I need advice about the M-audio fireware

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rodrigovivas

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I supose this thread is kind of wasted but I'm new here. I have around $300 to spend in devices for home/computer recording. I own (well, my dad really) a Sony Vaio with a firewire conection. I was wondering if a "M-audio solo firewire" and "Shure SM57" are the best gadgets to buy in this price range. I want to record vocals, guitar, bass and drum machine , no acoustic drums at all. I have head that the SM57 does a fine job recording vocals and amps. What alternatives can you give or what are the pros and cons of this set? Thak you.
 
rodrigovivas said:
I supose this thread is kind of wasted but I'm new here. I have around $300 to spend in devices for home/computer recording. I own (well, my dad really) a Sony Vaio with a firewire conection. I was wondering if a "M-audio solo firewire" and "Shure SM57" are the best gadgets to buy in this price range. I want to record vocals, guitar, bass and drum machine , no acoustic drums at all. I have head that the SM57 does a fine job recording vocals and amps. What alternatives can you give or what are the pros and cons of this set? Thak you.
Click to expand...

For $300, I'd buy this. The FireBox is a much better interface:

  • more inputs
  • more outputs
  • no M-Audio drivers
  • probably better pres (assuming the FireBox pres are same as FirePod and the FW Solo are the same as the FW1814)

Oh, and IMHO, the AT2020 is a much better mic than an SM57 (except maybe if you're doing PA work with it). Less high frequency roll-off. And along with that package, you also get a (pretty much worthless) mic stand and a free cable, all for right at $300. FWIW, the mic stand in that package (assuming it's the same one from the FirePod package a few months ago) will pretty much hold the AT2020 (a relatively lightweight mic), but that's about it. :D

You might even qualify for various rebates from Presonus.... Last month, it was a bunch of plug-ins. I think there was a month where they gave away a free HP4 headphone amp, though that might have just been with the FirePod. Anyway, there's usually some factory-direct special rebate from Presonus. You can usually find the coupons from Sweetwater. :D
 
If you're going to get an SM-57 for recording guitar & bass etc, try and stretch to the beta version. When the SM57 Beta is close miked the bass frequences are boosted, when it is not it operates in the same fashion as a normal sm-57. If you just buy the normal 57 your bass will be punchy and lacking any lows. Both versions are really good for guitar & vocals, the 57 is especially good for female vocalists or male vocalists with a higher range. You will have to buy a popper stopper for the normal sm-57 though if your using it for vocals, the beta version isn't as suseptable to popping.

Take a look at the freq responce graph;

http://shure.com/ProAudio/Products/WiredMicrophones/us_pro_Beta57A_content

Hope this helps
 
Thanks man. Great package and really useful information. Another question: aren't laptop's soundcards really bad for recording? Does this matter when using an interface?
 
rodrigovivas said:
Thanks man. Great package and really useful information. Another question: aren't laptop's soundcards really bad for recording? Does this matter when using an interface?
Click to expand...

In order: Yes. No.
 
orson198305 said:
If you're going to get an SM-57 for recording guitar & bass etc, try and stretch to the beta version. When the SM57 Beta is close miked the bass frequences are boosted, when it is not it operates in the same fashion as a normal sm-57. If you just buy the normal 57 your bass will be punchy and lacking any lows
Click to expand...

Time to bring this out again:

Top 10 uses for an SM57

:D
 
Exactly YOU have never been able to get a good sound out of it, look at the amount of competition - the best engineers in the world still swear by this mic. Just google for some pro recording studios they all have more than one SM57. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean it doesn't sound good, mabye your unable to use equiptment correctly as i know what "pro engineer" actually means. Most people don't have to post their background to help someone or prove a point, you however have. :D
 
Different mics are used for different sound sources - mabye the sources you use are crap?

Hope this helps you
 
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