I am a true newbie that needs some serious help

  • Thread starter Thread starter ChoppinBroccoli
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ChoppinBroccoli

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Hi, I want to set up my PC for home recording. I plan to record vocals, guitar, and bass (usually only 2 at a time), and edit them with Multitrack software such as Cakewalk, or Vegas. I also plan to add drumbeats from FruityLoops.

After much reading, I'm thinking about going with a Gadget Labs Wave/496 and a Presonus Blue Tube preamp for recording. For playback, I plan to just use my stereo.

Do you think this is a good way to do the whole recording thing, or should I get a mixer instead of a preamp? I plan to pay less than $500 for an audio card, and less than $300 for a preamp.

Currently, the Wave/496 vs. Delta 44, and the Blue Tube vs. Audio Buddy vs. Midiman DM2 battle is truly giving me a headache.

Ok, I've asked like a gazillion questions so I'll stop.

Any ideas?
 
Ok, I'm getting mixed feedback from this forum and the other one.

They say go with a Mackie mixer, and you guys say stick with the preamp.

I'll have plently of thinking to do.
 
Since you basically are only recording single sound-sources, you don't need an external mixer. That is only needed when the amount of sound sources (mics, usually) is above the number of inputs (two in this case).
 
yup , no need for a mixer.. although have you looked into the art dual channel tube mp (?) as your preamp? its under 300 and supposedly yields excellent quality.

- eddie -
 
Go with a mixer, it leaves you so man more options itz nuts. U can do live, have some nice control room options. U also will have a handy headphone preamp(or for your control room amp). Aux mixing busses, channel inserts for a compressor(or eq) and tonnes of outputs. And I am also using the Mackie 1202-VLZ pro. Get the mixer, it will give you so many more options to go bigger in the future. I origanly planned to have a small personal studio..... that bled over to having one worth bout $3000. Thats not huge but for just a personal studio itz big enough.

Get the Mackie =)

Sabith
 
Thanks for the help.

And sorry about the cross-post. I posted in "Computer Recording and Soundcards", and then when I realized there was a newbie section, I thought this would be more fit. Anyhoo, it won't happen again.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ChoppinBroccoli:
They say go with a Mackie mixer, and you guys say stick with the preamp.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
No, were saying you don't NEED a mixer. What you NEED is a preamp. There are basically three options: A preamp built into the sound card. A preamp built into a mixer. A standalone preamp. If there is no preamp built in to the sound card, or it sucks, you need either preamp or mixer. A mixer would give you more options, but also be more expensive. A good preamp you can get for maybe $150. For that you will not get much of a mixer (nor much of a sound card for that matter)... Also, some mics need phantom power, so if you have mics like that, you need a cound card, preamp or mixer that has phantom power.
Do you have any good microphones?

[This message has been edited by regebro (edited 07-17-2000).]
 
"they" was referring to the people in the "Computer Recording and Soundcards" forum. Not meant to be mean or anything.

Anyways, I understand I need a preamp, and I think I'll go with a mixer to solve that problem. But just a couple of questions.

Is the quality of the preamps in a mixer (say the Mackie 1202) better/worse/same as the quality of a standalone preamp (say a Midiman DM2 or an ART dual MP)?

And everyone keeps telling me there are more options with a mixer, but what are these options? I mean, couldn't I just mix with software (like Cakewalk) anyhow?
 
Better, worse, you'll find all kinds of opinions. I've read (and certainly Mackie themselves say it a lot) that the XDR preamps in the new Mackies are great. In my own experience the ones in my cheapo Behringer MX1604A sound quiet and clear. A lot of folk think the cheap preapmps in most mixers sound too pristine and characterless and like to warm it up with an outboard preamp, often featuring an actual tube in the circuitry to warm up the sound.

I think you're on the right track to buy a Mackie or som,ething ans see how you like the preamps. If they sound too "perfect" for you, try some tube preamps like the ART Tube MP and see if that does it for you.

But decent clean preamps and a good mic are better than a fab preamp and a cruddy mic.
 
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