Decent Results with this Beginning Setup?

[cu4life7]

Hello all, I have really appreciated the depth of knowledge on this forum when it comes to recording. As far as I can tell, it is pretty much a black hole as far as how complicated you can make it. In the next few weeks, I am looking at purchasing my first home recording setup and wanted to get some feedback if possible.

For the "what", I am a multi instrumentalist and songwriter and plan on recording acoustic guitar, mandolin, open back banjo, Ukulele, vocals, resonator guitar, upright piano (maybe, as I have a keyboard too), maybe an electric guitar amp, and perhaps a violin or cello down the road. All songs will be done using multi-tracking as I mostly play on my own. Style wise, I am into Americana/Roots/Bluegrass(non-trad)/blues etc and really want to capture the organic nature of the music. I don't have a dedicated recording room or studio but can work with some temporary room treatments. I would like to capture an old time type feel on my songs, so perfection is not what I am after. I don't expect to lay down a professional recording by any means. Mostly, I just want to be able to compose and use all my instruments and have fun and practice songwriting/arranging.

So here is what I am looking at:

Apogee Duet 2 for Mac and Ipad
Shure SM57 (do I need two?)
Cad M179
Pop Filter and stands
Garageband (for now), logic X down the road

~$200 for monitors (suggestions?)
~headphones for multi-tracking (i'll probably just start with what I already own)

My goal is far and away to keep this as simple as possible without falling down the rabbit hole. My number one goal is to learn to work with the gear that I have, and focus on recording techniques before lose my butt in gear.

What do you guys think of that setup? Am i missing anything? Thanks in advance.

 

[Steenamaroo]

There's merit in keeping it simple.
Your interface is sound assuming you won't need more inputs further down the road.

Since you're recording vocals and acoustic instruments, I'd maybe take a look at mic choice.

Are you entertaining the idea of stereo micing any of these acoustic instruments?
Are you ever likely to sing and play simultaneously?
If not an Oktava mk219 might cover all jobs.

Monitors for $200? I'd just save your money and get by on headphones for now.
I've never been convinced that monitors in that price range are worth having.
I'd rather have a reasonable home hifi amp and speakers.

Mixing on headphones certainly has drawbacks but at least you can take room reflections out of the equation.
It's probably the best option for now.

 

[cu4life7]

"Are you entertaining the idea of stereo micing any of these acoustic instruments?
Are you ever likely to sing and play simultaneously?
If not an Oktava mk219 might cover all jobs."

I am not planning on doing much stereo recording at first, but I would like to have the option. I am going to stick with Mono for the most part, in interest of keeping it simple. I can't imagine needing more than two inputs, but I am sure many have said that before me...

 

[mjbphotos]

Consider Reaper as your DAW. garageband is limited from what I understand, and as long as you are going to learn a DAW, might as well learn one that is fully featured (and still inexpensive).

I agree and disagree with Steen regarding monitors. Sub-$200 won't get you much, but it will get you something. If you've got a half-decent hifi stereo system, you coudl use that as your monitor system if you can hook it up to your computer and its in the same room (2 ifs). However if that is not an option, an inexpensive set of monitors will do you better than nothing - you'll find that mixing with headphones only is very difficult to get a mix that sounds right on speakers, without a lot of trial and error.
Shop around for used monitors, people are always trading up. Alesis M1s are $200 for a pair and there are a number of less-expensive ones out there, as well. The important thing about using "affordable" monitors is learning what they sound like compared to other systems so you cna adjust your mixes accordingly.