Recommendations for first piece of outboard gear....

Someone should jump on this. Doesn’t look like GC ship to Canuckistan, unfortunately.

 Cheers,
Geoff

I'd definitely recommend a better mic (assuming you are recording things by mic and not just using DI, MIDI, or samples).   Right now I think the Chandler TG Type L is one of the best all arounders.  It sounds great on so many sources I've tried, including vocals, amps, and stringed instruments. Plus with the A/B setting, it's like having 2 mics in one.

Then get some basic room treatment if you don't have it - for tracking.  You can purchase (or even make) portable gobos that might help so that your recording surpasses "demo quality".  It can even be as simple as hanging a couple moving blankets over some mic stands (configure the boom stand as a "T").  Just something to avoid getting reflections off bedroom walls.  or record in a closet.  no ambience is sometimes better than bad ambience (and an 8' x 8' x 8' bedroom with no treatment is about the worst).

when you start with a good recording it makes everything else easier.  And I'm not saying you've got this, but.... I've had to (tried to) polish a turd before and you can never get it as good as when you have a good recording from the beginning (meaning a good performance, and a good tone/sound).  If you start with crap, it just becomes shiny crap.  I used to have a small bedroom studio and even with treatment it was never as good as my current place (which is bigger, and treated better). 

So again, not saying that you or anyone is recording crap here - just saying that it's a ton easier to get a good mix when it's recorded well.  I think a better mic might help you more than outboard (and maybe you can still get outboard - that mic is under $800).  And if you don't/can't treat the room, then get a SM7B.  Even cheaper and they are good for vocals and "ignoring" the room sound as much as possible.

If you already have some great pre’s, the Audioscape D-Comp.  Run it stereo or in series, super fast if needed, saturate if that’s all you need (really makes stereo tracks sound wider), and great on the mixbus.  Really versatile piece of gear for tracking or mixing…and won’t break the bank for your first piece.  If that’s not of interest, would definitely take a hard look at Audioscape’s other stuff as well as Locomotive Audio.  I’ve heard Stam also does some great work, haven’t tried them myself just yet.

Unless you’re wealthy with money to burn, then I’d work on a results basis and go in order and natural priority.

The less glamorous things come first - you simply cannot escape the laws of physics.

1. Room treatment / correction. (I went traditional on this and my room is physically treated as opposed to software corrected - both individually or together work)

2. Monitors (the very best you can afford)

3. Monitors ….. needs another mention

4. Monitors …. hopefully point made

Now you can actually hear accurately which ever tools (software/hardware) you’re using.

Remember your monitoring will determine how you operate and apply your mix tools - that’s incredibly fundamental.

Now you can start producing music from a defined baseline of reliable soundscape.

Plug-ins are today, very very good (Dan will repeatedly tell you this anyway :-))

So mix with a great selection of great plug-ins and hear your results - many top mixers work this way with amazing success.

Now you can make a change. an addition.

If you’re tracking - a great mic/ preamp/ compressor and see how the addition effects the quality of your productions.

If it’s a mix focus you’re going for, I’d add a fantastic hardware stereo compressor to your mix bus- the topology of which (VCA, vari-mu, diode bridge) can be determined by the genre you’re mainly producing in.

It’s very easy to be indulgent with gear and have that FOMO syndrome get a grip of you - it will drain your wallet quicker than you can say “if only I had a ….”

I’d stay results focused and that way you’ll be very efficient spending money …. instead of pouring it into an endlessly deep hole, even if owning gear is huge a pleasure in itself

Good luck

I appreciate the long and thorough feedback. Monitors are Focal Shape Twins. Room is partially treated, as much as I can do. Headphones: Beyer DT 1770 Pro's.  

Get a Myusaddress.

My kid is moving there at the end of the month. I am guessing I might get to know it better.

 Cheers,
Geoff

probably not going to get you much more in the direction you want.  besides many of the mics already mentioned, an AKG 414 (reasonably priced used) or some of the Lauten, JZ, Vanguard, Roswell, Mojave -- I mean there is a slew of really good solid state (FET) mics under $1000 that would be a serious upgrade.  btw, I've got both an MD-441 (late 70's I believe - based on serial #) and I still use the SM7B a lot more for vocals if I'm using a dynamic mic.  A lot of videos made using 441's where they didn't actually record with that mic (it just looks cool, but so does an EV 664)

The Farce is strong with this one....learn from him, you must....

The Baby Bottle is the SL, so is the Bluebird. I got them cheap...Just need to play with these and see if I can make them work for now. A TLM 102 has piqued my interest in the inexpensive category (of used mics.) 

I had a shot at a couple used 319s at a Sam Ash (near Nashville) before they closed their doors. Weren't discounted much at the time, so I passed and then headed back home.

For now, I'll probably have to make due with what I have and then get a "good" mic at my earliest convenience....but I get these aren't the mics I'm looking for and I should move along...move along...

It's a very nice mic too. (TLM 102)
Particularly at used prices.
Chris

Totally agree on the mics. Which ones is another topic entirely.

I would suggest at least having a look at the Iron Age eqs.

And now that places are blowing out the KT 1176, one of those.

 Cheers,
Geoff