It is amazing that people will recommend that you listen to a recording to decide if you like the equipment combination. With out a point of reference this is by no way a way of determining the accuracy or inaccuracies of any equipment unless there is something wrong with the set up. There are too many uncontrolled variables to get a handle on anything, especially when you are recording P.A. systems in clubs, arenas, ect., which for the most part are compromised by the system, the soundman, venue and the position recorded from, not to mention taking into account the fact that if you weren't there you have no idea what the original sound was like. Sure, you might say it sounds good or bad but good or bad to what reference?
There are mic, pre's etc., that can tailor your sound, if you want to stray from accuracy, such as warm, punchy, zippy, etc., and if that is your cup of tea "go for it", but remember what ever you do to the signal prior to recording it can't be reversed. In my book, it always makes better sense to get the cleanest sound you can get up front and then post-recording do with it as you want. There are all kinds of plug ins that will warm up, punch, compress, expand or equalize your recordings after the fact. I know some folks think this is blasphemy, and I really never use them unless the artist is requesting it but this is what you are doing in your pre-recording when you are putting together a system that gives you that warm, extended, punchy sound and further you can't reverse it. Warm sound is usually a bit of third order harmonic distortion, punch is usually a bit of compression and frequency response is usually determined by the frequency response and polar pattern of the mics used and the mics set up and technique used.
That being said, the type of equipment you use will be mostly determined by the type of music you record. Do you attend and record mostly P.A. based bands electric bands in large, medium or small venues? Do you record acoustic jazz, classical, bluegrass from the stage?
After you have recorded a concert, you should listen objectively. Don't think, "Do I like the sound of the recording", Do think, "Does the recording sound like the concert I just attended, dynamically, frequency extension and soundstage wise". If you operate off the first "think" you will be on a merry-go-round for the rest of your life playing the mic, preamp, AD of the month game. If you operate off the second you will put together an accurate system, spend less money and enjoy yourself more.
Topic: Pre/AD with 480's vs. cmc6/mk4's (Read 6764 times)