Help me out?

[BluesMojo]

Hi everybody. I'm brand-new here. I've been recording my songs for a few years now and it just recently occured to me that my recording quality might increase drastically if I wasn't using a $15 computer mic obtained from (I believe Wal-Mart) to record with.

I'm running CakeWalk Home Studio 2002, and was wondering what mic you folks would recommend for a guy wanting to record vocals, 12-string guitar, slide guitar and the occasional mandolin. I also want to record harmonica, but I already have a Hohner Blues Blaster microphone (basically a blue Green Bullet) that I think ought to work fine for that application.

My range is probably <$200. Any help would be very much appreciated.

-Kyle

 

[chessrock]

I'd get a Marshall mxl v93 or 2003.

150 bones.

 

[Track Rat]

If you can go up to $300, an AT4033 is a mic you won't out grow too soon. It's a medium sized diaphram electret condensor that sounds very nice on acoustic instruments and voice.
With any condensor you're going to need phantom power so make sure whatever preamp you're using has it.

 

[knownuttin]

What's your soundcard? What will you use as a mic preamp?

Welcome to Upgrade Hell.
-kent

 

[Randy Yell]

Check out the Studio Projects line.

 

[BluesMojo]

Hmm, I hadn't even considered soundcards or preamps, neither of which I know very much about. My soundcard is an ESS Allegro, which came with my computer, and I don't have a preamp.

This is going to cost me a lot of money..

 

[Seanmorse79]

Don't panic yet.

If you've got a mixer (just about any mixer), you've got a preamp. Keep in mind, the more your gear is designed for recording, the better you're going to do but don't throw in the towel yet.

You can get the old studio staple, a Shure SM-57 for about 60 bucks and you're in business. I'm assuming you play your harp through an amp (using the green bullet), so you'd probably want to record the amp with the SM57 as opposed to recording with the green bullet by itself.

Your sound card kinda sucks, but it'll work. If you do a whole lot of effects processing, it'll start to sound digital pretty quick. But if you don't get too crazy with it you can still get a fairly decent recording.

If you've been doing it for a while, you'll probably still be doing it for a while. Upgrade things as you go - start with a 24 bit sound card, then a recording mixer, etc....

 

[BluesMojo]

Well, actually, I just have the mic. I've been between amps for quite some time now; I needed money and sold my beautiful electric guitar (Fender American Telecaster, sigh) and amp. All of my recordings are very acoustic, though, so I don't really need effects so much as I just need a clear, crisp acoustic sound, like early 60s Bob Dylan.

 

[kjam22]

I'm a big Dylan fan. I wear and play the harmonica while playing a Martin D-41. I bought a mic a couple of months back that I really like the tone on. ADK a-51 s. $199. Probably not he most popular large condenser mic around.... but it has great tone for that Dylan sound.