Initial Set up for my Home Studio

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sudhan_venkat

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Hi Folks,

Thanks for the welcome !

I planned to set up a Home Studio just to record vocals with some Karoke tracks and gradually add a guitar/ keyboard, so at the outset require some help in the set up.

I have a desktop computer (Dell Inspiron 580) which runs Windows 7, iball 5.1 booster computer speakers and a DAW.

Couple of things I have put together, do require you expert option on the choices made:

1. Microphone (my choice is Shure - SM57 or SM58) is that a good choice ? or would you suggest something else ? do I need to get xlr to usb converter ?

2. Audio Interface - Presounus Audio Box 22 VSL 24 bit/ 96 khz 2X2 USB 2.0/ PreSonus AudioBox USB 2x2 USB Recording Interface ?? which one is better though both of them have a great difference in pricing!

For the initial phase can/will I be able to use my computer speakers and later upgrade.
3. Studio Monitors:- M Audio BX-5a, though I am not finding new ones on Amazon, is there some other good ones please suggest

Would it be necessary for me to change the sound card in my computer, please advice if I am missing something ?

Kr,
Sudhan
 
sudhan_venkat said:
Hi Folks,

Thanks for the welcome !

I planned to set up a Home Studio just to record vocals with some Karoke tracks and gradually add a guitar/ keyboard, so at the outset require some help in the set up.

I have a desktop computer (Dell Inspiron 580) which runs Windows 7, iball 5.1 booster computer speakers and a DAW.

Couple of things I have put together, do require you expert option on the choices made:

1. Microphone (my choice is Shure - SM57 or SM58) is that a good choice ? or would you suggest something else ? do I need to get xlr to usb converter ?

2. Audio Interface - Presounus Audio Box 22 VSL 24 bit/ 96 khz 2X2 USB 2.0/ PreSonus AudioBox USB 2x2 USB Recording Interface ?? which one is better though both of them have a great difference in pricing!

For the initial phase can/will I be able to use my computer speakers and later upgrade.
3. Studio Monitors:- M Audio BX-5a, though I am not finding new ones on Amazon, is there some other good ones please suggest

Would it be necessary for me to change the sound card in my computer, please advice if I am missing something ?

Kr,
Sudhan
Click to expand...


1 For starters, SM58 is fine. There are better mikes around, of course, and in time you will probably want to have a look at those. Forget about XLR to USB converter, an interface gives you immediate future flexibility (see next point).

2 Either of the audioboxes will be fine, but, again, if you are starting out, I would suggest the Audiobox 2 x 2 (and a quick look suggest it would be the cheaper one). If you get either interface, you can plug XLR mikes straight into them and you don't need XLR to USB converters. Also, the interfaces have phantom power, which allows you to switch to a condenser mike later on.

3 You could use your computer speakers. You would have to select your computer's soundcard as an output device, and the presonus as an input device. You may find yourself dissatisfied with the sound of your PC speakers, and you may experience latency through using the PC's soundcard.

A better way of doing things is to get the BX-5a monitors, hook them up to the audiobox, and use the audiobox for recording and playing back (including sound of anything else you do on the computer (e.g. games).

It is not necessary to change the sound card in your computer. More to the point, the sound card is not necessary at all if you get the audio box, because it takes over all the functions of the internal soundcard.
 
Thanks for your reply and help.

With your suggestions in place I will go with
1. Shure SM57 Microphone/ Boom Stand/Cable/ Pop Filter - $125 (http://www.amazon.com/SM57-LC-Instr...F8&qid=1416148192&sr=1-10&keywords=Shure+SM57)
2. PreSonus AudioBox USB 2x2 USB Recording Interface (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00154KSA2...TF8&colid=34GA5AL2HFO42&coliid=I23VWQDLW6R6UH)

As far as the studio monitors are concerned as I am not getting to buy the new ones of M Audio BX-5a, would you suggest anything any other brand within the budget of $200.

When I had almost finalized on PreSonus AudioBox USB 2x2 USB Recording Interface I read about the M-Audio M-Track Plus 2-Channel do you think its a better one ?

