Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
I almost afraid of the response I'll get in this group but what the
hell. Be gentle, I'm a novice. Just bought a new computer and want to do some home recording, mainly acoustic/classical guitar, bass (low volume stuff). It was suggested to me (in the classical guitar google group) that I need at the very least, a good mic (they suggested Shure SM58, AKG C1000s, AudioTechnica AT4051a), a mic preamp, and some software (cakewalk). Any advice, the key here is LOW BUDGET, say $500. Do i really need a new soundcard? The one on I have is AC97 Audio (standard with Dell). I went on the cakewalk website and was overwhelmed with products. Can anyone suggest what I need? I would also need music composition software, multitracking capability, and have some cool effects and realistic sounds at my disposal. thanks |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
Your budget is restrictive - but will not keep you from recording simple
songs. I started doing multitrack digital audio at home years ago on a SB AWE64 card with a cheap-ass SM58 copy. Many of the tracks have stood the test of time. You just have to know your limitations and work within them. Here are my recommendations: (All prices in USD from websites - do Google searches to find more) For mics, go with (and I'm going to get assualted for this on the NG, I just KNOW it) one of the cheap Chinese mics, like the B1 from Studio Projects. They sound like much more expensive mics, at a tenth the price. The B1= $80 Pre-Amp: I would heartily recommend (again, I will probably get crap from some about this) the Behringer MX602A 6 channel mixer (or another from this line). Small, and supplies the phantom power that your B1 mic will need to work. (The B1 is a condenser mic, thus requires 48V phantom power - supplied by an outside source- to operate) The other bonus of buying this is that not only do you get two mic pre's, but you get a 6-channel mixer with a stereo auxilliary at an outrageously low price. Behringer MX602A= $49 Soundcard: Without knowing more about your onboard soundcard, i can't really recommend it or not. Onboard sound has come a LONG way in tha last two years. It was definitely unusable for multitrack recording at first, but word is that many of the newer onboard souncards are quite funcitional. You will have do reaserach to see if your particular one will work. If you want to ensure that you'll at least be able to record and play multiple tracks, get a cheap, OEM SBLive soundcard. Again, they suck as far ultra-pro recording goes, but their quaility is, for the price, unbeatable. OEM SBLive= $40 or less. Softwa There are no easy answers here - but I would recomend Cakewalk's HomeStudio to you, especially if you get the SBLive. Cakewalk's software allows you to load Soundfont-format samples into your system memory through the SoundBlaster Live. I assume by songwriting software, you meant the ability to play around with samples to demo up your tracks. Soundfonts are found all over the 'Net for free (meaning that they are of wildly varying quality, of course) and for sale as sample sets, and are one of the best ways to get started. HomeStudio is a baby version of SONAR a great mid-level pro audio platform, and gets you in the upgrade chain for SONAR - software you might want as your experience and needs grow. HomeStudio= $129 If you are not going to be using samples and will be doing audio only, look into Cubasis/Cubase VST from Steinberg. IMHO, Cubase blows the doors off of any other DAW in its price range and is easier to use. As far as effects go, so many software plug-in FX will come with DAW tha I wouldn't worry about buying any extras. You might wnat to look into a hardware compressor if you have extra $$$.. this would allow you to compress signals on the way in, allowing you to record more loudly overall (louder=better!) Many might argue with me that, for instance, the B1 mic and the Beheringer console are of low quality and will not last. This is true of every purchase you make in life - you get what you pay for. But you have made it clear that you are going for semi-pro sounds. No reason to waste money on features that you will not need. I have used C1s from StudioProjects before and they have sounded good for two years. The Beheringers seem to be lasting for those who have bought them. They are covered by good warranties too. If you get serious about home recording, you will be upgrading later anyway - so why not explore at a cheap rate. With these products you are getting reasonably good components - it's so cheap simply because they are fabricated at sweat shops in the Far East. If this does not challenge your morality, then go for it! I wish that these products had been available when I was starting out! There. You're done. All for the grand total of: USD$289.00... Add taxes and you're recording for under $400. And you'll be recording with MUCH better equipment than I had when I started home recording; and I'm still proud of how many of those tracks turned out. So you should be able to get some good tracks down with the gear listed above. Hope this helps, -- J Engineer/Producer (Delete "no.spam" from my e-mail address to reply direct) "caveplayer" wrote in message om... I almost afraid of the response I'll get in this group but what the hell. Be gentle, I'm a novice. Just bought a new computer and want to do some home recording, mainly acoustic/classical guitar, bass (low volume stuff). It was suggested to me (in the classical guitar google group) that I need at the very least, a good mic (they suggested Shure SM58, AKG C1000s, AudioTechnica AT4051a), a mic preamp, and some software (cakewalk). Any advice, the key here is LOW BUDGET, say $500. Do i really need a new soundcard? The one on I have is AC97 Audio (standard with Dell). I went on the cakewalk website and was overwhelmed with products. Can anyone suggest what I need? I would also need music composition software, multitracking capability, and have some cool effects and realistic sounds at my disposal. thanks |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
