Condenser Mic, Pre-Amp, Reference Monitors Combo For Under $4,000???

[YaNzYTrUkO]

I would like your opinion regarding the best mic possible under $1,000 for recording Soul, R&B, and Hip-Hop vocals/guitars ONLY in a home recording studio using Pro Tools LE and a Digi 003 Factory...

I was going to buy an Audio-Technica AT4050 and someone told me to get a Newmann TLM-103 instead...

Is there a better option besides these two, under $1,000???

And which Pre-Amp should I match it with???

A Newmann TLM-103 with an Avalon VT-737sp maybe???

I am also looking for the best studio reference monitors for under $1,500/(Pair)...

Dynaudio BM5A, Tannoy Precision 6d, Genelec 8030a, or KRK VXT8...???

Is there an better option out there for the price range???

Thanks guys!!! ...

I think I am more inclined towards:

1. Newmann TLM-103

2. Avalon VT-737sp

3. Dynaudio BM5A

YaNzYTrUkO...

[richiebee]

All this stuff is very personal. Different people have very different tastes, and really you have to figure out what you think is best. So, my advice would be...

Get the monitors... IMO the Dynaudio's would be the best choice. Tannoy's probably second.
When you're getting good mixes done, get a microphone. This is way too personal a thing to give advice on, but its hard to go wrong with a Neumann.
When you've got that working well on your Digi003, think about upgrading the preamp, but don't do it until YOU can hear the difference. There's not really a whole lot in the preamp thing, so leave it until you really know what's what.

[brandondrury]

I would like your opinion regarding the best mic possible under $1,000 for recording Soul, R&B, and Hip-Hop vocals/guitars ONLY in a home recording studio using Pro Tools LE and a Digi 003 Factory...

It doesn't work that way. If there was a "best" mic big boy studios would just buy that one and be done with it. Different mics are there to cater to different voices. That's why price is meaningless (except when you are laying out the cash) and why studios have collections of microphones.

I was going to buy an Audio-Technica AT4050 and someone told me to get a Newmann TLM-103 instead...

I read about Al Schmit always throwing up an AT 4050 first on vocals. He used on the Richie Sambora solo album for lead vocals. They could easily afford to use $20k mics. Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi guitarist) has WAY more money than he can stand. Those chose the AT4050 because it worked with his voice. The same is true with the SM7 used on every Red Hot Chilli Pepper recording.

If it was me, I'd get an AT4050 and a Shure SM7 and call it a day. You can get other mics down the road.

A Newmann TLM-103 with an Avalon VT-737sp maybe???

This is one way to go. The big boys tend to call the Avalon "boring" sounding. I've never used one. I don't put near as much stock into high end preamps as most people do.

I am also looking for the best studio reference monitors for under $1,500/(Pair)...

If you are going to spend more on your mics pres than on your studio monitoring system, you are completely out of your mind or have been lied to! Does this $1,500 include acoustic treatment? If not, take the $2k from preamp budget and put it into room acoustics. You'll thank me later.

I hear people are very happy with ADAMs A7. I came VERY close to buying the Dynaudio BM15As for $1900 (used). I got low on cash at the last minute.

All this stuff is very personal. Different people have very different tastes, and really you have to figure out what you think is best. So, my advice would be...

Try it out youself. If you are going to go with high end gear, try out several pieces. Call up Fletcher at Mercenary Audio. Tell him Brandon Drury from RecordingReview sent you. Tell him what you want and that you want to try out multiple things. You'll have to eat the shipping costs. Order a Neve preamp and an Avalon and maybe an API. He'll charge you for all of them, but he'll promptly refund you when you send the ones back you don't want. His customer service is BEYOND outstanding! It has to be. It's selling $2-3k volume knobs.





Brandon