Is this a good set up?
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Posted on Dec 05, 2004 04:45 pm
grAFItti
Member Since: Dec 05, 2004
Since christmas is starting coming im gonna ask my parents for recording gear. I play bass, guitar, keyboard, and I sing. I have a 30 watt marshal amp and my keyboard has midi. I just saved up and got a new computer( pentium 4 3.0 ghz, 1 gb of dual channel ddr, i also have a soundblaster Audigy card.) I have fruity loops 4, and Cakewalk 9. Oh and audacity and Kristal. Well anyway Im asking for an ART Pro Channel Tube Mic Preamp, a V63M Condenser Studio Microphone with Shockmount, and Behringer Eurorack UB1202 Mixer. Im not sure about what to get for an effects processor. I ahve a pair of three way jbl monitors that are like 4 feet tall. They are 400W peak. What else would i need?
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Dec 05, 2004 09:01 pm Monitors or speakers?
Cause if they are your everyday speakers you are going to need to get proper monitors
what kind fx you looking 4?
I don't know much about the hardware aspect of things there for i rely on software in that department and just a question outta curiosity who makes the V63M?
Dec 05, 2004 09:11 pm yeah, I see the same red flag that renegade does, any 3-way four foot tall speaker would not be good monitoring your mixes unless they are about 15 feet from your head.
Have you considered getting a UB series behringer mixer with the built in effects, and getting a bigger one that has sub-outs? COnsidering the relative beginning stages you are at in recording your money might be better distributed in a different way, maybe a 1622FX-Pro mixer, or something that has sub outs. The preamps on the UB's are OK, so skip the ART preamp and put that money towards a better sound card.
At least, that is the direction I would go...for starters.
Jason H.Jack of all trades master of ___Member
Since: May 28, 2004
Dec 05, 2004 09:17 pm ...If you poke around enough, you will come to see that most of us here are in favor of recording sound card over factory PC based cards....especially when we hear cases of recording signal problems...come to find out it's a soundblaster...
Look into the following card manuf. for starters
Echo, M-Audio, E-MU or ESI...
Dec 08, 2004 05:13 pm thx. yeah right now i record through an instrument cable with a headphone jack converter. I have it running out of my 30 watt mashall amp right into the back of the sound card and i dont like the sound at all.
The mic is an MXL.
Would i need a bigger mixer? cause all im recording right now are my bass, my guitar, vocals, and maybe keyboard here and there.
Yeah the Jbl's are studio monitors. LT100's. theyre about 10 years old though.
Would the Emu 1212M be a good choice?
mccartyeeeeeeemo.Member
Since: Oct 30, 2003
Dec 08, 2004 05:19 pm you shouldnt need a bigger mixer if you're recording all your instuments seperately, one by one, into computer based multitrack software - like cubase or cakewalk
(i think anyway... im still a relative novice to most aspects of recording)
Dec 08, 2004 06:48 pm Im not certain but try taking the amp out of the picture and try it directly to the sound card?
who knows give that a try
Dec 08, 2004 09:24 pm That gives me an ok clean sound, but thats about all i can do. I dont really have any effects. I dont know how to get a good distortion or reverb.
Those are the two things i cant live w/ out, but later on i would like some hardware that can do phaser, rotary pan, a loop sequencer and dub, and some cool ambiance effects. I was wondering if a tube pre would give me a good distortion because thats wat i want the most.
Dec 08, 2004 09:24 pm That gives me an ok clean sound, but thats about all i can do. I dont really have any effects. I dont know how to get a good distortion or reverb.
Those are the two things i cant live w/ out, but later on i would like some hardware that can do phaser, rotary pan, a loop sequencer and dub, and some cool ambiance effects.
I was wondering if a tube pre would give me a good distortion because thats wat i want the most.