"caveplayer" wrote in message om... snip Do i really need a new soundcard? No. You need an audio card. Take a look a M-Audio (not the 7.1 that's a gamers card) No matter what Creative Labs hype says ALL Sound Blaster cards, are for gamers. Mighty fine gamer's cards too, but that's irrelevant. Currently, I'm stuck with a Sound Blaster Audgiy Platinum, running KX-project drivers. KX drivers are a bit beta like, but at least they let me get true bit recordings from SPDIF. As soon as I've got the spare dollars, I'll get an M-Audio 24/96. -----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =----- http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! -----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =----- |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
Most of this is pretty good, but there are a couple of rather broad statements
with no basis in fact, for example: Nick J. wrote: Shure microphones are awful, as a rule. If you have any Shure mics (almost everyone does), use them first, then think about buying others when you have the other equipment to make informed decisions based on what you hear. And don't exclude anything from the mics you do try later, just based on any particular brand. IOW, YMMV; HTH. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
"Nick J." wrote: Shure microphones are awful, as a rule. Not a rule I ever heard. A C1000 or similar would serve you well. Googling this group would come up with interesting comments about the C1000. Don |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
Don wrote: "Nick J." wrote: Shure microphones are awful, as a rule. Not a rule I ever heard. A C1000 or similar would serve you well. Googling this group would come up with interesting comments about the C1000. Nick must be new here |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
"Rob Adelman" wrote in message
Googling this group would come up with interesting comments about the C1000. Nick must be new here Or a troll. To say that Shure mics suck and then recommend a C1000 on RAP? Sounds like trolling to me. |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
"caveplayer" wrote in message om... I almost afraid of the response I'll get in this group but what the hell. Be gentle, I'm a novice. Just bought a new computer and want to do some home recording, mainly acoustic/classical guitar, bass (low volume stuff). It was suggested to me (in the classical guitar google group) that I need at the very least, a good mic (they suggested Shure SM58, AKG C1000s, AudioTechnica AT4051a), a mic preamp, and some software (cakewalk). Any advice, the key here is LOW BUDGET, say $500. Do i really need a new soundcard? The one on I have is AC97 Audio (standard with Dell). I went on the cakewalk website and was overwhelmed with products. Can anyone suggest what I need? I would also need music composition software, multitracking capability, and have some cool effects and realistic sounds at my disposal. The Digidesign Mbox comes in at 500, plugs into your usb port, and comes with all the software you need. But you also need some mics. You might get an sm58, which is eternally useful, and look at buying a stereo pair of condensors sometime in the future when you have more money. Don't forget monitors and headphones. jb |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
"Martin" wrote in message
news:xL6eb.46851$I36.35265@pd7tw3no... I own a C1000 and it makes my Martin D28 sound like a tin can. The one I tried was pretty awful too. The one I see recommended over and over again (for his price range) that gets rave reviews on classical guitar especially is the Studio Projects B3 (the multi-pattern version of the B1). The B1 should be fine too. I he doesn't need a mixer Studio Projects also makes the VTB-1 preamp for around $130 that might work well. If he has a Soundblaster he might just want to use it for now. |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
"caveplayer" wrote in message om... I almost afraid of the response I'll get in this group but what the hell. Be gentle, I'm a novice. Just bought a new computer and want to do some home recording, mainly acoustic/classical guitar, bass (low volume stuff). It was suggested to me (in the classical guitar google group) that I need at the very least, a good mic (they suggested Shure SM58, AKG C1000s, AudioTechnica AT4051a), a mic preamp, and some software (cakewalk). Any advice, the key here is LOW BUDGET, say $500. Do i really need a new soundcard? The one on I have is AC97 Audio (standard with Dell). I went on the cakewalk website and was overwhelmed with products. Can anyone suggest what I need? I would also need music composition software, multitracking capability, and have some cool effects and realistic sounds at my disposal. thanks Hi, There are lots of variables and what if's etc but based on your $500 budget here is a suggested setup that will get you going. For convienience I'll just consider new equipment. The sources and prices below aren't nessesarily the best deal, they're just for reference. Keep in mind you can save a lot of money buying used but if you are new to recording and recording gear, it's in your best interest to buy new from somewhere that has a good return policy so if you get the wrong thing or it's broken you'll have a good chance at getting it exchanged. Plan on upgrading soon and often though. ;-) From www.bayviewproaudio.com : ECHO MiaMidi sound card $190 PreSonus BlueTube 2 channel mic pre $150 From www.musiciansfriend.com : Marshall MXL V57M Large-Diaphragm Condenser Mic $40 Behringer ECM8000 omni Microphone $40 Shure SM57 dynamic Instrument/Vocal Mic $90 At this point you are at $510. Bayview will have free shipping. Musician's Friend will charge you probably $10 to $20. And you still need : Musician's Friend : Lo-Z Mic Cable Product #330076 2 @ $8 = $16 ( they have some for $5 each too ) Mic stand with boom arm 2 @ $20 = $40 XLR (female) to TRS male 2 @ $14 = $28 ( to connect mic pre to sound card ) At this point you are at $609. And you still need software : Both Steinberg ( Cubase / Cubasis ) and Cakewalk have starter packages just under $100. Also check out N Track Studio. It's cheaper than the others and seems well supported : http://www.fasoft.com/what_is.shtm OK, so now you are right around $700, only $200 over budget! ( pretty good for me! ;-) I hope you have some sort of stereo amp and speakers to monitor on. ( although you should really get a 'real' monitoring system ASAP ) And if you don't have headphones ( closed ear sealed type ) you'll need to spend $30 to $100 for a pair of them. If you really need to be under $500 right now just get : ECHO MiaMidi sound card $190 PreSonus BlueTube 2 channel mic pre $150 Marshall MXL V57M Large-Diaphragm Condenser Mic $40 ( these are on close out, get it now ) Behringer ECM8000 omni Microphone $40 Lo-Z Mic Cable 2 @ $5 = $10 Mic stand with boom arm 2 @ $20 = $40 XLR (female) to TRS male 2 @ $14 = $28 Which is $498, just a little over $500 with shipping, and then use the evaluation vertion of N Track Studio until you can afford to register it for $45. A pair of AKG K-55 headphones is only $30 if you don't have any headphones. Best of luck! John L Rice |
#11
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
"caveplayer" wrote in message om... I almost afraid of the response I'll get in this group but what the hell. Be gentle, I'm a novice. Just bought a new computer and want to do some home recording, mainly acoustic/classical guitar, bass (low volume stuff). It was suggested to me (in the classical guitar google group) that I need at the very least, a good mic (they suggested Shure SM58, AKG C1000s, AudioTechnica AT4051a), a mic preamp, and some software (cakewalk). Basically that's the story but for your application, it seems like a little fine-tuning might be in order. For example, IME no way is a Shure SM58 useful for quality low-sound-level work. It's at its best as a close-working vocal mic for power performers. Any advice, the key here is LOW BUDGET, say $500. Do i really need a new soundcard? The one on I have is AC97 Audio (standard with Dell). AC97 audio is a generic term. What you've got is bottom-end, but bottom end is not as egregiously gruesome as it once was. One thing for sure, you don't want to depend on its mic inputs. Purchase of a good mic preamp or cheap console is in order. Lots of people start out with low-end Behringer mixers serving as mic preamps and providing some control functions. I went on the cakewalk website and was overwhelmed with products. For a low-budget start you could use a very basic product such as Goldwave, or freeware such as the audio editors that come with CDEX and EAC (search google). The open source "Audacity" can also work for starting out. The price is right - free for the download. Search google, these products always come out near the top of the listing. Can anyone suggest what I need? Modern AC97 audio interfaces range from ridiculous to useful in a pinch. Their actual implementation and performance can change in the middle of computer production runs, at times. You might be able to run some technical tests on the line-in/line-out performance of what you've got with a jumper cable and this freewa http://audio.rightmark.org/ Look at everything you buy at this stage as being potentially disposable, but yet you need good tools for learning and maybe you'll pick up a few items you like and keep. One cheap mic that might have a lot of potential for your application is the MXL 603 - a low cost, but smooth cardiod that is good for micing musical instruments, and can even be used for voice, possibly with a cheap foam pop filter added. You can find them on eBay as new product for well under $100 each. You want one or two. You'll probably be amazed what you can find in the way of low end Behringer consoles for around $100 or less. They have better mic preamps than what you find in computer sound cards, complete with phantom power (needed by the MXL and most other modern quality mics). If your AC97 audio interface tests well with the Audio Rightmark program, love it! If not, under $100 sound cards like the Turtle Beach Santa Cruz or Creative Labs Audigy make good starting points, as long as you steer clear of their mic inputs and use them with care. Amazingly the Santa Cruz can handle 4 concurrent channels and has good sound quality. The software packages I just mentioned are all available for free. 3 out of 4 of them are true freeware. They will get you started with 2-channel recording, playback and simple editing. When you are ready to move up to multitrack, N-Track is a popular mulitchannel package that is still well under $100. Cool Edit used to be an option but was bought up by Adobe and is out of your price range. Finally, you need some kind of monitoring system. A low cost stereo receiver (e.g. KLH) and some better-quality small 2-way speakers could turn out to be your largest single investment. Tying yourself to your home stereo could be very awkward. If you are really pinched for cash, I've heard some Altec computer monitor speakers in the $50 range that didn't hurt my ears too badly. Most of the "comes with" standard-grade computer speakers are IME pretty grim. I would also need music composition software, multitracking capability, and have some cool effects and realistic sounds at my disposal. Stick to the basics, first! |
#12
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
Nick J. wrote:
Shure microphones are awful, as a rule. A C1000 or similar would serve you well. Look for a condenser rather than a dynamic for recording for pointing at your guitar. It'll give you what I can only describe as a cleaner and more vibrant sound. You can dull it down in post if you want, but you can't brighten something that isn't there to start with. Is this a joke? --scott -- "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." |
#13
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
"Arny Krueger" wrote in message ...
