What Analog Gear Should you buy first?

In this video, we're going to talk about what analog gear you should buy first for a great signal chain. This will help you get the best sound from your recordings in a home studio.

Whether you're a beginner or a pro, a good signal chain is essential for achieving great results. In this video, we'll talk about what analog gear you should buy first to build a great signal chain, and help you get the most from your equipment!

We'll take a look at mic preamps, compressors and eqs in rack equipment and 500 series that are worth your time and will fit your budget.

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Song by oldmanrei
Recorded by Mitchell Rose at The DIY Recording Studio

Filmed and Produced by Mitch at The DIY Recording Studio

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#analog #recordingstudio #hybrid

[monkeyplusplus]

Great video! I use a Sound Skulptor MP & EQ 573 as well! They're so nice. On my voice, one thing I love to do is use an 1176 style compressor (I use a Hairball Audio FET/500 - also a great DIY kit!) and a DIYRE OLA5 in series. Neither are working super hard, but the FET/500 is great at capturing the quick changes in volume and gives just a little boost into the OLA5 so it can do its buttery-smoove thing. Then finally a DIYRE EQP5 on the end does a wonderful job of smooth eq tweaking. Also, a noise gate (I use a Drawmer DS101) is really nice to have between the preamp and compressor, especially with harder to drive mics like an SM7B. Even on other mics though, it can be a big help. I landed on an Earthworks Ethos as my 'daily driver' mic on my voice, and love it.

[johncarlino]

Great video! You mentioned getting a cleaner and more detailed preamp setup for classical music. Would you care to elaborate? I'm considering a capi VP28 with red dot opamps with a Capi 550 EQ for classical guitar. I'd love your thoughts

[SHRIKANTDEVDIKAR]

Very nicely and elaborately crafted video. Thank you for the knowledge...

[who_is_dis]

For music and working in the box - i've found that different tracks ask for different things, at least slight variations.
So me personally, I want to stay quite flexible and open instead of having a 'go to' rig.
I have my eye out on a Neve 1073 DPA that I can track my U87ai (💪😘) through, as well as re tracking stems through before mixing to impart that goodness that's quite obvious when it's cumulative like that. So in my opinion, either start with something for the mixbus, or a L/R 2 channel preamp (Which can also be used on the mixbus).

[lizmayfield]

Fantastic video Mitch and perfectly timed for me at the moment. I’ll be taking all this advise on board, thank you 🙏

[romelafaitele]

MITCH !
Bruh sorry just saw your comment on another vid, Apologies brother ! i dont use this account as my main, only on it when music related !
sending nothing but love and respect your way !

Also great informative vids as per usual !!! Bless you bro for sharing your knowledge with us !! Absolute LEGEND !

[tx]

The mics by Stam audio are fantastic….Have used them….

[ManofmanyfacesMusic]

Out of every production channel I follow, I've never seen anyone with the same vocal chain I use. I run an SM7b into the Alctron MP73eqV2, and on to the Lindell 76. Do you have a video on that chain? If you don't, I would love to see a vocal recording breakdown and what your approach is for dialing in a vocal sound.

[FiddleCzar]

This was a great video! I have fairly recently started following you - and I am currently considering venturing into some analog gear. I really liked your detailed comparisons, as well as the specific gear recommendation.

I am also interested in an upgrade to my interface that will better support that hybrid digital/analog environment. Any recommendations on an interface with line inputs that can support up to 6 to 8 total inputs? I’m mainly recording acoustic instruments (i.e. Bluegrass).

[jessefildesmusic]

Hey Mitch, I’m looking to get started with some outboard gear so was looking at the DIYRE CP5 with the colour modules. Do you have any thoughts on that and do you think I would be better off just going for a straight up 1073 clone kit instead? Im doing mostly rock and pop, will be using it mostly for vocal tracking. Cheers 🤘

[miltonmagik]

Nice video, I'm still considering two alternatives for a mic preamp, but I don't know if these would be good clones: Warm Audio WA 273 EQ Preamplificador or WA MPX2. Any thoughts are appreciated, thank you.

[JesusPiano]

Great video mate!. - like your Core too. I have a Q: Is there a point in hooking up all the back's I/O of my several units hardware into a rack unit - connected to a patchbay - with "not so cheap" cables? (200€ or so the lot),

Or, considering that later on, "the chained cable quality" its going to be broken with SO MUCH CHEAPER "colored patch cables" on the front of the Patchbay, may just as well better connecting the whole thing using JUST the much cheaper "patch cables"? (Some 40€ at most)

Did you understood? Thanks :)

[Nicholas-Kent]

Love it.