Dec 08, 2004 09:26 pm sry, my browser screwed up and i hit submit twice...
cooloFrisco's Most UnderratedMember
Since: Jan 28, 2003
Dec 08, 2004 10:03 pm If you look through the tutorials or articles on this site, there is a good one about micing your guitar amplifier. I've never done it before, but they say this is the best way to record your electric guitar including distortion. Otherwise you could look into one of several amp modelers out there that a lot of people here seem to use.
Dec 08, 2004 10:20 pm yeah if you love your effects you should actually give software a chance
Im pretty sure Sonar comes with a few of those effects if not all of them.If not there's plenty of third party company's that specialize in just what your looking for sorry I can't name a few but that's cause i've never picked up a guitar in my life! Software is my bestfriend but i think if you asked a guitarist they would probably tell you hardware's there bestfriend.....so i don't know
Good Luck
Dec 08, 2004 11:34 pm Miking my amp is starting to look pretty good to me. Im just not sure which mic's do what. Im not sure wether to use condensor or Dynamic or what they do. Ok...
So say i wanna mic my 30 wat marshall, I want a good mic for vocals, and the bass i can run straight into a mixer (leaning twords the behringer but, sry, i really am not sure what sub outs and all that mumbo jumbo are so i havent picked one yet...) And my keyboard can run with midi or into the mixer.
The reason im kinda hesistant on effects is because in the past theyve done an alright job for me but i really didnt get the results i wanted, especially with the distortions. But it may have been my crappy connection through my old computer, i dunno...
cooloFrisco's Most UnderratedMember
Since: Jan 28, 2003
Dec 09, 2004 03:07 am Dynamic mic can take a whuppin, so that would be up close on your amp. Shure SM57 is a standard dynamic mic, that you can't really go wrong with. If I remember right a condensor can also help with micing an amp if you place it back further. Condensor will also be what you want to use for vocals unless you are absolutely screaming, though you can get away with using a dynamic if you want to experiment before you commit to the price of a condensor (usually a bit more expensive than the dynamics). Additionally, you may want to take a look at the amp modelers like Vamp or PodXT(is that right?). I don't really know much about them other than what I've read from other users here who seem to think they're neat.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Dec 09, 2004 10:17 am there's a lot of free plug-ins around the net (and some listed here) that may get you pretty close to what you're looking for, without any $ outlay. If you get something that adds effects before you record it, then you're stuck with that sound, which may not play well with other sounds later in the chain, plus you cant change it. I'd say, since you have big muscle in the PC department, focus on utilizing the processing power with software effects. The Classic line is pretty decent, as is the Khearjus (whew, sp?). I believe a few here have used amplitude for guitar fx with good results as well (though that one costs $).
This way, you may be able to skip a dynamic mic for now (though you'll want one eventually) and just get a decent condensor for vocals.
sub outs are another way for your signal to get out of the mixer. having more than 1 way is very helpful when you start getting creative with your signal routing.
ALso, I'd agree on looking into a better soundcard, one for recording. That way your A/D converters will be better, and your sound will be better. I think dB has a Juli@ that he's stoked over, as well as the ones mentioned above. Though I think the M-Audio prices are coming down.
of course, YMMV.
Dec 09, 2004 02:56 pm What kind of condensor mic would anyone suggest?
cooloFrisco's Most UnderratedMember
Since: Jan 28, 2003
Dec 09, 2004 09:21 pm That questions has been asked a million times here. As I just recently posted in another thread, alot of people like Rode NT series and Beringer B series. But it is going to depend on your budget. Use the search on this for condensors and see what other info you come up with.
Dec 10, 2004 01:41 pm I looked at the condensors at musicians friend and i saw the behringer b1. It lloked to be a good mic and it was only 100 bucks. So i figured i probably couldnt tell the difference between a really expensive mic versus a decent one.
I am also leaning toward the Shure SM57. Someone said that when they were live they got alot of feedback from these mics. Would that happen when im recording?
