Here's What I Have. Now What Do I Need?

[VeganZombie]

I am completly new to this, and I know my equipment isn't the best. I just want some advice/help on what else I should get. I'm going to be doing this all with my home PC in my apartment, so I can't crank up any amps or anything like that. I know I'm not going to get the best results, but I am working my way into this, so I don't end up dropping a boatload of cash on something I'm gonna either lose interest in, or completly suck at.

What I have:

Presonus Inspire 1394 Interface w/Propak Software (Cubase LE, Sony Acid XMC, Discrete Drums, Various Plug-Ins......) My computer has a Pentium 4, 80 Gig HD w/ 512 MB RAM.

1-MXL Condenser Mic
1-Senheisser 835 Dynamic Mic
2-Shure SM58

Art Tube MP Studio V3 Mic Preamp

Behringer V-Amp 2

Studio Grade Headphones

Various Electric Guitars, Acoustic Guitars, Cables, Tube 1/2 Stack, Footpedals.......

What I am pretty sure I need:

A Shockmount for the condenser Mic

Studio Monitors-Or could I just try mixing/recording with headphones on?

A Compressor-I'm been looking at The Presonus COMP16 and Blue Max

Should I:

Buy a new soundcard for my computer?

Partition my Hard Drive? Or is it okay to backup files with my Zip Drive?

Buy 'Home Recording for Dummies'? (more or less as a reference/study guide)

Thanks in advance, and feel free to clue me in on anything I forgot.

Curtiss

 

[LfO]

I wouldn't bother with a book - http://tweakheadz.com/guide serves the same purpose and is free (and stays up to date).

If you're working with software, you should have software compressors available. I do have a cheap (Behringer) compressor that I sometimes run vocals through on the way in, but I use very mild compression then (whether to use effects when tracking is a whole other discussion - the simplest way to answer it is "don't"), and I could do fine without it.

Monitors, however, are extremely important - headphones WILL NOT do. Here's why:
http://www.bluebearsound.com/articles/headphones.htm

If your presonus provides enough input capacity, and it isn't keeping you from using MIDI if you want to, I don't know why you'd need to upgrade it. I'm not familar with that particular model, but its big brothers, the Firepod and Firebox seem popular enough.

 

[dwillis45]

I second monitor suggestion. Once you have those you will have most of the basic building blocks in place. After that, I would start thinking about technique issues like mic placement and start doing some research on room acoustics. It can be pretty dry and technical but it's essential for recording and crucial to mixing.

 

[crunkthanamug]

I am completly new to this, and I know my equipment isn't the best. I just want some advice/help on what else I should get. I'm going to be doing this all with my home PC in my apartment, so I can't crank up any amps or anything like that. I know I'm not going to get the best results, but I am working my way into this, so I don't end up dropping a boatload of cash on something I'm gonna either lose interest in, or completly suck at.

What I have:

Presonus Inspire 1394 Interface w/Propak Software (Cubase LE, Sony Acid XMC, Discrete Drums, Various Plug-Ins......) My computer has a Pentium 4, 80 Gig HD w/ 512 MB RAM.

1-MXL Condenser Mic
1-Senheisser 835 Dynamic Mic
2-Shure SM58

Art Tube MP Studio V3 Mic Preamp

Behringer V-Amp 2

Studio Grade Headphones

Various Electric Guitars, Acoustic Guitars, Cables, Tube 1/2 Stack, Footpedals.......

What I am pretty sure I need:

A Shockmount for the condenser Mic

Studio Monitors-Or could I just try mixing/recording with headphones on?

A Compressor-I'm been looking at The Presonus COMP16 and Blue Max

Should I:

Buy a new soundcard for my computer?

Partition my Hard Drive? Or is it okay to backup files with my Zip Drive?

Buy 'Home Recording for Dummies'? (more or less as a reference/study guide)

Thanks in advance, and feel free to clue me in on anything I forgot.

Curtiss

Backing up to ZIP drive would work just fine, but you could partition the drive. Computers tend to slow down as the hard drive fills up though. Be sure not to skimp on good mic cables also...and most definitely add a pop filter to that list! Ive read home recording for dummies...its not all that helpful beyond the basics (ex. what the plugins do...) I didnt see a MIDI controller on your list either...

 

[Zproducer]

getting started

Hey there curtiss! first let me say i am kinda new to this whole message board, so if i'm not doing something in the most optimal way, please forgive me.
i remember not too long ago when i was in your situation but i couldnt find anyone who would let me know what was what. i had to go by trial and error. eventually i got it, but i'd like to save you years of trouble.
first off, it sounds like you have got a good start... you've got a vocal condenser mic which i believe is key to recording vocals. dynamics just cant get the same sound. and the compression system is a must! without compession running on almost everything, your peaks will be OUT OF CONTROL and you'll get serious unwanted distorting on your tracks. also, never ever mix with headphones. it's a completely different ballgame than mixing with monitors. if you mix with headphones, what will happen is you will get a mix that sounds awesome in any headphones but sounds terrible when you play your recording through a home or car sterio.
you have a good idea thinking about your soundcard. this can be problematic if your soundcard doesnt have a seperate recording channel and playback channel. the signs of this that you will see are major bleeding from other tracks into every track as well as just poor quality sound representation.
Lastly, equiptment used can majorly depend on what you plan to record. factors can be style of music, instrumentation, artist preferrences, etc.
a very important step not to forget is to do your research. your equiptment doesnt have to be the greatest quality if you know how to use it. the first thing i did when i decided i was interested in recording was going to website after website and printing up how-to's about absolutely everything... even the stuff i thought i wouldnt ever use. i put it all in a big binder and often will reffer to it as a reference. some of the advice has worked for me, some hasn't, but it is definitely an invaluable resource.
well i hope that helps you a little bit, and let me know if you have any other questions! ~Z