Topic: What would your $3000...

[Mr.Fantasy]

What would your $3000 starting taper rig look like???

The above amount is my budget and I was just curious to see what everyone else might buy theoretically...

[dennisrtyler]

Schoeps CMC6/MK4>Oade ACM Marantz 660

[heath]

$3000 for a starter rig is a sweet budget

I'm so out of the loop on gear costs though that I can't really play.

Hopefully it would involve some 4011's

[Shawn]

http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,87941.0.html > http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,87571.0.html

 

[cshepherd]

I second Dennis' suggestion. 

Schoeps CMC6/MK4>Oade ACM Marantz 660

[run_run_run]

AKG 414s + Chopped Nak 700s > Oade Warm Mod & Transparent Mod R4

[jhirte]

akg 460's w/cards and hyper and a Sound devices 702..

[Javier Cinakowski]

Josephson C42-> Hi Ho Silver XLR's-> Oade Song Catcher PMD660

Lowepro 180
Large Foam Screens
T-Bar/vert-bar
Energizer 15min AA recharger
Bogan Basic 11 stand
Avantone Shocks


You would have a bit of money left over that you could spend on lots of beer and concert tickets....

[sygdwm]

neumann km184/akg 461/beyerdynamic mc930s>oade acm marantz pmd671

leaves enough ching for silver cables, screens, mounts, stand, bar, batteries and compact flash cards.


buy it all used for the best bang for your buck.

[Nick's Picks]

neumann km184/akg 461/beyerdynamic mc930s>oade acm marantz pmd671

leaves enough ching for silver cables, screens, mounts, stand, bar, batteries and compact flash cards.


buy it all used for the best bang for your buck.

ding ding ding!!!

[OFOTD]

AKG 483 > ACM 671

[db]

gefell m200 pair = 1500ish. (oops edit: that price, easily findable is for a "b-stock" returned to manufacturer and resold at that price.)

sound  devices mix-pre $650

dat or hd/card?

[junkbondking]

every neumnn active set up -> busman modded r4.

[Krispy D]

Josephson C42-> Hi Ho Silver XLR's-> Oade Song Catcher PMD660

Lowepro 180
Large Foam Screens
T-Bar/vert-bar
Energizer 15min AA recharger
Bogan Basic 11 stand
Avantone Shocks


You would have a bit of money left over that you could spend on lots of beer and concert tickets....

do you like the song catcher mod better than the ACM??

[Javier Cinakowski]

I personally do like the Song Catcher better, but it is not for every mic.  The Song Catcher is an all FET preamp, the ACM is all op-amps.  The FET's are fantastic for detailed mics.  The op-amps are better for warmer mics..

I ran p-mod UA5 in the past and it took me a good while to get used to the FET sound.  I love it now....

[Krispy D]

+T thanks for the info

[JackoRoses]

akg 481's > v3 > hd-p2
or akg 481's > busman mod P2
the latter should leave enough for cables stand and shockmounts plus something to carry it all in.

[stevetoney]

This is such a coincidence because just this morning I was figuring that I've got about $3K wrapped up in my basic rig and I'm just so happy with it...and what's so cool about this thread is that a good number of people are pretty much recommending up almost exactly what I have honed in on based on my own personal listening and the decisions resulting from a couple months of listening and researching.  Cool!

So, I have to agree with the those that are recommending the km184 or AKG 480 / 460 with a variety of capsules along with some good quality silver cables and a modded 660, 671 or R4.  

I'd also make sure you budget at least $100 - 150 or so for a good bag to hold everything because if you pay that much, you want it stored well so everything isn't banging together in a poorly designed bag.  That is a lesson I've just recetnly learned the hard way after going to All Good and discovering after the festival that some of my stuff was scuffed up just from being in my bag.

My logic when I recently bought both the 184s along with the 480s (with card and hyper caps) was that I just absolutely LOVE the 184 sound, but since they're fixed capsule mics, I bought the 480s for situations when I want to have the variety offered from an interchangeable cap microphone.  This provides me with a versatile set of mics to cover all situations.  I had originally strongly considered the 414s because they sound fantastic, plus they have switchable pickup patterns.  While I totally loved the AKG-414s I listened to, I ruled them out because others recommended that the large diaphragm mics don't have the best track record when you don't have much option for mic placement.  So, since they're kinda big and can block the view of videographers, users will sometimes get asked to move them outta the way...and if you're stuck in the back in a less than ideal location, I guess they fall to the back of the pack as far as mic sound and performance...or so I'm told.

