I need some opinions...

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Steve Henningsgard

Steve Henningsgard

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This post is primarily geared around the discussion of microphones and related hardware, so I figured this would be the best forum to post it in.

I'm currently in the process of building my mic collection from the ground up, and I'd like to have some opinions on the choices I've made thus far! Some quick background: I'm going to be recording primarily heavy bands in a rented practice space for fun and profit. I've been doing so in some fashion for several years, and have decided to go "pro" as it were. It will take many, many years and thousands of recordings to get good enough to call myself a professional, but with this goal in mind I'd like to start off making good decisions right off the bat!

Budget-wise, I've set aside approx. $1000-1200 for mics, pres, stands, etc. I'd like to have 10x that budget, but that $1 bill I planted a couple years ago still isn't flowering yet...

As I'll be recording primarily heavy music, I've planned the following mics:

4 x SM57's (three toms & snare)
1 x kick mic (possibly b52 or Audix d6)
2 x SDC's (the Oktava MK102's most likely)
1 x LDC (for vox & room)

So far, I've purchased one mic: a Shure KSM27. I'd read many good reviews, and with the limited experience I've had so far they seem well-deserved. I decided on the 57's 'cause, while not spectacular at any specific task, they are quite versatile which is important when you don't have a hell of a lot of cash. Kick-wise, I've heard great reviews on the Audix d6. The Oktava's have come up in nearly every SDC thread I've seen anywhere on the net, and they're 99% positive comments.

As for other equipment, I've got a Behringer (don't hurt me! I was young & foolish!) UB2442-Pro mixer w/ 8 x pres, a Delta 1010, and a decent computer with Sonar 4. I know a decent tube pre should be up on my list as well, I was looking at the ART series due to smashing reviews and low cost.

Thoughts?
 
steve.h said:
This post is primarily geared around the discussion of microphones and related hardware, so I figured this would be the best forum to post it in.

I'm currently in the process of building my mic collection from the ground up, and I'd like to have some opinions on the choices I've made thus far! Some quick background: I'm going to be recording primarily heavy bands in a rented practice space for fun and profit. I've been doing so in some fashion for several years, and have decided to go "pro" as it were. It will take many, many years and thousands of recordings to get good enough to call myself a professional, but with this goal in mind I'd like to start off making good decisions right off the bat!

Budget-wise, I've set aside approx. $1000-1200 for mics, pres, stands, etc. I'd like to have 10x that budget, but that $1 bill I planted a couple years ago still isn't flowering yet...

As I'll be recording primarily heavy music, I've planned the following mics:

4 x SM57's (three toms & snare)
1 x kick mic (possibly b52 or Audix d6)
2 x SDC's (the Oktava MK102's most likely)
1 x LDC (for vox & room)

So far, I've purchased one mic: a Shure KSM27. I'd read many good reviews, and with the limited experience I've had so far they seem well-deserved. I decided on the 57's 'cause, while not spectacular at any specific task, they are quite versatile which is important when you don't have a hell of a lot of cash. Kick-wise, I've heard great reviews on the Audix d6. The Oktava's have come up in nearly every SDC thread I've seen anywhere on the net, and they're 99% positive comments.

As for other equipment, I've got a Behringer (don't hurt me! I was young & foolish!) UB2442-Pro mixer w/ 8 x pres, a Delta 1010, and a decent computer with Sonar 4. I know a decent tube pre should be up on my list as well, I was looking at the ART series due to smashing reviews and low cost.

Thoughts?

Those mics are fine. Concentrate on the mixer and monitors as well as a properly treated monitor room. You can deal with at least 1 good 2 channel pre-amp and go directly to the recorder, but with that mixer, your end sound will be very hard to accomplish.

I would go to a better mixer provided you are not mixing ITB.

If you are only using this mixer for monitoring, it will do.

Monitors and treated room are the first step in your situation.
You can use the sm57s exclusively and not be ashamed.

Bass traps are a good investment.
 
Thanks man, I forgot to mention my monitors! I've got a set of KRK RP5's, which work fine for my purposes. A little light on the bass, but as you said the environment may have something to do with it.

As for acoustic treatment, I'm actually going out to the hardware store today to try to jimmy-rig some high- and mid-frequency absorbers out of fiberglass insulation (hopefully they've got something remotely decent: I've heard my odds aren't good).

This should be fun!


*edit: I'm just using the mixer for tracking. There's no way in hell I'd put anything more through that thing than I have to: I was debating selling it for a decent 8-channel pre, but there are channels going out so I doubt I'd get any money for it anyway...
 
i use 3 sm57's on toms, and an i5 on snare, just something a lil different.

the hell with mid-hi absorbers, bass traps is where it's at.

use your behri until i can't any longer. i was using the same one just for the 8 direct outputs for a while, but that is long sold now. lasted like 4 months before i needed the upgrade.
 
TragikRemix said:
the hell with mid-hi absorbers, bass traps is where it's at.

In a 15' x 15' x 12' practice space with thin sheetrock walls, you might say different :) I mean, bass traps are very important in my situation, yes, and I'm looking into them. But there's a hell of a lot of basically every frequency bouncing all over the place!

Has anyone else had any experience with the 55 gallon plastic drum w/ thick insulation in it trick?
 
$900 mic budget for a band:

Overheads (+ 2 bonus tom mics): MXL 990/991 package X 2 ($200)
Snare/cabs: SM57 & i5 ($200)
Kick/bass cab: Shure 52: ($200)
Vox: SM7 ($300 new at GC)

Edit: Stick with dynamics as much as possible until you get a better room.
 
Ebay can be your friend, don't forget that...I just picked up an API 3124+ and saved $300 from what it usually is, as well as another AKG c414 with all accessories for only $600
 
Instead of Shure 57s on the toms, look into Beyerdynamic M81s, I like them better (for drums) and they're probably less money. I second the looking into a little better pres. A room mic, an Oktava MKL 2500 or MXL 2003 may get you by/make you happy. Just some options. Oh, kick drum: ATM 25 by audio technica, it's fantastic, I would take it over anything listed and you can pick them up cheap.
 
i'd suggest looking into the audix dp-5a set...it has a D6 for the kick, i5 for snare(which is totally superior to the sm-57), and D2's/D4 for the toms, along with rim mounts and a road case...all for around $550 - about what you'd pay for a D6 and 4 SM-57's
 
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