J
johnf
New member
what are some basic things i can do to a room, for a couple hundred dollars?
D
danny.guitar
Guest
For about $200 you can improve your room by a lot. I'd start at the low end with some 4" thick OC 703 bass traps in the corners of your room.
Then I'd put several 2" absorbers on the walls around the mix position (left/right wall and ceiling).
Try asking in the Studio Building & Display Forum, all of the room acoustics experts hang out there...
pandamonk
Well-known member
You can get decent acoustics with probably $100. In the UK I can get 10 4'x2'x2" batts of rigid fiberglass for £27($50), then build some frames and wrap it all in fabric.
This could give you 2 2'x4'x4" bass traps, 2 2'x2'x2" first reflection panels, and 5 4'x2'x2" panels, 1 for ceiling and 4 for back wall. This is really decent for mixing, and can be moved around for tracking. You could instead make 4 bass traps and just treat the first reflections, side and ceiling.
Read this to understand what I'm on about, and check out the studio building forum!!
If you just wanna record one track at a time, you could get a behringer xenyx 502, and just connect the tape-out to line-in of your sound-card. For two channels you could get the behringer xenyx 802, and connect the same way, panning one channel left, and the other right. This will allow you to record, although it could be much better.
I'd say, experience will probably be your biggest let down, so maybe start of with this, and build to something better. Otherwise, there are many better options open to you, if you just wanna jump in the deep end.
rayc
retroreprobate
UNTIL YOU DO ANYTHING ELSE don't PLUG INTO THE MIC IN OF THE SOUNDCARD - IF YOU'RE GOING TO RECORD SKETCHES ETC UNTIL YOU SPEND SOME MONEY USE THE LINE IN.
pandamonk
Well-known member
He will have to use the mic in for now, 'cause the line-in is for line level signals, which the mic isn't. The mic-in has a (shitty)preamp, which is needed.
Kevin Deschwazi
Well-known member
How's he going to get a useable signal from the mic going to the line in?
He's not using any sort of external preamp.
Kevin Deschwazi
Well-known member
rayc
retroreprobate
Sorry - just saw mic in & reacted.
You're right about the lack of pre amp - I hadn't quite read that carefully - still the mic in is, essentially, a disaster zone for sound.
I prostrate myself before thy well readness.
You're right about the lack of pre amp - I hadn't quite read that carefully - still the mic in is, essentially, a disaster zone for sound.
I prostrate myself before thy well readness.
Kevin Deschwazi
Well-known member
I can't say I've ever done it actually. I'll have to try it some day just for shits and giggles.
J
johnf
New member
What's the difference between "phantom power" and just a preamp? Would an interface like the lexicon lambda usb interface take care of both my interface and my preamp needs (I know people reccomended firewire, but then I need a computer upgrade, too)?
I was thinking I might buy one of those, then do a little work on the acoustic environment with bass traps, unless anyone thinks that'd be a bad idea?
Thanks again for all of your help, everybody. I've already learnt a LOT being on this board the last few days.
I was thinking I might buy one of those, then do a little work on the acoustic environment with bass traps, unless anyone thinks that'd be a bad idea?
Thanks again for all of your help, everybody. I've already learnt a LOT being on this board the last few days.
D
danny.guitar
Guest
All a preamp is, is a box that you plug the mic into. It takes the (very weak) mic signal and amplifies it enough to be recorded.
Phantom power (48 volts) is required to use most condenser microphones. So it is important that you get a preamp with full 48v phantom power. Most dynamic microphones (SM57 for example) don't require phantom power.
If I remember correctly, you said just guitar/vocals. USB should be fine for that (no more than 2 tracks at a time). If you have the option of going firewire though, I would recommend that. You hear about a lot of people with latency issues that are using USB.
Most computers these days come with firewire ports in the back. If you don't have any, you can buy a good firewire card for real cheap ($10-$15?) on www.newegg.com. Snap the card into your computer's PCI slot and then hook the interface into the card.
You can buy the interface first if you like, and then maybe even a decent microphone. But after that I would definitely treat your room, at least a small area for recording. Room treatment should be a top priority because it will make the biggest difference once you have a decent interface and microphone.
Kevin Deschwazi
Well-known member
Some mics (condensor mics) need a bit of voltage (usually around 48v) to function. So a preamp with phantom power sends this voltage up the cable to the mic. It's usually switchable because it can (in fairly rare circumstances) damage some types of mic. If you're recording acoustic guitar I would highly recommend a condensor mic.