[BC]

DPA4022>UA5>MT

[Nick's Picks]

DPA4022>UA5>MT

thats' possible w/$3k ?

[H₂O]

Schoeps CMC6/MK4>Oade ACM Marantz 660

I like the schoeps but nowadays they would have to be used to get a set far enough below $3K too afford a recorder.  5 years ago this would have been a different story.  You can get a set of CMC6/mk4's used for around $2200-$2300 nowadays.

akg 460's w/cards and hyper and a Sound devices 702..

I like this suggestion myself

[neumannkid]

every neumnn active set up -> busman modded r4.

My first set of mics Neumann SKM140s , My last set of mics Neumann SKM140s 

PS Buy Used, Definitely the way to go

[spyder9]

Sennheiser MKH-40 > Aerco MP2 > SD 722

[stevetoney]

Sennheiser MKH-40 > Aerco MP2 > SD 722

At $2100 - $2200 used, I can't see how a 722 can be in the mix and still come in under $3K.  Also, I think the Aerco's are around $750 new which you have to buy because they're never available used.  That means he has to find some mics for free!   

[Nick Graham]

AKG 414s + Chopped Nak 700s > Oade Warm Mod & Transparent Mod R4

Yup, and for $2400 you could buy the 414s and mod R4 from me

[stevetoney]

AKG 414s + Chopped Nak 700s > Oade Warm Mod & Transparent Mod R4

Yup, and for $2400 you could buy the 414s and mod R4 from me

He he.  Are you two guys working together on this?

[run_run_run]

AKG 414s + Chopped Nak 700s > Oade Warm Mod & Transparent Mod R4

Yup, and for $2400 you could buy the 414s and mod R4 from me

He he.  Are you two guys working together on this?

lol I wish, its only a dream at this point

[rokpunk]

used akg 460's = $800/pair
new 722 = $2200

$3000

[leehookem]

AKG 483 > ACM 671

:swoon

[H₂O]

used akg 460's = $800/pair
new 722 = $2200

$3000

Where can you get a SD722 new for $2200?

[stevetoney]

used akg 460's = $800/pair
new 722 = $2200

$3000

Where can you get a SD722 new for $2200?

Not only that, but if it were me, I'd have a hard time justifying to myself that I should put the majority of my investment into the back end of the rig.  The 722 might be nice, but most people build their rigs from the mics backwards...so I think that should include at least some consideration for investing in some extra capsules with the 460 as a priority to buying a 'Porche' on the tail-end.  Just my opinion.

[rokpunk]

Not only that, but if it were me, I'd have a hard time justifying to myself that I should put the majority of my investment into the back end of the rig.  The 722 might be nice, but most people build their rigs from the mics backwards...so I think that should include at least some consideration for investing in some extra capsules with the 460 as a priority to buying a 'Porche' on the tail-end.  Just my opinion.

Back end?!? The 722 is both the preamp and the recorder....not exactly the "back end" of the rig.
As for the mics, say what you will, but the 460's are hard to beat. A second pair of capsules for the mics, while not a bad idea, might not be the best way to spend your money if you are limited to $3000 since you can only use one pair of capsules at a time.

[BC]

DPA4022>UA5>MT

thats' possible w/$3k ?

not sure, but ballpark, lol.     If you could find a good deal on some used DPA's it should be close? UA5 + used MT should be around $350 right? Maybe I am off here as I dunno about prices for UA5's.

[Krispy D]

DPA4022>UA5>MT

thats' possible w/$3k ?

not sure, but ballpark, lol.     If you could find a good deal on some used DPA's it should be close? UA5 + used MT should be around $350 right? Maybe I am off here as I dunno about prices for UA5's.

you can't get a MT for less than $250, and most UA5's are about the same price.  your ideal <$3K rig looks awesome but I'll bet it ends up closer to $3500

[Nick's Picks]

I would think the DPAs along would be 2500

[Krispy D]

I would think the DPAs along would be 2500

well that is cutting it close. But if you could get that rig for 3K I would jump on it!

