My recording setu

[Fyre]

Okay this is the setup that I think I will go with can I please get some comments on what you guys think about this setup. Im not looking for pro quality but I do want something close. Oh by the way I am only recording vocals for rap/ hip hop songs so I dont need lots of outputs and things of that nature

Audiophile 2496
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=rec/search/detail/base_pid/701341/ - $100

MXL V63M Condenser Studio Microphone
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=live/search/detail/base_pid/273158/ - $80

Pop Filter
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=rec/search/detail/base_pid/420373/ - $18

RCA – RCA cord
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=rec/search/detail/base_pid/336951/ - $20

1/4 in. – RCA cord
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=rec/search/detail/base_pid/333034/ - $5

Headphones
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=rec/search/detail/base_pid/270552/ - $30

Preamp
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=rec/search/detail/base_pid/184125/ - $100

I will be using my stero system in my room for mixing because the audiophile has RCA jacks that I can just connect to my stero's aux channel so Im thinking I dont really need monitors because with the stero I can mix so that it sounds good in the stero, headphones, and computer speakers which should be enough.

 

[wheelema]

Wow. Pretty anal. Never seen anyone spec out their cables before. Drop the Presonus in favor of a M-Audio DMP-3 and don't cherish the illusions that headphones are going to suffice. You will need a pair of monitors.

Luck.

 

[tommy2toes]

Your RCA cords are good but I would replace everything else. Especially the rap/hip hop part.

 

[heroics321]

wow, i always thought this forum was for home recording tips, not for judging musical taste... guess i was wrong. maybe a name change is in order.

 

[airdvl]

nice!

Fyre. Looks like youve done a good job of researching what you can get on YOUR budget. The suggestion to go to the m-audio pre-amp missed the mark because you obviously want to use a tube preamp with adjustable warmth (distortion) whatever. The solid state one wouldnt do this. Cutting out designated monitors to come close as you can by using a variety of speakers that you are used to hearing is a great idea (IMHO). The key thing here is that you are making do with what you can afford with an educated idea of what your compromises HAVE to be. I say go for it make a joyful noise!!

~airdvl~

http://www.acidplanet.com/artist.asp?songs=303123&T=4700

 

[Carter]

wow, i always thought this forum was for home recording tips, not for judging musical taste... guess i was wrong. maybe a name change is in order.

I totally agree, If you dont like someones genre YOU (tommy2toes) need to keep THAT to YOURSELF. You would not like it if someone said that about the kind of music you do Should of known he just joined this forum, He will stop when he gets flamed enough. Fyre, That will suffice but you do need a set of monitors. headphones wont do

 

[Buzi]

if you're not going to get monitors but are using the home-stereo speakers in your room, try to plug your main outs to other kinds of speakers.
Listen to your recording on car stereo speakers, tiny in-ear headphones, big night-club speakers (goto a music shop or something, and bring a demo CD)
When you use loud-speakers, they tend to change the EQ so that the bass (or whatever) is louder than what was in the original mix (like those "X-BASS" home stereo systems) so when you're mixing to those, you'd turn down the bass, because it's already turned up in the speakers (or X-BASS built-in amp), so car stereo speakers might have a very low volume bass on your track, since their bass speakers give the low frequency bass sounds less pushin'....
...but you probably already figured all of this out...

I use monitors (KRK Rokit5). I found a good price for my budget ($150 each) and they are good enough for me. But I think it all comes down to how it sounds to you.

BTW - this forum is ok, I think. There are some jerks...but they wouldn't have given you a good professional answer anyway...so fuck 'em.

Good times....

 

[noisedude]

That Presonus has some stinky user reviews ... M-Audio DMP-3 is good, so is Studio Projects VTB-1 for even cheaper.

And perhaps Wharfedale monitors - they're super cheap and actually very good apparently. Check out the thread on them currently on here to find out which are the best ones to get.

As for the mic - you'll have to try a few with your voice to see which is best. It might be a dynamic mic that's best, or a different condenser, or even the one you've chosen! What I mean is, it's worth trying a few out in a shop or by hiring because you could blow your money on a good mic that just doesn't work for your voice!

Hope that helps,
Nik

 

[warble]

Yes, scratch the pre-amp. I own a couple VTB-1's and they work very well for a couple bucks more (OK, more like $20-40). You can play around with the tube, although I generally keep the knob all the way at Solid State. The Audiophile card should suit you well - great little card.

Everything else, well, should be alright for ya. If you're just getting into this, you can build on the basic stuff you're getting in the future, and learn on this stuff. I guess I wouldn't go crazy with spending cash - just plan on working on your engineering skills - you won't be getting great sound right off the bat.

Now for my question to you - what recording/multitrack software are you going to be using?

 

[Richard Monroe]

I agree with the others that have said to lose the preamp. Studio Projects VTB-1 is a better choice for your purposes. I would probably also lose the Marshall mic and get a decent dynamic, such as Shure SM58. I also agree that giving you my opinion of rap isn't useful to you.-Richie