PCI firewire cards are in fact very cheap these days but as someone else already said if you're only recording one or two tracks at a time then USB should be fine.
I can't vouch for the Lexicon unit because I haven't used it but it will do what you want it to (ie. conversion and mic pres) and I'd bet it's decent quality, at least on a par with similar units in the same price bracket.
I think I've gone on about acoustic treatment enough but there's nothing wrong with getting a half decent recording set up sorted before you do all that stuff.
PCI firewire cards are in fact very cheap these days but as someone else already said if you're only recording one or two tracks at a time then USB should be fine.
I can't vouch for the Lexicon unit because I haven't used it but it will do what you want it to (ie. conversion and mic pres) and I'd bet it's decent quality, at least on a par with similar units in the same price bracket.
I think I've gone on about acoustic treatment enough but there's nothing wrong with getting a half decent recording set up sorted before you do all that stuff.
pandamonk
Well-known member
pandamonk
Well-known member
USB would be fine, you could instead get PCI(probably better than firewire, although it's not futureproof like firewire). If you just need 2 tracks USB will be great.
And bass traps is a great idea!! Bass traps(at least 4")in corners, then 2" first reflection points(sidewalls, ceiling, and backwalls) and you should be good to go
pandamonk
Well-known member
...and monitors
Nightfire
Aspiring Idiot
My opinion, and im not trying to be a smartass or disagree with some very experienced people in this thread...a good sounding room wont help you much if your recording into your soundcard.
At the end of the day, if your soundcard has latency, etc. a recording will still sound crappy no matter its room acoustics.
Get a good soundcard (wether inteface, or an audiophile recording soundcard for $100) and a shure sm57. Dont worry about condensor mics yet as your room is not treated. An sm57 and a good soundcard with usb or firewire will help you way more than room treatment...in my opinion.
Mike
At the end of the day, if your soundcard has latency, etc. a recording will still sound crappy no matter its room acoustics.
Get a good soundcard (wether inteface, or an audiophile recording soundcard for $100) and a shure sm57. Dont worry about condensor mics yet as your room is not treated. An sm57 and a good soundcard with usb or firewire will help you way more than room treatment...in my opinion.
Mike
pandamonk
Well-known member
Does soundcard latency have anything at all to do with room acoustics? Does it affect them at all? I doubt it. Yes latency is a bastard, but improved room acoustics improves the recorded sound(less reflections, etc), and help with mixing(flatter response, better stereo imaging).
Nightfire
Aspiring Idiot
Yup, you're right. Im not underminding room treatment, I just think its not the cost effective way to make his recordings sound better if hes using a stock pc soundcard.
If your soundcard has latency issues, crackles and pops, likes to clip etc. your recordings still sound like crap at the end of the day, no matter how good your recording environment was. It will sound like better crap with room treatment but its still crap.
I would do the following
-get interface (preferably firewire but usb will work).
-get good dynamic mic
-sound treatment
Then as your recording becomes more serious you can upgrade to better gear.
I would get the basic gear that is a must for a good recording (interface and goodmic), then sound treat, then upgrade gear.
Just my thoughts.
Mike
If your soundcard has latency issues, crackles and pops, likes to clip etc. your recordings still sound like crap at the end of the day, no matter how good your recording environment was. It will sound like better crap with room treatment but its still crap.
I would do the following
-get interface (preferably firewire but usb will work).
-get good dynamic mic
-sound treatment
Then as your recording becomes more serious you can upgrade to better gear.
I would get the basic gear that is a must for a good recording (interface and goodmic), then sound treat, then upgrade gear.
Just my thoughts.
Mike
Kevin Deschwazi
Well-known member
IF the stock soundcard/integrated sound is causing audible pops and clicks then of course that would be a priority. It's not always an issue though is it?
I have heard very respectable recordings made using a crap soundcard.
I think it all needs to be looked at in time so the order of things isn't THAT important. I just wanted to get the message across that the environment is vitally important to good recordings.
I have heard very respectable recordings made using a crap soundcard.
I think it all needs to be looked at in time so the order of things isn't THAT important. I just wanted to get the message across that the environment is vitally important to good recordings.
R
R.A.E
The Village Idiot
I am ashamed to admit that, that was my first set up haha. My next upgrade as an m-audio box. Had 2 channels for inputs 1/4s, and xlrs. That was probably my greatest upgrade, seeing as how it has the phantom power and is a preamp. Plus is wasn't expensive. I think I only paid 150 for it at the time not to mention it was during the holiday season so they threw in a MXL mic for free
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