"caveplayer" wrote in message om... Thanks for all your advice. I think I should be a bit more specific about what i currently have. The computer is brand new, 2.4GHz, 512MB DDR SDRAM, 80GB hard drive, Sound Blaster Live! 5.1 Digital Sound Card ( i think i quotes the wrong thing the first time), CR-RW, DVD-ROM. The instruments and amps are high quality so the 'live sound' is perfect. I have a cheap Optimus (stop laughing) condenser mic. I will be recording mostly classical guitar so if i get 1 mic i want it optimized for that. Classical guitar has a lot of overtones and colour that you can hear with your ear but is often lost in mics or live recordings. I will be recording in a quiet environment. I probobly won't need to record several tracks simultaneously. I'll lay down one at a time. I would like the ability to add tracks generated from computer generated sounds, say for example, plucked violin. (i really don't know how far technology has come here, so if the violin doesn't really sound like a violin then I'll pass on this idea). And I am serious about the $500 budget. I prefer to buy software that is supported and from a company that has a large number of users. I really don't like the freeware world, and believe me, i've been there. Someone said don't be afraid of buying used equipment, well I'm not, but does that apply to a mic? can't they be easily damaged? Also, how hard is it too install a soundcard? |
#14
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
Thomas Bishop wrote:
"Rob Adelman" wrote in message Googling this group would come up with interesting comments about the C1000. Nick must be new here Or my experience with AKG microphones is favourable. Or a troll. To say that Shure mics suck and then recommend a C1000 on RAP? Sounds like trolling to me. And that my experience with Shure microphones isn't. -- Now playing: |
#15
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
Ricky W. Hunt wrote:
"Martin" wrote in message news:xL6eb.46851$I36.35265@pd7tw3no... I own a C1000 and it makes my Martin D28 sound like a tin can. The one I tried was pretty awful too. The one I see recommended over and over again (for his price range) that gets rave reviews on classical guitar especially is the Studio Projects B3 (the multi-pattern version of the B1). The B1 should be fine too. I he doesn't need a mixer Studio Projects also makes the VTB-1 preamp for around $130 that might work well. If he has a Soundblaster he might just want to use it for now. Are the SP B1 and B3 the same as their Behringer namesakes? I've never seen them about the place over here. -- Now playing: |
#16
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
Live! cards (as all Creative cards) perform substantially better at 48
KHz than at 44.1 KHz, both at playback and at recording. In fact, at that frequency they perform quite well in most cases, but it could be be a good idea to run a RMAA loopback test in order to rule out noise problems. Another good thing to know is that in these Live cards the rear outputs provide better quality than the front ones. So you better do all your work at 48 KHz and if you need, downsample the final result to 44.1 KHz. For that you can use a free program called SSRC (do a Google search). Its quality has absolutely nothing to envy to any other "professional" sample rate converter. |
#17
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
"Nick J." wrote in message
... Ricky W. Hunt wrote: Are the SP B1 and B3 the same as their Behringer namesakes? Behringers are Mackie clones. Mackie doesn't make mics AFAIK. The SP's just happen to have similar model numbers but are not related whatsoever. |
#18
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
|
#19
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
Stephan Patterson wrote:
You will get many disparaging comments regarding the AKG C1000S in this newsgroup. I've been reading this group for a couple of months. I'm always amazed at the number of people who claim the C1000S is a terrible product. How many have first hand experience with them (and why the heck did they buy one in the first place if they think it is that bad?) versus those who just concur so they'll appear to have a popular opinion on a pro newsgroup. I've used it. It's very harsh on top. I own an AKG C1000S. I mostly use mine as a stage mic, that's what I bought it for. I think it is a very good mic for that purpose, in my opinion superior to the Shure SM58. In the next few days (once I've bought a small mixer) I'm going to try recording with it. I know others who are getting good results with it so I'm confident. That being said, if your total budget is $500, there is no way I would spend $200 plus tax on the AKG C1000S or any other microphone. The SM-58 has no top end at all. The C1000S has an exaggerated and harsh top end. They are two very distinct extremes. --scott -- "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." |
#21
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
Ricky W. Hunt wrote:
"Nick J." wrote in message ... Ricky W. Hunt wrote: Are the SP B1 and B3 the same as their Behringer namesakes? Behringers are Mackie clones. Mackie doesn't make mics AFAIK. The SP's just happen to have similar model numbers but are not related whatsoever. That doesn't make sense. The Behringer B1 and B3 are microphones. Were you meaning that Behringer's desks are "Mackie clones"? -- Now playing: |
#22
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
Ricky W. Hunt wrote:
"Nick J." wrote in message ... Ricky W. Hunt wrote: Are the SP B1 and B3 the same as their Behringer namesakes? Behringers are Mackie clones. Mackie doesn't make mics AFAIK. The SP's just happen to have similar model numbers but are not related whatsoever. That doesn't make sense. The Behringer B1 and B3 are microphones. Were you meaning that Behringer's desks are "Mackie clones"? -- Now playing: |
#23
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
|
#24
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
|
#25
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
"Nick J." wrote in message
... Were you meaning that Behringer's desks are "Mackie clones"? Yes. |
#26
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
"Nick J." wrote in message
... Were you meaning that Behringer's desks are "Mackie clones"? Yes. |
#27
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
(Mike Rivers) wrote in message news:znr1065035529k@trad...
In article writes: Hi, I'm the guy who started this thread. I enjoy reading these little side debates but can you help me with choosing a mic for my application. 1. i will only use it for recording 2. i will be recording mostly acoustic instruments (see my last posting in this thread) 3. Don't want to spent more that $150 on a mic. Someone suggested the marshall MXL 603, these are real cheap. other suggestions i came across (i know nothing about any of these) Shure SM81 Oktava MK319 Octava MCO12 Rode NT-1a Crown CM-700 the mic will be going into some cheap Behringer and into my computer. Another question is should i be recording with two mics? |
#28
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
(Mike Rivers) wrote in message news:znr1065035529k@trad...
