Cheap cheap cheap!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Creep
  • Start date Start date
Creep said:
I'm not sure if this helps, or if this is regarded as a good recording sound, but this is the kind of sound I would be happy with:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=j2Wqq10wFss
.
Click to expand...

You won't get that sound with a mic and a laptop. The idea above with a cheap 4-track cassette and a couple of dynamic mics @ $25 each is your best bet for what you want to do. Unless you find some way of tempering that sound, the mic>laptop will just be masses of distortion. The cassette recorder with 2 mics will be one step up from that, but mic placement will be crucial.
 
Thank you all for your replies! You've been more than helpful! =)

Is it possible to get songs from tape onto computers in mp3 format?
 
I know you said cheap but it sounds like you want a quick and easy sketchbook, right? Get a used Zoom H2, then you don't have to *U*< around with any inputs out outputs or soundcards or learning curve, then you can bump over to your PC using a USB cable. usually $100 or so on the 'bay...

You can record in lossless CD quality and make the mp3 on your computer. The H2 will record in mp3 but it sounds like DOO DOO compared to doing the transcoding on your PC.
 
No worries, thanks!

The ZOOM H2 looks great, are you sure they're $100 off eBay? I looked and they all seemed to be around $180. And do you think that H2 would be alright for recording different instruments?
 
mrface2112 said:
i'd take the money and get someone who's already got the gear to come out and record you.

i could do a FAR better job for $100 than you could ever do on your own with an SM58 and a laptop. i'm sure there's someone local who could as well. it's easy.....mic everything up into a decent sized mixer and dump it to 2-track for a "live" recording (like a gig). no punchins, no fixes, etc.....and you'd end up with a decent sounding demo.
Click to expand...

Listen to mrface on this one.Practice like no tomorrow and have the song READY to record and have one of the countless thousands who already have some equipment and have already made the mistakes you will make come over and record you.

Now if what you want to learn is the PROCESS then that may be a different story. But if you want a fair demo then this is the best bang for the buck. Honest.;)
 
What would your opinion be if I bought 2 or 3 ES57's and placed one as an overhead on the drums, one on the kick, one to pick up hi-hat and snare? Would this still sound terrible going straight to a laptop? And if it would, what can I do/buy to make the sound better when using 3 ES57's?

Getting a few mic's is probably what I'm going to go for, but what else do I need? Is it worth getting a cheap mixer?

I'm still screwing around with ideas at the moment. And I'm clueless with this kind of stuff. Thanks for all your help!

PS: I know ES57's are supposedly similair to the SM57, are there any others that are like these? I live in Australia and there seems to be almost no mic's on eBay for me.
 
Creep said:
What would your opinion be if I bought 2 or 3 ES57's and placed one as an overhead on the drums, one on the kick, one to pick up hi-hat and snare? Would this still sound terrible going straight to a laptop? And if it would, what can I do/buy to make the sound better when using 3 ES57's?
Click to expand...

Find some books or online sources and read up on microphone placement technique. How you USE microphones is MUCH more important than what microphones you buy!

For drums, look up the recorderman technique, or the Glyn Johns technique. If you don't know what you're doing otherwise, those techniques will give you a very good sound with just 2-4 microphones, and they work well in suboptimal drum rooms (like most of us have).

Keep in mind, though, that they depend on two things... first, your drummer doesn't suck, and second, that your drums don't suck! Fresh heads and tune them properly, listen CLOSELY to the kit and get any squeaks and rattles under control, etc. Then again, $20,000 worth of mics and preamps won't save you from a bad drummer.
 
scratchpad

Hi,

My Iriver H320 runs RockBox and records stereo at CD quality with line in. It only records mono with the internal mic. Mine cost $105 on ebay but they are cheaper now.

Here's a link to Mono Monster recorded yesterday with the internal mic.

http://archive.org/details/mono_monster

It is also a usb drive so a usb cable moves .wav files to my PC for post.

I prefer using the line in from my dmp2. This makes my 2 for $30 omni dynamics really shine.

Thanks,

Hairy Larry
 
Hi everyone,

I have the same problems, no money left :(
I have EM-U 0404 PCI card, Behringer Xenyx 502 mixer and Shure C607 mic. Mic it's the worth part of my recording set. It not very bad to recording guitar, but vocal sounds very bad... I know Shure SM57 and SM58 are good but maybe it's possible to buy cheaper nice quality mic?
 
kludge said:
Find some books or online sources and read up on microphone placement technique. How you USE microphones is MUCH more important than what microphones you buy!

For drums, look up the recorderman technique, or the Glyn Johns technique. If you don't know what you're doing otherwise, those techniques will give you a very good sound with just 2-4 microphones, and they work well in suboptimal drum rooms (like most of us have).
Click to expand...

Thanks for that! Very helpful. :)

I'm not sure as to what to do right now, but here's the question I'm after at the moment: Is it worth me buying 2 or 3 mic's if I don't have a preamp/mixer? Or will the sound be similiar to a dodgy internal laptop mic because of going straight into the line in (eg: distortion, crackling etc.)

Thank you everyone for your continued help in this learning stage of mine. :)
 
Creep said:
Yep someone has told me about those, do you know how much they cost or any brands i should go with? Or places to get them?
Click to expand...

MXL Desktop Recording Kit.
has built in phantom power that runs off a 9 volt battery.
you can either plug into a mixer or use the adapter cord to record directly into your computers sound card line in which is more versatle than a USB Mic.
click on pic
 
tomekgmz said:
Hi everyone,

I have the same problems, no money left :(
I have EM-U 0404 PCI card, Behringer Xenyx 502 mixer and Shure C607 mic. Mic it's the worth part of my recording set. It not very bad to recording guitar, but vocal sounds very bad... I know Shure SM57 and SM58 are good but maybe it's possible to buy cheaper nice quality mic?
Click to expand...
Absolutley!
I bought some of these and they are every but as good as my Shure SM 57's
they also make ES 58's which are the SM 58 equivelant.
Excellent Mics
:cool:
 
Thank you all for the replies, especially the last two by roguetitan! It's all much appreciated! :)

I'm slowly gathering information and deciding what I want to buy...

Kind regards,

Creep
 
You know. Back in the day we would just stick a ghetto blaster ($5 at a yard sale) in a good place in the room and wail away. About as easy as it gets. Got some pretty good recordings too. They usually have built in stereo mics. They record onto cassette so you'd have to transfer to mp3 somehow.
This way you can make a shitload of recordings and pick the best ones.
 
Talldog said:
You know. Back in the day we would just stick a ghetto blaster ($5 at a yard sale) in a good place in the room and wail away. About as easy as it gets. Got some pretty good recordings too. They usually have built in stereo mics. They record onto cassette so you'd have to transfer to mp3 somehow.
This way you can make a shitload of recordings and pick the best ones.
Click to expand...

HA HA, you are revealing your age LOL
oldman.gif
werd, I remember the day we used to do that...True Garage band style
icon_rock.gif

:cool:
 
Creep said:
Thank you all for the replies, especially the last two by roguetitan! It's all much appreciated! :)

I'm slowly gathering information and deciding what I want to buy...

Kind regards,

Creep
Click to expand...

Glad I could help:D
 
If I was to place one mic in the centre of the kit (below the cymbals) what kind of sound would I be getting? Does anyone have a sample?

No pressure.

PS: I know it will sound bad, but you don't know my standards haha. If anyone can make me a sample it would be much appreciated but once again, no pressure.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top