Experience Needed About My Microphone Set-Up

[Alivelastweek]

I'm in a small band that is just starting to put a mini studio together that will produce a good enough sound to make a respectable demo cd. Right now, the only mic we have is a blue snowball. After much experimentation, it didn't get the job done for the guitars(very static, I am using distortion), drums etc. I was researching more mics when I came across the sm58 which could be plugged into the USB port in my computer(like the snowball). If purchased, will both those mics produce a respectable sound if positioned right? Any insight or suggestions is GREATLY appreciated.

Also, I've heard that a dynamic on the bass and a condenser on the overhead is a good way for micing drums I'd that true?

 

[Shadow_7]

It depends. You might be better served by a Zoom H2 or H4n, or even the newer and cheaper H1. But it depends on if you just want a sampler for potential gigs, or a commercial-ish CD for sale. And how much work you want to do in post.

 

[Alivelastweek]

Well, we definitely wouldn't be selling this or anything, so pretty much we need a cd where people can hear us before asking us to play and for people that want to hear us play. I will look into the mics you suggested, though. Do you know if they can be plugged into a USB?

 

[moresound]

ALW you don't really want to go USB microphone.
I do like S 7's suggestion of purchasing a zoom H4n to record then you can down load it to your computer then make CDs.

 

[Alivelastweek]

Does the h4n record all the instruments you might find in a generic rock band with good quality? Or would it record nice drums but lacking guitar, for example.

 

[moresound]

Does the h4n record all the instruments you might find in a generic rock band with good quality? Or would it record nice drums but lacking guitar, for example.

It records very well but you are limited to only 4 channels.

 

[Alivelastweek]

To properly record with this would I:

1. Record all instruments together at one time
2. Record each instrument seperately then edit and what not on my computer.

 

[moresound]

To properly record with this would I:

1. Record all instruments together at one time
2. Record each instrument seperately then edit and what not on my computer.

Separately ALW.
But some people find that they can't play a song unless everyone else is playing as well.

 

[Alivelastweek]

I think the h4n is above my price range. I was thinking about spending around what the h1 and h2 are going for. How much quality difference is there going from h4n down to a h1 or h2?

 

[moresound]

I couldn't tell ya ALW, for I only have the H4n. but if you go that route with the $99. H1 you will get noise and room ambiance recording everyone at once.... but still better than a USB microphone.

And I was going to suggest that if you were going to do all of that why not purchase a DAW and a A/D converter with mic preamps but now I see that your budget is limited.

 

[Alivelastweek]

The mic i was thinking about buying(Shure sm58) required a usb adapter which was also i preamp. But the thing is the band also needs a better microphone for singing purposes anyway and not just recording. I just need to know if it could record well because that along with the condenser mic we already have would give us 1 of each. The only reason im going USB though is because its easier for me to just record straight through using audacity or acid pro. Probably alot cheaper that way too.

 

[matttheaxe]

You can learn a ton in 30 minutes of reading past threads about this instead of waiting a few days for responses. Use the search function. 2 year old posts are as relevant on this subject as new ones.

Good luck

 

[moresound]

A lot of great recordings have been made using a 58.

But like matt said a wealth of information is already posted here at HR.com, but it does seem like you may need a today OK on your thinking which again is fine as well.

 

[Shadow_7]

The zooms also double as USB soundcards / interfaces. The H4n just gives you the option to use XLR cables and XLR mics. The H2 and H1 are still reasonably decent interfaces with built in mics. It's no studio in a box, but for lack of better options, you could do much worse.