Hi..I'm new here

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adk46er

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Hi everybody, this is my first post, and I'd like your thoughts about how I might get the best results with my somewhat low-end recording setup.

I'll be recording mostly acoustic guitar via a Behringer B-1 mike, into a Behringer UB802 Eurodeck, and into my iMac G5 via a Behringer UCA202 USB audio interface. I'm using Audacity 1.2.6 or GarageBand 2.0.2 and have succeded getting a signal to the computer. I'm recording in a very small (6x9 ft.) room. Does this Behringer stuff have the capability to give me a decent signal?

Does anyone have reccommendations for monitor speakers and headphones that will give you an accurate playback? All your comments and suggestions will be appreciated.
 
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Hey dude, welcome to the board.

I've heard the B1 is a decent mic. and lots of folks use those little euromixers.

I've got that interface for my laptop and it's OK, but it is 16bit and if you get serious at this at some point you are gonna want to move up to a 24bit interface.

It seems like you are on a limited budget, so I listen to these $20 headphones everyday. They aren't flat, they have a bit of a bass boost.
but you'll probably like them.

The key part is messing with the gear you already have and learning about it thru trial and error. read about micing techniques and gain staging. enjoy.:cool:
 
Thanks for the info. The fact that the UCA202 is 16-bit slipped by me. Of course I checked with Behringer tech support first to see if there was a quality difference between the UCA202 and the FireWire FCA202 and the guy said no difference...the FCA202 is 24-bit and was only another $50. Also, thanks for the link to the headphones..I'll check them out.
 
as long as that stuff doesn't break down on you it will be fine for getting started on and it shouldn't prevent you from making decent recordings.
 
I guess "decent" for me is a signal that isn't distorted due to a defect in the recording stream. As suggested above, changing the converter from 16-bit to 24-bit should be an improvement...the current interface is still within the return date so I'll be returning it to get the 24-bit FireWire one. I guess "defect" is also a subjective word as well, but for me the bottom line is a recording that's a fairly close representation of what I played (in my case, on acoustic guitar). As a beginner/amateur doing some home recording I think I'm on the right track. If I'm unhappy down the road with my results, I can always upgrade some compnonents.
 
Short answer ...Yes it'll get you a decent signal ...... certainly good enough to start learning and making some recordings that you'll be happy with.
You'll always have people tell you that Behringer is crap (where's Mr.Qcue?) but just ignore them for now.
Once you've learned more you'll be able to make your own decisions on what to buy once your budget allows better gear.

Personally, I think starting on beginner gear is what beginners should do. Learning to set levels and gains and EQ's on inexpensive gear to minimize noise and distortions teaches you a LOT more than having an expensive piece of gear that's so forgiving that you never really totally understand relationships between settings and the results because you get something decent without so much effort.
Most of us older recordists started on stuff that was crap by todays' standards ..... often not even as good as the starter gear you can get today.
I think it forces you to learn how to optimize your procedures and that is a good thing even when you get to where you're buying expensive gear.
 
adk46er said:
I guess "decent" for me is a signal that isn't distorted due to a defect in the recording stream. As suggested above, changing the converter from 16-bit to 24-bit should be an improvement...the current interface is still within the return date so I'll be returning it to get the 24-bit FireWire one. I guess "defect" is also a subjective word as well, but for me the bottom line is a recording that's a fairly close representation of what I played (in my case, on acoustic guitar). ...
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Well ... just about anything on the open market will fit that qualification. So you're in luck!

.
 
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