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drummerofgod
New member
Hey guys! This is my first post in homerecording.com forums, and I thought I'd start here. I have been playing guitar for several years now, and now I am interested in making my own recordings and playing live. I want to be able to record my voice, my acoustic guitar (which has no pick-up in it and isn't an acoustic electric) as well as be able to mic any instrument I choose and have it not sound like crap.
Just a forewarning, I have no previous experience in recording whatsoever, and I actually don't even own any live music equipment either (amps, pick-ups, pedals, etc.), which I'd also like to get. So, to summarize, I need you all to help me pick out some equipment for both live performance as well as home studio recording. This is where you guys come in! Here are my thoughts, and let me know what you think. Btw, I think I want to stick within the $1,000-$2,000 range for all this equipment, and the cheaper within that range without sacrificing quality, the better.
I have been recommended the LR Baggs iMix for a pick-up. I understand that it's a more expensive pick-up, but I figure that, if I'm going to get one, I might as well get a nice one instead of constantly upgrading and wasting money. What are your thoughts on this pick-up? Are there any other pick-ups that you'd recommend that are the same price (~$200) or less and are the same quality? I currently play fingerstyle, but I actually apply it to just about any type of music from rock to blues, funk, and jazz, and I think it sounds great. I also make hefty use of the body of the guitar for percussive effects. So take that into account as well when recommending me a pick-up because I need a pick-up that accurately and warmly picks up and channels those kinds of sounds and not be too soft or so sensitive that it just sounds like butt. I was told that the iMix would be able to warmly pick up the guitar as well as any percussive sounds. Btw, I own a Hohner HW90 lefty. It's not the most luxurious guitar, but it was cheap (~$380 at the time) and sounds better than it costs. I use D'addario Phosphor Bronze Custom Light strings. Anyhow. Does one usually or can one use any of the live audio equipment such as a pick-up, amp, pedals, etc., for recording purposes as well, or are there different pieces of equipment that I need?
Ok, after the pick-up, what else do I need for live performance? Obviously an amp (probably an acoustic one since I don't own an electric guitar), but what else do I need? Pedals? Not really sure on this one. I'd like to have a decent variety of quality effects to choose from. Let me know what you guys think. I think $300-$600 would be an appropriate range for an amp for me. I'd like an amp that can warmly fill a decent sized area of space like a bar, coffee lounge or even a small theater. Let me know if an amp in that price range could do that. I think I need a mic as well for singing. Can I use a stage mic for recording as well, or would a different type of mic be more optimal?
As for home recording equipment, the only thing that I probably have going for me right now is a powerful desktop computer with a strong quad core, dual monitors and 8gb of DDR3 ram as well as a Creative Labs Xtreme Gamer sound card that has a 3.5mm input (if that helps any). I also have a set of Logitech Z5500s for speakers although I don't know if those would help with recording any. What else do I need? Remember, I want to be able to record voice, guitar and pretty much any instrument as well. I've heard of condenser mics, which I guess are meant for recording voice and maybe instruments, but I'm not sure. Should I get one? If so, which one? What else do I need for home recording? For the home recording stuff, I'd like to stay in the $500-$1,000 range, and the cheaper without sacrificing quality, the better. If possible, I'd even like to have this stuff be portable so I could do recording on the go, but it's not absolutely necessary.
Thanks for all responses, and feel free to direct me to other forums as well if any questions I asked would be better answered there. Linking me to resources is also welcomed because this guy needs to learn as much as he can about this kind of stuff! Thanks in advance!
Just a forewarning, I have no previous experience in recording whatsoever, and I actually don't even own any live music equipment either (amps, pick-ups, pedals, etc.), which I'd also like to get. So, to summarize, I need you all to help me pick out some equipment for both live performance as well as home studio recording. This is where you guys come in! Here are my thoughts, and let me know what you think. Btw, I think I want to stick within the $1,000-$2,000 range for all this equipment, and the cheaper within that range without sacrificing quality, the better.
I have been recommended the LR Baggs iMix for a pick-up. I understand that it's a more expensive pick-up, but I figure that, if I'm going to get one, I might as well get a nice one instead of constantly upgrading and wasting money. What are your thoughts on this pick-up? Are there any other pick-ups that you'd recommend that are the same price (~$200) or less and are the same quality? I currently play fingerstyle, but I actually apply it to just about any type of music from rock to blues, funk, and jazz, and I think it sounds great. I also make hefty use of the body of the guitar for percussive effects. So take that into account as well when recommending me a pick-up because I need a pick-up that accurately and warmly picks up and channels those kinds of sounds and not be too soft or so sensitive that it just sounds like butt. I was told that the iMix would be able to warmly pick up the guitar as well as any percussive sounds. Btw, I own a Hohner HW90 lefty. It's not the most luxurious guitar, but it was cheap (~$380 at the time) and sounds better than it costs. I use D'addario Phosphor Bronze Custom Light strings. Anyhow. Does one usually or can one use any of the live audio equipment such as a pick-up, amp, pedals, etc., for recording purposes as well, or are there different pieces of equipment that I need?
Ok, after the pick-up, what else do I need for live performance? Obviously an amp (probably an acoustic one since I don't own an electric guitar), but what else do I need? Pedals? Not really sure on this one. I'd like to have a decent variety of quality effects to choose from. Let me know what you guys think. I think $300-$600 would be an appropriate range for an amp for me. I'd like an amp that can warmly fill a decent sized area of space like a bar, coffee lounge or even a small theater. Let me know if an amp in that price range could do that. I think I need a mic as well for singing. Can I use a stage mic for recording as well, or would a different type of mic be more optimal?
As for home recording equipment, the only thing that I probably have going for me right now is a powerful desktop computer with a strong quad core, dual monitors and 8gb of DDR3 ram as well as a Creative Labs Xtreme Gamer sound card that has a 3.5mm input (if that helps any). I also have a set of Logitech Z5500s for speakers although I don't know if those would help with recording any. What else do I need? Remember, I want to be able to record voice, guitar and pretty much any instrument as well. I've heard of condenser mics, which I guess are meant for recording voice and maybe instruments, but I'm not sure. Should I get one? If so, which one? What else do I need for home recording? For the home recording stuff, I'd like to stay in the $500-$1,000 range, and the cheaper without sacrificing quality, the better. If possible, I'd even like to have this stuff be portable so I could do recording on the go, but it's not absolutely necessary.
Thanks for all responses, and feel free to direct me to other forums as well if any questions I asked would be better answered there. Linking me to resources is also welcomed because this guy needs to learn as much as he can about this kind of stuff! Thanks in advance!
