My Recording Equipment (Good or Bad)?

[Det (:]

I ordered a DX4 Studio Bundle consisting of an MXL 990 Condenser Mic, 2 Nady CYM-2 Dual Condenser Mics, Sennheiser HD 202 Headphones, and a pair of M-Audio DX4 Studio Monitors. I also added a Behringer Xenyx 1204FX as a mixer. I will also use my Digitech RP150 as an effects pedal for my Les Paul Jr (yes. i know it's cheap). This will be my first try using recording equipment. I currently have no experience whatsoever in recording since I'm only 15. But I would like to learn it. I'd like to know if I bought the right equipment and will I be able to create a good set of recording tracks using those for now. I will upgrade later on. And will probably create a new set up after learning the basics.

Also, I'd like to know some helpful recording tips. So if you have any, don't be hesitant to give some.

Thanks.


I have Adobe Audition, Sony Soundforge and Sony ACID all installed into my laptop.

 

[WhiteStrat]

I'll be honest with you: you bought entry level (the more blunt would call it "cheap"). But you've got the right attitude--you want to learn and get some experience. And you're already anticipating the need to upgrade.

So yes, you'll be able to make decent tracks with what you've ordered. And you'll have tons to learn, and probably have a blast doing it. Just be careful of the temptation to want ot buy, buy, buy--especially when you read folks around here dissing cheaper gear.

Don't worry about it. Not until a) you've gotten the most out of it; and b) you can really afford to make an upgrade that will make a difference.

Bottom line: you've got the tools on the way. Now focus on learning how to use those tools. (FWIW--I wish I'd started out with your list and your attitude. I started with even less and expected even more!)

Good luck and welcome to the board!

 

[Det (:]

Thanks dude! I don't think I'm going to buy and upgrade just yet. I still need to earn some cash to buy more expensive stuff. Just like what you said, I will first master how my equipment works and will experiment on what works best and what doesn't.

If I do plan on upgrading, which equipment do you suggest I should upgrade next?

 

[WhiteStrat]

Thanks dude! I don't think I'm going to buy and upgrade just yet. I still need to earn some cash to buy more expensive stuff. Just like what you said, I will first master how my equipment works and will experiment on what works best and what doesn't.

If I do plan on upgrading, which equipment do you suggest I should upgrade next?

That's a big question, bro. It's real easy to get hung up on mics & preamps (don't get me wrong--great mics & pres are great tools) and some will say good pres make crappy mics sound better, and some will say good mics sound good even in crappy pres. It goes round and round.

Never mind that stuff for a while. First should come your space--where you record and monitor. Do some research (there's a bunch of info right here on this board) on making your room sound good. Your performance and your playback have to sound good in your room first, or none of the gear matters. And you've got to have good monitors--or you'll never know what kind of difference any of the other upgrades are making.

Good luck!

 

[Rokket]

I would add that in recording, a good musician turning in a great performance in a good room is probably 90% of the process.

Learning to mix takes time. It's easier when your tracks are done right from the start. Good luck with it. I didn't get into it until I was in my late 30's. I wish I would have been able to start sooner. You already have an advantage over a lot of us.

 

[jdier]

I ordered a DX4 Studio Bundle consisting of an MXL 990 Condenser Mic, 2 Nady CYM-2 Dual Condenser Mics, Sennheiser HD 202 Headphones, and a pair of M-Audio DX4 Studio Monitors. I also added a Behringer Xenyx 1204FX as a mixer. I will also use my Digitech RP150 as an effects pedal for my Les Paul Jr (yes. i know it's cheap). This will be my first try using recording equipment. I currently have no experience whatsoever in recording since I'm only 15. But I would like to learn it. I'd like to know if I bought the right equipment and will I be able to create a good set of recording tracks using those for now. I will upgrade later on. And will probably create a new set up after learning the basics.

Also, I'd like to know some helpful recording tips. So if you have any, don't be hesitant to give some.

Thanks.


I have Adobe Audition, Sony Soundforge and Sony ACID all installed into my laptop.

You have more than enough stuff to get a good start. The only things I would suggest is maybe savefor/beg for an SM57 mic. You will have it for the rest of your life and it will eliminate almost any second guessing you might have about sounds... The SM57 is not the solution to everything, but it certainly would be a good addition for you.

Also, I would recommend recording your guitar amp with a mic. Don't plug your guitar into your mixing board.

Good luck and have fun.

 

[suprstar]

I would add that in recording, a good musician turning in a great performance in a good room is probably 90% of the process.

Learning to mix takes time. It's easier when your tracks are done right from the start. Good luck with it. I didn't get into it until I was in my late 30's. I wish I would have been able to start sooner. You already have an advantage over a lot of us.

Definately. Cheap gear and a little know-how is better than being clueless in a room full of Neve's and U87's. Play with it and get some experience, you can certainly attain decent results with your stuff.

 

[OggOrbisRecords]

. Don't plug your guitar into your mixing board.

Sorry if it seems as if I'm butting in (this post also may be old, didn't even check the date) but Why do you say not to plug directly into the mixing board? I do it, always have, and the only difference I notice is direct-in has more punch and better quality, but lacks natural room reverb. Just wondered if there's something I'm missing out on that I may not have realized back when I started recording and tried amp-micing.

 

[gecko zzed]

What you've got is cheap gear that is good value for money. It's a great start to your self-imposed apprenticeship, and you should, after a while, be able to produce reasonable quality material.

Your choice of mixer is good in that it does, on a smaller scale, what larger and more elaborate desks do, but with the advantage of being not too complicated to start with.

Someone asked why you should record a guitar via an amp being miked, rather than going straight into the desk. The reasons are aesthetic, rather than technical, i.e. there is no electronic obstacle to doing this, but quite often guitars don't sound that nice without the benefit of the colour that the amp gives.

 

[Ripthorn]

With the gear you have, you should be able to do some great stuff and learn a lot. The only thing I can say is don't expect your tracks to sound like one of the big name bands in terms of quality. But don't let that stop you. You have better equipment than when I started.

 

[jdier]

Sorry if it seems as if I'm butting in (this post also may be old, didn't even check the date) but Why do you say not to plug directly into the mixing board? I do it, always have, and the only difference I notice is direct-in has more punch and better quality, but lacks natural room reverb. Just wondered if there's something I'm missing out on that I may not have realized back when I started recording and tried amp-micing.

Yeah, good catch. I should not have said that.

If a clean sound or DI sound is what you like and it works for you, then it is 100% cool.

I said it like that because more often than not people plug into the board then come hear and post "why does my guitar not sound like Jimi?"

If plugged right in gives you the sound you are looking for it is a 100% acceptable approach.

My bad.

Jim