Done with the Lambda

[SpaceShipOne]

I'm on spring break and have spent 2 days with an sm57, my 5150 cranked to 4, and a VHT cab. No matter what positions the mic is at, no matter what EQ settings, I cannot get rid of the cold, buzzy sound. I have changed every single thing except my Lexicon Lambda. I seek a more professional warm smooth sound out of a preamp. I'm looking for something else. 2 in and out. Recommend some in the 300 dollar range. The lexicon is in the 150 range, i want above that. My first thought is a Focusrite because I hear they have top notch pre's. Any thoughts?

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: Done with the Lambda

How expandable do you want it to be? Do you ever want to be able to record drums?

Nothing in the 300 range will really be that much of an improvement over your Lambda, IMO. You're best off saving up 500 or so and going with something like a MOTU Ultralite, Saffire Pro, even an MBox2 or something.

 

[SpaceShipOne]

Re: Done with the Lambda

How expandable do you want it to be? Do you ever want to be able to record drums?

Nothing in the 300 range will really be that much of an improvement over your Lambda, IMO. You're best off saving up 500 or so and going with something like a MOTU Ultralite, Saffire Pro, even an MBox2 or something.

Just 2 tracks really, all but drums. From what I've read, the focusrite is the biggest improvement, I really don't have room for more than something that size, and I have to think about dorm life in a few years too.

 

[Truant]

Re: Done with the Lambda

You said you changed mic placement and eq settings, did you try changing the volume at all?

 

[J Moose]

Re: Done with the Lambda

I'm on spring break and have spent 2 days with an sm57, my 5150 cranked to 4, and a VHT cab. No matter what positions the mic is at, no matter what EQ settings, I cannot get rid of the cold, buzzy sound.

Yah. 5150, SM57, cheap converters and a micamp based on a 34 cent op-amp...

No wonder it sounds bad!!!

Get 'yerself a "real" preamp. Save the pennies. Knock off a Circle K. Anything. Get $1000 together and pick up a Vintech, or maybe an API... Great River... something "real". That's going to matter more then any converter... or moving from a $200 interface to a $500 one. At that level, it's just different shades of "suck".

www.mercenary.com is a good place to window shop. Lots of useful miking tidbits as well...

Good luck!

 

[Guest]

Re: Done with the Lambda

How experienced are you in the world of recording?

I had a cheap ESI Maya44 soundcard with a Studio Project VTB-1 that I recorded with but when I switched to mac I decided, due to incompatibility, to sell them both and swing out the money for a pro soundard. Apogee Duet.

The recordings with the Apogee are ALOT ALOT better. But that said, I didn't think that my first equipment sounded bad or anything...

I'm just trying to say that before you buy anything new. Have you tried all other possiblities? Lots of things that play in here, the room for example, can cause the fizzy top end.... your speakers, have you tried listening to the recording in other places, through headphones, mp3 player.

Maybe you could upload some of your recordings with the cold buzzy sounds so we can listen to it?

I'm not saying that a new soundcard/preamps won't improve but, I think it's important to really know what it is that's causing the buzz before you shell out the money on new stuff!

 

[SpaceShipOne]

Re: Done with the Lambda

I've tried 3 cabs, two were a MArshall with V30's, and then a VHT cab, had the lambda for a few years so yes I've worn all the possibilities. I do not have 1000 bucks to spend. Think reasonable here people, college student, teacher, not much moola.

 

[SpaceShipOne]

Re: Done with the Lambda

My bass player has a Delta 4/4 card he'll give me. Would this be better than an interface? I could spend a good 100 to 200 on a good preamp then.

 

[GoldenVulture]

Re: Done with the Lambda

More often than not ,it will depend on what sort of AD converter chips are in your card as much as anything else.Motorola pretty much pioneered 24 bit for audio and do it as good as, if not better than anyone else.Burr Brown have a "high end" reputation ,but never used anything with them in it,so i can,t really comment about them.

:drive:

 

[J Moose]

Re: Done with the Lambda

I've tried 3 cabs, two were a MArshall with V30's, and then a VHT cab, had the lambda for a few years so yes I've worn all the possibilities. I do not have 1000 bucks to spend. Think reasonable here people, college student, teacher, not much moola.

I dunno man.

How serious are 'ya about recording & tone? Your band is signed correct? You tour... have "a career" of sorts no?

If you can afford that PRS, gnarly head & three separate 4x12's including a VHT... you can probably afford a solid mic preamp. Personally... I don't see how you could NOT afford to save the money & purchase an amazing tool that you'd have for life like a "real" preamp...

Run all 'yer tracks through an API or whatever, and no matter what the converter it's gonna sound a helluva lot more like "a real record".

 

[SpaceShipOne]

Re: Done with the Lambda

I dunno man.

How serious are 'ya about recording & tone? Your band is signed correct? You tour... have "a career" of sorts no?

If you can afford that PRS, gnarly head & three separate 4x12's including a VHT... you can probably afford a solid mic preamp. Personally... I don't see how you could NOT afford to save the money & purchase an amazing tool that you'd have for life like a "real" preamp...

Run all 'yer tracks through an API or whatever, and no matter what the converter it's gonna sound a helluva lot more like "a real record".

Well it took 6 years to get that stuff. VHT only cost me 150, it's an Agile prs, the head was 600. I just know how to get deals I managed to find a focusrite interface on scratch and dent for 180 We'll see how it does.