Looking for a start

  • Thread starter Thread starter Fastfeet29
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Fastfeet29

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Hey, I'm quite new to recording my raps and so on using my computer with a shitty microphone. I have been rapping my whole life though and been in battle tournaments and stuff, but i really want to start knuckling down and start making some music. I have been using cool edit pro with a microphone that costs 20 bucks and have also been making some beats with fruity loops.

But i know my quality isn't good enough. I went to a mic shop today looking at the mics and i have found out there not going to work that well with my commercial sound card on my computer plus i lack an area for them to plug in cause they require phantom power. Basically i just want to know what would be the best plan of attack with only only 400$ to get best quality out of that i can (which may not be good i realise , but better than what i have) I was thinking a new soundcard and a mic from that money. But is there something better? Like Buying something something seperate to your computer so a good mic can plug into that. I really don'y know. I have been trying to learn more , but for me it is rather complicated, so any suggestions at all would be really appreciated.

Cheers
 
check out MXL mics. either the Mogami (Change uses it) or the 990 (i use this one, "low end" but a great starter and pushed up my quality 1000x from what i was using back in the day). check off about $100 for a "quality" low end condensor, no matter what you get. then grab a phantom power box, unless you find a mixer or interface w/ phantom power built in. that will run you $30 for the power box alone. don't forget a pop-filter. $20. and a mic stand, $20. then look for a quality sound card. ask the guys here, they can all recommend something for you. i'd say the mic and sound card are most important. so if you break your budget, break it on a sound card.

break-down (my way):
Mic - $100
Power - $30
Pop filter - $20
Stand - $20
Card/Interface - $200??
cables - $25?

TOTAL: ~$400

and you already have Cool Edit and FL. so you don't need software. maybe look into upgrading to Adobe Audition 1.5 or 2.0 (Adobe is CoolEdit, they bought them out a while back).

in spite of having to upgrade some of my equipment - i'd like a better mic at some point and a new/better sound card or interface - i've been told i get very good results. check the links in my sig for the sounds.

welcome to the forum and good luck on your quest.
 
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO


Don't get a USB condenser mic, especially that one.... I have had far to many friends who bought that thing, and it sucks (compared to regular mics). For one thing, your signal is not going to be passed through a preamp that gives it a uni que sound, or a AD/DA converter that also gives it a unique sound. Maybe your bypassing that great sounding LA2A comp. Also how many components can you really fit into a mic?? 24/96khz recording? Probably not... more like 44.1 16bit. anyways there's a list full of reasons why not to go USB.

BUT. If your not technically advanced in any way, a USB mic might just work for YOU.... not for me or anyone else who is serious about recording that has a budget that can get something better.

I would suggest something like the M-Audio Delta 44/66 or 410 or even the 1814 as your interface. For mic's I would suggest going with something like the AT4040 or maybe an RE-20 (a little higher in $$). Then your monitors... the KRK RP-8's will be ok for the application your looking for. For now that is. Or the BX5a's...

Mic stand & pop filters are cheap.

Software wise.... That all depends. You can go with low end for now until you really start needing all the rest of the stuff offered by other companies. I personally would start off with something like Sonar 6, or 5, or you can go with Cubase (which I don't really recommend), or Adobe Audition. I personally use Sonar 5, Pro Tools, Nuendo 3 & Samplitude 7 at home for various reasons (IE: transfering sessions between different studios require you to have the same software).

If you do need a box with phantom power with it. Grab a VTB-1 preamp hook it up to the delta 44, and monitors to the delta 44 and your ready to go. The only difference between the 44 & 66 is basically the SPDIF connection. A delta 1010 might work for you too.

Mogami are cable makers. They have GREAT cables IMO. 80% of my setup runs Mogami wires & the other 20% are Monster Cables.
 
Thanks for all the advice, really appreciate it, I gotta take this all on board and figure everything out!
 
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