S
Speedy VonTrapp
New member
This post is a bit off topic, but since I figure this is the best place to find Harvey on these forums, this is where I'm going to ask it.
Anybody else that might have some good advice, PLEASE reply. I am having a delima that I just don't know how to solve.
Here is my situation: (It's a bit long, please bear with me.)
I'm a singer/songwriter, who happened to stumble across some recording equipment a few years back, and was very glad that I made the purchases that I made.
Now, I seem to be at a cross roads. I have been saving my money in order to upgrade my guitar situation, which I am not very fond of at all. I am not an extremely good guitar player. I know enough to get around the neck, and know what notes are where, but I'm not very prolific at it yet. I'd rather just sing in a band situation, to be honest, but I also love to play. I can't play and sing very well at the same time anyway, unless it's really easy strumming.
That said, all of my guitar equipment works, I just don't like it much.
Now, I see an opportunity to upgrade my recording set up, for probably less money than I've got saved for my guitar gear already.
My set up is as follows:
Yamaha MD4S recorder
Pro Audio 9
Lexicon Sound Card (Core, I believe.)
Peavey PA (Escort)
Shure SM58
Peavey PVM 22 Diamond Mic
=-= no mixer
=-= no mic preamp
It's been brought to my attention that I can upgrade by adding a Behringer mixer, and a Studio Projects B1 for a reasonable amount of money. I looked into both, and they both look great, and will probably increase my quality more than I could hope, for around $140 anyway.
Harvey, I've read a lot of the stuff that you have posted here, and I've read every article on your site, all the back articles from the magazine about recording, and band decisions...everything. You have struck me as a person that knows what he's talking about, and is eager to see that people avoid making common mistakes that could really make a difference. My thanks to you for the information you've provided already. After reading all of those things, I can't think of anybody else that I'd rather ask this question:
What should I do?
I know the answer is ultimately up to me. But, what would you suggest would be in the best interests of someone in my position? I want to perform, first and foremost. Recording is important, but secondary. At some point in my life, if performing doesn't work out well, I'd like to be an audio engineer/producer, perhaps. (Automotive engineering is getting very very old.)
It seems that I feel like I'd be better off with the mixer and mic, instead of the guitar set up. I honestly don't want to play the guitar on stage. Writing is different, to me. It seems like the small upgrade to my recording equipment at around $150 would be a better investment than the $1500 I am saving for the guitar and amp set up that I'm wanting.
I've seen articles where it says that the band members should just concentrate on playing good songs, and pay to go into a studio to record. Leave the recordings up to the people that know how best. While that makes sense, I still want to persue recording, and get what I can out of the equipment that I have.
This has been a very long way for me to ask you what you think I should do, I know. I just wanted you to see what I was weighing, and see if you have any insights that could help me. I just want to know what you think.
Thanks a bunch right up front. I'm sure you've got better things to do than answer questions about decisions that need to be made concerning directions that people take, but I had to ask anyway. I just thought that I had figured out what it was that I wanted to do, but when I was presented with a new situation, where I could upgrade for a FRACTION of the cost that I was going to wait and save up for my guitar gear, it seemed like a better idea, so I'm in a bit of a tight place. I feel like I want to go the route of recording equipment upgrade, and leave the guitar stuff to my guitar player.
I would just like some advice as to wether or not that's a horrible idea.
-Speedy
Anybody else that might have some good advice, PLEASE reply. I am having a delima that I just don't know how to solve.
Here is my situation: (It's a bit long, please bear with me.)
I'm a singer/songwriter, who happened to stumble across some recording equipment a few years back, and was very glad that I made the purchases that I made.
Now, I seem to be at a cross roads. I have been saving my money in order to upgrade my guitar situation, which I am not very fond of at all. I am not an extremely good guitar player. I know enough to get around the neck, and know what notes are where, but I'm not very prolific at it yet. I'd rather just sing in a band situation, to be honest, but I also love to play. I can't play and sing very well at the same time anyway, unless it's really easy strumming.
That said, all of my guitar equipment works, I just don't like it much.
Now, I see an opportunity to upgrade my recording set up, for probably less money than I've got saved for my guitar gear already.
My set up is as follows:
Yamaha MD4S recorder
Pro Audio 9
Lexicon Sound Card (Core, I believe.)
Peavey PA (Escort)
Shure SM58
Peavey PVM 22 Diamond Mic
=-= no mixer
=-= no mic preamp
It's been brought to my attention that I can upgrade by adding a Behringer mixer, and a Studio Projects B1 for a reasonable amount of money. I looked into both, and they both look great, and will probably increase my quality more than I could hope, for around $140 anyway.
Harvey, I've read a lot of the stuff that you have posted here, and I've read every article on your site, all the back articles from the magazine about recording, and band decisions...everything. You have struck me as a person that knows what he's talking about, and is eager to see that people avoid making common mistakes that could really make a difference. My thanks to you for the information you've provided already. After reading all of those things, I can't think of anybody else that I'd rather ask this question:
What should I do?
I know the answer is ultimately up to me. But, what would you suggest would be in the best interests of someone in my position? I want to perform, first and foremost. Recording is important, but secondary. At some point in my life, if performing doesn't work out well, I'd like to be an audio engineer/producer, perhaps. (Automotive engineering is getting very very old.)
It seems that I feel like I'd be better off with the mixer and mic, instead of the guitar set up. I honestly don't want to play the guitar on stage. Writing is different, to me. It seems like the small upgrade to my recording equipment at around $150 would be a better investment than the $1500 I am saving for the guitar and amp set up that I'm wanting.
I've seen articles where it says that the band members should just concentrate on playing good songs, and pay to go into a studio to record. Leave the recordings up to the people that know how best. While that makes sense, I still want to persue recording, and get what I can out of the equipment that I have.
This has been a very long way for me to ask you what you think I should do, I know. I just wanted you to see what I was weighing, and see if you have any insights that could help me. I just want to know what you think.
Thanks a bunch right up front. I'm sure you've got better things to do than answer questions about decisions that need to be made concerning directions that people take, but I had to ask anyway. I just thought that I had figured out what it was that I wanted to do, but when I was presented with a new situation, where I could upgrade for a FRACTION of the cost that I was going to wait and save up for my guitar gear, it seemed like a better idea, so I'm in a bit of a tight place. I feel like I want to go the route of recording equipment upgrade, and leave the guitar stuff to my guitar player.
I would just like some advice as to wether or not that's a horrible idea.-Speedy