[Nick's Picks]

yea, really.

More $3k fun
SKM1x0>MME>MT  that could be had pretty easily, I bet.

or
?? > any analog preamp > MR1
You could get an Aerco, MP2, V2, MMP...all for less than $700 (there about) and the MR1 for about $500.  That leaves a nice chunk of change for something tasty from the yard sale.

or
1/2 of a ST-350

[F0CKER]

All used of course....I think you could just about swing this for $3,000.

CMC64->Oade m248->JB3

[JackoRoses]

All used of course....I think you could just about swing this for $3,000.

CMC64->Oade m248->JB3

the 248 is just a preamp though right?
You have to rely on the JB3 A/D which I wouldn't want to after having that much money in front of it.

[F0CKER]

All used of course....I think you could just about swing this for $3,000.

CMC64->Oade m248->JB3

the 248 is just a preamp though right?
You have to rely on the JB3 A/D which I wouldn't want to after having that much money in front of it.

oops my bad...totally forgot the JB3 was a digital in.

in any event, the 64->248 combo is cheap, and a winner.

Find a decent deck behind it that accepts rca's and you're in business.

[Craig T]

mk4's>nbox>mr1/r09.  comes close to $3k when you add in the stand, mounts, etc.

[grider]

used 480's for 750 and a used 722 for 2300 would be hard to beat fellas

[grider]

Neumann 140/150>V3>Microtrack is also a very nice rig

[Mr.Fantasy]

So what do some of you guys primary rigs cost total?

[firebaugh]

I'm not done with accessories yet but my low(ish) budget rig has cost me around $800 so far.  Only have a stand to buy and a kwon-style bar to build.

[Nick's Picks]

some of us are modest, some of us are not.
I know a fella who carries around enough schoepps gear to pay for *both* of my vehicles.

I've gone has high as a lot (over 7k), to extremely minimal ($1000) and have been very happy with all of those rigs i've put together.

shit..I can build a $1k rig that will pull the HEAT and smoke lots of those $3k rigs.
but thats only because i'm a stud. 

save money..., start small work up.  put $1k into the rig, $2k into your STEREO !
you do have a great stereo, ... I hope.  If you you are planning to dump that kind of d'ough into a reference quality recording rig, I'd think you'd want a "reference quality stereo" at home to know that your running things correctly.

brand new SP LSD2 stereo mic (awesome piece, imo) > Oade ACMod Marantz PMD 660.
now that shit there has synergy, is easy to operate, and sounds really, really good.

[Brian Skalinder]

If you you are planning to dump that kind of d'ough into a reference quality recording rig, I'd think you'd want a "reference quality stereo" at home to know that your running things correctly.

Great point that a lot of people forget.  Without a decent playback system (I wouldn't call my "reference", but it serves me quite well), it's difficult to evaluate one's recording gear.  Plenty of good, low-ish budget recording gear options out there.  I say spend $1k - $1.5k, spend some cash on playback, record, and listen for a while.  Then decide what you do or don't like about your current recording (or playback gear for that matter) and make adjustments accordingly.

[Nick's Picks]

well...reference quality to me doesn't have to mean "uber stereo", but it has to be a step above.
you know it when you get there.  every little upgrade makes that difference..then you say "wow...so that is what this album really sounds like"...
thats when you know.

[BC]

save money..., start small work up.  put $1k into the rig, $2k into your STEREO !
you do have a great stereo, ... I hope.  If you you are planning to dump that kind of d'ough into a reference quality recording rig, I'd think you'd want a "reference quality stereo" at home to know that your running things correctly.

just to play devil's advocate, you can always upgrade your stereo but you can't go back and upgrade the gear used to make your recordings. That being said, good playback gear can make a world of difference in re-creating those recordings in the comfort of your own home. As far as tools for monitoring your recordings a pair of good headphones can go a long way for little $.

[stevetoney]

If you you are planning to dump that kind of d'ough into a reference quality recording rig, I'd think you'd want a "reference quality stereo" at home to know that your running things correctly.