In article writes: Hi, I'm the guy who started this thread. I enjoy reading these little side debates but can you help me with choosing a mic for my application. 1. i will only use it for recording 2. i will be recording mostly acoustic instruments (see my last posting in this thread) 3. Don't want to spent more that $150 on a mic. Someone suggested the marshall MXL 603, these are real cheap. other suggestions i came across (i know nothing about any of these) Shure SM81 Oktava MK319 Octava MCO12 Rode NT-1a Crown CM-700 the mic will be going into some cheap Behringer and into my computer. Another question is should i be recording with two mics? |
#29
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
"Nick J." wrote in message ... Ricky W. Hunt wrote: The one I tried was pretty awful too. The one I see recommended over and over again (for his price range) that gets rave reviews on classical guitar especially is the Studio Projects B3 (the multi-pattern version of the B1). The B1 should be fine too. I he doesn't need a mixer Studio Projects also makes the VTB-1 preamp for around $130 that might work well. If he has a Soundblaster he might just want to use it for now. Are the SP B1 and B3 the same as their Behringer namesakes? I've never seen them about the place over here. So back to the question: how do the Behringer B-series mics compare to the Studio Projects mics of similar name? |
#30
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
"Nick J." wrote in message ... Ricky W. Hunt wrote: The one I tried was pretty awful too. The one I see recommended over and over again (for his price range) that gets rave reviews on classical guitar especially is the Studio Projects B3 (the multi-pattern version of the B1). The B1 should be fine too. I he doesn't need a mixer Studio Projects also makes the VTB-1 preamp for around $130 that might work well. If he has a Soundblaster he might just want to use it for now. Are the SP B1 and B3 the same as their Behringer namesakes? I've never seen them about the place over here. So back to the question: how do the Behringer B-series mics compare to the Studio Projects mics of similar name? |
#31
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
"caveplayer" wrote in message om... (Mike Rivers) wrote in message news:znr1065035529k@trad... In article writes: Hi, I'm the guy who started this thread. I enjoy reading these little side debates but can you help me with choosing a mic for my application. 1. i will only use it for recording 2. i will be recording mostly acoustic instruments (see my last posting in this thread) 3. Don't want to spent more that $150 on a mic. Someone suggested the marshall MXL 603, these are real cheap. other suggestions i came across (i know nothing about any of these) Shure SM81 Oktava MK319 Octava MCO12 Rode NT-1a Crown CM-700 I'm a big fan of Rode mics, I'd probably use the nt3 before the nt1a. the mic will be going into some cheap Behringer and into my computer. Another question is should i be recording with two mics? It sounds a lot better for solo stuff to stereo mic an acoustic. The Rode NT5's come as a matched pair, which means they are more or less identical to the ear in terms of sound. If you do buy a pair, you might want to learn how to use one on it's own first. jb |
#32
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
"caveplayer" wrote in message om... (Mike Rivers) wrote in message news:znr1065035529k@trad... In article writes: Hi, I'm the guy who started this thread. I enjoy reading these little side debates but can you help me with choosing a mic for my application. 1. i will only use it for recording 2. i will be recording mostly acoustic instruments (see my last posting in this thread) 3. Don't want to spent more that $150 on a mic. Someone suggested the marshall MXL 603, these are real cheap. other suggestions i came across (i know nothing about any of these) Shure SM81 Oktava MK319 Octava MCO12 Rode NT-1a Crown CM-700 I'm a big fan of Rode mics, I'd probably use the nt3 before the nt1a. the mic will be going into some cheap Behringer and into my computer. Another question is should i be recording with two mics? It sounds a lot better for solo stuff to stereo mic an acoustic. The Rode NT5's come as a matched pair, which means they are more or less identical to the ear in terms of sound. If you do buy a pair, you might want to learn how to use one on it's own first. jb |
#33
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
caveplayer ) wrote:
Hi, I'm the guy who started this thread. I enjoy reading these little side debates but can you help me with choosing a mic for my application. If I understand correctly, you have never done any recording yourself, in which case my suggestion is to hold off on buying anything except the components that you're missing (i.e. recording software, and a cheap, used preamp with phantom power), and spend at least a few dozen hours doing what you can with that, paying particular attention to mic placement. IMO&E, what you get out of the first hundred hours of 'audio recording' is a learning experience with the basic mechanics of recording, and the lessons are almost entirely a function of the time and attention you put into it, with the basic equipment being comparatively irrelevant. For me, the best purchasing decisions were for components that I continually grow into, rather than entertained for a while but quickly grow out of. When you end up with the latter, it's best to be able to sell it for little or no loss (e.g. buy it used). $500 is not much money, and the thinner you spread it around, the more likely you are to end up with stuff in that latter category. That said, switching hardware is a cinch, but switching software platforms is something to avoid if you at all can. It might not be a mistake to spend 12+ hours each with the Sonar and Cubase SX demos, pick your platform, commit to it with a purchase, then don't look back for two years, ignoring any and all claims that there is something better. If you haven't had satisfactory results in two years, it won't be due to the wrong software, because in the right hands they will all deliver out of the box Sorry I don't have really have a specific mic recommendation, and you should be suspicious of anyone that seriously claims to know "The Best Mic" for you to record your acoustic guitar playing at your place. If you are going to buy one, I think you'll find way more than enough comments in the archives regarding your current crop of candidates, and then some. Pick one and buy it, used from a reputable source if you can. If a while later you've determined that it's not the right mic for you (or that it is sometimes, but not always), and you know for yourself why, you will have accomplished quite a bit, with an understanding that you couldn't acquire by reading 10,000 usenet postings, no matter who wrote them. Repeat the process. Borrow when you can, and ideally you want to buy from a shop that will let you return what you don't like. You can't know how the food tastes to you by eating a stack of menus and restaurant reviews, and what someone else likes might make you totally barf. You'll both be 'right' as long as you tasted for yourselves. And changing tastes is also a part of the process. It will be fine. Enjoy it. - Brian |
