Bater, I know better than anyone that we all have to start somewhere and I'm just moving slowly and painfully to a more pro set up. Going from a Br-900 digital recorder, Rode NT1a, Presonus tubepre set up to a computer based one, and I couldn't get the sound I wanted from my NT1A, tubepre set up through a Saffire interface, even when I upgraded my mics, and then it dawned on me that the internal pre-amps in my Boss Br-900 were pretty darn good ones and the ones in my Saffire LE were pretty darn average, and entire chain is only as good as its weakest link.

The Octava 319 seems one worth trying out for the price. I'd stay away from cheap tube mics though, as a good tube mic that doesn't need to have its tube upgraded is hard to find for under £800.

Lucian