Great point that a lot of people forget.  Without a decent playback system (I wouldn't call my "reference", but it serves me quite well), it's difficult to evaluate one's recording gear.  Plenty of good, low-ish budget recording gear options out there.  I say spend $1k - $1.5k, spend some cash on playback, record, and listen for a while.  Then decide what you do or don't like about your current recording (or playback gear for that matter) and make adjustments accordingly.

I personally do my most intense listening through a great pair of headphones and that for me is as good a stereo sound as I care to acheive for playback, but that's my listening tendency because my wife can't stand my music, so I end up listening to it all through my headphones.  $200 for my playback rig.  I learned way back in the old days listening to Hendrix Are You Experienced and Yes Close To The Edge that my best listening experiences were inside the solitude of my headphones anyway.  But that's me.

Regarding the question about what I have wrapped up in my rig, here you go.

$1000 --  Neumann KM184 mics, fantastic crystal clear and balanced signal response.  I don't even hardly need to EQ my recordings in post or during playback because they come out dead nuts almost every time.

$950 --  AKG 480 bodies with CK61 cardioid capsules.  Decided I wanted a pair of mics to run hypers with and didn't like the Neumann hyper sound.  Preferred the AKG hyper sound so figured I couldn't go wrong having a second set of high quality cardioid capsules as the 'base' set even though the AKGs will almost always be run with the 63s in a hyper setup.

$350 --  AKG CK63 hyper cardioid capsules

$400 --  Used unmodded Marantz PMD-660

$170 --  Cost to have Chris Busman Johnson perform his AWESOME mod to the Marantz PMD-660

$600 --  Package price for the following...

      UA-5 (Oade Warm Mod)
      Microtrack 2496
      Extra Batteries
      4 GB card
      A couple of cables

I bought the above to have spare accessories for the 660 recorder and the pre-amp, just in case anything breaks or otherwise stops working.  Besides, this extra gear is great sounding stuff too.

$160 --  Silver Audiomagic Hyperconductor Cables

$70  --  Segue Dogstar Cables

$125  --  Spare batteries for the UA-5

$35 --  DPA windscreens

$80 -- Two gear bags; one lowe pro Nova 4 and one Rak gear

$160 -- Nomad JB3

$40 -- Amvona Mic Stand

$50 --  Shure Vert Bar

$45 -- Joe Meek Shock Mounts

$100 -- Various adapters, clamps, and hardware for clamping, converting, etc.

$10 -- Swiss army knife type tool that has pliers and screwdrivers for gear bag

$10 -- Flashlight for gear bag

$5 --  (2) Mountain climber style clips for holding cables rolled up on the outside of my gear bag.

$55 --  Initial set of 4 - 2500 mah Energizer batteries and 15 minute charger unit; plus 12 additional for a total of 16.

$120 --  Two 2 GB CF media cards and one 4 GB.

$70 -- miscellaneous other cables I've made for myself out of Belden 1804A including the XLR connectors.

Total is about $4600.  You can get away with alot less, but the miscellenous stuff does tend to add up.  You kinda collect that as you go though.

[junkbondking]

$800 for a sweet set of km 184's

$800 for unmodded r4

$200 for the r4 mod on 2 channels

thats not bad for a plug & play 4 channel system.

[Nick's Picks]

headphones just dont do it for me.
I need to "feel it"

[F.O.Bean]

used 480's for 750 and a used 722 for 2300 would be hard to beat fellas

agreed! money WELL spent IMO

[F.O.Bean]

I have about $6,700.00 USD in gear. 2 pairs of HQ mics, a 722 and cables and clamps and all the other misc stuff.........oh, and its taken me 10 years to get to this point........

[kindms]

FS: AKG 480's w/ CK61's, ck63's, Shure Vert Bar, Avatone Shocks $1385

or     
PFS/FT: AKG C414 XLS - PRICE DROP! $1200.00
or
FS: AKG Mid-Side Rig; Pair AKG 463, Red R2 (fig , adapter ring, CK1x w/MK46 $1450.00


Tascam HD-P2 Transparent Concert - Ground Shipping $1175.00

I would run anyone of these rigs in a heartbeat and for below $3000.00 and leaves $ for CF cards, cables, and most importantly concert tickets!

