Recording Gear Advice Needed!

[guitarplayer]

Hello!

I was hoping someone could give some some advice on what to do as
a next step to improve my recording quailiy. Although my current setup
isn't bad I'm sure it can be improved. Here's my current setup:

Mics: NT2, SM57, Optiva small condenser
Mixer: Makie Onyx 1620 Analog to PC via Firewire
Software: Cakewalk Guitar Pro on Windows
Preamps: Groove Tube Brick, Audio Buddy Solid State
Amps: Matchless Sptifire head through Matchless 1x12 cab
Star Nova 7 watt recording amp (1x10 speaker)
Fender Vibro Champ
Dr.Z Rx Prescription Head through Two Rock 1x12 cab
Pedals: Xotic AC Boost, RC Boost, Bad Monkey, BJF Honey Bee,
EchoMachine, Boss TR2 Trem
Guitars: Gibson ES225, Fender Strat, Vinetto BG Tele

What's the most important thing I can do to improve my recording quaility?
Higher quaility preamp? Mic? Other? What's my current "Weak Link"?

Much Thanks!

[Sunbreak Music]

What's your monitoring chain? What are your goals?

[guitarplayer]

I have Event Project Studio 6 monitor speakers and Beyerdynamic DT770
head phones. Thanks!

[juniorspecial]

Well, you've got some great gear!

All you need to do now is get to it, and write some great songs. Then record them with your great gear.

[guitarplayer]

Thanks for the compliment. Yes, I do have some good equipment, and I am writing songs and recording currently. I'm wanting to improve my sound more. I was hoping to get some advice from the many people on the gear page who have been doing this for a lot longer than me on what I can do to improve my chain. Thanks again!

[djbrough]

You do have a nice home setup. I would try upgrading pres and maybe a few different mics. For guitar, you mihgt want to look at an A-Designs Pacifica matched with a ribbon mic. I don't know waht your budget is, but a pacifica (or it's lunchbox cousin; the P1) matched with a Royer 121 is a lovely thing. If the Royer is too expensive, look at Cascade Fatheads or the Oktavamod ribbons. Nice bang for the buck.

[nbarts]

Honestly, if you don't know what you need to upgrade then you probably shouldn't.
Stick with what you have until you know which peace of gear is limiting your ability to get what you want.

[guitarplayer]

Thanks for the advice. Both good advice. I've heard some recording done
in the studio of a friend of mines and his vocal and acoustic recordings are
noticably better. He has very expensive pre and mic. I suspect that might make the most difference. I may take the advice of just waiting until I've
experimented more with what I already have and keep one eye out for
a good deal on a better pre. I bought the Brick because of many recommendations here on the gear page and I wasn't disappointed.
It's great to have access to the wide knowledge base of information
on this site. Thanks again!

[Grun]

No-one has mentioned room treatment. Not as sexy as a mic pre, but it's where many small studios miss the boat. Should be a very high priority. The 'room' is a vital piece of the recording chain that is often overlooked.

[guitarplayer]

Actually, I'm glad you mentioned room treatment! My studio is currently
in my downstairs "dinning room". The advantage of this room is that it's
very open and relatively high ceilings (9 foot) and hardwood floors and
the acoustics sound very good. The downside is that I can't close it off to reduce other noises in the house and it doesn't look that great when company comes over. I've been considering moving my studio upstairs to our bonus room. The room is large (around 20x20) and currently has carpeting. If I move upstairs I've been thinking I would replace the carpet with hardwood floors. The disadvantage to using the bonus room is since the ceilings are 1 foot shorter (8 foot) I'm not sure what the acoustics of the room will be. In fact, I won't know until I spend the money on the wood floors and other room treatment. The advantage is it's much larger, I can close it off, and it would be MUCH easier to treat the room appropriately since it will be dedicated for recording. Currently the acoustics in the room I'm in sound pretty good but I won't be able to treat it as well as the bonus room. Any advice about using the bonus room rather than where I'm at. So how would a 20w x 20d x 8h room work acoustically for recording? Thanks!