New to buying equipment, looking for advice

[chrys]

Hey all,

I'm going to set up a studio in my friends basement to record rap vocals.

From what I understand I am looking for a condenser microphone and a mixer to plug into the computer. What I definately need is a good mic and a good sound card, can you guys make any suggestions for what is necessary?

Looking to spend less than 1k total. Thanks in advance.

P.S. I have a shure dynamic mic right now, and it seems to get kinda muffled and it's not clear and crisp... you can hear an example here:

 

[chrys]

I'm going to go shopping tonight. Any suggestions for condensor mics that are less than $300? Also really important is a sound card suggestion.. thanks

 

[Lance135]

Presonus Firebox

I recently bought the Presonus Firepod (firewire interface with eight preamps), and it works really well on my system. Nice, clean preamps, too! So I would recommend the Firebox if you're on a budget and only need two preamps.

 

[BigRay]

Get a pair of Studio projects c4s. These are great microphones, and have interhchangeable caps. a pair goes less than 300 bucks and they sound a lot better than they cost. Honestly.

trb

 

[BigRay]

I'm going to go shopping tonight. Any suggestions for condensor mics that are less than $300? Also really important is a sound card suggestion.. thanks

I use the esi juli@ soundcard, a really great card. It goes about 120 bucks or so. There is also the maudio 24/96 which is determined to be bit perfect and i think is about 75 bucks or so..think there is one in the yard sale.

teddy

 

[jkokura]

300 bucks on a vocal mic...I have both the Studio Projects C1 and an Audio Technica 4040...both work for male vocals excellently! Lots of other guys like the CAD M179, the AT 4033, etc... But use your own ears when you're shopping...test em out

Jacob

Personally my next mic's gonna be the Rode NTK

 

[northsiderap]

Get the best mic -

Perhaps a M-Audio 24/96 would work for you... I've been using the M-Audio stuff with good results. I think that has two balanced ins. Just enough for two people on a mic.

Divvy up the remaining $$ between a good mic and mic preamp. I've recorded rappers who sound best through an SM-57! Maybe look into the EV RE-20, Sennheiser MD-421, or the Shure SM-7... Good deals.

Word is, the Beastie Boys recorded through cheap mics but through a higher end preamp like the Avalon 737 for alot of their stuff.