I am soo loving my HDP2 (stock) easiest to use piece of gear I have ever owned

[F.O.Bean]

or an ACM 671 as well with any of those mics, especially 48x>acm 671

[gambra]

Wow I wish I could justify to myself spending $3000 on a rig.To be honest I'd never see the point. The kind of music I tape (noisy avant-garde wierd stuff) is a world away from pretty much all other tapers here, the crowds are a lot more rougher and the possibilty of being able to set up a full rig that would cost upwards of several grand would be an awful idea. Besides, most of these bands would allow sbd access if I asked.

Despite that I see myself shelling out for an "open" rig in the very very near future.

[stevetoney]

Wow I wish I could justify to myself spending $3000 on a rig.To be honest I'd never see the point. The kind of music I tape (noisy avant-garde wierd stuff) is a world away from pretty much all other tapers here, the crowds are a lot more rougher and the possibilty of being able to set up a full rig that would cost upwards of several grand would be an awful idea. Besides, most of these bands would allow sbd access if I asked.

Despite that I see myself shelling out for an "open" rig in the very very near future.

I don't follow your logic unless the reason you wouldn't spend the money is because you're worried your gear would get trashed.  Obviously, I understand that concern. 

But from a music perspective, I can't see how even noisy stuff can't be helped by a good sounding rig.  I mean, you can take the noisiest music you've ever hear and clean it up through a nice rig and it's gonna sound better.  Musical noise is different than the noise that fatigues your ears when you're listening through crappy gear.  And SBDs just don't cut it for me.  They're stale sounding, very two dimensional and usually not mixed right.  Gimme a good sounding AUD tape any day of the week.

All just my own humble opinions though.

[F.O.Bean]

agreed Steve! Id MUCH RATHER have a smokin DAUD over even a DSBD any day of the week. id ideally like a matrix, but if I had to choose between SBD or DAUD, id pick DAUD everytime

I also think for the money, 48x>722 or MBHO>722 are the best combos for the price IMO. both sound fantastic ad really come to life and open up thru the 722's warmer preamp stages I would put either of those combos against any other setup......for good mbho>722 recordings, check the all good sets i posted on LMA and the same for the 483>722 sound on LMA. just search for all good and theyll pop up.....

[F.O.Bean]

and if staying in 16-bit land, id get a busmn mod 660 or anything else he mods. the fostex fr2-le is an all-in-one that chris busman mods and is 24-bit. most likely thats what i'll get for my mbho setup......

[Teen Wolf Blitzer]

744                   4000
140's                 1500
Fathead IIL's        650
v2                      750
misc cables          400                   
petrol pegz2         200
shure stand          200

YIKES!  I don't ever wanna add that up again.   

Will be looking for a V3 and some LD's at the end of the year.           
After that I'm done other than switching around mics every so often.
It really never ends does it?  I've come along way from the AT822>Denon DTR-80P. 
My first rig in 1993.

[Mr.Fantasy]

Thanks a lot to everyone who posted here....

.....I now have about 6 months of research to do on all of that gear.

But seriously, those are some sweet looking rigs.

I continue to feel like I am on the verge of a purchase...then new information always seems to come to light...

My current problem is my deck.

I want a hard drive recorder, but the search for me has narrowed down a bit.

I think the Fostex FR-2 looks nice. But from what I have heard it drains batteries quick.

Of course the 722 looks great...but I think I won't use half the functions on that deck. However, the 722 keeps on coming back to the spotlight as far as quality of physical deck and sound is concerned.

I have also been looking at the Roland R-4. But I don't do matrices and I don't know that I would get many soundboard patches.....but maybe.....

Also the Korg Mr-1 or Mr-1000 look exceptionally sweet, but I am largely ignorant of DSD and therefore I fear it....

I don't want to get into a deck that is too specialized that it may become obsolete. Like if DSD doesn't catch on and a few years from now you can get the deck worked on etc.....

Ahhh....it is just an endless sea of decisions......

[db]

Ahhh....it is just an endless sea of decisions......

but, and i'm sure someone wrote this, put your $$ in your mics.  the 7xxs are nice as are a lot of a>ds and recorders...but you'lll do better to forget the fancy conversion and recording capabilities for now... and just capture the sound as best you can.

[BC]

but, and i'm sure someone wrote this, put your $$ in your mics. 

bottom line for sure, get the best mics you can afford. IMHO the back end gear is secondary to the mics.

