I have this stuff in my shopping cart (PIC) - Should I do it??

[blkdog7]

Ok, I have all this stuff in my shopping cart over at Musician's Friend. I'm about to pull the trigger. I am looking to replace my aging Cakewalk Pro Audio 9 and Sound Blaster setup with this new stuff. I'll be running the bundled Cubase LE on my G4 733 Mac.

So, do you see any horrid mistakes I am making? My budget is less than $1,000 total and I record mainly tube guitar amps (loud!) and vocals.

My other choices were an Mbox 2 Pro, or the Alesis or Phonic 16 track firewire mixer.

So, would you place this order?

CLICK BELOW TO SEE MY SHOPPING CART:

https://img170.imageshack.us/img170/4118/picture1vh3.png

 

[travelin travis]

looks good to me. i would probably consider an echo firewire interface though.

 

[breeeeza]

You dont really need the small condensor mic that comes in that mic package. You should maybe scrap that and get an sm57/58 cause they are good on both vocals and guitar amps/cabs. Then you shoud try and get monitors with 5" woofer, 4" i find dont have enough bass response so you wont be able to hear the 'rumble' you get from tube amps. consider the tascam vlx5 monitors i think they are only slightly more expensive. What have you got at the moment?

 

[blkdog7]

You dont really need the small condensor mic that comes in that mic package. You should maybe scrap that and get an sm57/58 cause they are good on both vocals and guitar amps/cabs. Then you shoud try and get monitors with 5" woofer, 4" i find dont have enough bass response so you wont be able to hear the 'rumble' you get from tube amps. consider the tascam vlx5 monitors i think they are only slightly more expensive. What have you got at the moment?

Wow, thanks for the great advice, this is what I need!

I currently have an SM58 that I use with my cheap PC setup which is Cakewalk Pro 9, Soundblaster Live Card, with PC speakers with a sub to monitor! So, I am looking to almost start from scratch. I thought I could use a mic upgrade but the SM58 has served me well. I thought maybe I should get a better mic for vocals. I'll look into those tascam monitors. Thanks!

 

[breeeeza]

Wow, thanks for the great advice, this is what I need!

I currently have an SM58 that I use with my cheap PC setup which is Cakewalk Pro 9, Soundblaster Live Card, with PC speakers with a sub to monitor! So, I am looking to almost start from scratch. I thought I could use a mic upgrade but the SM58 has served me well. I thought maybe I should get a better mic for vocals. I'll look into those tascam monitors. Thanks!

You must have heard the sm57's are used on guitar cabs etc.. all the time, well im pretty sure that the sm57 and 58 are the same mic except the wind filter on the top. I dont think your going to get a better sounding mic than the sm58 unless you pay much more, even though i dont know what the MXL's are like though.

 

[dgatwood]

You must have heard the sm57's are used on guitar cabs etc.. all the time, well im pretty sure that the sm57 and 58 are the same mic except the wind filter on the top. I dont think your going to get a better sounding mic than the sm58 unless you pay much more, even though i dont know what the MXL's are like though.

A better sounding mic for what? Vocals? I've seen mics costing half as much that sound better. The SM58 (or SM57) is a muddy, disgusting-sounding dog of a mic, IMHO. I've never used one on a guitar cab, but if you want to accurately reproduce the sound that the audience hears, I'm quite certain that won't do it justice.

Keep the small diaphragm condenser. It's much more versatile than an SM57/SM58. You can always get close to the sound of the SM series by adding a midrange boost and rolling off the high end above about 15kHz, but you can never get back the high frequencies once you record with a tubby sounding mic like the SM57/58.

If you want to do a moving coil dynamic vocal mic, find yourself a Shure 565SD used on eBay. It's pretty close to the SM58, costs half as much, and isn't nearly as muddy sounding, IMHO.

[Edit: Wow, it looks like the 565SD is back in production! Apparently you can buy them new again, and they're priced about like an SM58.]

 

[breeeeza]

A better sounding mic for what? Vocals? I've seen mics costing half as much that sound better. The SM58 (or SM57) is a muddy, disgusting-sounding dog of a mic, IMHO.

It may sound fantastic on one person, shit on the other. depends on your voice. I have heard of the sm58 been used for vocals on huge records, for example, the madness. He is only recording guitar cab's and vocals so i think getting the small condensor will be a waste, especially as he allready has an sm58.

 

[dgatwood]

It may sound fantastic on one person, shit on the other. depends on your voice. I have heard of the sm58 been used for vocals on huge records, for example, the madness. He is only recording guitar cab's and vocals so i think getting the small condensor will be a waste, especially as he allready has an sm58.

