Need some recording Equipment/Rig advice.. complete noob. Help please.
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Posted on Mar 12, 2009 11:51 pm
Zarklon
Member Since: Apr 20, 2008
Hello everyone
I'm sorry for asking this but I'm really lost here. I've done hours of research but I'm scared to go out and buy something just to find out its not exactly going to work for me the way I want or do the things I want to do.
I don't want to make truly professional quality music nor sell anything I make. I want to simply record music with my electric guitar and put some vocals to it without the white noise I get from layering multiple tracks as it seems this noise/feedback/whatever just gets louder as I add more tracks in Audacity.
Audacity is a free multi-track recording software that I'm very familiar with. I know of others but I'm not trying to make anything spectacular.. I'm just trying to get rid of this white noise from a junky micraphone.
Heres an example of how I record something and my exact setup in great detail although its extremely simple. I'm just trying to type this up in such a way to not leave any questions (hopefully =P)
Example: The microphone/headset-combo I bought from Wal-mart plugs directly up to my soundcard in my PC. From there it is usually laid on top of a fluffy pillow in front of my amp while I play my electric guitar. That track is the first one in audacity most of the time. Then I hit record again in Audacity and the first guitar track begins to play through my speakers .. it allows me to record more as I'm hearing it so I'll pick up the microphone at that point and begin to sing.
Now I have 2 tracks.. Eventually I have multiple tracks consisting of a simple looped guitar stum , a guitar solo all throughout that, and my singing.
The problem is .. first of all .. Wal-mart recording equipment.. I know , I know =P .. it creates a lot of white noise/feedback/whatever no matter how quiet it is in my room. I can simply hit record without making noise and I'll hear a slight hissing... This hissing or white noise gets louder and louder as I have multiple tracks recorded since there is the same noise in each track..
I'm not trying to make anything professional but I am willing to drop about 400 dollars or a little more on WHATEVER I need to get rid of that white noise. I know my way around a computer like nobody's business so I can edit the soundfiles I create and later plan to use some really interesting programs but .. first .. I need clearer recordings.
I was told that I need some kind of device that can hook up to a condenser mic and that device would be able to hook up to my computer to pass what it recorded onto my computer so that I may edit it in Audacity. I'de like to keep it that simple and stay away from anything with a bunch of knobs or "extra" features. Like I mentioned , I am just trying to get rid of this feedback or white noise problem.
This is where I'm lost.. I'm not a hardware guy when it comes to electronics.. I know a lot about the software end of windows and can hold my own figuring out some crazy programs so I've managed thus far to get away with this setup.. now that I've reached a point to be able to make some decent music , its time for me to get the proper hardware.
I need help trying to figure out exactly what hardware I need and how it should be hooked up.. and hopefully something to fit in my budget of 400 or less.
Is there a way to record something with a microphone , get rid of at least 90% of that white noise , pass it on to my favorite sound editing program on my PC (audacity for now) , and enjoy better quality creations? -- Preferably USB. I dont have firewire.. I'm dealing with a computer with an Athlon 64 processor , windows XP Pro , 1 gig of ram , with USB connections (that have a USB hub converting it to USB 2.0) , with an ooold soundblaster live soundcard.. that I'm definitely willing to part with.
I dont know if I can post my myspace link here but my username is Bulbanus so you can hear some of the stuff I've been making and why I want it sounding better (not my voice but the white noise/feedback).
If someone can please help me out with some names of some hardware and maybe how it would actually connect to my computer to get the sound in audacity , I'll love you for life!
So far I've been told I could get a Shure or AKG mic with a 48v phantom power supply and an edirol UA-25 external soundcard but that stuff was quoted to be waay over my budget and probably a little too professional for me? I do have about 400 to drop on this but if someone thinks I can make at least 10 times better recording with some 200$ than I'm getting off my $20 wal-mart recording setup , then I'm all ears for that too.
Sorry for this being so lengthy but I really am interested in getting some of this stuff out of my head and onto my computer .. theres a lot going on in my life and I feel the need to get it out ya know?
if you want , you can e-mail me at [email protected] . I'll be bookmarking this thread and checking it religiously. Thanks to whomever helps me with this!
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Mar 13, 2009 09:47 am If I was just starting out, looking for "decent" results, and had $400 to spend this is what I would do:
Shure SM58 Mic - $99
Line 6 TonePort UX 2 Interface - $199
Cakewalk SONAR Home Studio 7 Software - $99
Of course, you'll need a mic cord and other misc. stuff, but that ought to get you started and keep you in business for a long time.
And then...stick around this board, because we support what we recommend. you'll be amazed at the results you get if you listen to the advice of some of the good people around here! (But you've been around here before, so you already know that!)
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Mar 14, 2009 07:42 pm I'll second Jim on this set up as well.
I use a UX-2 here at times. In fact I haven't been using my bigger interfaces much at all lately. Mostly just the UX as it gets it done quick and easy.
And Sonar HS 7 can't be beat really. Its easy and if the need ever arises to upgrade to a bigger better version they have everything from soup to nuts at Cakewalk and their upgrade pricing is the best.