#34
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
caveplayer ) wrote:
Hi, I'm the guy who started this thread. I enjoy reading these little side debates but can you help me with choosing a mic for my application. If I understand correctly, you have never done any recording yourself, in which case my suggestion is to hold off on buying anything except the components that you're missing (i.e. recording software, and a cheap, used preamp with phantom power), and spend at least a few dozen hours doing what you can with that, paying particular attention to mic placement. IMO&E, what you get out of the first hundred hours of 'audio recording' is a learning experience with the basic mechanics of recording, and the lessons are almost entirely a function of the time and attention you put into it, with the basic equipment being comparatively irrelevant. For me, the best purchasing decisions were for components that I continually grow into, rather than entertained for a while but quickly grow out of. When you end up with the latter, it's best to be able to sell it for little or no loss (e.g. buy it used). $500 is not much money, and the thinner you spread it around, the more likely you are to end up with stuff in that latter category. That said, switching hardware is a cinch, but switching software platforms is something to avoid if you at all can. It might not be a mistake to spend 12+ hours each with the Sonar and Cubase SX demos, pick your platform, commit to it with a purchase, then don't look back for two years, ignoring any and all claims that there is something better. If you haven't had satisfactory results in two years, it won't be due to the wrong software, because in the right hands they will all deliver out of the box Sorry I don't have really have a specific mic recommendation, and you should be suspicious of anyone that seriously claims to know "The Best Mic" for you to record your acoustic guitar playing at your place. If you are going to buy one, I think you'll find way more than enough comments in the archives regarding your current crop of candidates, and then some. Pick one and buy it, used from a reputable source if you can. If a while later you've determined that it's not the right mic for you (or that it is sometimes, but not always), and you know for yourself why, you will have accomplished quite a bit, with an understanding that you couldn't acquire by reading 10,000 usenet postings, no matter who wrote them. Repeat the process. Borrow when you can, and ideally you want to buy from a shop that will let you return what you don't like. You can't know how the food tastes to you by eating a stack of menus and restaurant reviews, and what someone else likes might make you totally barf. You'll both be 'right' as long as you tasted for yourselves. And changing tastes is also a part of the process. It will be fine. Enjoy it. - Brian |
#35
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
Stephan Patterson ) wrote:
I'm going down the same path, trying to record things at home for my own enjoyment. Me too, and them some. You will get many disparaging comments regarding the AKG C1000S in this newsgroup. I've been reading this group for a couple of months. I'm always amazed at the number of people who claim the C1000S is a terrible product. How many have first hand experience with them (and why the heck did they buy one in the first place if they think it is that bad?) A corollary to that is "how much AE experience do the people opining have?" Speaking for myself, I give more weight to the advice of a handful of qualified AE's with 10 years each of working AE experience, than hundreds of hobbyists with a collective 1,000 years experience. I think a qualified AE with less than an hour of recording/listening experience with the X-Mic is more likely to give me more useful advice about the quality and usefulness of said mic than a non-AE can tell me after a year with it. The AE 'qualities' I consider paramount/distinctive a (1) mature and discriminating ears, (2) extensive working experience with lots of mics, and (3) a genuine interest in giving solid advice. I find that Google's Usenet archive an excellent resource for estimating such qualifications. With very little change, those criteria can be applied to pretty much any field, but what will not change is what I think George Massenburg(?) summed up nicely: "It takes a lifetime to get just a little better". There's a lot embedded in that statement. versus those who just concur so they'll appear to have a popular opinion on a pro newsgroup. A killfile is your ally. Boneheads aside, there are some serious audio folks in here doing very charitable, quality deeds. If they say that a piece of gear sucks or rocks, it's because they think it does. The irony is that what is offered is valuable, hard-earned opinion, that is intended to help someone select _candidates_ to judge with his/her own ears for his own rack, but what is taken away by many-a-newbie is a deaf license to buy (or not) x-gear with misguided expectations. Or if they already bought it, they give themselves a pat on the back, or **** on the messengers that have the gall to have a differing opinion. Yes, I generalize, and I'm certainly not referring to you, Stephan. I've been subscribed to RAP for a few years, and it turns my stomach to see how some non-professionals come in hear seeking advice from professionals, and react like 12 year olds in the worst of ways, doing more damage to the collective willingness of rap's knowledge/experience base to stick it out and help others on their way up. If that sounds "elitist" to anyone, have you read the FAQ lately? Or ever? But hell, who needs them "pros" anyway? Now that we also have alt.music.home-studio, the continually dwindling population of accomplished RAP engineer-artists can surely be compensated for by the growing throngs locked in inbred discussions on the merits of the latest inexpensive X-gear that's marketed to be as good as the $x,000 A-gear that those pros are always touting as fabulous and virtually incomparable, when the smucks are really just trying to save face with the realization that us up-and-comers can do this **** just as well as they, with a blissful