Thanks in advance

 
Hi Sudhan and welcome.

I have looked at the specc' for your computer and it seems to be an i3 processor with 4G ram and Win7 64 bit? That is virtually the same specification as my HP laptop and I have no problem running audio on that, up to 20 tracks play out of Cubase no problem.

Re your speakers, there might be a "quick and dirty" solution? Do they plug into the PC soundcard via a 3.5mm stereo jack plug? If so you could instead plug that into the headphone output of whichever AI you get. It WOULD be more elegant to use a "2 jacks to 3.5mm" adaptor lead but you might have trouble finding one and bearing that last in mind! Try to get some education regarding making and mending audio leads.

Dave.
 
Thanks

Read a lot of review which states that PreSonus AudioBox USB 2x2 USB Recording Interface and Shure SM 58 do go well, its says

"I can confirm the reports that the preamps don't have enough gain to handle dynamic mics-- I tested a Shure SM 57, a Beta 58 and and old Audiotechnica dynamic. You have to turn the gain all the way up on the Audiobox and get right up on the mic to get a useable signal. That leads to a problem with Channel 1 -- when the input volume is cranked up all the way, it begins to emit a high-pitched whine which will go into the recording. You can get rid of most of it by unplugging the laptop, so it's a grounding problem with the laptop--other devices have caused that noise also. But it's a nuisance, since the pathetic battery in my HP won't last for more than an hour. Oddly, Channel 2 on the Audiobox doesn't have this noise problem"

and other says

"There are some drawbacks to consider about the SM57. While it does not need phantom power, it does need a lot of gain at the preamp when recording softer sounds. That can bring in more noise from the preamp (the Mic itself is generally quiet). The SM57, as mentioned before, does not capture the very low or very high frequencies as well as condensers. You can use EQ to bring up these frequencies if you need to and for vocals and guitar I recommend that if its the only mic you own. If you use it outdoors on gigs make sure to bring along a windscreen. A big positive about the SM57 is that it will continue to be useful even after you upgrade to high end preamps. The amazing thing about the SM57 is that it sounds different through a high end preamp. When I first plugged the SM57 into a Great River ME1-NV I could not believe it was my SM57. The sound was open, clean, and had much more transparency. No wonder professionals like it. The under $100 SM57 hold up just as well as any professional mic, including those that cost ten times as much. Its just a matter of finding the mic that is most appropriate to the sound being recorded, and if there are snares, kicks, brass and amps around, chances are good the SM57 will be deployed."

As this microphone for vocals is going to used for recording more or female vocals would be right for me to go ahead with the SM 57 or do I have to look out on Large Diaphragm Microphones, like the Rode NT1a, budget is under $200-250 but if it makes the buy worthwhile to have it for 4-5 years could stretch upto $500.

Also suggest if the SM 57 is a good vocal reording microphone and if need to change the Pre amp to get more gain in recording, suggest a good pre amp.

Thanks for the help in advance.
 
The Audio box is bus powered i.e. it draws its power from the USB port not a mains power unit. If the laptop is not connected to anything else but its own charger there cannot be an earth loop. The whine the "reviewer" mentioned is likely to be a fault in his laptop or the mic was picking up switching interference from the power supply cable.

To say you need a mic pre to go with an SM57/58 and an AI is rather silly. The AI might not have a lot of gain but if it is quiet enough, even the 57 will give enough level. My NI KA6 has only modest gain and I need it maxed out for acoustic guitar to hit -20dBFS with a 57 about a foot away but this returns a noise floor of some -75dBFS and that is about as quiet as I can get my room (I put up with the clock ticking in the next room!)

If you want to have some level in hand go for a Small Diaphragm Capacitor microphone. I have a couple of AKG Perception 150s (now the P170) and they suit me fine. Much more sensitive than a dynamic but not as sensitive as the big side address jobbies. The P170 also has a 20dB pad switch so you can knock down the sensitivity for very close or very loud work.

Dave.
 
I get enough gain with my sm58 from my Focusrite 2i2 and imagine the Presonus has similar preamps...
 
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