Cost effective muli-track vocal recording to PC???

  • Thread starter Thread starter Gobignumber7
  • Start date Start date
G

Gobignumber7

New member
Hi! I want to build an entry-level, but quality, home studio for multi-track vocals (a cappella). I have a good laptop and wanted some ideas on a recording package that will cost around $200. I have been looking at the v67g mic, but want to make sure I have everything I need (interface, software, etc.) I know music, but I am I newb when it comes to PC-based recording. Please help!!!
 
Okay. Let's go through the chain of what you need to buy to do what you want.

First, as you've already mentioned, you'll need a microphone. There are lots of choices and what's best for you will depend on the type of voice you have and the acoustics of the room you'll be working in. Then you'll need a stand good enough to hold your new mic without drooping or dropping it, an XLR cable to run to your interface and, in most cases, you'll pretty quickly decide you need a pop screen between your mic and you.

Then you need an interface. Interfaces do two or three things. First off, in the case of condenser mics like the MXL you mentioned, they provide phantom power for the mic. Then the interface acts as a pre-amp for your mic. The signals coming from a typical microphone are extremely low (something around 50 or 60 dB less than what you'd get from something like a CD player or whatever). The pre-amp section brings the mic level signal up to something that audio gear can manipulate without risk of interference. Finally the interface takes this amplified analogue signal and converts it to digits that your computer can use.

Then you have the software. Again, there are tons of threads on this forum about software that can be used. Ninety percent of these end up recommending Reaper as the most cost effective solution. The only thing cheaper is Audacity which is free--but pretty limiting in what it can do. Reaper is available as a free trial so you can see what it can do.

Finally, you need something to listen to all your work when you're mixing and processing it. Yeah, you can use headphones--but have a browse around this forum and see the number of posts about "well, I mixed it perfectly on my XYZ headphones but when I played the CD in my car I couldn't hear my voice/the bass/something else". To do things properly, you really need some form of monitor speakers.

The things that make the biggest difference to the quality of your recordings are the microphone and the pre-amp. The monitors make a huge difference to the quality of your mixing. And the odd one out that you can't just buy: the acoustics of your room play a big role in how everything sounds.

Except for mentioning Reaper, I won't try to steer you to any specific hardware. What's right for you depends quite a lot on what your voice sounds like and what style you're after. I've heard good things about the MXL mic you mentioned but whether it's right for you, only you can say. However, what I would say is to not make the mistake of going too cheap on any one element. You'll soon regret it when you have to spend the money all over again for something better.

However, what I would say is that, on instinct, I think your $200 budget is a bit low for mic, interface, software and monitors. Even at the most basic, you'll probably be much happier is you can up the number a bit.

Bob
 
How much was your good laptop? Why do noobs bang on about how good their laptop is? :confused:


It really matters not that much in the scheme of recording these days... for multi-tracking acapella, you're really not going to need all that much processing grunt...

You can't build an "entry level but quality" studio for $200... you probably can't even get "entry level but absolute crap" for that amount.... :eek:

Mic / interface / software / leads / stand.... if you want "quality" come back when you have at least $1000, but you probably won't know what to do with it anyway.... so if you want entry level, try $500..... and that excludes monitors...

If you already have some gear that you're not telling us about, then tell us about it...

Sorry for the reality check - there are people hanging round here who own microphones that cost $1000 or more - and there's a reason for that..... that's "quality" - you can't afford quality, but I think you're going to have to pony up more to even get entry level... :eek:

The mic you mention is regarded as a good choice, incidentally.. :)
 
Bsharp - you appear to be new here, too - this is a NEWBIES section of the forum.

Gobig - $200, as has been already said, is a drop in the bucket.

First thing first - read all the other 'newbie' threads in this section.

You need:
Microphone(s)
Cables and stands and pop filters for each mic
Interface
Headphones
Monitors
Software (Reaper is free to download and try out)
 
Back
Top