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Mar 14, 2009 08:09 pm I'd suggest a SM57 over an SM58 as a first mic. It's more versatile, has a more neutral frequency response, and you can always buy a pop filter for it if you plan on singing into it.
That TonePort is a good first interface though. Well-priced, and it comes with more bells and whistles than you'll know what to do with. Alternatives to look for, just in case you want to shop around a bit, would include offerings from PreSonus, M-Audio, EMU, TC Electronic and Tascam.
Or another option would be to get a mixer with USB or FireWire connectivity. You can look at brands like Alesis, Behringer, Mackie, and Yamaha.
Just figured I'd throw out a few brands and you can shop around at someplace like zZounds.com, MusiciansFriend.com or SweetWater.com, or at your local music shop. I find that most music shops don't carry a very large selection of recording gear, but the online retailers have vast selections.
As for software, you might even be able to use some free software like Kristal Audio Engine, Reaper (free to try, $50 or so to keep it), Audacity, or if you're feeling brave and are using Win XP, you can try ProTools free.
The home recording gear market is just exploding. There is a ton of good gear out there, and lots of it is in the entry-level price range. You can do good with your $400. Just ask around here if you have questions as you shop and narrow your choices.
Mar 21, 2009 02:45 am thanks fellas , I appreciate the input. I got my friend who works at a discount store to pick me up some things that came out to be exactly what I need. He did agree that the mics you guys spoke about are good ones but he suggested this pevey one instead. Edirol UA4fx USB recording mixer thingy and lets see.. the mic is .. Pevey Studio Pro M1 . Its really good and i made my first little jingle tonight and I just had to stop because I was overwhelmed at how good it turned out just goofin off.. I'm lovin it :) I'll probably have more questions eventually .. so far im tryin to figure out why theres a delay when I turn on the guitar effects.. its like the sound comes out my computer speakers a tad slower than I'm actually playing it so.. I dunno =P
Thanks again guys!
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Mar 21, 2009 06:12 am latency, this is the time it takes for the computer to input the signal, process it, then send it back out from your outputs.
Sometimes you can adjust it, with input buffers, output buffers, or asio latency.
If you can monitor your git sounds without going through the computer first, then you'll have direct monitoring, which is usually 0 latency.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Mar 21, 2009 09:43 pm I Make sure you are using the ASIO drivers and then if you are using the Sonar LE that came with it go in and make certain you have the latency buffer set low to either 128 or 256 tops for recording.
You should be able to do this in the Edirol control panel as well. I don't know that the Edirol unit has direct monitoring or not as it doesn't really state it on their website.
HippieRockstar Vatican AssassinMember
Since: Mar 20, 2009
Mar 23, 2009 08:48 am Sounds like I'm a little late with this one, but will throw it out there anyway. If you really want the best equipment.. cheap. Think eBay + Linux!!!!
For recording/mixing/mastering, Check out something like 64Studio or Ubuntu Studio. Regardless of Distro, they all use Ardour GTK2, JACK, Jamin, and Audacity.... and because its Linux, it's all free to use.
As for hardware, you can get just about any Shure SM57 mic for under $60 on eBay. I got two for $49 ea and stands for like $25 ea. M-Audio and ESI both have some great USB/PCI multitrack recording hardware. A Delta 1010, for example, on eBay is like $200. And then monitors... I picked up a pair of M-Audio BX5A Deluxe monitors for $220. As long as the seller has a return policy, there's no reason not to use eBay!
The most expensive purchase I made for my small studio was the darn cables..... Mogami 20' TRS cables (8 @ $45 ea. (GuitarCenter)).
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Mar 23, 2009 09:00 am $45 each for cables? Yikes. You can get 20' of TRS-TRS cable for $20 each from zZounds. CBI, Hosa, Horizon, ProCo. Hell, even go to MonoPrice.com and get 50' of good-quality TRS-TRS cable for $20!
All good cable, not overpriced good cable. Shame on GC for charging that much for cable, and shame on Mogami for whatever MSRP convinced GC to charge that much!
HippieRockstar Vatican AssassinMember
Since: Mar 20, 2009
Mar 23, 2009 09:30 am No kidding.....and that was with a price break!!! Look at their website. Just a 15' Mogami Gold Studio 1/4" TRS-Female XLR Cable is $53. That's why I grabbed the 20' cables when they were about $45. Monster cables sell for about $10 less but I think the lifetime warranty was different or handled differently (something stupid).
www.guitarcenter.com/Moga...033-i1129268.gc
J-botByte-MixerMember
Since: Dec 04, 2007
Mar 23, 2009 12:31 pm lol, speaking of prices, this reminds me of the time I went to the local "snob" hi-fi store. I was curious on what they had in the way of XLR cables. He said he had a pair of 10' cables that would run $600 for the pair. I was like "what, do they record my own music for me?" I left, went to the local music/instrument store, and got a good pair of 3' XLR for about $15 bucks. :P And if Children of Pripyat is of any indication, they seem to do just fine hehe.
My first (and last) purchase at that place was a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter for my ATH-M40fs headphones. It was 10 bucks....for a damn adapter! (it was late on a saturday, I was desperate, and the other music store wasn't open. And best-buy didn't have the right type.)
-J
