interface/mixer questions
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Posted on Dec 17, 2006 04:50 pm
AndrewT
Member Since: Dec 17, 2006
Hi, I'm looking to upgrade my recording equipment. I've been using a cheap vocal microphone to record guitars and drums right into my laptop mic jack with Audacity. I'm looking just to record ideas and then songs, just demo quality, nothing too fancy. I'm on a pretty tight budget, so I'm trying to not spend a ton of money right now, but I'd still like to be able to upgrade in a few years if I want. I'm looking at the sm57 to mic everything (I only have enough money to buy 1 mic and I'm pretty sure that that's the one). btw right now I just need to record 1 track at a time; I play all the instruments. I know I need a usb or firewire interface (usb seems to be cheaper so I think I'll go with that) but I'm not sure if I need a mixer or not. Should I just buy a usb interface with an XLR input and preamp or should I buy a mixer also? I found this www.musiciansfriend.com/p...face?sku=702540 and I was thinking of getting this mixer www.zzounds.com...em--BEHXENTX502
Is that a good idea? Or is there a mixer that goes directly to usb? Thanks guys
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Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Dec 17, 2006 06:13 pm Hey Andrew, welcome to HRC first off.
I think the 57 is a wise choice to start with for an all around good mic. You really can't beat it for over all versatility and durability. I will state though that indeed it won't work well going into the mic input of your laptop so yes a USB mixer or other alternative is in order.
You might want to take a look here, www.homerecordingconnecti...tory&id=727 at a review dB and I did a bit ago on the Line 6 UX-1 and UX-2 interfaces. They both run the same software and same models of not only guitar amp/cab sims but bass amp/cab sims and some very killer microphone pre amp sims as well. I was very impressed with the mic pre sims and found many uses for them.
With one or the other of these you will be able to record direct without an mixer requirements doing your one mic at a time thing. And later down the road if you do go into a small mixer unit you will be able to run a stereo pair of line inputs into the unit as well to run more then one mic if needed.
As for the mixers that go directly into USB, well they are not a cheap lot at the moment. Although there are a couple cheap ones, but the low end ones seem to have unresolved issues at the moment. But again, they are not a cheap alternative either.
Dec 17, 2006 07:49 pm Wow! Thanks a lot! That's a great solution, given that I only have a crappy Crate guitar amp, and only a practice bass amp!
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Dec 17, 2006 08:56 pm Yep, I haven't used or I should say owned a full on amp in many years now. I have been using Line 6 modeler's since their first POD and love em. I now use a fully loaded POD xt and the UX-2 for all my guitar/bass and now with the UX-2 I use its pre-amp model's for miccing. It is a versatile solution for many. And I find myself using the UX-2 more now then my higher end audio interfaces.
Jan 19, 2007 01:35 pm just thought i'd update: I got the toneport UX1 and it does exactly what I needed; I also got the sm57 and 2 microphone stands that came with cheap mics; I figured if i borrow my friend's mixer then I can record my drum set. I also got the Yamaha RH5MA monitoring headphones, so now I'm pretty much set. Thanks again for the advice!
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jan 19, 2007 09:58 pm Your very welcome. Glad we could help ya out. You'll have to post some music when you get it done.
