Cheapest Overall setup- semi emergency

[BlanKinK*6]

OK, my birthday (feb 22) is comin up and my band (BlanKinK, we will prolly start postin songs on the internet in the middle of march) has finished the writing of our 1st album. My parents say that if my band can keep the total cost of a recording/mixing setup under 300 they will buy it for me. When i say a setup, i mean everything a recorder, a mixer (i don't care if its a machine a a computermixer) and a microphone. All we really want out of a mixer is somthin that can improive sound wuality. effcts and stuff don't matter much AT ALL. basically we wanna give it that fuller, clearer sound you hear on cds as opposed to live.

our music is similar to chevelle's, taproot's, and sorta disturbed. Basically we re new metal band. if anyone could give me some suggestions as to what to buy, i would be SO thankful. oh, and we need sumthin that cn record 2 guitars, bass, drums, and vocals. not sure if that matters or not but...

alright thanks a TON

by the way--i am tired so sorry if i repeated the same thing over and over again in different ways. plus i am new to this site/reording, i am not sure where to post what, so sorry if this in the wrong area

 

[darnold]

first of all. what do you have to work with already? any mics? what you have with your computer?

if you have any thing already it will be alot easier to decide what you need and what you can get for your money. So far the only thing i can recommend is finding a cheap 4 track and buying a couple of SM57s.

Also, do you have access to anything? someone who might let you borrow some stuff for a session or two?

danny

 

[BlanKinK*6]

my friend has a mic he could prolly let me borrow, but other that n that, we are really starting from scratch. i would like to avoid using the PC, although i realize that is probably the best way. the thing is, my dad isn't exactly big on music, so if i hafta make him get me a soundcard, that'll decrease my chances of getting anything. i think right now i have a voodoo soudblaster thing ionno. i'll know by tomorrow, i can ask my parents....life would be alot easier if i didn't hafta depend on my parents so damn much

basically it would be nice to keep it simple, with as few things to bouy as possible. but that itsn't a big factor at all, i am definitely willing to piss off my parents a bit to get this stuff.

 

[mosier]

where in NJ are you? I'd be willing to help you guys out

 

[littledog]

I lived in NJ for 13 years, and i never heard the word "prolly". Can someone help me with the etymology? Is it internet slang, like "LMAO"? Or is it a regionalism from some specific part of the United States or other English speaking country? Sort of sounds like something from "A Clockwork Orange".

 

[knightfly]

Nah, it's PROBABLY more like something from "One flew over the parrot's nest" - like, "Prolly want a cracker?"

 

[James HE]

I'm with darnold on this one, get a four track. A new Tascam 424mkIII is about $250. If you can find one used, you can have some money left over for mics.

You have a vocalist in the group. Do you not have any PA equipment? what does the singer sing through when you practice? where do you practice? Have you made any recordings of the band at all? Like with a boom box or something?

You not going to get a "recording/mixing" setup for under $300. You can get your feet wet though. A casette 4-track is the absolute best learning tool, IMO. I don't see how you could go wrong with that. Get the folks to get you a 4-track for your birthday. You and your band should be able to scrape enough together to get a few mics and cables to hook up to it. Mixdown into that computer with the soundblaster. Have a good time.

 

[BlanKinK*6]

lol, little dog, keep into account i am a teenager, we do nothing right

i am right near vorhees and blackwood and berlin in NJ....i live like literally about 20 feet away from pine hill, if you'veever heard of it...all th towns bordering mine are so dam small, no one's ever heard of any of them

 

[littledog]

So you're saying it's a teen-age slang term?

Haven't heard it in day to day speech from any age/ethnic/social group so far. Maybe I'm not hanging around the right kids.

I lived in Summit, New Providence, and Princeton. I used to go to a boy scout camp near Voorhees.

 

[volltreffer]

Hey I knew a word some of you don't that's great for me...

