Home recording studio - For R&B & Hip-Hop vocals - on a $1500 budget

[drhook]

Hey guys,

I'm in need of your expert advice.

I have a some generic equipment (mic-cad gxl2200), and am looking to upgrade to something that will make my vocals sound professional. All I'll be using this for is vocals. I buy beats, so I won't be making any music with this equipment.

I sing r&b/neo-soul, hip-hop, and a little pop. I've attached two clips of me singing, so you can hear my style of vocals that I need the perfect mic for (within my budget).

I asked musiciansfriend, and they recommended these mics:
hxxp://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/MXL-V69-Mogami-Edition-Tube-Microphone?sku=271017

hxxp://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Audio-Technica-AT2020-Large-Diaphragm-Condenser-Microphone?sku=270620

But I need some experts' advice on this before committing.

Also, if you do recommend either of those mics, what preamp and interface would you recommend?

Also, I'm thinking about buying this to create my signature sound:
hxxp://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Antares-AVP-Vocal-Producer?sku=707156

Is it not necessary? If so, what should I buy with it, to hook it up to my computer? Has anyone had any experience with this product? Is it worth it?

I'm currently using Acid Pro 7 to record tracks with. Is there something more recommended? Or is this ok?

I need headphones too, what do you think about these:
hxxp://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/AKG-K44MKII-Headphones?sku=620620

And I also need some studio monitors/speakers. Are there any recommendations that will fit with everything in my budget? ($1500 total)

Am looking at these for monitors, from the great reviews:
hxxp://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/KRK-Rokit-Powered-5-Generation-2-Powered-Studio-Monitor-Each?sku=482825

I really appreciate any help and advice.

 

[wheelema]

Hey guys,

I'm in need of your expert advice.

The greater expertise someone has in this business the less willing they are to provide specific recommendations because they know well all the variables that enter into the picture. What you can take away from this is the realization that anyone who provides hard specific advice most likely isn't an 'expert'. This applies to me.

I have a some generic equipment (mic-cad gxl2200), and am looking to upgrade to something that will make my vocals sound professional. All I'll be using this for is vocals. I buy beats, so I won't be making any music with this equipment.

I sing r&b/neo-soul, hip-hop, and a little pop. I've attached two clips of me singing, so you can hear my style of vocals that I need the perfect mic for (within my budget).

I asked musiciansfriend, and they recommended these mics:
hxxp://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/MXL-V69-Mogami-Edition-Tube-Microphone?sku=271017

hxxp://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Audio-Technica-AT2020-Large-Diaphragm-Condenser-Microphone?sku=270620

But I need some experts' advice on this before committing.

If you're serious about your music and want to save money find a studio with a wide selection of microphones in your price range and buy an hour of studio time to demo them, or find a really understanding brick-and-mortar gear pimp. There's just no way to give you a recommendation over the phone or internet. But having said that both mics that MF suggested have a solid following.

Personally I'd go with the MXL V67G since if you don't care for it (and your budget will allow) OktavaMod can upgrade it to something pretty awesome. I may be popping in the very near future for a Apex/OktavaMod 460 tube large condenser. Must... resist...

Also, if you do recommend either of those mics, what preamp and interface would you recommend?

If I had the bucks I'd go with a Sound Devices USBPre 2. Stepping down from that look at the new Avid MBox 3 line.

Also, I'm thinking about buying this to create my signature sound:
hxxp://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Antares-AVP-Vocal-Producer?sku=707156

Is it not necessary? If so, what should I buy with it, to hook it up to my computer? Has anyone had any experience with this product? Is it worth it?

I have no experience with the product but I'd hold off if I were you.

I'm currently using Acid Pro 7 to record tracks with. Is there something more recommended? Or is this ok?

I use Abelton Live and love it, but I'm sure there's nothing wrong with Acid. It's more important that you learn the tool you have well then waste time looking for the perfect tool.

I need headphones too, what do you think about these:
hxxp://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/AKG-K44MKII-Headphones?sku=620620

Just get a set of MoreMe for $30. More robust, less money.

And I also need some studio monitors/speakers. Are there any recommendations that will fit with everything in my budget? ($1500 total)

Am looking at these for monitors, from the great reviews:
hxxp://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/KRK-Rokit-Powered-5-Generation-2-Powered-Studio-Monitor-Each?sku=482825

Let me tell you something about reviews...

I wanted to buy a bike for my son so I checked out bike reviews at Wal-Mart and purchased one based on what I had read. It was the biggest piece of crap I'd ever wasted money one. So I went and posted my negative review of the POS on Wal-Mart's web site. Guess what! There was a very good reason that all of the reviews were positive.

You need to demo monitors and most gear pimps are set up for this. If you can, get over to the Guitar Center in Hollywood.

Luck.

 

[drhook]

at2020

Thanks, I think I'm going to go with the AT2020, heard too many great things about it for R&B and hip-hop vocals.

Now, I need a mic preamp for it, and an interface. Still not sure what the interface is for.. lol But I've heard I need one. Any advice on a mic preamp and interface for the AT2020?

