Solo acoustic recording equipment advice
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Posted on Jul 22, 2007 09:25 pm
korea87
Member Since: Jul 14, 2007
Hello there, first time post, but I have been reading the forums for some time now.
So yeah, I'm a Solo acoustic act (vocals and guitar), that wants to start producing decent/better recordings then my previous attempts. www.myspace.com/septembergun
I've been recording with just a SM58 which went through a mixer into my pc, with crappy in built sound card.
Although there's alot of advice I'm still finding it abit daunting when looking for equipment.
I'm using a PC (1gb ram, 2.2ghz), with Cubase SX-2.
I'm basically looking for equipment that will give me everything I need with room for other stuff to do in the future (if needed).
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Sound Card
So far I've been very much into the PreSonus Firebox, it's about as much as I will go in price for a soundcard (£200). It seems to give me everything I may need. Though I don't really know if this is really the best option for me.
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Speakers
With speakers, I have 3 options; I have x2 150 watt H&H PA Speakers (quite big and old now, but still fine), I have have a preamp for it, would these work fine with the sound card? And/or would they be abit overkill?
My 2nd option (though if I can get my dad to let go of them) is x2 Yamaha NS-10M Studio, I'm guessing this is most likely the best option although I've read a lot of reviews not liking them too much. But for someone on a tight budget, I guess it's not too bad. But again my dad loves playing his music through these so could be hard to prise them from him.
3rd option worst comes to worst I'll be using some generic stereo speakers.
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Microphones
So right now I own a SM58 it's had a bit of battering but still fine.
I would possibly like to get a condenser microphone for my acoustic guitar. Maybe something like an AKG?
I would proberly like to have two mics recording guitar (I think that's pretty standard?), although I'm not sure if 1 dynamic and 1 condenser is the best option? If that's fine, then great.
Would I have to buy 2 new mics? One for vocals and one for guitar, or could I get away with using the same mics? The SM58 seems to hold it's own, although I would still like something of better recording quality (£100 price range).
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Sorry this is a bit long, but I'm sure you know how lost someone can be with so much stuff to look at :).
Kind regards.
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Jul 22, 2007 09:38 pm First of all, I'm listening to your music on MySpace right now, and it sounds pretty good. Your acoustic guitar has a pretty good sound already. Indeed, a strategically placed condenser mic would certainly give it a little more bottom end. Blend that with the SM 58 and you'll be surprised at how good it sounds.
AKG makes great mics, and there are several other brands that'll do the same job for the same price. It would sharpen up your vocals a bit too. (however, your vocals sound great through the SM 58!)
The Firebox is a good unit...I haven't noticed any complaints about it around here.
Speakers: I'm too much of a novice to comment much on speakers. Listen to music you like (and want to emulate) through different speakers. If your favorite music sounds good, then there's a great chance that you can get your music to sound good too.
Good Luck!
Jul 22, 2007 09:47 pm Hey Jim thanks for replying so soon!
The recordings are ok in my opinion but I think they could be a whole lot better with the right equipment. The tracks where recorded late last year, and for some reason I just haven't been able to reproduce that guitar quality (My nephew dropped the 58 and one of the solded wires came loose, solded it back on but it just hasn't been the same since).
Also alot of my recordings tend to get a big problem where if anything quiet (say from loud to suddenly quiet) happens the sound goes completly quiet, giving it a very disjointed feel to the recording.
Thanks for the advice :)
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jul 22, 2007 09:48 pm I'll start off with the sound card/interface. The presonus unit is pretty good. Its only real limitation is it can be some what finicky as to what firewire chip might be in your PC. But I think for the most part they have that ironed out these days. Just make sure to download and install the latest drivers.
There is also the Line 6 UX-2 which may be something to look at as well. It is USB connected and powered and can supply 48v phantom power to the condenser mic without any external wall wart. We did a review of it if you care to have a look at that. The real upside to the unit is the high end pre amp models is uses besides the guitar and bass models. I have taken to using them frequently now and love them.
www.homerecordingconnecti...tory&id=727
AS for the speakers, the NS10's would be nice but you will have to make do with what ever you can for the moment. It is better to use something you are familiar with. I would probably avoid the home stereo speakers if you can as those will add a different color to the sound and might make it hard to mix properly.
AS for the mic's, you can still use the 58 as they are a pretty good dynamic mic and will serve the purpose until you can move up. Adding a condenser will surely help. AKG make a few good ones in that price range, as does Audio Technica and a couple of others. But that type of mic will surely be useful for both the guitar and vocals.
Jul 22, 2007 11:13 pm I don't have any advice on the interface, but as for speakers, I'd be reluctant to rely on PA speakers or even NS10's as a primary speaker for designing sounds on. NS10's are a good tool to have in your arsenal, but not necessarily speakers that I would want to use exclusively. If you're on a low budget, your best bet for speakers is, as someone already said, get a pair of speakers that you enjoy listening to music on and then... here's the important part... keep listening to what you're doing on as many different types of speakers and headphones as you can. If you do this throughout the recording process, take notes, and adjust your sounds to the different things you hear as you go.
For microphones - Shure makes a small diaphragm condenser that sounds quite nice on an acoustic guitar and is super cheap (usually around $100). I put together a review of it on my blog (click the homepage link below if you're curious)... probably though if you want to buy one mic that will be versatile for instruments and vocals, you probably want some sort of large diaphragm condenser. I've been less than impressed with some of the large diaphragm mics in the sub-$400 range from AT and AKG, but if you're looking in that range, you might check out Oktava, lots of people speak quite highly of them. I've used some CAD's that I got some good sounds from as well. If you can afford it or find one used, the AT4050 is one of the most versatile condenser mics I've used.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Jul 23, 2007 08:55 am Studio Projects makes a pretty nice utility LDC, the B3. I have one now, plus a Studio Projects C1. The B3 is a good swiss-army-knife of LDC (low-budget ones, anyway). I just tracked a girl last night, and she sounded great just straight through the B3. I also did my sister's vocals with B3 a few years ago. It's in my music gallery, if you want to hear it. Time in a bottle.
I believe the NS10 are good monitors for hearing absolutely everything wrong in your mix. Which makes them sound like crap for most stuff, but if you really want to do surgery on your mix, these will show you exactly what you're doing. (this is based on what I've read online in other forums, etc).
That said, I doubt I'd want to be that precise with my work, as I'm just a basement/hobbiest. I'd probably drive my self nuts trying to fix things.
As it is, I've got a pair of Tannoy Reveal, that are very open, and detailed. I'm still learning them, but I'm liking them so far.
dB's been using some samson resolve, that he's liking much. Low-budget, and will probably be easier to live with than the PA speakers or the home stereo speakers. (you should leave yer dad alone, let him listen to his music =).
