Okay gear mavens, I just bought a Martin HD28v with a Fishman PU and Eq, I was looking at recording with a microphone and using the pu from the guitar. I want to spend under $500 and have some versatility. I now the Groove Tubes has the brick $400 that looks kewl, I would not mind a channel strip device that is worth while, any thought would be appreciated!!!!
Do you already have a mic? As for preamp/DI, I recently recorded with HHB Radius 50 tube pre/compressor. It's not very expensive, but I thought it sounded great. Natural and transparent with warmth (such cliche descriptions, but...). YMMV. ari
Joe Meek VC3Q does nicely for my purposes - has a compressor and an EQ in it as well if I feel I need those things. Colors the sound a bit, but I'm so used to working with it that I know how to get the sounds I want out of it. Plus you can get them used for about $150 - so get 2!! --chiba
Owned the Focusrite - nice. Consider one more - FMC Real Nice Preamp. I absolutely love it on most every source including vocals and acoustic guitar.
I am buying at Sweetwater and they do not sell RNP, I am using their money!!! What is your opinion about the other 2, since they are tube? How was the tube emulation on the Focusrite? Why did you get rid of it
If you are only interested in recording your Martin and won't have use for a quality live performance DI I would suggest that you look into a good or better quality second mic. Or spend all of the dough on one really good mic and pre-amp. If you must use DI, check the Avalon U5. Yes it can be found for $500.
The Focusrite was nice, but it can be bright sounding. I can't explain it much past that. I have owned $1000 a channel mic preamps; tube ones to (MP-1 from A-Design) and they really put the Focusrite in its place IMHO. It is a great piece for the money, but I cannot lie about it - the RNP holds its own for what it does better IMHO which is why I own it. I have a Groove Tubes Ditto Tube DI that is really really nice, but I have not used it on acoustic guitars or vocals so I cannot comment. On electric guitars it is fantastic sounding, almost as good as the Demeter Tube DI I used to have (and wish I still did!!!!!!). I have no experience at all with the Summit so I cannot comment. Of your choices, I would personally go with the Groove Tubes Brick; unless you needed the other stuff the Focusrite offers badly. Just my suggestion, nothing more!!
I figure for the extra change, I will go with the Avalon I read a lot of great things about it and the eq with it
I have a groove tubes brick that is mint and in the box. I used it once - I thought I was going to start buying recording gear but never did. you can email me for info at kaiserdan2@comcast.net. sorry for the spam!
Hard to find a better, more transparent, more versatile DI than the Avalon... I use a Countryman for lack of funds, but I'd get an Avalon in a heartbeat if I could afford it.