I'm running a Mic Parts mic into a Cranborne camden 500 pre, then hairball rev a 1176 comp clone, and I've just added the cranborne carnaby harmonic eq.

Which adds some nice air and shine to my chain, however, I feel I still need an actual EQ in the chain.

What should I get my man?

[j-station]

What about if we wanted to use mic-pres on our stereo bus for mix downs? Would love some info on that. Suggestions for gear and maybe how to set it up

[MartinCoolMusic]

Hi, your video was great!. I understood the advantages of using hardware before going into the DAW. Talking about preamp and compressor clones, you said you would consider some that are not very cheap. What's your opinion about the Audio Warm Audio WA73-EQ and the WA-2A?. With those two I would have the preamp, EQ and compressor for recording guitars and vocals. And finally, what would be the difference in tonality between a SSL Pure Drive Quad and a Neve 1073?. Thank you!

[grownprosper]

Nice video! Sorry for the beginner question but why do you have your pre amps and eqs in pairs? Isn't 1 enough?

[hockeytalk]

Great point not skimping on mics. You can do some bloody damage w some mid tier options though in my experience if you know what you’re doing. Good takes here I agree with a lot. 100% agree with you a hardware compressor is the MOST useful by light years if you can’t get an EQ. And honestly, so far in my experience, the most useful type of hardware to buy at all (other than nice pres). Here’s my personal 2 cents. Save up for an API 512 or a 1073 (or accuarate copy), get a Distressor and call it a day lol. No, but seriously, I went the route of “buy it nice don’t buy it twice” with my hybrid setup and I’m honestly really glad my rack isn’t filled with entry-level stuff. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with warm audio or whatever if you’re a novice w outboard but honestly, if you’re not willing to spend money on quality gear, you definitely shouldn’t get into hardware because buying a 500 series rack was one of the worst financial decision of my life 😂. I say with analog though it’s better to go big or go home. Doesn’t have to be top-of-the-line by any means, but in my experience good software easily beats out entry-level analog gear. If you aren’t willing to pay for the real thing but are still willing to make a more serious investment, then there are companies like Audioscape, Capi, Heritage audio etc that deliver much more than software emulations for a fraction of the price of the real thing, and still a DAMN good professional product at the end of the day. Personally, I did mostly opt for the real thing when it comes to preamps and compressors, but I do have an Audioscape bus comp, and a heritage audio successor which I still use on almost every mix and are just as valuable to me as my more expensive gear. Also, you can literally get one of the most famous compressors of all time (our old friend the Distressor) for like 1500 bucks so understand that’s not a small amount of money by any means but we’re talking about hardware here and with some killer pres, good microphone placement and good room treatment you’re 99% of the way there. I say get something nice. I WOULD say start with a 500 series rack because you can do some serious damage for about half the price but… it’s really important to get a nice chassis which is also super expensive and once you get a 500 series rack you’re just going to not be able to sleep at night until it’s full 🤣. I 100% don’t regret buying nice gear right off the bat though. This stuff is not cheap, but with patience and time you can build a really REALLY professional set up without spending anywhere near as much you would think. A solid mic, a killer pre and a reliable, versatile, and good-sounding hardware compressor and you’re straight up off to the races. The rest is a bonus that you can just continue to build.

[epicwork]

Thanks for the video ! Do u have any suggestions for hardware . I want a Sony c800g sound . Neve 1073, and tube tech compressor sound with out breaking that bank. .what gear would u reccomend ?

[thelashaunlove]

Once I got my BAE 1073 pre I was amazed lol. I thought I was good using my Neve 1073 emulator on the UAD Apollo, but it doesn't even compare to a real hardware 73. It also really smoothed out the highs on my Manley Reference mic.

[rickelliott]

I’ve purchased a Flock audio patchbay that is designed for “analog” rack mount gear and not digital signals. The prime benefit is the software that allows different patching configuration’s via the dbs connections. Question: is analog gear exclusive to the preamp, compressors and equalizers you mention or, what are other examples of “analog” gear that are compatible ie: Lexicon reverb, Digitech guitar pedals. It does not route digital gear. Thanks