Feedback on this setup I am thinking of getting

[SkeuosTheosEleo]

Hey all,
I have been reading tons and tons of posts and faq about mics and different setups that people are using to hook up to thier computer/laptop and I was wondering if you could give me feedback on what I am thinking of going with (I am going to be using a laptop).

First off I am going to be recording vocals, acoustic guitars (steel string), a keyboard (thinking of recording directly with this), and midi/synths. I was thinking of buying a M-Audio USB Omni Studio (199.99 at Musician's Friend), along with two condenser mics, probably the SP B1 (99.95 at American Musical), and the MXL V67 (99.95 at American Musical).

I know they both record guitar and voice pretty well, but I was wondering which one should I use mainly for voice? Or should I buy a different mic instead? (Like the SM57/58 (what one would be better), and preferably in that price range (each about $100).

Thanks,
David

 

[Warhead]

I know they both record guitar and voice pretty well, but I was wondering which one should I use mainly for voice?

David, I would suggest you try both mics on your voice and see which fits best. I suspect the V67 will do a better job although I'm not a huge fan of that mic. It is decent however.

War

 

[SkeuosTheosEleo]

Also, another piece of information that might change things. I will be recording in a dorm room that used to be a retirement home, so it's pretty quiet but sometimes you can hear traffic.
Thanks,
David

 

[Innovations]

hmmm, I hadn't heard of the M-Audio Omnistudio before. For the price it looks like a nice unit. If it was available when I bought my UA5 I might have gotten it instead.

The traffic sound is unfortunately going to be picked up by any mic. If most of what you are hearing is traffic noise (and not other dudes in the dorm) then I suspect that most of the sound is coming through the window. since you can't do any major work in a dorm room you might look at hanging something really heavy (like moving blankets) across the window.

Now one thing that you will find with a laptop and a two-channel USB Audio device (as I did) is that it makes a great portable recording kit for using two mics in a near-coincident pair to record small ensembles, ambient environments, etc. But you will need two mics that are the same (Some will say you have to have a matched pair but I have found that if you go with a manufacturer with a good degree of consistency you can get away with just two of the same).

 

[Big Kenny]

Do yourself a search on "mics for $xxx (whatever you want to spend) I'm with Warren. I think you could find better for the same $