Newbie here. Grade my Starter Set-Up before I buy. Advice welcomed too!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kodiak Attack
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Kodiak Attack

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Hi guys, my name is Richard.
I've been browsing around and I've seen many threads about starting up, but I want to get some feedback on my choices.
I'm going to be running on both a desktop and a notebook, both PC, both with Windows 7 64, both I5 I believe.

I have decided I'm going to start with:

Reaper
Tascam US-1800
Shure SM57 (possibly an Audix I5 mixed in for a slight tonal difference)
Shure Beta 52
2 Condenser mics
Monitors

I will maily be recording myself. I am a multi-instrumentalist and I want to record my jams while also getting a start on learning recording techniques, as I am enrolling in MTSU for AP in the fall.
I'm planning to record drums, guitar, bass and keys. I mainly play instrumental music so the need a nice vocal mic is not currently an issue.
Drums will be recorded with 4 mics as to keep it simple: Kick, snare, 2 overheads.
I plan to buy the interface new, and look for the 57, 52, and monitors used.

For what I'm wanting to do, which is recording each instrument separate and layering track by track, am I making wise purchases? I figure most of this stuff could still be serving me for years down the road, aside from an interface and computer upgrade.

I need a little help as far as selecting monitors, but it will really depend on my budget, which will be sub $200 for a used pair. Definitely want active, as I don't have room in the budget to buy an amp as well.
Also needed is some advice on a decent pair of condenser mics. I've noticed there aren't many that I would say would be a great investments for the future as far as budget goes. So are there some that I should be eyeballing in the used market? Let's say, for $150 for the pair.

Any advice pertaining to budget friendly but quality xlr and line cables, is welcomed as well.

Thanks guys. If I've forgotten something I'm sure I'll address it later.
 
The US-1800 is a good starter interface, I used the older 1641 for quite sometime and got good results.

For condenser mics...I'm assuming your looking for mics for overheads. You can get MXL 993s, 991s or 603s, all of those I've used and have got good results for over heads, I'm sure some other people will give you a more diverse list, but those are budget worthy and have worked fine for me. You can also use 57s for OVHs, nothing wrong with that either if your on a strict budget.

Don't forget about some room treatment, especially with recording drums. Can really improve your recordings.

You don't need monster cables for recording, I use some store bought lines and xlrs from a local music store, no named and they are fine. Every so often I have to re-solder them, but really isn't that big of a deal.
 
Really? I have a hard time trusting mxl mics, they just seem so cheap. But ive heard some good opinions on some of their models.

Im a begginer on a budget, so all i need is equipment that will serve for learning and have some decent results for a while. I know someday i will realize my mics are crap and will upgrade, but for now i need something that will be able to do the job... Something i am able to have encouraging results with. I know practice and experience are the most important part and i am currently practicing and actually improving, but i would rather learn to drive on a ferrari than on a vw beetle

Having said all of that, do you think the 603s will do the job for my learning and creative process?
 
You can do a lot worse that MXL, imo. I still use the 991 on occasion to record acoustic guitar. Using those really helped me develop micing techniques and placement when I was starting.

There's a guy on the forum that makes these. Has a 10 day trial period as well. For $50, that can't be beat. Moresound suggested those to me a when I first joined the forums and was looking for some budget overheads.

@wally - there's nothing wrong with saving and getting something of higher quality.
 
I was actually just checking out those Naiant's. They seem to be a whole lot in a little package for a great price. I've studied all the various MXL mics and the general consensus seems to be that they are a little brittle and produce a little too much high end, can anyone attest to this being true or false?
 
Also, I have a chance to grab a pair of Yamaha MSP5's for $175 locally. Should I check these out? A quick search showed that they typically sell for about $500 for a pair.
 
@capt hair... Yeah, thats my dilema right now. I dont know if it would be better to buy a couple of budget mics or save up to buy something better. What I hear is that you wont notice a big difference withina certain price range. I dont want to spend 500 dlrs on a mic right now, im a newbie at this. And from what I have read there is not a huge difference between mics under that price.

Any advice? Thanks a lot
 
Kodiak Attack said:
I was actually just checking out those Naiant's. They seem to be a whole lot in a little package for a great price. I've studied all the various MXL mics and the general consensus seems to be that they are a little brittle and produce a little too much high end, can anyone attest to this being true or false?
Click to expand...

Really depends on what your recording. For acoustic guitar, I use generally use a 3 mic setup, including a LDC of some sort at the sound hole, and two SDCs one on the neck and one near head level. Since the LDC is near the Sound hole and picks up a lot of low end, the brighter mxls help balance out the sound for me.

Can't comment on the Yamaha's, don't have any experience or knowledge what so ever.
 
wallystripes said:
@capt hair... Yeah, thats my dilema right now. I dont know if it would be better to buy a couple of budget mics or save up to buy something better. What I hear is that you wont notice a big difference withina certain price range. I dont want to spend 500 dlrs on a mic right now, im a newbie at this. And from what I have read there is not a huge difference between mics under that price.

Any advice? Thanks a lot
Click to expand...

There are quite a bit of differences in mics in that price range, around the $100 range, maybe not so much.

What are you looking to record/do?
 
Well I want them as an addition to my locker, I would eventually try them on everything! But I guess main uses will be overheads and acoustic guitar. I own an sm57, EV 350a and AKG C4000B if thats of any help :P. Im looking into a ribbon mic as well. Just want to have difference options right now in order to be able to develope my skills and have some decent results in the future
 
Kodiak Attack said:
I was actually just checking out those Naiant's. They seem to be a whole lot in a little package for a great price. I've studied all the various MXL mics and the general consensus seems to be that they are a little brittle and produce a little too much high end, can anyone attest to this being true or false?
Click to expand...

You really can't go wrong with a pair of Naiants - you'll own them forever. ;)
 
*EV 635a

Hey moresound, thanks for the request! Youre the coolest guy around lol

Will keep on searching and soon Ill get some new mics
 
Just want to say, I went ahead with the purchase of the Yamaha MSP5 monitors and I must say, I'm quite pleased with them. Though they could use a sub, they're really not bad, especially for the silly price I paid for them.
I also decided to by-pass the 1800 and instead purchased a Tascam US800 for $99 though B&H. Hopefully with the correct set-up, this thing will be able to do all I need it to do.
 
Update part two.
I just installed the necessary Tascam/Asio drivers on my Toshiba Satellite and fired up Reaper and with a little tinkering around, hooked up a mic, mic'd up my amp and recorded some guitar liffs (riffs while laughing hysterically) and all is well. Playback is normal through headphones. I'm awaiting cables for my monitors so no comment on that end yet. No problems to report from either the US800 or any driver issues. I'm using Windows 7 64x w/ Reaper 64x. I simply followed a few helpful hints on optimizing Win7 for audio recording, and then followed the step-by-step from the Tascam manual.
Easy as that.

I have had both printers and flash drives that were harder to set-up than this thing. I don't understand all the negativity. I was a little hesitant at first but I feel fully confident in this thing now.

The final test will come when I'm able to track drums, layer, and actually use my monitors.
Onward I go.
 
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