The 58 gets some use in vocal recording, but for home recording, you're better off getting a mic that's a good fit for what you're recording than trying to EQ a poorly suited mic to suit. I suppose there's probably a voice out there for which the SM58 is okay, but thus far, every time I've heard somebody insist that their voice sounds best on a 58, they've been wrong....

He didn't say he was exclusively recording cab and vocals. He said mainly. I suspect he will inevitably be recording something other than cab and vocals. For most other applications---acoustic guitar, percussion, whatever---a SDC is likely to be a much better choice than a 58, so it's worth having one even if you only use it occasionally.

 

[Mattman84]

Before buying the Firepod from Musiciansfriend, you should take a look at this thread:

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=217279

I too am about to buy a Firepod, but I've found a number of deals that will nab you some free stuff. I'm not entirely sure which one I'm going to go with yet. But for your situation it seems that a good plan would be to buy the Firepod from this link:

http://www.bayviewproaudio.com/FirePod_w__Free_HP4_HP_amp-p-22446.html

Have them match the Firepod's new $499 price point. This will get you a pair of small condenser mics and a Presonus HP4 headphone amp. Then you can sell the amp for $100 on Ebay, and downgrade your MXL package to just the large condenser for $69.99.

So now that you've saved yourself $130, I would recommend skipping on the Fostex and spending $125 more on a pair of Wharfedale Diamond Pro 8.2a.

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=123752&highlight=wharfedale+diamond+pro

Read Deepwater's post, the 7th one down. He'll give you a great price on them. I bought mine from him about a year and a half ago for $300 and I love them. Now he's lowered the price even more for Homerecording.com users. Do all this and you should (in theory) end up saving $5, getting an extra small condenser, and getting amazing monitors.

Or, if you're willing to get right up to your $1000 pricepoint, I would recommend skipping the MXL altogether and getting one of these:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/AudioTechnica-AT3035-Cardioid-Condenser-Microphone?sku=270557

This is the mic I use and I am definitely a fan of it. I think it is a great deal for the price. I can't actually compare it to the MXL since I've never used that mic, but I can only assume that you would be much happier with the AT3035. Plus you get a free pair of ATH-M20 headphones. I've got the M30's, and if the M20's are anything like them, they should be phenomenal. Doing this would put you right at $1,000. (assuming you could unload the HP4 for $100)

I hope all this helps!

 

[TragikRemix]

i would scrap the stands and get the pack of 6 onstage for $100, or the pack of 10 MF branded for $100.

way better deal, you'll use all them stands, i'm telling ya!

spend the extra $40, its the same exact onstage stand if you get those.

i'd skip the MXL too..

like people said, a 57 will do well. i have 4 of them, they're so useful.

maybe the AT2020 if you want a condensor. a lil better quality than the MXL.

 

[zacanger]

i would scrap the stands and get the pack of 6 onstage for $100, or the pack of 10 MF branded for $100.

way better deal, you'll use all them stands, i'm telling ya!

spend the extra $40, its the same exact onstage stand if you get those.

i'd skip the MXL too..

like people said, a 57 will do well. i have 4 of them, they're so useful.

maybe the AT2020 if you want a condensor. a lil better quality than the MXL.

Oooh, no, don't get the 10 MF stands. I just bought some MF stands, and they don't last, they're really shoddily made.
SM57s are useful, but I have found the MXLs to be useful too, especially if I use the 990 and my SM58 simultaneously on vocals.

 

[breeeeza]

The 58 gets some use in vocal recording, but for home recording, you're better off getting a mic that's a good fit for what you're recording than trying to EQ a poorly suited mic to suit. I suppose there's probably a voice out there for which the SM58 is okay, but thus far, every time I've heard somebody insist that their voice sounds best on a 58, they've been wrong....

He didn't say he was exclusively recording cab and vocals. He said mainly. I suspect he will inevitably be recording something other than cab and vocals. For most other applications---acoustic guitar, percussion, whatever---a SDC is likely to be a much better choice than a 58, so it's worth having one even if you only use it occasionally.

You did say in your previous post to use the mxl sdc and eq it.. i see were your coimg from though, he still has some spare cash $150 or so so he may aswell get the mic package and he allready has an sm58 so he cant loose.

