Topic: Critique this rig

[aberg]

So, right now I'm running AKG 391/3s > USBPre > lappy,

but I'm getting sick of lugging the laptop to bars with me. I'm also willing to part with the ck91 caps since I never use them.

I figure if I sell my USBPre and the caps, I can get around $700.

I want to get a compact little MicroTrack rig going... what would be a good pre/adc to run infront of it.... would the ps-2/ad-20 combo work nicely?

I might throw in an svu1 for metering since I don't like the meters on the MicroTrack, so the pre doesn't necessarily need metering.

Any comments/suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

[F.O.Bean]

mp2>microtrack would shine IMO

i always loved just the 391/3>mp2>dat tapes as well!

[johnw]

I'd go for the MP2, but I don't think $700 would cover the cost of a MT24/96, used MP2 and CF card.

[aberg]

Well, I don't mind spending a little extra for this.

How much do used MP2s run for? $400-450?

Also, is the ADC in the microtrack decent enough that I could just run analog line in from the preamp?

[Brian Skalinder]

I'd run 393 > UA5 > MT2496 before 393 > MP2 > MT2496.  The UA5 is still plenty small and compact, easy to power, and gets you a whole range of features (24-bit, SBD+AUD mixes, outboard ADC, etc.) and ample opportunity for future upgrades whether Oade or Busman.

[aberg]

That's what I would do, and I actually have a stock ua-5 but it has been digi-modded too many times and is pretty fucked up. I've been trying to have people fix it for me and they're having trouble. But yah, if a oade-mod ua-5 shows up on the yard sale, I just might pick it up.

[Sanjay]

Keep in mind the AD-20 will not pass a 24 bit signal, so you'd be stuck with a 16 bit recording, which is fine, but if your going to do that and stealthing/overheating is not an issue i'd go with the jb3 as its much cheaper still than a MT.


Now I would also use a mp-2, these have gone for around $350, with mixpre's for about $450, however they are in short supply.  Then if you have some extra cash pick up an SBM-1.  You'll then have meters and a nice A/D (at least nicer than an A/D-20).  Although I haven't used an external A/D in a year with my mixpre and i love the sound of the shows.