Home Recording Upgrade: Recommendations?
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Posted on Nov 03, 2002 03:54 pm
bmeador
Member Since: Nov 03, 2002
I've been piecing together a little home recording studio over the last 5 years or so. I use it to record my music, mostly acoustic guitar (sometime with a Fisher pickup, sometimes through my mic) and vocals with some string bass or electric guitar (by mic'ing my Deluxe Reverb amp) thrown in once in a while for good measure. The goal is to craft music I can share with friends and use for demo's with potential small venues.
Below is the system that I have so far. Any recommendations on what my next purchase should be? I suspect that I need a compressor and probably a new mic, but I'm looking for your expert opinions:
For Recording:
- Yamaha MD4 4 Track MiniDisc Recorder
www.harmony-central.com/N...Yamaha/MD4.html
- Alesis MidiVerb 4 Effects Processor
www.alesis.com/products/midiverb4/index.html
- AudioTechnica ATM41HE Mic
www.audiotechnica.com/pro...es/ATM41HE.html
I mixdown to my HP Omnibook 500 Laptop using the following:
- Aardvark Direct Mix USB3 SoundCard
www.aardvark-pro.com/direct_pro_usb3.html
- CakeWalk Guitar Tracks 2.0
cakewalk.com/Products/GuitarTracks/default.asp
I'm nothing but happy with the Yamaha. I've considered going completely to a computer based system, but I like the way the Yamaha works and the storage capability. Those few times I've needed to do something fancy (like add a drum track or move vocals around in the song) I was able to use Guitar Tracks by recording single tracks to it.
So, specific things I'm interested in:
1. What's the single most important thing I could add to improve my recording quality?
2. A compressor, that's necessary, right? Based on previous threads, I've got a pretty good idea of what I need...
3. I don't know much about my mic (it was a gift). Am I killing myself by not upgrading to something? What do you recommend?
4. Guitar Tracks 2.0 doesn't record 24 bit, but the USB supports it. I supposed I should upgrade the software I use for mixdown. Rec's here?
5. Final question - does anyone else use the Aardvark DirectMix USB3? I'm having some problems with sound playback (sound cuts out). Tech support was unable to help me. It's really frustrating, but at least the recording piece works like it should.
Thanks for any advice you can give you a relative novice.
Brad.
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Nov 03, 2002 05:10 pm I'm planning to buy a rode nt1 in the next few days as I have heard great things about them, especially for recording guitars, and they are also apparantly flattering on vocals.
check out reviews from
www.sospubs.co.uk/sos/199...97/rodent1.html
and there are a lot of reviews from zzounds.com
I'm also buying a compressor to go with this, probably the behringer composer pro, although behringer have brought out a new line in compressors, the pro-xl series, but i'm waiting for some reviews to appear before I make my decision. From what I've heard though, behringers are great value.
Nov 03, 2002 05:18 pm by the way, ignore the price on that sound on sound review, as it was done a while ago and now you can buy them for about half that price.
Nov 04, 2002 11:16 am That NT1-A Anniversary Model does look extremely nice; they say:
"The RdDE NT1-A Anniversary Model is a complete redesign of the now legendary NT1 classic studio microphone, from the new nickel-plated body to the state-of-the-art surface-mount electronic circuitry."
Are they serious? surely that would warrant bringing the price of the old nt1 a bit?? does anyone know about this mic?
Nov 04, 2002 12:38 pm FYI - The NT1 is on sale here for $179: www.zzounds.com...z=1528000558041
No sign of the anniversary addition, though.
Thanks for the advice,
Brad.
Nov 04, 2002 12:41 pm oooo don't let dbmaster hear you recommending other stores... i don't thing the nt1-a is out for a week or so so thats why its not on most websites
Nov 04, 2002 01:22 pm >oooo don't let dbmaster hear you recommending other stores...
Faux-pas?? Sorry if I have offended in some way...
Nov 04, 2002 02:07 pm its just that if you buy things through musicians friend hrc gets a small amount of money or something
Nov 04, 2002 02:29 pm aw, man I want one of those MiniDisc multi-trackers. I've had my eyes on eBay for an MD-8 to dip below $300 for months.
Hey bmeador, to answer your first question, it looks like you only have one mic? The AudioTechnica ATM41HE looks like a good all'round vocal mic with good bass response and a little boost to the high end rolling off around 17KHz. I have an old AT Pro-1 (discontinued) and it's one of my favorite mics, but I still rely on a couple old Shures, a 533SA and a PE588, and even some junked up JVC and Realistic mics to get different sounds. Different mics have made such a differnce in the final result that I'm currently in the market for some good instrument mics. -j
Nov 04, 2002 06:30 pm Yes, on one hand I like to see everybody get the best deal on everything they buy, but on the other hand, we have server space and time to fund, and buying from Musician's Friend helps fund us.
