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Upgrading from a Focsurise ISA220 and am using a U87....trying to decide between Neve 1973, Focusrite Red 7, Manley Voxbox or Avalon 723 Channel strip. Will be used for all purpose lead vocals pop, rock, blues mainly. Also will be used for voice over. Looking for a lot more punch overall. what'e your opinion?

Thanks!

I don't wish to appear unkind, but I'm reminded of a recent client who insisted that her voice be recorded with a "vocal mic". Voices are as varied as...well, microphones. (perhaps even more so) and there's really no such thing as "the best". It's like asking what's the best horse for hunting, or the best dog for sniffing; Who is the rider, what are you sniffing out? (sometimes the best dog for sniffing is a pig) I don't think any preamp is suitable for all situations, and the U87 pairs well with many preamps and many vocalists, but I'll take a stab in the dark here, and suggest you investigate API, though any of the world class preamps you mentioned might suit, depending on the singer.(unless you're pining for something cleaner, with less coloration, in which case, I'd say look at Grace, or possibly True, or Daking, or...)

cmills wrote:Upgrading from a Focsurise ISA220 and am using a U87....trying to decide between Neve 1973, Focusrite Red 7, Manley Voxbox or Avalon 723 Channel strip. Will be used for all purpose lead vocals pop, rock, blues mainly. Also will be used for voice over. Looking for a lot more punch overall. what'e your opinion?

Thanks!

Hang on there!!!!!

What kind of converter are you using? Thats allot of money to spend on a mistake. I seriously doubt the problem is your pre amp. Especially if you want more punch.

Define "punch", maybe give some examples of sounds that, to you, have "punch".

With the Focusrite and the U-87, you should be able to get plenty of "punch", no matter how you define it!! It looks like the Focusrite has digital conversion on it already, along with a compressor, EQ and good metering. Without knowing your background, I have to wonder, respectfully, if you know how to use the gear you already have. IMO, you don't have to spend 3 or 4K on a Manley or something, unless you really have the cash to have a few different flavors of high end mic pres laying around. Many great vocals were recorded with an SM57 being held by the singer (Michael Jackson comes to mind). There are so many factors to consider above and beyond the gear. Sometimes throwing money at a problem isn't the most efficient solution, at least that's my not so humble opinion!!

More information, please!

Mazz

If I had that much to spend, I do believe I would get a two-fer---an Empirical Labs Distressor paired with a Great River pre. You'll punch like Muhammed Ali.

Mark Kaufman wrote:If I had that much to spend, I do believe I would get a two-fer---an Empirical Labs Distressor paired with a Great River pre. You'll punch like Muhammed Ali.

If his converter does not get all the information sent from the mic and pre he'll only punch like a little girl not matter what pre he has.

Dwayne Russell wrote:If his converter does not get all the information sent from the mic and pre he'll only punch like a little girl not matter what pre he has.

BAM!

Mark Kaufman wrote:

Dwayne Russell wrote:If his converter does not get all the information sent from the mic and pre he'll only punch like a little girl not matter what pre he has.

BAM!

I guess you could replace the word "punch" with "more presence". We do a lot of commercial voice overs. we'll hear them back to back with another voice talent on TV or radio and about 30% of the time the "other" voice has more presence...it's more "in your face" The Focusrite has a solid A/D converter, I'm using 3-4:1 comp ratio, quicker attack, slower release., moderate high EQ. I've tried maxing out my signal into the Focusrite, but that doesn't seem to do it. Any thoughts are welcomed.

Thanks!

www.creativemills.com

cmills wrote:I guess you could replace the word "punch" with "more presence". We do a lot of commercial voice overs. we'll hear them back to back with another voice talent on TV or radio and about 30% of the time the "other" voice has more presence...it's more "in your face" The Focusrite has a solid A/D converter, I'm using 3-4:1 comp ratio, quicker attack, slower release., moderate high EQ. I've tried maxing out my signal into the Focusrite, but that doesn't seem to do it. Any thoughts are welcomed.

Thanks!

http://www.creativemills.com

You can tweek your focusrite all you want and it wont do any good.

If your converter does not take a clear digital picture of what you put into it then no pre amp will make any difference.

Focusrite does not make a high end converter that I know of.