[Mr.Fantasy]

So with a $3000 budget you are saying (roughly and hypothetically or course) what? $1500? $2000?

I have been looking at a pair of Neumann KM184's.......but as far as checking them out I have had more questions/doubts....

.....such as....assuming you must have quality playback to accurately judge the quality of your mics....

.....to listen to a recording on say....the archive....shouldn't I (to truly get the feel for the sonic picture created by the particular mics) burn the recording off and listen to it on my home stereo system as opposed to listening to it through my crappy (I suppose) computer speakers....?

Does anyone do this?

Because what if I DO really like the sound I hear from my PC, then I get them and I realize that I like the sound of them playing through my computer more than the true sound of the mics.....

.....does any of that make sense?

[Jamos]

I think the Fostex FR-2 looks nice. But from what I have heard it drains batteries quick.

If you're talking about the new FR-2LE, have no worries about battery life.  I think that is actually one of the deck's superior features.

Considering you can get a great sounding all-in-one pre/ad/recorder deck for between $600-1200, that leaves plenty to get some beautiful microphones. 

[BC]

So with a $3000 budget you are saying (roughly and hypothetically or course) what? $1500? $2000?

.....such as....assuming you must have quality playback to accurately judge the quality of your mics....

.....to listen to a recording on say....the archive....shouldn't I (to truly get the feel for the sonic picture created by the particular mics) burn the recording off and listen to it on my home stereo system as opposed to listening to it through my crappy (I suppose) computer speakers....?

Does anyone do this?

Because what if I DO really like the sound I hear from my PC, then I get them and I realize that I like the sound of them playing through my computer more than the true sound of the mics.....

.....does any of that make sense?

To me it seems reasonable to spend 1/2 to 3/4 your budget on mics. If you listen to enough recordings you might find a mic that you consistently prefer. IMHO there is not an enormous difference between quality small diaphraghm condensers, you really can't go wrong with the recommendations here, neumann 184 or SKM stereo kit, AKG 480 series, DPA 40xx, Schoeps CMC6/MK4, MBHO, or Gefell SMS2000 or M300, just to name some of the most popular SD condensers used in these circles for taping live shows. 

As far as evaluating recordings, I would steer away from listening on cheapo PC speakers, do your listening on the best playback system possible, either decent headphones or on your home stereo.

[grayp]

used 480s, used m148, used modsbm1, used jb3.     old skool

actually for a long time i ran a ps2 between the 480s and the modsbm.   it made some really sweet tapes.   you could probably pull that off for less than 2k and add your preamp of choice when you get around to it (if ever).      i would have run that way for a lot longer if i didn't get the 'i have your m148 ready' email from doug about 5 years ago

[grider]

with a budget of $3000, I'd encourage you to stick with the biggies when it comes to your selection of mics:  AKG 480's, Neumann 184/185 or 140/150, MBHO 603's, or Microtech Geffell 200 or 300 series, at a minimum; or you can of course step it up to Schoeps mk4/ccm6; I say that DPA microphones will be out of the price range you have in mind; the balance of 1200 to 2000 you will need for the remainder of your gear; and I would echo the above statements about spending the majority of your budget on mics alone since great gear will not make average mics sound all that much better

[Stagger]

some of us are modest, some of us are not.
I know a fella who carries around enough schoepps gear to pay for *both* of my vehicles.

Hmmmmm might that fella's name begin with "See" and rhyme with "ox"?  My advice? Get a job in the industry and get you gear on accom. Nothing like 50-75% off new gear! 

[Nick's Picks]

Stagger...
like school on sundays.

[F.O.Bean]

used akg 460's = $800/pair
new 722 = $2200

$3000

BINGO! I like my MBHO's and all too, but the AKG 460/mod560/480>7xx is by far my fav mic combo up until this point, and Ive heard em all boys I am strongly growing on to teh Schoeps as well, and would love to have an mk41/cmcx>Busman FR2-LE or the Neumann Cardioids>ACM/Busman 660/FR2-LE. I also like the Schoeps>7xx sound, but if the show is bass heavy, forget about it, you might as well not tape IMO Schoeps>V2>7xx is also tits.