Maybe I should look into affiliating with Zzounds as well...
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Nov 04, 2002 08:59 pm zZound's seem's to be running more add's then they used to, and they are becoming more competative price wise also. It may be a good move to have more then one retail affiliate.
Nov 05, 2002 05:39 am and here we go:
www.zzounds.com...ex.music?f=6055 their affiliate thing sucks, I can only link to their homepage, not individual items...Laaaaaaaame!
They said the will be adding item links "soon"...yeah, whatever...I doubt I will promote this much...kinda hard to tell people, yes, click here, then click this, then click that, blah, blah...
Nov 06, 2002 06:02 pm Do you guys have a good recommendation for a mic pre-amp to go with the Rode NT1 or NT1-A? I don't really know what to look for in a good pre-amp...
Thanks again for the advice.
Brad.
BTW - to Jamie Garrett on the MD8. The only caution I would give you on that model is storage space on an individual disk. With 8 tracks of data, the MD-Data disk will store less than 20 minutes of recording. You have to determine up front how many tracks you commit to a disk, so you can't save space by making some songs four tracks and others 8 on the same disk. Like I said, I am happy with the MD4, but I do have trouble finding MD-Data disks, they're expensive, and I'm always running out of the room I need to manipulate the song effectively.
Nov 07, 2002 03:58 am thanks bmeador, yes, i'm aware of the limited track time on that model and that wouldn't be a problem. but do you really need to use a special MD? I see MD-Data being sold on Musicians Friend and here and there for about 5 times the price of a typical MD, but I also see the MD4 and MD8 units selling on eBay along with regular typical MDs. From the latter I figured that the Yamaha trackers could format a regular MD into the Data variety. Have you ever tried a typical $3 MD60 or 78 minute disc in the MD4?
Nov 07, 2002 11:58 am Yes, you can use a regular MD Disc, BUT it will only allow you two tracks of data. If you want to multi track, you have to buy an MD Data disc, which is much more expensive and fairly difficult to find.
I use a regular MD for my "sketchbook." Two tracks to capture musical ideas I want to play around with. Then, when I'm ready to make a recording for sharing, I bust out the MD-Data.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Nov 07, 2002 08:56 pm Yup, that is one of the major downfall's of the MD recorder's. They can't use regular MD, and must use a more expensive MD Data disk. That is the biggest reason I never bought one. Although I love my regular MD for sampling and the like. And using like he said as a scratch pad.
Nov 07, 2002 09:41 pm dang, scrap that idea. the whole point was to use the MDs that I already have too many of laying around :O) i already use my MD as a basic 2 track recorder when i'm on the road. An 8 channel mixer into the MD has yeilded some great results. Sunday night I sampled my drummers entire kit in stereo and it sounds incredible!
Nov 08, 2002 04:54 am Cool, now you dice up those samples into individual drum and cymbal hits and you have a kick-butt drum kit for use in FruityLoops.
So you can now fire your drummer but still have him playing in your songs :-)
Nov 08, 2002 05:43 am actually dB, the kits already mostly done. 45 separate one-shots. collapse has an advance copy and gave me some real positive feedback. it's almost 20Megs, but i'll transfer it to you sometime if you're interrested. look me up on AIM. I trust you have broadband at home? -j
Nov 08, 2002 06:50 am Cool, and yes, I have DSL. I have you on AIM at work, but I don't know if I do at home or not...
Actually, the intstant messenger I use is Trillian, not the real AIM, so I dunno if file transfers will work, but email will.
BTW, Trillian is awesome, and free, and it supports AIM, ICQ, MSN, IRC and Yahoo all in one app.
tonyd1970The fat one always watches us.Member
Since: Nov 08, 2002
Nov 08, 2002 07:05 am Magix studio 7 -39.99 at best buy.much better (i think) than guitar tracks. i used cakewalk 9 for 3 years and Magix is really good. (i am not a salesman, nor do i work for thier company)
it just made everything easier for me. btw im running p3 500 512ram sblive and with 8-9 tracks and recording i had no hangs, "dropouts", nothing. its good stuff man. you can hear what i did in the members music section. rock
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Nov 08, 2002 05:30 pm I'll look ya up for those sample's Jamie. If there is anything you are looking for in the sample world, let me know. I would be more then happy to share what I have, and trust me it is a massive collection, mostly original.
Nov 08, 2002 06:09 pm hit me up on AIM at James71380 sometime, anytime when my away message isn't up. I'll let you in on what I'm working on. I could use some feedback anyways. -j
