Need advice, first time gear buyer

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0xRAIN

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Hi everyone, I've been getting into recording for about a year now, pretty much the same time I've been in my band. I need some help figuring out what recording set up is good for me, and I'm not 100% sure where to begin.

Right now, I'm stuck using a Rock Band USB mic (decent quality actually, but not to good in the self-noise department) and Audacity on Windows/Garage Band/Reaper on a MacBook Pro (School issued, so I'm a bit restricted with what I can do with it sadly)

I was thinking of getting a M-Audio MobilePre audio interface, which I tested out already on my MacBook in garage band and it worked fine on, along with a Behringer XM8500 mic, and 2 CAD CM217 condenser mics.

My only issue with this set up is the number of inputs. The MobilePre has 2 XLR's and a line in. I'm planning to record my band 1 track at a time, and because I have a fairly large drum set (7 peice, 2 bass drums) I'd like to have more than 2 condensers and my kicks triggered into the line in.

Is there anything you guys would recommend or does this seem like a decent set up to you? I don't need anything top of the line, and my budget is somewhere in the 200-500 range.
 
i use
1)AKG 414 XLS (great for everything)mic
2)SUMMIT AUDIO 2BA-221 MIC PREAMP
3)MACKIE 1202 VLZ MIXER
4)LEXICON PCM 70 REVERB (JUST GREAT)
5)RME 9632 AUDIO INTERFACE for pc
6)ADAM A7 MONITORS
7)GOOD QUALITY CABLES(MOGAMI,VOVOX)
i don't know about mac's audio cards but try these machines if you can.......
VERY NICE AND WARM SOUNDING HOME STUDIO
 
0xRAIN said:
Hi everyone, I've been getting into recording for about a year now, pretty much the same time I've been in my band. I need some help figuring out what recording set up is good for me, and I'm not 100% sure where to begin.

Right now, I'm stuck using a Rock Band USB mic (decent quality actually, but not to good in the self-noise department) and Audacity on Windows/Garage Band/Reaper on a MacBook Pro (School issued, so I'm a bit restricted with what I can do with it sadly)

I was thinking of getting a M-Audio MobilePre audio interface, which I tested out already on my MacBook in garage band and it worked fine on, along with a Behringer XM8500 mic, and 2 CAD CM217 condenser mics.

My only issue with this set up is the number of inputs. The MobilePre has 2 XLR's and a line in. I'm planning to record my band 1 track at a time, and because I have a fairly large drum set (7 peice, 2 bass drums) I'd like to have more than 2 condensers and my kicks triggered into the line in.

Is there anything you guys would recommend or does this seem like a decent set up to you? I don't need anything top of the line, and my budget is somewhere in the 200-500 range.
Click to expand...

If you are intending to record multiple tracks (e.g. a track for each part of the kit) then your priority is to find an interface that will cope. Probably one with eight inputs would do to start with. Think about Alesis, Presonus and have a search for them and others. You can get multi-input USB interfaces, but I'm not familiar with them. I use a firewire interface. However, I believe there are some tricky things with Macbooks and firewire . . . maybe someone who is more familiar with them can comment. However, firewire and PCs seem to go together pretty well.

I note that you use Reaper, which is not a bad way to go. Try to stick to one DAW and learn that thoroughly, rather than flit from one to the other.

You need to assemble a reasonable arsenal of mikes . . . opinions will vary (sometimes strongly), so I won't recommend any here. You can get pretty good results with budget mikes, but as you become more critical about your recording, you will probably want better.

You need a decent set of speakers. You can buy 'studio monitors' or you can use plain old stereo speakers of reasonable quality. The same rules as for mikes apply.

Pre-amps, outboard FX units and mixers should be low on your list. These you can get when and if you find you need them. The only time I use a mixer is when I need to pre-mix a number of channels so I can squeeze then down to the eight that my interface has.
 
gecko zzed said:
You need a decent set of speakers. You can buy 'studio monitors' or you can use plain old stereo speakers of reasonable quality.
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First and foremost, right there. Before you buy and mics or DAWs or interfaces, get some speakers you're happy with.
 
Thanks for the info guys. FTR I already have pretty decent speaker set up that I've used for mixing before with good results.


I've been doing a lot more reading since I first posted this and I recently came across this...

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.co...rorack-Pro-Rackmount-12Input-Mixer?sku=631275

The number of inputs and the price seem just right, especially for my drums.

Idk if I'm on the right track here, but if I am right, can't I buy one of those, and route the output (XLR's L and R) into like the M-audio MobilePre's XLR inputs and from their get the signal onto my computer?
 
yes you could send the outputs of the mixer to the inputs of your interface. but remember that a mixer "mixes" all 12 of those inputs into two signals (left and right). that means that once you have tracked your drums, if you ever decide you want to add compression to your snare, or gate your cymbals or raise the volume of your kick, you wont be able to.

so using a mixer your just gonna have to hope you get your drums just perfect when tracking.
 
0xRAIN said:
I've been doing a lot more reading since I first posted this and I recently came across this...

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.co...rorack-Pro-Rackmount-12Input-Mixer?sku=631275

The number of inputs and the price seem just right, especially for my drums.

Idk if I'm on the right track here, but if I am right, can't I buy one of those, and route the output (XLR's L and R) into like the M-audio MobilePre's XLR inputs and from their get the signal onto my computer?
Click to expand...
Yeah. A live mix to two-track is actually a pretty good way to learn recording. You will have to make very careful choices. My problem with that mixer is the EQ section. You will definitely want more than just "high" and "low". The Behringer UB2222FX has a parametric EQ. That would suit you better. If you could find a board with two parametric EQs on each channel, even better. But I doubt it at that price.

Just realize there is a heck of a lot you will not be able to do recording to two-track. But many of us started there, and you will learn a lot if you put in the time to record it right.
 
Chibi Nappa said:
Yeah. A live mix to two-track is actually a pretty good way to learn recording. You will have to make very careful choices. My problem with that mixer is the EQ section. You will definitely want more than just "high" and "low". The Behringer UB2222FX has a parametric EQ. That would suit you better. If you could find a board with two parametric EQs on each channel, even better. But I doubt it at that price.

Just realize there is a heck of a lot you will not be able to do recording to two-track. But many of us started there, and you will learn a lot if you put in the time to record it right.
Click to expand...

I couldn't find a UB2222FX, but I did find a UB1222FXPRO which appears to have better EQ settings than the other mixer. I've noticed on both of them though it said they were "unpowered". What exactly does that mean for me? If there are any mixers btw, for a little more than 200, maybe if I'm lucky up to 300 dollars that you would recommend please feel free to link me to them.

Also, since almost all mixers I've seen have RCA connections, would something like this work instead of just hooking XLR cables to something like the M-audio MobilePre?

Thanks alot for your help everyone. Sorry for all the questions.
 
an powered mixer has a power amp built into the outputs so you can plug PA speakers into and power them.
 
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