I dunno too much about the prices in the US, but don't you think you might be getting something like a used Roland 880, a VF08 or something? Then one of the guys in your band buys one mic (like a sm57) for vocals and you rent the drum mics...

Just a thought. I hated every single second working with my cassette 4-track...

aXel

 

[TexRoadkill]

Nah, it's PROBABLY more like something from "One flew over the parrot's nest" - like, "Prolly want a cracker?"

It's part of the whole internet instant message speak. The extra couple of letters realy wears out most teen typists.

 

[Jedman]

I'm new at this, but I'd suggest looking at a SHS PDM mic. They're basically rip-offs of the Shure BETA 57 and 58 models - very nice, and the list price is relatively high, but you can get them for about $60 if you go somewhere like Music Go Round (a used music hardware place), or I just bought some used off Ebay for about $35 a piece.
Better than the SM line, I think... just an option.
Don't be a fraid to use your computer - it could be a cheap, multi track recording device for you if you have Cakewalk or something - but might not be that cheap if you have to buy the software!

Jed

 

[malcolm123]

So you're saying it's a teen-age slang term?

Haven't heard it in day to day speech from any age/ethnic/social group so far. Maybe I'm not hanging around the right kids.

I lived in Summit, New Providence, and Princeton. I used to go to a boy scout camp near Voorhees.

LOL

come Down South.... Thats all you will hear !!! Unless it's in a professional workplace.

 

[camn]

prolly = probably

Hey.. these guys wont say it.. but I will.

You cant get a decent setup for $300. Not at all. Unless you use the computer.

And thats what you should do. DO NOT get a 4-track. DO NOT get anthing with Tape. Now.. given you USE the computer.. and IF it is a decent comp...

DO THIS:

Get this:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=030218225240066235005052187967/search/g=rec?q=midiman+duo
$259.00
(note it is USB.. thus pops should be COOL)

Two of these:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7...05052187967/search/g=rec/detail/base_id/41001
$5.98

this:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7...7967/search/g=rec/s=mics/detail/base_id/85679
$24.99

two of these:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7.../search/g=rec/s=specials/detail/base_id/39313
$7.98

and a DEMO of N-tracks or CEP until you can get $35 together for N-tracks..

your total:
$297.95

You can then make PRO recordings!
Also, you have an INCREDIBLE amount of upgradeability.. starting with Software.. then Mics, a new Comp... You could EASILY still be using this gear in 5 years.

xoxo



.
xoxo

 

[knightfly]

Hey Camn, that was "prolly" the best advice anyone could have uttered - listen to the man six, that setup would give you more bang for the buck than anything else short of a winner Powerball ticket... Steve

 

[ignastyo]

in addition to the stuff camn recommended, you might also want to download pro tools free, i'm using it right now to record my band and it works great, and as you may have guessed, it's free

 

[darnold]

I agree with camn.

Although you better have a decent computer and know how to run it. And be careful not to lose data on the harddrive that will tick your parents off .

Other than that, camn knows his bargain stuff.

danny

 

[James HE]

I do like camn's suggestions. The question sort of comes down to weather or not you have access to the computer. Unless pops is going to let you cart the computer around, or you can record in the same room or at least near enough the computer to pull it off logistically.

Again don't count out a casette 4 track, or maybe even (shudder) one of those cheap (crap) digital ones like
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7...05052187967/search/g=rec/detail/base_id/84791

It's something that you can take to gigs. record anywhere. my tascam is 10 years old and i still use it about every week. It's a quick way to get ideas down. I sometimes still use the mixer section for a headphone mix or a talkback mic, stuff like that. Record stuff. get better. record stuff. get better. record stuff. get better.

 

[Osbick Bird]

I'm with darnold on this one, get a four track. A new Tascam 424mkIII is about $250. If you can find one used, you can have some money left over for mics.

Can you point me to where you've seen a new 424mkIII for $250? I might get one at that price.

Thanks,

OB

 

[Gidge]

the mkiii usually goes for $329...its the mkii that goes for $250.....