I forgot to mention that I DO have a mic mate already, and I just found out that it's a preamp. Will that do ok with the at2020? Or would you guys suggest something better?
hxxp://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/MXL-USB-Mic-Mate-Classic-Interface-with-Phantom-Power?sku=270707

Would you guys recommend this, over using acid pro 7?
hxxp://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Tascam-DP02-Digital-Portastudio?sku=241788
-OR- This:
hxxp://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Zoom-R24-Multitrack-RecorderInterfaceControllerSampler?sku=H70259
Thanks guys,
Nicky

 

[wheelema]

I don't want to come across as a snob but you're buying crap. This is not to say that you may not cut a Grammy winning recording from it, just that the odds are against it. The best advice I can give is to purchase a [url=https://en.audiofanzine.com/pocket-recorder-multitrack/zoom/H4/user_reviews/]Zoom H4n[/URL] for $300. This is a four track recorder with two excellent integrated mics and you can plug two external mics (or line level TRS plugs) into the bottom of it, the pres are considered very good, and you can record anywhere. It may not look like much but it's very highly regarded and used extensively by audio professionals in the industry.

The H4n offers a choice of 50 studio-quality DSP effects including compressor, chorus, delay, and reverb. These onboard studio effects, along with its tuner and metronome make the H4n very musician friendly.
The H4n’s phrase trainer capability makes learning new songs easy with an adjustable playback feature that changes the speed from 50 to 150 percent, while maintaining pitch. Or use its center cancel feature to suppress audio that is recorded with center imaging. And because the H4n lets you alter pitch without changing playback speed, you can choose source material, suppress the center audio and use it as a backing track while recording a vocal or guitar track.

The H4n also functions as a USB audio interface, letting you record directly to either a Mac or PC. Use your favorite recording software or the bundled Cubase LE 4 from Steinberg, so you can start to produce and edit your recording right out of the box.

Choose up to 24-bit/96-kHz linear PCM WAV files for audio resolution that surpasses DVD quality. Or, when maximum recording time with smaller file sizes is desired, select a variety of MP3 formats from 320 kbps down to 48 kpbs to produce smaller files suitable for web or e-mail distribution.

The H4n uses compact SD or high-capacity SDHC memory cards of up to 32GB for over 15 hours of recording time at 24-bit/96kHz

 

[drhook]

preamp

Hey, where did the post go, about the interface. About analog in digital out or something. I can't find it now.

I think it was posted by you wheelma.

So, I need a mic preamp, I hook my mic in it, and then run it out to my interface, then I run that into my computer?

Does the interface have to be digital out? Does the preamp have to be digital out? Or will this preamp do? hxxp://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/ART-Tube-MP-Studio-Mic-Preamp?sku=180581

I actually have a mic already, and I'd like to buy a 2 channel preamp, so I can record with both of them at once, and then mix the two to get the perfect sound.

Thanks for any help.

 

[wheelema]

Hey, where did the post go, about the interface. About analog in digital out or something. I can't find it now.

I think it was posted by you wheelma.

So, I need a mic preamp, I hook my mic in it, and then run it out to my interface, then I run that into my computer?

Does the interface have to be digital out? Does the preamp have to be digital out? Or will this preamp do? hxxp://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/ART-Tube-MP-Studio-Mic-Preamp?sku=180581

I actually have a mic already, and I'd like to buy a 2 channel preamp, so I can record with both of them at once, and then mix the two to get the perfect sound.

Thanks for any help.

I tried to find this info on tweakheadz.com without any luck so I'll give it to you here. This is not intended to be a end all or be all of the recording environment.

Every thing you do in a recording environment is part of a signal chain.

A microphone produces a very weak signal. Every mic... regardless of whether it's a USB mic or a Telefunken... requires a preamplifier to kick the signal up to what is known as 'line level'. That preamp may be part of the mic (USB mic), a separate standalone component, or part of a larger piece of gear like a mixer but it's there somewhere.

To move the signal from what is known as the 'analog domain' to the 'digital domain' requires a analog-to-digital converter. These also can be part of the mic (USB mic), standalone component, or part of a larger piece of gear like a mixer.

Once you are done manipulating your signal in your computer you need a digital-to-analog converter. This component is never part of a USB mic, but may be a standalone yada yada or part of a larger yada yada.

All signals at this point are line level and can be passed along for further processing or passed to a amplifier and listened to on a speaker.

Because manufacturers are devising ever more creative ways to configure components (such as a USB 'mic' which is a mic, preamp, and A/D converter rolled into one) it can be very confusing to figure out just what in the heck you're buying. What you call an 'interface' I call an A/D, A/D/A, or D/A converter and... yes... it has to have a digital out and that digital out has to have a corresponding connection on the computer... a 'Firewire' A/D/A will do you little good if all you have on your PC is USB ports. A preamp would normally not have a digital out but remember the caveat about creative manufacturers.

Would the ART preamp work? Certainly. It is only a preamp and will require a A/D converter to get the signal into the PC.

Hope you get that perfect sound.