Need help with planning a home set-up

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Cactoid

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Hello to anyone reading, I may as well start off by just saying I'm a 17 year old male, so keep in mind I don't live in my own place or anything.
I have an ASUS Notebook G60Vx series laptop with 4 GB RAM and Windows 7, just throwing that out there in case it helps with this.
Anyways, I've gone some length to figure out exactly what I'm going to need for home recording some rap songs I've written.

After doing hours of tedious research (looked at the newbie sticky posts too), I've found that I should buy a condenser microphone (using XLR cables), I need an interface with a pre-amp and phantom power (I've seen that these interfaces often have pre-amps built-in) as well as a pop filter, something for the mic to stand on and optionally a shock mount. I'm looking for these items at under $300 altogether where I'm getting the most out of my money. I'm not necessarily looking to be super-professional, rap is more of a hobby of mine right now and I'd like to record and show some to my friends without garbage sound quality (like recording through a built-in laptop mic or an iPod Touch for instance...) I was hoping to do an album or maybe just an EP, it depends on all this and my consistency to write and such.
If that ends up going great then maybe I'll take things off from there and upgrade to more professional stuff, but for now I'm just a starter little newbie.

From what I've collected on condenser mic's, the Audio-Technica AT2020 is good for vocals and seems to be my first choice so far, there's also the MXL V67G, AKG Perception 120, Behringer B-1 (apparently behringer isn't that great, I'm not sure on that.) Outside of that, there's the Shure SM58 which is a dynamic mic, I don't think i'd really want that because dynamic mic's are said to be better for live performance rather than for recording.
What's your take?

For Interfaces I see that the Cakewalk UA 1G USB is cheap at $79 new on amazon and it comes with the "Solar LE" DAW, other than that I don't know a lot of decent, low-priced interfaces. I've seen the Blue Icicle, it's really basic and for like $30-40. But with something that cheap you probably get out of it what it's worth... not much.

So I guess what I'm really asking is, do I absolutely need any other equipment besides the things I've mentioned and am I making the right purchases on this budget?
Like, I have iPod earbuds... will I need a big set of new earphones?
I've heard about monitors too, is that ultimately necessary?
Please provide feedback, thanks!
 
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You have done a lot of research so that's great. If all you are recording is vocals and everything else will me generated in your DAW or over pre-made beats then you can get away with a small interface, the Cakewalk UA 1G USB does not have phantom power or XLR and preamp - you will need to get something that does to get the best vocal quality.

You will not be able to get a good mix on earbuds (or any other headphones). Even basic monitors will set you back almost $300.

I think you can get setup with a decent mic and interface for around $300
 
Monitors being "ultimately" necessary, to quote you.... yes. But hey, you're on a budget so there are substitutes whilst you're saving - headphones, stereo speakers etc.

Congrats on reading before posting. You'll do well!

Welcome aboard...
 
Hmmm, well off of one of the stickies it says
"Cakewalk UA 1G USB $80
Interface: USB I/O 2/2 (stereo) DAW: Sonar LE
Connections: 2 XLR with Phantom and PreAmp, 4 ¼” TRS, 1 Mono ¼” Jack, S/PDIF, phones"
I guess I got the wrong impression though, it was talking about connections
However it does say "2 XLR" but is that only "with Phantom and PreAmp"
I'm really not sure how to read that part, regardless I could use some cheap suggestions for interfaces/preamps if you know of them,
Thanks for your response.
 
Honestly I would recommend just getting a USB mic if your just doing vocals over some beats. Especially on a budget and for your particular needs as of "now" you would get the quality your looking for now and the mic would just be "plug and play". No need for phantom power or an interface. You would just need a DAW software to run it to and record, which you can get "reaper" for free.

So you can get the AT2020 mic you listed as a USB mic for $150, I'd then take the rest of you budget and get some sort of monitoring.
 
I disagree - USB mics will limit you. Terrible resale value, too. Go for a condensor mic and an audio interface. Read all the reviews at all the online sellers (Sweetwater, Musicians Friend, Amazon, etc etc). Shop around for used deals - Ebay, Guitarcenter, craigslist.
 
Honestly I would recommend just getting a USB mic if your just doing vocals over some beats. Especially on a budget and for your particular needs as of "now" you would get the quality your looking for now and the mic would just be "plug and play". No need for phantom power or an interface. You would just need a DAW software to run it to and record, which you can get "reaper" for free.

So you can get the AT2020 mic you listed as a USB mic for $150, I'd then take the rest of you budget and get some sort of monitoring.

I see what you mean, but I hear a lot of times that USB mic's are really more fitted for podcasters and speech and they aren't good enough for recording vocals for music quality, and I can't expand off of USB if I really do wanna move on to an interface and all that. But you do have a point with the budget and all.
 
I disagree - USB mics will limit you. Terrible resale value, too. Go for a condensor mic and an audio interface. Read all the reviews at all the online sellers (Sweetwater, Musicians Friend, Amazon, etc etc). Shop around for used deals - Ebay, Guitarcenter, craigslist.

When you say to go for a condensor mic and an audio interface, is that all I'm going to need?
 
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