Budget Mic/Pre-Amp setup

[SoTheWind]

I'm trying to set up a budget recording layout to record my self (and eventually my band, but for now just me). I'm trying to find a good microphone(s) to pick up an acoustic guitar, djembe, and/or electric guitar, a decent pre-amp to send it through, and a way to make the whole thing work for less 400 bucks. It's all going into my computer via the soundCard and I"ve already got the software I need, so this is the only thing I need to invest in FOR RIGHT NOW...just a set up to get me started recording.

Thanks,
Neil Jones
So the Wind Won't Blow It All Away

 

[Rthodox]

Studio Projects

For $400 you should go for the B1 (microphone) and VTP-1 (preamp) from Studio Projects. That would cost you about $350, but neither of those products hit the market yet, so you should wait a couple of months.

 

[Gidge]

what soundcard do you have...that may be a factor.......

Marshall MXLv67G-$150
Art Tube MP $90

 

[SoTheWind]

Souund Card Setup

On the subject of SoundCards....It's going into a Soundblaster live Value (w/o the front-end livedrive). And the only placee that I've seen a Tube MP for $90 is ebay (maybe the latest musician's friend? not sure about that...)

 

[Gidge]

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7...66381884/search/g=guitar/detail/base_id/35421

 

[cominginsecond]

Please do not waste your money on a Soundblaster sound card for recording. For around the same money you can get an MAudio Audiophile. It's an amazing card, and it can be had for $150-$160 if you look around or buy one used. Buying a Soundblaster live for recording was the worst purchase of my life.

 

[tdukex]

He already has a Soundblaster, so that is a sunk cost.

If I were buying I'd save a little extra $$ and buy the C1 for $229 instead of the B1. The C1 has already established itself as a great low-budget mic. The V-67 ($149), as Gidge suggested, would be a good substitute mic choice.

Then I'd pair it with the new VT-1 pre for $199 (anticipated). That's right, I'd buy it without hearing it. My money says it will set a new standard for low budget preamps. I'd also consider the Meek VC3Q at $199.

Total expenditure: $348 - $428.

And yes, at some point I'd upgrade my audio card card to an Delta Audiophile or Echo Mia.

 

[squint]

I've gotta upgrade my sound card... I'm using a Hercules Game Theater XP which is meant for games and not recording. I've got Cubase VST/32 and I'm using primarily VST instruments right now (I've got my Ensoniq EPS 16+ hooked up to my soundcard with a joystick midi cable).. my mic is a Shure SM58 and I'm just plugging in the mic directly to the soundcard and recording it in Cubase and then running some effects over it. I don't like the sound of my vocals.

So I'll have about $500 to spend, and I want to get all I need in order to record good sounding vocals, and hopefully get a cheap acoustic guitar too.

I was thinking about getting the $499 C-Port thing but I don't think I need all those analog ports. I was thinking about the Maudio Audiophile, but can you hook a mic up to that? I didn't see any analog ports. Also, somebody please tell me what the use of SPIDF ports are (or whatever they're called).

For the mic, I was thinking about getting the MXL V67M for $149 from Marsmusic.com. Would that be a good buy or would you recommend something else? If it helps, my voice is kinda loud and shrill ala Jimmy Gnecco from Ours or Brandon Boyd from Incubus. Also, what would be a good mic preamp to get for that kind of voice?

Please help me people - I need to get this stuff in about a week and I'm so scared I'm gonna make the wrong purchase. I'd like to make some friends on here that I can add to my AIM list (my nickname is "cpu mang" - feel free to add me) so I can talk with them about this stuff.

Matt

 

[SoTheWind]

Another spending decision

Gidge,
I was pricing musician's friend for the Tube MP (you were right about the $90 price tag), and I saw the dbx mini-pre preamp for ten dollars more. Do you, or the other fearless readers of the thread, have a recommendation...this over the MP, the MP over this, some other Mic preamp in the $110 and below price range?

Thanks, all
Neil Jones
So the Wind Won't Blow It All Away

 

[cominginsecond]

Squint-

How many tracks do you need to record at a time? If you'll never need to record more than two, this is my recommendation as far as a recording setup for around $500:

(1) Maudio Audiophile (I use this card and it sounds great. I guess my only other experience is with a SoundBlaster Live, tho, so I haven't compared it to anything high end.)
(2) Presonus BlueTube Two Channel Preamp (I've used it, and it was much, much better than the preamps in my Fostex 450 mixer. Maybe there is a dual channel preamp for around that price that others around here can recommend as well.)
(3) Really Nice Compressor (I've heard nothing but good things about it, and if you're like most of us here, there are a lot of situations where you're going to want to compress the signal on its way into the computer.)
(4) N-Track recording software (I can personally vouch for this program, and state that it's easy to use, sounds great, and stable. At least in my experience. Plus it's only $59 for the 24-bit version.)

You can get the Audiophile for around $160 new, the Blue Tube for around $125 from Ebay (or $139 from www. musiciansadvocate.com), the RNC for around $175, and N-Track for $59. That's around $500, and instead of just getting a soundcard with a lot of channels you won't use, you'll be getting the soundcard, a decent preamp, great recording software, and an excellent compressor.

 

[squint]

Thanks for your reply man... I have Cubase VST/32... I tried n-track before that.. I can't see any reason why I'd want to go back... we'll see though

Somebody recommended the Audiophile 2496 and Maudio Audio Buddy so I think that's probably the route I'm gonna go.

 

[cominginsecond]

I haven't used the audio buddy, but from what I've heard, I bet the Blue Tube is preferable, and for probably only a few dollars more. Also, I didn't realize you had Cubase. I tried Cubase, and I found it kind of hard to get started. I'm not much of a computer recording guy, though. I still do the bulk of my recording on a Tascam 38 half-inch reel-to-reel.

I have to second Gidge's MXL V67 recommendation. I have a V67 and am so happy with it. Once again, I guess I've never used anything Neumann or BLUE or anything, but I never thought I'd be able to get the results I've gotten with my V67. Also, I recently got a Focusrite Penta preamp, and my recordings have never sounded better. I know that's kind of off-topic, but I just thought I'd throw that in there.

 

[SoTheWind]

How about Nady microphones

I know that they're not super-pro (I've seen some equipment of theirs rest on the lower end of the price scales), and that the only reviews I've seen have been on recording vocals, but does anyone have opinions on the NADY SCM series of mics? The SCM900 is onsale at musician's friend for 69.99, which made me a little worried, but the list is $299....for my needs this seems to be an Ideal price....has anyone used this mic for vocals/acoustic guitar applications? maybe even so far as recording a Djembe?

 

[johndavidstuts]

The Art Hot Pak is really inexpensive. It comes with the Tube MP, an Apex 430 condenser and the shockmount, windscreen etc. I'm not sure of the quality of the Apex Mic but maybe some folks around here have some opinions.