fraction of their budget, and what we lack in experience and ears can be made up for by reading enough help files, getting some better sample libraries and plugs, and finding just the right affordable sub-woofer to get beefier mixes in our "studios" with 8 foot ceilings and walls not much wider. I own an AKG C1000S. I mostly use mine as a stage mic, that's what I bought it for. I think it is a very good mic for that purpose, in my opinion superior to the Shure SM58. In the next few days (once I've bought a small mixer) I'm going to try recording with it. I know others who are getting good results with it so I'm confident. I've never used the C1000S, but I haven't used many mics at all. I'd consider 30 way less than many, and I've used way less than that. As a sort of relevant anecdote, I have bought, used for a couple years, and sold an NT1. I can say objectively that the NT1 and SM57 have been THE most useful mics in the world to me, and the SM57 likely has a similar future. Useful in getting tones that I don't like, tones I like, sometimes even with intended and repeatable results(!), but MOST significantly a lot of education in between, not the least of which is the ongoing lesson that my ears are immature (but getting a smidgen better every year). Recently a significant 'displacement' has occurred over here, brought on by my purchase of an FMR RNP and Josephson C42 from Mercenary (and thereafter an EV 635A and Adcom 535 elsewhere). I'm understating my opinion of them when I say, I'm really, really glad I have them, and the future looks brighter and clearer than ever, sunglasses optional. This is all tempered by lessons nicely illustrated in the book Flatland. Regards, Brian |
#36
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
Stephan Patterson ) wrote:
I'm going down the same path, trying to record things at home for my own enjoyment. Me too, and them some. You will get many disparaging comments regarding the AKG C1000S in this newsgroup. I've been reading this group for a couple of months. I'm always amazed at the number of people who claim the C1000S is a terrible product. How many have first hand experience with them (and why the heck did they buy one in the first place if they think it is that bad?) A corollary to that is "how much AE experience do the people opining have?" Speaking for myself, I give more weight to the advice of a handful of qualified AE's with 10 years each of working AE experience, than hundreds of hobbyists with a collective 1,000 years experience. I think a qualified AE with less than an hour of recording/listening experience with the X-Mic is more likely to give me more useful advice about the quality and usefulness of said mic than a non-AE can tell me after a year with it. The AE 'qualities' I consider paramount/distinctive a (1) mature and discriminating ears, (2) extensive working experience with lots of mics, and (3) a genuine interest in giving solid advice. I find that Google's Usenet archive an excellent resource for estimating such qualifications. With very little change, those criteria can be applied to pretty much any field, but what will not change is what I think George Massenburg(?) summed up nicely: "It takes a lifetime to get just a little better". There's a lot embedded in that statement. versus those who just concur so they'll appear to have a popular opinion on a pro newsgroup. A killfile is your ally. Boneheads aside, there are some serious audio folks in here doing very charitable, quality deeds. If they say that a piece of gear sucks or rocks, it's because they think it does. The irony is that what is offered is valuable, hard-earned opinion, that is intended to help someone select _candidates_ to judge with his/her own ears for his own rack, but what is taken away by many-a-newbie is a deaf license to buy (or not) x-gear with misguided expectations. Or if they already bought it, they give themselves a pat on the back, or **** on the messengers that have the gall to have a differing opinion. Yes, I generalize, and I'm certainly not referring to you, Stephan. I've been subscribed to RAP for a few years, and it turns my stomach to see how some non-professionals come in hear seeking advice from professionals, and react like 12 year olds in the worst of ways, doing more damage to the collective willingness of rap's knowledge/experience base to stick it out and help others on their way up. If that sounds "elitist" to anyone, have you read the FAQ lately? Or ever? But hell, who needs them "pros" anyway? Now that we also have alt.music.home-studio, the continually dwindling population of accomplished RAP engineer-artists can surely be compensated for by the growing throngs locked in inbred discussions on the merits of the latest inexpensive X-gear that's marketed to be as good as the $x,000 A-gear that those pros are always touting as fabulous and virtually incomparable, when the smucks are really just trying to save face with the realization that us up-and-comers can do this **** just as well as they, with a blissful fraction of their budget, and what we lack in experience and ears can be made up for by reading enough help files, getting some better sample libraries and plugs, and finding just the right affordable sub-woofer to get beefier mixes in our "studios" with 8 foot ceilings and walls not much wider. I own an AKG C1000S. I mostly use mine as a stage mic, that's what I bought it for. I think it is a very good mic for that purpose, in my opinion superior to the Shure SM58. In the next few days (once I've bought a small mixer) I'm going to try recording with it. I know others who are getting good results with it so I'm confident. I've never used the C1000S, but I haven't used many mics at all. I'd consider 30 way less than many, and I've used way less than that. As a sort of relevant anecdote, I have bought, used for a couple years, and sold an NT1. I can say objectively that the NT1 and SM57 have been THE most useful mics in the world to me, and the SM57 likely has a similar future. Useful in getting tones that I don't like, tones I like, sometimes even with intended and repeatable results(!), but MOST significantly a lot of education in between, not the least of which is the ongoing lesson that my ears are immature (but getting a smidgen better every year). Recently a significant 'displacement' has occurred over here, brought on by my purchase of an FMR RNP and Josephson C42 from Mercenary (and thereafter an EV 635A and Adcom 535 elsewhere). I'm understating my opinion of them when I say, I'm really, really glad I have them, and the future looks brighter and clearer than ever, sunglasses optional. This is all tempered by lessons nicely illustrated in the book Flatland. Regards, Brian |
#37
