Tweaking budget studio for Metal album, Mic/Pre input wanted! (MP3's of material)
Ok! I've been trolling these forums for a little while now and decided to join up, there is just too much good discussion for me to sit out!
Anyway in late 2002 me and a friend started a band. In early 2003 (apirl/may) we recorded our demo. It was a VERY, VERY budget setup. We recorded it in a pole barn and in my apartment. In about the worst enviroments possible for recording. But I think for the effort and the money it came out decent (considering what we were working with I should say!)
The music is Predominately Doom-Metal, with a healthy amount of classical guitar and some clean male vocals for atmosphere. Its a fairly extreme mix of styles so its proven difficult to record
you can get the mp3's here, (WARNING!: This music isnt for everyone)
In your Absence
Nights Caress
I specifically want you to listen to at least the first couple minutes of each track, The beginings of those two tracks have the most varied passages in the shortest time, so you can get the picture of what we are trying to prepare for.
This entire demo was recorded on about $700 in eqiupment. $500 of that was the audio interface. We used:
Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Interface system:
Link Here
1x MCA SP1 Large dia Condensor mic (there about $50...)
2x Shure SM57's
We used my Kilipsch Promedia computer speakers for monitors. We spent about 2 months of 2-3, evening sessions a week to do the whole demo.
Considering we had about $175 in mics total I think we did OK for a demo, I'm most happy with the clean vocal production and the classical guitar, I think the sound on both exceeded what I thought a cheap $50 condensor could do, at least to my ears. I'd like your input on that! All the guitars were recorded straight through, there was no mic'ing of the cabs. and NO compression was used anywere. Cooledit doesnt do it in software and I never could figure out how to enable it on the Direct Pro. I believe with compression alone it would have sounded much better.
Ok now for the questions!
We are building a studio at my friends house, Its not going to be the greatest but we are looking to get the best sound we possibly can. we want to make that demo sound like worthless. We are hoping to have a much time as nessasary to play around and get the perfect sound. But money is still tight So I want your input on were it should go, specifically microphone wise.
I am keeping the Direct Pro 24/96 as the 'heart' of the system, I've already purchased a Shure KSM32, And some Event TR6 Monitors. Everything I've read about the KSM32 appealed to me. Mostly its versatility. I went to a large music store and tried out a a couple dozen large diaphram condensors and I felt the KSM was the most 'accurate' of the selection at a >$500 price point, But I will admit it didnt color the sound with additional 'warmth' or tone like some of the others. but it was very accurate to my ears.
One question I have is how do you think the KSM 32 will fare in this type of application, I intend on using it for as much the recordings I can get away with. All Vocals,classical guitars, guitar cabs, and hopefully some piano. Do you think this is the correct mic for the job? and are there any tips you could share about how to use it in those appications?
Now, I do not have an outboard pre-amp. The Direct Pro has "discrete" pres built in, but I'm sure they are quite weak. Is there anything else I can add in the chain to really get the most out of that KSM32? Or any other mics I have? What do you recomend on a budget?
Are there any other mics that you would consider a "must have" for my situation. have any of you recorded similar sounding projects? And if so what microphone/preamp experience can you share?
Whew! that was a long post, sorry for being so long winded, but this is important to me and I want to give you the most insight I can! Ask questions!
Ok! I've been trolling these forums for a little while now and decided to join up, there is just too much good discussion for me to sit out!
Anyway in late 2002 me and a friend started a band. In early 2003 (apirl/may) we recorded our demo. It was a VERY, VERY budget setup. We recorded it in a pole barn and in my apartment. In about the worst enviroments possible for recording. But I think for the effort and the money it came out decent (considering what we were working with I should say!)
The music is Predominately Doom-Metal, with a healthy amount of classical guitar and some clean male vocals for atmosphere. Its a fairly extreme mix of styles so its proven difficult to record
you can get the mp3's here, (WARNING!: This music isnt for everyone)
In your Absence
Nights Caress
I specifically want you to listen to at least the first couple minutes of each track, The beginings of those two tracks have the most varied passages in the shortest time, so you can get the picture of what we are trying to prepare for.
This entire demo was recorded on about $700 in eqiupment. $500 of that was the audio interface. We used:
Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Interface system:
Link Here
1x MCA SP1 Large dia Condensor mic (there about $50...)
2x Shure SM57's
We used my Kilipsch Promedia computer speakers for monitors. We spent about 2 months of 2-3, evening sessions a week to do the whole demo.
Considering we had about $175 in mics total I think we did OK for a demo, I'm most happy with the clean vocal production and the classical guitar, I think the sound on both exceeded what I thought a cheap $50 condensor could do, at least to my ears. I'd like your input on that! All the guitars were recorded straight through, there was no mic'ing of the cabs. and NO compression was used anywere. Cooledit doesnt do it in software and I never could figure out how to enable it on the Direct Pro. I believe with compression alone it would have sounded much better.
Ok now for the questions!
We are building a studio at my friends house, Its not going to be the greatest but we are looking to get the best sound we possibly can. we want to make that demo sound like worthless. We are hoping to have a much time as nessasary to play around and get the perfect sound. But money is still tight So I want your input on were it should go, specifically microphone wise.
I am keeping the Direct Pro 24/96 as the 'heart' of the system, I've already purchased a Shure KSM32, And some Event TR6 Monitors. Everything I've read about the KSM32 appealed to me. Mostly its versatility. I went to a large music store and tried out a a couple dozen large diaphram condensors and I felt the KSM was the most 'accurate' of the selection at a >$500 price point, But I will admit it didnt color the sound with additional 'warmth' or tone like some of the others. but it was very accurate to my ears.
One question I have is how do you think the KSM 32 will fare in this type of application, I intend on using it for as much the recordings I can get away with. All Vocals,classical guitars, guitar cabs, and hopefully some piano. Do you think this is the correct mic for the job? and are there any tips you could share about how to use it in those appications?
Now, I do not have an outboard pre-amp. The Direct Pro has "discrete" pres built in, but I'm sure they are quite weak. Is there anything else I can add in the chain to really get the most out of that KSM32? Or any other mics I have? What do you recomend on a budget?
Are there any other mics that you would consider a "must have" for my situation. have any of you recorded similar sounding projects? And if so what microphone/preamp experience can you share?
Whew! that was a long post, sorry for being so long winded, but this is important to me and I want to give you the most insight I can! Ask questions!
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