Advice and opinions needed on getting started.

[nokcah]

Hey all,

I've been researching for about a week now. I would appreciate any input before ordering since I'm on a tight budget. I'll be using a Sony VAIO VGN-FE690 Notebook. My goal is to achieve a decent sound when recording electric guitar and vocals - mainly to construct songs, put my ideals down, and to post demos tracks online.

Instruments / Hardware:
Ibanez RG321MH (Mahogany Oil) - Just a cheap basic guitar to get started with. I'll be playing mostly metal oriented music.

PODxt Live or PODxt - A question here. Does the Live really offer any great advantage in my application to justify the extra $100?

M-Audio FireWire Solo Mobile Audio Interface - Another question. Will a PreSonus Firebox offer any advantage in my application over the M-Audio?

Sony MDR-7506 Large Diaphragm Foldable Headphones
AT2020 Vocal Condenser Microphone - I really can not sing but would like something to put my ideals down and to practice with. Should I go with something cheaper? If so, what?

Software:
M-Audio Pro Tools M-Powered Recording Software
FL Studio

One last question - would a M-Audio DMP-3 serve any great purpose along with the gear above? Again, I appreciate any advice and welcome any comments.

 

[daav]

sounds like a pretty well rounded start up. A couple thoughts:

1. You are definately choosing some really basic stuff to get started, not much room for expansion here. There is nothing wrong with that, if you are looking to dabble in recording and use this as a practice and idea tool you are perfectly on target. If you are looking for something to make a demo with, you are stretching a little, if you want to put out a "pro" sounding album you will be severly challenged. You are probabaly looking at #1, and you will likely be well served with the gear you describe, and it will give you some good ideas for upgrading down the raod if you want to do more expensive recording.

2. Mic- If you aren't looking for stellar vocal recordings, get an SM57 instead. Here is why: a) dynamic mic no need for phatom power and it won't pick up the crappy sound in your room b) you can use it on guitar cabs c) it works fine for vocals, it just isn't great. d) you should be able to pick one up used for $75 or less and it probably will work just like when new.

The DMP3 would not be something you would need if the FireWire Solo Mobile Audio Interface can do preamp work for the mic.

Will a PreSonus Firebox offer any advantage in my application over the M-Audio?

Pretty sure this will give you more imputs, and probably has been converters, this would give you more ability to reach for 2 or 3 above, but is not necessary for 1.

good luck,
Daav

 

[nokcah]

Hey daav,

Thanks for the advice. My overall personal goal with this gear is to put all the ideals I have down for an album. Another concern is having fairly decent quality and a straight forward setup so I can focus more on the music instead of the technical aspects of recording. Once I complete enough material for an album I will either build a higher end desktop solution or go to a studio. I tried to go cheap and basic - just to get my feet wet.

nokcah

 

[daav]

sounds like youa re on the right track. Most people are really better off doing that, keep it simple for your home recording and use the studio when you want the pro sound, they have the expertise and tools to produce it.

You will see over and over on this forum, once you get into recording it is a huge slipperly slope where as soon as you get something sounding good, you see all this bad stuff and then you have to go out and get new gear for that and then it starts again.

For instance, in the mic forum there is an old thread with something like "what happened when you got your first condenser mic?" and the answers tend to be " i heard how bad my room sounded " as you get better recordings you start to hear the flaws in your playing, the fan running in the other room, the electromagnetic interference from your monitors,etc.

Daav