BUT, for 3k on the nose, I suggest 483/463>7xx for sure. You are going to beed a little extra $$ to get a set of silver-clad XLR cables(150) and a bag to hold it all, and some extra 7xx lion batteries. BUT I think anyone running the 4x1/3>7xx is going to be happy for a LONG while. I got the MBHO's not because I wasnt happy with the 48x>722 sound, but because they were 300 cheaper than the last MBHO Cards/Hypers/actives/603a bodies sold for, plus mine came with silver-clad active cables as well.and the taper wa slocal and let me do a payment plan but mainly becasue the MBHO handmade sound is VERY nice,a nd I figured the actives would be easier on my deteriating back, and would compliment the 722's preamps quite well because of their rather neutral/'brighter' sound. I was def right

so go get a pair of 460/480's and a 702 and dont look back.

[F.O.Bean]

or any HQ mics>Busman Mod FR2-LE. I bet that thing sounds good with any pair of mics. I am unsure if Chris is doing multiple mods on it, but I know he's doing a 'vintage' mod on it that should be PERFECT with my 483's/MBHO's Vintage should sound very clear and in-your-face and also a touch of warmth, so basically, the best of both worlds IMO

You couyld buy TWO, yes TWO pairs of HQ mics, like 184's and 483's and still have $$ left over for a Busman Mod FR2-LE(24-Bit/Writes to CF Cards) or a Busman Mod 660(16-Bit/Writes to CF Card). Personally, after hearing my buddy Steve Toney's Neumann 184>Busman Mod 660 from All Good(he was about 5-6 feet directly behind my 483/MBHO Hypers>722 recordings) and I must honestly say, his recordings of his 184>Busman 660 are SMOKIN, and I am pretty sure sound better than my MBHO Hypers>722 from the sets he ran his 184>Busman 660 tapes. His lowend was better than mine, and he ran cards and I ran hypers If I would have maybe ran Cards, it would have been a better comp, but what Im saying is, is that Steve's 184>Busman 660 rig sounded just as good(and IMO better) than my MBHO Hypers>722 rig, which cost substantially more, at least the backend did. Thats what folks are saying about putting your $$ into your mics first. Personally, I think you will be happy with any of the above mic choices, but you ahve to find one you consistently like, because youre the one whos going to be listening to your recordings

[Charlie Miller]

A down payment on a 744T

[rokpunk]

a HD24, 3x 8 channel Presonus preamps, and a splitter snake

[DaveG73]

used akg 460's = $800/pair
new 722 = $2200

$3000

Jesus I wish I could find prices like this on this side of the pond.

http://www.secureonlineshopping.biz/indeepquad/products.asp?recnumber=483

At the current exchange rate, that works out at around $4500.

For that sort of cash I could pay for a trip to the US, buy one and pay all the import charges etc if I got caught bringing it through.

Dave.

[Charlie Miller]

a HD24, 3x 8 channel Presonus preamps, and a splitter snake

Sounds like the rig I'm selling.

[kennedy]

my old rig was right around 3000 maybe a hair less and it made some damn fine tapes  highly recommended
(Neumann skm 140s > lunatec v2 > apogee minime > d8)

[Mr.Fantasy]

So what if I don't want to go with an "All in one" box? I mean that is what these are right? the 722 the R4 and whatnot? What if I want to use some sort of pre amp or a/d....what are some of the common options on those sorts of things?

I still have other things to worry about. I have been thinking about considering the compact flash options out there....like the marantz 671...but I am still not sold on it. I like the idea of a hard drive, but it just seems like compact flash does the same thing without the possibility of a hard drive error......But that is probably food for another search.....

[Nick's Picks]

you still haven't pulled the trigger yet?


the CF card approach is superior over hdd for several reasons.  Less heat.  no moving parts, much less battery consumption.
the 671 is also a one box solution.  meaning that you plug in mic cables and that's that.

for separates...., there are analog preamps and preamp / AD combo boxes (like the Mme or V3) , and there are small analog based recorders (no digital input) and then there are (few) with digital inputs that would utilize the outboard AD of another product.

IMO..if you want to familiarize yourself w/all the products available, you should cruise the retailer websites and get a feel for whats out there.
get yourself a catalog from fullcompass or sweetwater.
even check out musicians friend.

[jcrab66]

mk4's>nbox>mr1/r09. 

my sentiments exactly