Decided on SCA.....but which modules?

[avwalker]

I've been researching a bunch about mic preamps and it's led me to determine that SCA is probably the best value out there and also allows for the most growth and flexibility.

I've dabbled in home recording for a while and I'm very interested in doing all the recording for my band's first album in my basement. We are a six-piece Americana/Indie/Folk band with male and female singers, guitar, banjo, upright bass, dobro, cello, mandolin, drums, ukulele.....and possibly adding more as almost everyone is a multi-instrumentalist. I've already started construction on sound absorption panels (Roxul Safe n' Sound based), new studio monitors (Equator D5's), and an interface that can handle the I/O our band's needs (Tascam US-1800...using Reaper for DAW). I've also started building my mic locker for whatever I can find cheap on craigslist/ebay....so far I've got an AT2020, Rode NT1A, (2) AKG C1000S's, Behringer ECM8000, SM57, SM58, and I'm currently building two DIY Panasonic capsule based Omni Mics.

Obviously, with that many acoustic instruments I'm going to need a transparent pre, but there's also drums and vocals to think about....and I've recently started playing electric guitar on some songs.

Initial cost is a factor, so I'm looking to start with purchasing the chassis, psu, wiring kit with two T15 modules and one DI Box module (I have a Behringer DI800 right now....but I'd like a nicer option). We will be tracking separately for the album, so no need for 14 channels or anything.

So is that good to start? Would C84's be worth the extra moolah? What next? API? Neve? I could use some advice. Check out the link below and you can hear what kinda stuff we're doing. The first track "Our Great Escape" was a demo recorded by another person (I think he used Focusrite ISA pre's, EL Distressors, into ProTools HD).....he produces more rock than anything, and I feel it's not really capturing the sound we're going for......The second demo track "Wolf" I recorded in my untreated basement with my old ST Audio DSP2000 interface/preamp. While it's not nearly the quality I want it to be, the sound is alot closer for what I'm going for..... There's some live videos as well that were done direct into the US-1800 i believe if you want to check those out.

http://www.reverbnation.com/theblueandthegrey

Thanks in advance,

Aaron

[Todzilla]

It sounds like you want to stay away from the more colored preamps (N72s and A12s), which sound glorious, but in hyped way.

I think you should start with a couple C84s, which is cheap and easy to build, and see what you think of those. They are reminiscent of the Millenia preamps, which are renown for their transparent character, very accurate, very uncolored. A pair and a chassis will get you the max discount.

Depending on how those work for you, you could get more, or try the J99s.

I have an N72 and a pair of A12s, and a buddy has an N72, an A12 and a C84. They all sound great, but the N72 and A12 definitely have a deliberately colored sound (which works really well in electric music, perhaps not in acoustic parlor music).