What am I missing?

[EdJames]

I currently use an M-Audio AudioBuddy preamp into a Soundblaster Live! 24bit soundcard.

Previously I'd used an AKG c2000 b condensor microphone but this broke. I am now going to buy one of the following microphones...

SE Electronics SE2200A
AKG C4000 B Condenser Microphone
Rode NT1A Studio Condenser Microphone
CAD GXL3000
RODE NT1000
MARSHALL MXL V67

More than likely I'll go for the V67 since it seems to have gotten good reviews across this site. So my next question is, as a fairly high singing male rnb singer, does this set up sound good enough to get a good crisp quality?

What should I be looking to upgrade to maximise the quality of my sound?

Soundcard, preamp or microphone? Or should I be buying a mixer or some other piece of external equipment?

[fraserhutch]

soundcard.
room treament.

oh, and decent monitoring

[EdJames]

Could you recommend a decent soundcard for around $200?

[EdJames]

Sadly I rent my accomodation so I can't do room treatments or anything like that, so I'm kinda stuck with hardware upgrades for the moment.

[cmbsounds]

hey edjames what kinda recording you doing you trying get into professional or just demos??

[EdJames]

Well I've previously been signed to a record label, so I am used to having decent quality. I have an album coming out shortly and am just adding the finishing touches. It will be sold in stores both locally and hopefully online so I guess yes, I need as professional a sound as possible.

I am quite good at mixing my vocals so I can make a pretty bad setup sound half decent.

Feel free to check my soundclick dot com site (just search Ed James, I don't think I can post outside links). The top song was done with an AKG c2000b (and the spec above) whilst "Is It Just Too Late" was done with a $40 dynamic mic I picked up just to lay some vocals down.

[cmbsounds]

Ill Be Honest With You....save Your Money And Invest In Pro Quality
Dont Waste Your Money On All These Hyped Up Gear Out There That Will Be Leaving You Unhappy And Keep Making You Buy More And More To Get Pro Results..take A Load Out...save Your Money
First Thing You Want Is A Good Room..vocal Booth..good Acoustics And Good Room To Work Around With
Than Id Get A Microphone $3000 Or Up
Few Suggestions Sony C800g Neumann U87
See The Better The Mic The More Versitile It Is Get A Good Tube Mic
And A Good Condensor Mic
Than Id Get A Good Preamps One Solid State One Tube
Like Manley Voxbox For Tube And A Focurite Red Series For Solid State
Than Id Get A Good Pair Of Monitors With A Nice Sub
Use Only Protools Or Neudo None That Cubase Crap
Your Only Gonna Get Good Results With Pro Stock
And When U Record People And They See You Go The Real Crap And Not The Consumer Everybody Can Buy Crap You Will Not Only Make Pro Recordings But People See What U Got And Spread The Word And Just Maybe Ull Record The Next Biggest Hit

[EdJames]

Incidentally guys, feel free to contact me on AIM or MSN on "The MyT" or "themyt1@hotmail.com" respectively.

[EdJames]

Sounds good in theory, but I pay $1,400 a month rent, I am just NOT going to have that sort of money in the next decade! LOL

Realistically I am talking about putting together the best home setup I can with no one piece of equipment really exceeding $500. Unfortunately a vocal booth just isn't an option in my current situation; after all I'm 22, skint and in rented property!

[travelin travis]

I've heard some nice sounding (to my ears) recordings made with a v67 and all kinds of other cheap gear. This is home recording..........cmbsounds sounds like he has alot of spare cash to throw around. Maybe he'll buy you a U87.

[EdJames]

Thanks for that man, sound like the v67 might be worth looking into, especially at the price it can be picked up for on Ebay.

[fraserhutch]

Originally Posted by TravisinFlorida

I've heard some nice sounding (to my ears) recordings made with a v67 and all kinds of other cheap gear. This is home recording..........cmbsounds sounds like he has alot of spare cash to throw around. Maybe he'll buy you a U87.

Um, no, he said, and I quote: "I need as professional a sound as possible. "

That's a LOT different than home recording.

If you're signed and all that, go to a pro studio.

[travelin travis]

Originally Posted by fraserhutch

Um, no, he said, and I quote: "I need as professional a sound as possible. "

That's a LOT different than home recording.

If you're signed and all that, go to a pro studio.

He did say that............but by him leaning heavily toward the v67, we can assume that he is on a tight budget. If he wants a "pro" sound then he should either seek "pro" services or learn to squeeze every drop of quality out his low budget gear.

Originally Posted by EdJames

Soundcard, preamp or microphone? Or should I be buying a mixer or some other piece of external equipment?

What's wrong with the sound you were getting before your mic went out? In other words, what do you want your new gear to be able to do that your current gear is'nt able to do. By saying that you want a pro sound, you are being very vague. Is the problem noise? Room reflections? Grainy? Describe the problems or post some tracks and ask for advice.

Also, gear is'nt everything. I've heard some nice tracks that were recorded using low down gear. I've owned some of the same low down gear and was'nt able to get the same kind of quality out of that gear. What that tells me is that I need more experience under my belt and new gear is'nt going to do me a damn bit of good until I have more experience.

[EdJames]

I don't really know what was 'wrong' with it as such.

I guess my question is just a bit vague, it's one of those generic "How can I upgrade my sound quality the most for least money?" kind of questions.

[notCardio]

and how did you 'break' it? Kinda curious about that one.

[EdJames]

Not really sure, just one day all of the quality bottomed out and it went all tinny. Sadly thats the most accuracy I can respond with!