 

[SRR]

If you are going to go with those mxl mics, which I might pass on, atleast get this package, and sell the audio buddy for $60 on ebay.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/shop/product?full_sku=703626

Speaking of ebay:

http://search.ebay.com/search/searc.../ws/&fkr=1&from=R8&satitle=firepod&category0=
Firepod deals abound there.

Mic stands, go for two of these (I have two of them, one musicians friend one and one onstage stand, the TAMA blows them away): http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Tama-MS205-Boom-Mic-Stand?sku=450200

Oh and don't skimp on monitors shoot for some wharfedales, KRK, M-audio, Event, etc. with 6-8inch bass drivers.

 

[TragikRemix]

Oooh, no, don't get the 10 MF stands. I just bought some MF stands, and they don't last, they're really shoddily made.
SM57s are useful, but I have found the MXLs to be useful too, especially if I use the 990 and my SM58 simultaneously on vocals.

i have the MF stands.

ive had them for almost a year. they are fine for studio stuff, they cant handle any abuse from gigging.

i used them on one gig where i miked up a kit and they didnt get messed up too bad from that.

i dont see anything wrong with them.. they are fine for any old dynamic mic. dont put a condensor on them though... unless SDC.

 

[blkdog7]

Hey everyone, thanks for the help!

I would be also recording some acoustic guitars but mainly electric guitars (tube amps) and vocals. Right now I have the 58 but I was looking to own a better range of mics, so you are correct.

If you notice, the Firepod at Musicians Friend comes with a free USB 2.0 external 60GB hard drive. Which is exactly what I need right now, my Mac is FULL!

I'm gonna do some research from all the links that everyone posted, thanks for the help! And if anyone has any more advice, like good monitors for around $300, it would be greatly appreciated!

 

[zacanger]

i have the MF stands.

ive had them for almost a year. they are fine for studio stuff, they cant handle any abuse from gigging.

i used them on one gig where i miked up a kit and they didnt get messed up too bad from that.

i dont see anything wrong with them.. they are fine for any old dynamic mic. dont put a condensor on them though... unless SDC.

Oh, really? Maybe I just got 1-in-1,000 bad stands.

 

[Mattman84]

Hey everyone, thanks for the help!

I would be also recording some acoustic guitars but mainly electric guitars (tube amps) and vocals. Right now I have the 58 but I was looking to own a better range of mics, so you are correct.

If you notice, the Firepod at Musicians Friend comes with a free USB 2.0 external 60GB hard drive. Which is exactly what I need right now, my Mac is FULL!

I'm gonna do some research from all the links that everyone posted, thanks for the help! And if anyone has any more advice, like good monitors for around $300, it would be greatly appreciated!

I'm not sure on this as I haven't used one before, but I've heard that using a USB hard drive for recording is not a great idea (unless it's used simply as a backup device...ie, data not being written to it during recording, but after), because the transfer rates aren't quick enough. Someone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong on this.

And I'll reiterate my enthusiasm on the Wharfedale Diamond Pro 8.2a's for $275 from Deepwater. Excellent sounding, great range, and a clear stereo field. I don't know why they're not sold for much, much more.

 

[blkdog7]

This drive is USB 2.0 so I am assuming it should be fine.

 

[rayc]

My '57 is my least favoured mic. I have all sorts of odds & ends & little condensers that I use before the 57. The 57 also needs lots of grunt from a preamp to perform.
1 question - are you abandoning Pro Audio 9 for a reason?
It's not state of the art but it can do an awful lot fairly easily & with a VST wrapper it can do even more.
I have a USB harddrive - it's cool & fairly fast at USB2 machines but I wouldn't use it to work from. I use it to store my cake bundles & projects for safety's sake.
I know when I pull up a project fom it it takes a few seconds & a bundle (with all the audio etc) takes longer still. Running USB2 & a gig or RAM seems to be pretty quick but I don't think I'd use anything less than a 2nd internal HDD.

 

[TragikRemix]

This drive is USB 2.0 so I am assuming it should be fine.

if you are using it while tracking, i'd say its not a good choice, unless you are doing one or two tracks at a time.

firewire is the way to go.

USB2.0 is actually NOT faster. there is some technicality that i can never remember, but it's something like this ;

USB2.0 is 480mbps combined both ways (?), that is, in and out. so that can be distributed anyway, say 240/240 i/o.

Firewire 400 is 400mbps BOTH WAYS, that is 400 up, 400 down.

i might have something wrong, but thats how i understood it to be, leading me to understand (and experience) that firewire is still superior to USB.

from my experience, tracking to a USB drive is impossible, it's just not fast enough, (nor is it compato completely with my interface..)