Starting out

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Hey, im a new musician. I've been playing guitar for awhile but only
recently have started writing my own stuff.

As of now i've only been recording using "audacity" and a cheap logitec
computer mic. It gets the job done but I need more now. I want to start
putting out better quality recordings but i don't know where to start.

If any of you know what I should buy please get back to me and suggest
away.... i would be most appreciative....

[Andy]

On 30 Aug 2006 17:32:42 -0700, wrote:

>Hey, im a new musician. I've been playing guitar for awhile but only
>recently have started writing my own stuff.
>
>As of now i've only been recording using "audacity" and a cheap logitec
>computer mic. It gets the job done but I need more now. I want to start
>putting out better quality recordings but i don't know where to start.
>
>If any of you know what I should buy please get back to me and suggest
>away.... i would be most appreciative....

Get a better mic..I suggest you start with something like the Shure
SM57 and a mixer.

[Paul Stamler]

"Andy" > wrote in message
...
> On 30 Aug 2006 17:32:42 -0700, wrote:
>
> >Hey, im a new musician. I've been playing guitar for awhile but only
> >recently have started writing my own stuff.
> >
> >As of now i've only been recording using "audacity" and a cheap logitec
> >computer mic. It gets the job done but I need more now. I want to start
> >putting out better quality recordings but i don't know where to start.
> >
> >If any of you know what I should buy please get back to me and suggest
> >away.... i would be most appreciative....
>
> Get a better mic..I suggest you start with something like the Shure
> SM57 and a mixer.

Or spring for a little more and get a Beta 57. Then check out some books by
F. Alton Everest from the nearest public library and learn about sound
treatment for your room, and do some.

Peace,
Paul

[will]

Educate yourself. If you don't want to study recording in a classroom,
then book some sessions in a good studio or with an independent
engineer, pay them for their time and watch and listen very carefully -
take notes, ask questions. This way you'll have some working knowledge
and a decent recording as a reference. You can stumble around on your
own for a long time and waste a lot of money trying to buy the perfect
solution, but without proper knowledge it's just wasting time and
money. Not intended to slam you, just my .02.

[Joseph Ashwood]

> wrote in message
ps.com...
> As of now i've only been recording using "audacity" and a cheap logitec
> computer mic. It gets the job done but I need more now. I want to start
> putting out better quality recordings but i don't know where to start.

The first steps are to get a better microphone, and some way of converting
it for input into your computer (same recommendation as everyone else).
Don't go too cheap on the microphone, otherwise you'll be replacing it very
soon, but going cheap on the mixer (most common way to convert) is a good
bet because you'll be upgrading that anyway.

The other option besides a mixer is one of the various USB or Firewire or
PCI recording devices from various manufacturers, you'll basically be buying
a soundcard, but the general consumer cards are not what you're looking for.
Instead you will be looking for a recording card, there are many, and your
local musicians store is likely to have a number of options.

Starting out the use of M-Audio is fairly common as they offer good
performance for low prices, although you can find equal quality in a mixer,
this is a trade-off only you can decide on.
Joe

[Laurence Payne]

On Wed, 06 Sep 2006 09:23:04 GMT, "Joseph Ashwood" >
wrote:

>The first steps are to get a better microphone, and some way of converting
>it for input into your computer (same recommendation as everyone else).
>Don't go too cheap on the microphone, otherwise you'll be replacing it very
>soon, but going cheap on the mixer (most common way to convert) is a good
>bet because you'll be upgrading that anyway.


So you mustn't buy a cheap microphone 'cos you'll want to upgrade to a
better one. But it's OK to buy a cheap mixer, 'cos you'll want to
upgrade to a better one?

[Joseph Ashwood]

"Laurence Payne" <lpayne1NOSPAM@dslDOTpipexDOTcom> wrote in message
...
> On Wed, 06 Sep 2006 09:23:04 GMT, "Joseph Ashwood" >
> wrote:
>
>>The first steps are to get a better microphone, and some way of converting
>>it for input into your computer (same recommendation as everyone else).
>>Don't go too cheap on the microphone, otherwise you'll be replacing it
>>very
>>soon, but going cheap on the mixer (most common way to convert) is a good
>>bet because you'll be upgrading that anyway.
>
>
> So you mustn't buy a cheap microphone 'cos you'll want to upgrade to a
> better one. But it's OK to buy a cheap mixer, 'cos you'll want to
> upgrade to a better one?

What I meant was that you'll be changing your mixer several times no matter
what you pick (possibly unless you spend 6 figures), so the mixer will be
rebought regardless. The microphone though is often kept for basically
eternity, a good one now means not having to rebuy.

Good is an entirely relative term here as good for my voice (a brick with
some wires is ideal) will not be the same as good for the OP, will not
necessarily be the same as good for the OP in 6 months but mics end up
sticking around because a good mic is irreplacable.
Joe

[Laurence Payne]

On Wed, 06 Sep 2006 11:55:15 GMT, "Joseph Ashwood" >
wrote:

>What I meant was that you'll be changing your mixer several times no matter
>what you pick (possibly unless you spend 6 figures), so the mixer will be
>rebought regardless. The microphone though is often kept for basically
>eternity, a good one now means not having to rebuy.

Well, maybe. With so much being done "in the box" these days, and
audio interfaces coming with perfectly adequate mic preamps, I'm using
my mixer a lot less than I used to.