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
"John L Rice" wrote in message ... There are lots of variables and what if's etc but based on your $500 budget here is a suggested setup that will get you going. For convienience I'll just consider new equipment. The sources and prices below aren't nessesarily the best deal, they're just for reference. Keep in mind you can save a lot of money buying used but if you are new to recording and recording gear, it's in your best interest to buy new from somewhere that has a good return policy so if you get the wrong thing or it's broken you'll have a good chance at getting it exchanged. Plan on upgrading soon and often though. ;-) From www.bayviewproaudio.com : ECHO MiaMidi sound card $190 PreSonus BlueTube 2 channel mic pre $150 From www.musiciansfriend.com : Marshall MXL V57M Large-Diaphragm Condenser Mic $40 Behringer ECM8000 omni Microphone $40 Shure SM57 dynamic Instrument/Vocal Mic $90 At this point you are at $510. Bayview will have free shipping. Musician's Friend will charge you probably $10 to $20. And you still need : Musician's Friend : Lo-Z Mic Cable Product #330076 2 @ $8 = $16 ( they have some for $5 each too ) Mic stand with boom arm 2 @ $20 = $40 XLR (female) to TRS male 2 @ $14 = $28 ( to connect mic pre to sound card ) At this point you are at $609. And you still need software : Both Steinberg ( Cubase / Cubasis ) and Cakewalk have starter packages just under $100. Also check out N Track Studio. It's cheaper than the others and seems well supported : http://www.fasoft.com/what_is.shtm OK, so now you are right around $700, only $200 over budget! ( pretty good for me! ;-) I hope you have some sort of stereo amp and speakers to monitor on. ( although you should really get a 'real' monitoring system ASAP ) And if you don't have headphones ( closed ear sealed type ) you'll need to spend $30 to $100 for a pair of them. If you really need to be under $500 right now just get : ECHO MiaMidi sound card $190 PreSonus BlueTube 2 channel mic pre $150 Marshall MXL V57M Large-Diaphragm Condenser Mic $40 ( these are on close out, get it now ) Behringer ECM8000 omni Microphone $40 Lo-Z Mic Cable 2 @ $5 = $10 Mic stand with boom arm 2 @ $20 = $40 XLR (female) to TRS male 2 @ $14 = $28 Which is $498, just a little over $500 with shipping, and then use the evaluation vertion of N Track Studio until you can afford to register it for $45. A pair of AKG K-55 headphones is only $30 if you don't have any headphones. The Echo Mia already comes with a copy of Cubasis, which should be just fine until he can afford/needs something better. Swap the Blue tube for a Behringer UB802, and you're well under the $500 mark with headphones included. TonyP. |
#38
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
"John L Rice" wrote in message ... There are lots of variables and what if's etc but based on your $500 budget here is a suggested setup that will get you going. For convienience I'll just consider new equipment. The sources and prices below aren't nessesarily the best deal, they're just for reference. Keep in mind you can save a lot of money buying used but if you are new to recording and recording gear, it's in your best interest to buy new from somewhere that has a good return policy so if you get the wrong thing or it's broken you'll have a good chance at getting it exchanged. Plan on upgrading soon and often though. ;-) From www.bayviewproaudio.com : ECHO MiaMidi sound card $190 PreSonus BlueTube 2 channel mic pre $150 From www.musiciansfriend.com : Marshall MXL V57M Large-Diaphragm Condenser Mic $40 Behringer ECM8000 omni Microphone $40 Shure SM57 dynamic Instrument/Vocal Mic $90 At this point you are at $510. Bayview will have free shipping. Musician's Friend will charge you probably $10 to $20. And you still need : Musician's Friend : Lo-Z Mic Cable Product #330076 2 @ $8 = $16 ( they have some for $5 each too ) Mic stand with boom arm 2 @ $20 = $40 XLR (female) to TRS male 2 @ $14 = $28 ( to connect mic pre to sound card ) At this point you are at $609. And you still need software : Both Steinberg ( Cubase / Cubasis ) and Cakewalk have starter packages just under $100. Also check out N Track Studio. It's cheaper than the others and seems well supported : http://www.fasoft.com/what_is.shtm OK, so now you are right around $700, only $200 over budget! ( pretty good for me! ;-) I hope you have some sort of stereo amp and speakers to monitor on. ( although you should really get a 'real' monitoring system ASAP ) And if you don't have headphones ( closed ear sealed type ) you'll need to spend $30 to $100 for a pair of them. If you really need to be under $500 right now just get : ECHO MiaMidi sound card $190 PreSonus BlueTube 2 channel mic pre $150 Marshall MXL V57M Large-Diaphragm Condenser Mic $40 ( these are on close out, get it now ) Behringer ECM8000 omni Microphone $40 Lo-Z Mic Cable 2 @ $5 = $10 Mic stand with boom arm 2 @ $20 = $40 XLR (female) to TRS male 2 @ $14 = $28 Which is $498, just a little over $500 with shipping, and then use the evaluation vertion of N Track Studio until you can afford to register it for $45. A pair of AKG K-55 headphones is only $30 if you don't have any headphones. The Echo Mia already comes with a copy of Cubasis, which should be just fine until he can afford/needs something better. Swap the Blue tube for a Behringer UB802, and you're well under the $500 mark with headphones included. TonyP. |
#39
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
Brian Takei wrote in message l.net...
caveplayer ) wrote: - Brian Thanks for the good advice. No reason to be hasty. Actually i have lots of experience recording with my very minimum equipment (Fotex 4-track, Optimus condenser mic). And true, after playing around for hours on end, even with this 'crappy' equipment i got a pretty decent result. After all, half the fun is in optimizing the setup anyway. |
#40
|
|||
|
|||
home recording PC
Brian Takei wrote in message l.net...
caveplayer ) wrote: - Brian Thanks for the good advice. No reason to be hasty. Actually i have lots of experience recording with my very minimum equipment (Fotex 4-track, Optimus condenser mic). And true, after playing around for hours on end, even with this 'crappy' equipment i got a pretty decent result. After all, half the fun is in optimizing the setup anyway. |
Reply |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
Why all the bad recordings | High End Audio | |||
Discussion - the creation of a new newsgroup for home recording | Pro Audio | |||
Small vs. large diaphragm condenser mikes for recording grand piano at home | Pro Audio | |||
Small vs. large diaphragm condenser mikes for recording grandpiano at home | Pro Audio | |||
Need advice on microphone upgrade for home recording | Pro Audio |