Hello, and yes, I have searched first.

[hazerlazer]

Hello. I joined a couple months ago, and I've decided to post for a little advice on a small recording setup.

I would like to record guitar, bass, vocals and drums. I am looking for listenable quality, I don't need anything amazing. I've got solid chops for guitar, and my musician friends are all pretty solid on their respective instruments, so I shouldn't need to do any turd polishing or electronic wizardry.

I've compiled a list of gear that I think should do the trick, and I'd just like to know if there are any glaring errors in my judgement. I've already got good instruments and amps, and my computer is pretty solid for now.

2 Studio Projects B1
1 SM57 or i5
1 Blue Kickball
1 Tascam FW-1804 Interface
1 Pair Tascam VL-A5 Monitors

Plus cables, stands, etc. I think that comes out well under 2 grand, which is my goal. Any opinions about this gear are very much welcomed.

Thanks,

Andy

 

[2ndPlaceFinish]

Questions

How do you plan on recording the drums? Also whats the significance of the blue kickball?

 

[Dogbreath]

I've never tried the kickball but from your list it looks like that would be the kick mic. I've tried the D112 and the Beta 52 on kick. Both with good results. These will also work on a bass cab. I tend to track my bass with the beta 52 and DI'd. Blended to taste.

The 57 will work great on guitar cabs and snare.

The SP B1's will work as OH's on the drums. I've got a pair and have tried them but I prefer SDC's for my OH's. I use the KSM 109's. You could also mic acoustic guitar with them.

The biggest thing that will mess with your drums (AND your mixes) is an untreated room. Is your room tuned? What's the dimensions? Ceiling height? Thr room will also affect how your monitors sound. That's what makes it hard to mix in an untreated room. Nulls...voids...bass buildup...reflections...phasing...etc.

Just my thoughts man....Happy tracking.

 

[mikeh]

This should certainly get you started. I've never tried the Blue - but I assume if you put the 57 on a snare, the blue on a kick and the B1's as overheads you should be able to capture a decent drum sound - however, that means you will be depending a lot on the room sound - which it turn goes back to Dogbreath's post re: room treatment.

I assume you plan to track instruments one at a time - if not - after you mic the drums you won't have an mic for the guitar cabs. Naturally you could try to mic drums with the Blue and the B1s without the 57 on the snare (so you have the 57 for a cab - but I think being able to dial in a snare mic is important.

This should be a good start - but believe me - once you get hooked, you'll be adding more mics and more compression, and more effects....and before long you'll have $40,000 tied up in recording gear.

 

[guitar zero]

This should be a good start - but believe me - once you get hooked, you'll be adding more mics and more compression, and more effects....and before long you'll have $40,000 tied up in recording gear.

Amen to that

 

[hazerlazer]

Thanks for all the replies, guys.

The room is about 20 x 16, with a staircase at one side, and a bookshelf at the other. I would think they diffuse the sound, definitely. It sounds pretty good as is, although some treatment at the first reflection points and the back wall will be added by winter. No fluttering echoes or zingy reverb. 8 foot ceilings with open floor joists above. I will not be doing anything to the ceiling other than deadening the ductwork so it doesn't rattle. Again, I have a feeling that the open joists, and cross-bracing of the ceiling adds diffusion.

I'm using the room as both a live room and control room. I know it's ideal to separate them, but as it is now, the room sounds good and my chair is right at the 38% mark of the room, which rocks.

I'm going to multitrack everything. As much as I'd love to have facilities to do a full band, the space does not allow it without massive bleed problems, and schedules rarely align properly to record a full band anyway.

To the guy who asked, the Kickball is a for the kick drum and bass guitar (or lo-fi guitar), and I like it cause it's cheap, and I'm poor. From what I've heard, sounds somewhere between a D112 and a D6. I can live with that.

Sorry for talking (or typing) your ears off. I like the tone of this forum, so the words seem to flow out like Montezuma's revenge. I was put off by the elitist and condescending attitude at some other boards, this place seems more down-to-earth.

 

[drossfile]

Thanks for all the replies, guys.

The room is about 20 x 16, with a staircase at one side, and a bookshelf at the other. I would think they diffuse the sound, definitely. It sounds pretty good as is, although some treatment at the first reflection points and the back wall will be added by winter. No fluttering echoes or zingy reverb. 8 foot ceilings with open floor joists above. I will not be doing anything to the ceiling other than deadening the ductwork so it doesn't rattle. Again, I have a feeling that the open joists, and cross-bracing of the ceiling adds diffusion.

I'm using the room as both a live room and control room. I know it's ideal to separate them, but as it is now, the room sounds good and my chair is right at the 38% mark of the room, which rocks.

I'm going to multitrack everything. As much as I'd love to have facilities to do a full band, the space does not allow it without massive bleed problems, and schedules rarely align properly to record a full band anyway.

To the guy who asked, the Kickball is a for the kick drum and bass guitar (or lo-fi guitar), and I like it cause it's cheap, and I'm poor. From what I've heard, sounds somewhere between a D112 and a D6. I can live with that.

Sorry for talking (or typing) your ears off. I like the tone of this forum, so the words seem to flow out like Montezuma's revenge. I was put off by the elitist and condescending attitude at some other boards, this place seems more down-to-earth.

dude, let me commend you on how much you know already. the normal post in the newbie section goes something like:

"i want to record my own album and have it sound professional. i have no experience, no knowledge, and i've researched nothing. tell me how to do it in 100 words or less."

and don't get me wrong, that's what the newbie section is for. i'd never flame anyone here for any question.

but i also think credit should be given where it's due. welcome aboard!!!

 

[hazerlazer]

dude, let me commend you on how much you know already. the normal post in the newbie section goes something like:

"i want to record my own album and have it sound professional. i have no experience, no knowledge, and i've researched nothing. tell me how to do it in 100 words or less."

and don't get me wrong, that's what the newbie section is for. i'd never flame anyone here for any question.

but i also think credit should be given where it's due. welcome aboard!!!

Thanks, man. I'd like to think I'm somewhat obsessive in my research. I knew that the recording boards would eat me alive if I asked something like that, so I learned by annoying the good folks at Long and McQuade.

 

[Dogbreath]

Yup...looks like you've done some research. Props to you man.

As to the room...yeah there will be some diffusion just from what's there (joists, bookshelf etc) but the main thing you're going to run into is bass build up. Bass waves take longer to develop so by the time they get to their strength, they'll be collecting in corners and then bouncing back to overlap themselves. Mix AND tracking nightmare. At the very least (my humble opinion here ) add at least 4 bass traps to the corners. 2 in the corners in front of your mixing station and at least 2 in the corners at the back of the room.

I also have a "one room wonder" and have done this. In fact, I think I could use another couple traps.

Anyway, if this is old news...disregard...
just some food for thought for ya...

 

[hazerlazer]

Yeah, I'll definitely get proper treatment for the room as I learn more about acoustics and as I start to require it with my skills.

 

[Dogbreath]

Ethan and Glen both know their shit when it comes to this stuff...

Ethan's goodz...http://www.realtraps.com/info.htm

Glens goodz...http://www.gikacoustics.com/education.html

Good luck mang,.....