Equipment suggestions for recording metal

[moneil]

Sorry if this has been gone over a thousand times, but I don't have a whole lot of time to search through the archives. If anyone could help me out I'd really appreciate it...

In the past I used a mic hooked into an old Tascam 4-tracker, hooked into my crappy computer using Cool Edit Pro. I've since improved the setup a little bit would still like a more sophisiticated rig. Here's what I'm currently working with:

- PC: 3.4 GHz P4, ~200 GB Serial 7200 RPM harddrive, 1 GB RAM (with 1 more on the way), crappy onboard sound
- Software: Sonar 5, Drumkit From Hell 2, Waves 5.2 plugin
- Shure SM57
- M-Audio MobilePre USB

I'm currently using my ordinary stereo to monitor.

So basically I figure I need a decent sound card (the MobilePre gives me latency issues occasionally, and it does not record CD quality), a set of real monitors, and I would guess a mixer/preamp (unless the sound card might have a preamp built-in?).

I'll be recording almost exclusively heavy metal (mostly melodic death type stuff probably), and will probably never need more than one instrument to record at a time. Vocals are probably a non-issue. I'm really only concerned with laying out guitar tracks (mostly distorted), and the drums I sequence through Sonar with the DKFH.

Oh, and my budget... well, I just got a new job which most would say pays pretty well. But, I am still a cheap guy at heart, and it will not be easy for me to shell out significant cash. I would definitely not want to spend more than $1000 on whatever I need to get my whole setup going, but realistically as close to $500 as possible would be nice.

If anyone has any ideas/suggestions please spit em out! Thanks.

 

[Newbie dude]

Sorry if this has been gone over a thousand times, but I don't have a whole lot of time to search through the archives. If anyone could help me out I'd really appreciate it...

In the past I used a mic hooked into an old Tascam 4-tracker, hooked into my crappy computer using Cool Edit Pro. I've since improved the setup a little bit would still like a more sophisiticated rig. Here's what I'm currently working with:

- PC: 3.4 GHz P4, ~200 GB Serial 7200 RPM harddrive, 1 GB RAM (with 1 more on the way), crappy onboard sound
- Software: Sonar 5, Drumkit From Hell 2, Waves 5.2 plugin
- Shure SM57
- M-Audio MobilePre USB

I'm currently using my ordinary stereo to monitor.

So basically I figure I need a decent sound card (the MobilePre gives me latency issues occasionally, and it does not record CD quality), a set of real monitors, and I would guess a mixer/preamp (unless the sound card might have a preamp built-in?).

I'll be recording almost exclusively heavy metal (mostly melodic death type stuff probably), and will probably never need more than one instrument to record at a time. Vocals are probably a non-issue. I'm really only concerned with laying out guitar tracks (mostly distorted), and the drums I sequence through Sonar with the DKFH.

Oh, and my budget... well, I just got a new job which most would say pays pretty well. But, I am still a cheap guy at heart, and it will not be easy for me to shell out significant cash. I would definitely not want to spend more than $1000 on whatever I need to get my whole setup going, but realistically as close to $500 as possible would be nice.

If anyone has any ideas/suggestions please spit em out! Thanks.

Okay, maybe I'm confused about something, but doesnt the mobile pre have a preamp and soundcard? Maybe I'm thinking of a different piece of equipment.

For your latency issues, the way I see it, ya got to options. The cheaper way would be just to keep your mobile pre and upgrade to a USB 2. However, you said you didn't like the tone, so you'll probably want to go with the more expensive option, which would be to buy a firewire interface, since firewire is much faster than usb. I reccommend the Presonus Inspire 1932. It has enough ins and outs to suit your needs, and comes with cubase, which is what I use with my firebox, and i like cubase alot. I think it still goes for 22. As far as monitors, I've heard that the Behringer Truth mintors are very good. They're around 350 bucks for the pair. If you're lookin for a cheaper route, I use the M-Audio stuphile DX4 monitors. Not bad. I think they might be still on sale at guitarcenter for 150 bucks. THere's also the Edirol Micro Monitors and the M-Audio studiopro 3 monitors, each 100 bucks for the pair. Some people say you can't possibly get a good mix with cheap monitors. I tend to disagree. You can get as good, but you can still get a fair mix. So yeah, if you go the cheapest route whith what I've said you lookin att around 130 bucks. If you're lookin at the most expensive route, which is What I strongly reccommend if you can afford it, you're lookin at a little over 500 bucks.

 

[moneil]

Okay, maybe I'm confused about something, but doesnt the mobile pre have a preamp and soundcard? Maybe I'm thinking of a different piece of equipment.

Right, the mobile pre is a preamp also, but what I want to do is ditch that entirely and just get a better audio interface, whether it be firewire or PCI.

For your latency issues, the way I see it, ya got to options. The cheaper way would be just to keep your mobile pre and upgrade to a USB 2. However, you said you didn't like the tone, so you'll probably want to go with the more expensive option, which would be to buy a firewire interface, since firewire is much faster than usb. I reccommend the Presonus Inspire 1932. It has enough ins and outs to suit your needs, and comes with cubase, which is what I use with my firebox, and i like cubase alot. I think it still goes for 22.

I already have USB 2, and I think the latency issues are far and few inbetween. It's really the sound quality that I'm after. Firewire seems like a good option, I'll check out that unit you mentioned.

As far as monitors, I've heard that the Behringer Truth mintors are very good. They're around 350 bucks for the pair. If you're lookin for a cheaper route, I use the M-Audio stuphile DX4 monitors. Not bad. I think they might be still on sale at guitarcenter for 150 bucks. THere's also the Edirol Micro Monitors and the M-Audio studiopro 3 monitors, each 100 bucks for the pair. Some people say you can't possibly get a good mix with cheap monitors. I tend to disagree. You can get as good, but you can still get a fair mix. So yeah, if you go the cheapest route whith what I've said you lookin att around 130 bucks. If you're lookin at the most expensive route, which is What I strongly reccommend if you can afford it, you're lookin at a little over 500 bucks.

Cool, I'll look into those. I can see myself going with the more expensive ones if I like them. Thanks for your input.