New Soundcard/Mixer/Mic???

  • Thread starter Thread starter YesZep Lick
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YesZep Lick

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I am in the process of improving my home studio which currently is:

DAW - Pent 4, 128 ram, 40 Gig HD, soundblaster live sound card
Software - N-track, Soundforge 5
Mic - Sm 58
Tascam 414

I figure in order to improve it, I am going to get a studio projects C1 mic, Mackie or Soundcraft mixer, new sound card - delta 1010.

At this stage, whci of the above 3 things is best to go with first to improve my sound. Is is better to use a good mic / mixer with good pres into the soundblaster 16 or is it better to have a 24 bit soundcard with not as good mic / mixer?

What should I buy first?

Any help is appreciated,
YZL
 
What is your budget, and what are you going to be recording (i.e. style, instruments, number of people, etc.)?

Pete
 
My budget is ~ $1000 and I will be recording roughly 8 tracks simulataneously.

Thanks,
YZL
 
I would go with the card first, then the mic, then the mixer.
 
Well, first off, I am not a CPU recording guy, so priority concerning the soundcard will be better left to another. However, I don't remember the SB Live being able to record 8 tracks at once.... I could be wrong, but I would check into that first. Assuming that not many of your simultaneous tracks are going to be vocals or mic'd amps, I would get a small Mackie mixer or an M-audio mic pre. The DMP2 or 3 is supposed to be nice. I have an M-Audio Audio buddy, and I like it a lot. If you are going to be micing, obviously you need more mics. With a couple of SM57 and 58's, you can do an awful lot, but a LD condenser like the C1 is a great choice. For $1000, here is what I would do...

Mackie 1202-VLZ (used, $300 or less)
Studio Projects C1 ($230) or wait and see on the B series...
Audio Buddy ($80)
SM 57 ($80)
Total... $690

use the rest for a soundcard, or whatever.

Hope this helps,
Pete
 
With no delta you cant record 8 tracks at once. With no mics you cant mic 8 sources at once. With no preamp/mixer/delta you cant use 8 mics at once.

Looks like the delta is first :p
 
Sorry for the misunderstanding, but I don't have a current need to record 8 tracks simultaneously, but would like the flexibility in the future. What I would really like to know is would it be smarter to buy a decent mic and mixer with a 16 bit soundcard, or by a 24 bit soundcard and use with a tascam 414 and and sm 58?
I am trying to get feedback as to which would generate a better quality recording. This way, I'll know my prority for purchasing new items. Does anyone have feedback as to what will sound better?

Thanks alot,
YZL
 
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