Is this a good start?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Neonlite
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Neonlite

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After a couple weeks of research and some help from this forum, I think I have found the pieces I need for the level of recording I am trying to do. First let me tell you what that level is so you guys can tell me if this should do the trick. I don't want to be dissatisfied with my new stuff a month from now. :)

I am the only musician I plan to record. I play guitars (electric/accoustic/bass) and sing. I will use a drum machine for the drum tracks :( for now although later, I may wish to record my real drums if I ever get good enough or someone else to play them. I play everything from christian-accoustical to grinding chainsaw metal. My purpose is to cut some CDs of my music purely for the enjoyment of me, my close friends, and family.

Here is what I am looking to buy:
1) Echo Mia with Cubasis VST software
2) M-Audio Audio Buddy 2-channel Preamp/Direct Box combo
3) Samson S11 Microphone

I still am not sure about recording the electric guitars. Is it better to go through my amplifier and mic it, use a guitar POD with amp and cabinet modelling and headphone output, or plug my effects daisy chain right into the Audio Buddy. Any advice? My POD is the Korg Pandora 4 and only has headphone out.

Am I missing anything? Do you think I should go a step better on any of the components?

I appreciate the responses and thanks in advance!

-Scott
 
Scott,

This is how I started out a few years ago, but just using my Soundblaster Live and Samplitude Recording software. I started with a software drum package called leafdrums, it is very adequate for what you want to do. Might be easier than a drum machine, just a thought.

I was using the Pandora 3, and recorded it "wet" directly to my sound card. Now I like to mic my amps, I just think you get a better sound from a tube amp being miked than from a digital effect box, IMO. But if you like the sound from the effects box then there's nothing wrong with it. I have many recording that way.

I also really like the sound of a tube preamp on my mics. ART and others make some relatively inexpensive tube preamps.

I've never used Cubasis, but it should do what you are trying to achieve. Also there are some excellent plugins available for Digital Multi track software programs, that you could also investigate to get the wide variety of sounds/effects that you want to incorporate.

Hope this helps some
Gatorhaus
 
Thanks gatorhaus. I appreciate the quick response. I will definitely check out the leafdrums software. I tried some drum machines and found them extremely difficult to use. I'm better with software than gadgets since developing software is my day job. :)

Any ideas on the best way to run the Pandora to the Echo Mia? Should I bother going through the Direct Box or go directly from the headphone jack to the Echo Mia's balanced TSR inputs?

Thanks again! I appreciate the input! I'm about to spend $350+ and want it to last me at least a year or 2 before I want more! :)
 
As far micing the amp goes I would say yes. But that's just me because I am very satisfied with the sound I get from my amp. You need to consider which method sounds better to you. Also you need to consider which method will give you an acceptable quality. But I'm no expert so take my advice sparingly. Not that I said much to begin with.
 
Stay away from the samson mics, spend a few a littlec more and get yourself a sm57 to start or a nice condenser mic.If your primarily recording guitar you can't go wrong with a 57.Stay away from samson anything....:cool:
 
Neonlite said:
Thanks gatorhaus. I appreciate the quick response. I will definitely check out the leafdrums software. I tried some drum machines and found them extremely difficult to use. I'm better with software than gadgets since developing software is my day job. :)

Any ideas on the best way to run the Pandora to the Echo Mia? Should I bother going through the Direct Box or go directly from the headphone jack to the Echo Mia's balanced TSR inputs?

Thanks again! I appreciate the input! I'm about to spend $350+ and want it to last me at least a year or 2 before I want more! :)
Click to expand...

Scott,

The mia's inputs are +4db balanced trs, the output of the pandora is a stereo output, so I dont think you can put it directly, without going through the preamp, maybe some else better qualified can answer.

I used to run my pandora straight to the line level in on my soundblaster and get pretty decent results. Now after buying an aardvark q10. The sounds are amazing comparatively speaking. You might want to look at a sound card with a breakout box with its own preamps installed. You can get an aarvark direct pro for 499. Probably more than you wanted to spend but you wouldn't need the preamp/DI box and this will allow you to record up to 4 input simultaneously.

Any reason in particular you wanted the mia?

As far as the mics. never used samson, don't know, but Shures are the standard.

Hope this helps some,
Gatorhaus
 
Thanks for all the replies.

Gatorhaus, I chose the Mia primarily because of the price. But I am somewhat flexible. I will look into the card you recommended.

Has anyone heard of the SCM950 Cardiod Condensor Mic by Nady Systems? I saw it on sale for $59.99. Is it worth it? Should I look for a Sure condensor Mic or will I only be paying for the name at the lower end? Thanks again!
 
I'm guessing your Pandora's headphone out is intended to double as a stereo line out. I would get whatever cable (probably a Y cable with a 1/8 or 1/4 inch stereo plug on one end and two 1/4 plugs on the other end) you need to go from it into the audio buddy and let the audio buddy handle matching the levels to the MIA's input. If you are going to record it direct, that is, instead of micing an amp.

I can't offer an opinion on that microphone but can commiserate on the matter of a tight budget. My primary mics are one of those V67 large diaphragm condensors, an ElectroVoice 257 dynamic, a Radio Shack PZM, and a small, bright sounding AKG Dynamic that I picked up for 13 bucks at an auction, including a decent cable. As cheap as it is, I like my V67 a lot. I have experienced Neumanns and 414s and things like that in classes, but those mics are a daydream to me at this point....you probably also can't go wrong with a Shure 57, and you will always find a use for it in the future.


Don't forget about things like a mic stand (indispensible), a pop filter (basically pantyhose stretched over a wire hanger or emproidery hoop--stops your "p"s from popping in your recording) and some way to monitor your recording (headphones, etc.)--to overdub, you must be able to hear what you've already recorded!

OB
 
Neonlite said:
Thanks for all the replies.

Gatorhaus, I chose the Mia primarily because of the price. But I am somewhat flexible. I will look into the card you recommended.

Has anyone heard of the SCM950 Cardiod Condensor Mic by Nady Systems? I saw it on sale for $59.99. Is it worth it? Should I look for a Sure condensor Mic or will I only be paying for the name at the lower end? Thanks again!
Click to expand...

Scott,

I bought Nady's SCM 900 for about $60 or $70 about nine months ago, just to try it out, with an ART tube preamp MPV3(Good preamp for about $120)

I tested against a Rode NTK (Emusicians best mike under a $1000 in 2001) in my buddies studio just to compare. We were both amazed at the comparison. You could tell a difference at the high ends (it was a little thin) but for under a $100 it was defintely worth it. Very warm sounding on vocals and acoustic guitar. I really like for an inexpensive condenser mike. Just remember, you do need phanton power for those.

I personally like the NADY products for the price (I'm sure I'll get blasted for this comment). But for budget constraits they are not a bad starting point.

Later,
Gatorhaus
 
Thanks again for the advice, Gatorhaus. A condensor mic will be the next thing I add since after looking at the Shure 57, it will probably fit what I'm trying to do. I mic my amp with it when not recording direct and use it for vocals for now.

Osbick Bird,
Thanks so much for the added information. I have good headphones, but I will definitely need a mic stand and pop filter. I think the Shure 57 will work best for me after looking at it.
 
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