Help with guitar and vocal recording

[pearljamrgood]

Hi, I am new here, a great BBS you've got set up here, very nice!
I recently got a TASCAM MF-P01 4 track recorder, and I plugged my guitar into it directly from the amp and it sounded like a huge cow was farting . So, I am going to buy a microphone. What do you think of the Shure SM57? I have heard good things about it. Also, I need to know exactly what accessories are needed for the mic to record into the 4 track - I've heard about pre-amps, XLR's etc and I have no idea what they mean!

ANY help is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[pearljamrgood]

?

ANY help? Pleasse?

 

[Big Kenny]

What is your reason for recording?

 

[pearljamrgood]

I am

I am looking to record guitar and maybe some vocals. Mainly guitar though.

 

[Big Kenny]

You probably spent, what $100 or so? You are recording on a cassette. It is not going to sound very good no matter what you do. Get a dynamic you can use live, sm 57 or 58 and record a couple tracks.

 

[Purge]

SM57 is a great place to start--pretty much everybody uses these with few complaints. XLR is the type of cable used for microphones, basically each end has a cylinder with three prongs inside. Look at a mic, and you'll see what I mean. A preamp is what you plug your mic into that raises the signal of the mic to a level where it can be recorded. If you're looking for a very basic setup, pick up a cheap Behringer mixer (about 50 bucks) and there's your preamp. Hook the mixer up to your Tascam, and then you can get the sound of an aardvark farting, which is way more pleasant than a cow.

Take a look at the FAQ section, by the by. You'll find some good basic info in there.

 

[pearljamrgood]

yeh it was pretty cheap, and i am not expecting too much.
what cables/jacks etc are needed, to get the mic into the 4 track, to record? XLR or something? or a pre-amp??

Thanks heaps

 

[pearljamrgood]

OK thanks Purge! One last thing - I found a Behringer for quite cheap http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=308&item=3742936888&rd=1, you think I should get it and use it for the pre amp?

 

[Purge]

Look for a Behringer UB802 instead.

 

[nlmd311]

I would also go with the UB802. Its cheaper and will end up to be much better in the long run for you. Get that along with the SM57 and an XLR or two and dont forget you will need to connect your mixer (UB802) to the 4-track. All you will need for this is either a set of stereo RCA jacks or a couple of 1/4" cables. You will be set. This is a really good setup to get you into and build up your knowledge of recording.

all the best

-Darrill

 

[pearljamrgood]

Look for a Behringer UB802 instead.

OK thanks!