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Dec 10, 2004 01:59 pm Probably not, as recording you wouldn't be using loud monitoring, as you'd be using low volume or headphones. 57s are staples in studios, and are very well utilized live as well. If someone got problem feedback, then it was probably the PA mix/setup, not specific to the 57 (as in: most mics would feedback in the same situation).
You won't regret getting a 57.
As far a condensors, like coolo said, there's a few recent posts that cover a bunch of options, as well as archive posts that cover this area pretty well. Also, you could check people's profiles to see what they're using.
cooloFrisco's Most UnderratedMember
Since: Jan 28, 2003
Dec 10, 2004 03:16 pm well, if you listen to them each individually, you will probably be able to tell the difference. But the main criteria is how much can you afford. Then you go get the one you like best for that price. Or you get sold on something else. I wanted to spend $200-$300 on a condensor, and eventually ended up with one that cost me almost $600 cuz I fell in love with the sound.
Dec 10, 2004 03:51 pm I see. Coolo, what mic did you get and what do you use it for?
Dec 10, 2004 06:14 pm oh, and im reading around and noticing all the new poeple are introducing themselves and stuff. I know its kinda late but... im grAFItti and im a sophmore in highschool w/ no job (thank god for parents) and ive been playing guitar for a year and do everything else on the side ie bass and keyboard. I really love music and am aiming to be a professional musician when i get older. But i want to be an audio technician in order to get money and stuff...I just wanna say thanks to you all for helping a recording ignorant kid like me. (not as much now with your guys' help)
Dec 10, 2004 06:18 pm Welcome to HRC, grAFItti
Dec 11, 2004 12:07 pm Alright so now my refined list consists of A Behringer UB1622FX mixer, 2 Behringer B-1 condensor mic's, and a Shure SM57. I also threy in a little desk i saw in musicians friend for like 100 bucks. It has an 8-space rack and a place for your computer and other stuff.
Im planning on working at the school cafeteria (only job someone can get w/ out being 16) and ill be getting some ok money. Ill earn about 1400 bucks by the end of the school year ( roughly 5 months). I plan on using this all on augmenting my "studio". I plan on purchasing a Lexicon MPX G2 effects processor. That'l run me about 500-700 bucks. And then my list of stuff to get after that are:
a tube pre-amp, a compressor, an EQ unit (is software the better bet for EQ?), an aural exciter, a power conditioner, and a patch bay.
Any suggestions for the latter set of Hardware?
cooloFrisco's Most UnderratedMember
Since: Jan 28, 2003
Dec 12, 2004 03:04 am Grafitti, I ended up getting a Neuman TLM-103. It sounds awesomely beautiful. I mainly use it for vocals (I do hip hop), but I have also miced up an irish flute, kazoo, and random other noise makers.
Myself, I use software to do all the effects.
Oh, but it is definitely a plus for you to get into this early. If you stay with it, you'll be better at a younger age. More power to you, I wish I hadn't taken so long to realize I wanted to do this.
Dec 14, 2004 03:23 pm Thanks coolo. I looked up your mic and many people seem to love it as much as you do. They're reviews are at least 2 paragraphs long. I would like to get that mic when i become more experienced ( and have a bit mor $$$).
Oh, my brother has his own home studio and was giving me some advice. He lives in cali so i cant talk to him very much, but he told me some pretty cool things. he suggested that i run the line out of my amp into a DI box and then mic it(with a shure sm-57). He said that id get the best sound that way. Is this a good way to go? What are some good DI Boxes that i can purchase?
For the fast couple of weeks i have been working heavily in fruity loops 4. I have created some really cool songs. Its amazing what you could do with fruity loops. Anyway, im starting to run out of good sounds to use. I dont want my songs to sound the same, so i mentioned this to my brother and he told me to try laying guitar and bass and everything over some electronic riffs. I thought it sounded like an awesome idea. Does anyone here have any experience in doing stuff like this? If so, howd you go about doing it? cuz it sounds awesome.
