vt737sp
Spectrum Analyzer
TC Electronics M5000 Effects Processor
Eventide Ultra Harmonizer DSP4500
DBX Quantum digital mastering processor
Eventide Ultra Harmonizer DSP4500
DBX Quantum digital mastering processor
Waves L2 Ultramaximizer
Lexicon PCM 90 Digital Reverb
Focusrite 6 pre-amp
Focusrite 7 pre-amp
2 x Empirical Lab EL8 Distressors
Joe Meek Compressor
Ocean Power Amp
AMS RMX16 Digital reverb #1
AMS RMX16 Digital reverb #2
AMS DMX 15-80s Stereo DLL Processor
BSS Dynamic Equalizer DPR 901
SPL Tube Vitaliser
TC Effects Processor
Aphex Compeller Compressor
Bel DDL Digital Processor
Alesis XTC reverb unit
Teletronix LA2A valve compressor
Antares ATR-1 vocal processor
djr Program Equalizer DPR 901
G-Force guitar processor
Soldano guitar amplifier
BBE 802 Stereo Processor
Neumann M149 tube microphone
Neumann TLM 170 microphone
Shure KMS 88 microphone
Royer R-121 microphone
Nord Lead 2 virtual analogue synthesizer
Korg TR – Rack synthesizer
Roland Juno 106 synthesizer
Roland U220 Sound Module
Roland TR909 Rhythm Composer
Sequential Circuits Prophet Pro One Synthesizer
Roland JX8-P synthesizer
2 x Novation Bass Station
ADA Guitar Amp/processor
Rockman Guitar Amp with Rockmount
JBL LSR Studio monitors
JBL 4412A Speakers
JBL 4412 Speakers
Dynaudio Acoustic BM6A Speakers
Yamaha NS10 Speakers
JBL Control One speakers
Tannoy System 800 speakers
Technics SL 1200 turntable
PS Audio pre amp & amplifier
Perreaux PMF 5150B power amplifier
Gibson Les Paul Electric guitar
CD Sound Effects Library
Sequential Circuits Prophet 5 synthesizer
Roland D50 synthesizer
Korg M1 synthesizer
Fostex d-30 DAT master recorder
Sony DAT TCD D3 recorder
Aphex Aural Exciter Type C with Big Bottom
Kurzweil Micro Piano
Faema Espresso Coffee Machine
Faema Espresso Coffee Grinder (best Coffee in town)

[logicmidiman]

I never advise people to ask what equiptment to buy, without giving the reason you need the equiptment....as some had said, it all depends on what you want to do.... but usually once you track clean signals into your DAW it's cheaper to use plugins than just spend 1000 on one peice of outboard gear....Native plug-in bundles start at around 400 dollars.....once you track your song and realize what you are looking for ask the question again with the reason..