New to everything!

[fyre_0bs3ssi0n]

Hi, I'm looking to get started in home recording and have next to no knowledge in that area. I have soo many questions, and probably don't even know what half of them are!

I'm looking to get a laptop, what would be the best laptop out there and what equipment to go with it, etc. will I need to get myself started??

Any help at this point would be great!

fyre_0bs3ssi0n

 

[Nick98338]

There is no "best". Just some that work well, and some that don't. Are you going with a MAC or PC laptop? I use an HP laptop (PC). It works just fine.

No matter what the laptop, you will need microphones, mic preamps, and an audio interface between the preamps and the laptop. Some mixers have the preamps built in. Some even have both the preamps and the interface built in. A mixer, however, is not necessary. You can use one if you want, or not. Depends on what you are recording, and your personal preferences.

So, what do you want to record?

 

[Freudian Slip]

Hi, I'm looking to get started in home recording and have next to no knowledge in that area. I have soo many questions, and probably don't even know what half of them are!

I'm looking to get a laptop, what would be the best laptop out there and what equipment to go with it, etc. will I need to get myself started??

Any help at this point would be great!

fyre_0bs3ssi0n

Welcome to the board

Ya never ask what's best around here unless you are a billionare. It's always what will work best for you (includiing your budget). So the best thing is for you to tell us what you want to be able to do and how much you can afford to spend to do it.

Sooo? WHat all would you like to be able to record at one time? Drums? A whole band with drums? Maybe just a guitar and vocals?

Does your setup need to be mobile or are you ok with getting a tower computer with better capability for less money.

Do you have any equipment at all right now, if so what. Mixing board, microphones?

How much can you afford to spend?

Again welcome to the board.

F.S.

 

[fyre_0bs3ssi0n]

Thanks for the welcome ^_^

I'm looking to eventually make music, ambient/experimental, and electronic etc. similar to Imogen Heap to VNV NAtion or the like. First I just want to get samples of me singing because I have some people interested in possibly doing some gigs. But eventually, on to making my own music.

I'm planning on getting a Macbook Pro. My friend has one, and I was just messing around with it and I really really like it. I have around 3k to spend on the laptop and accessories to start off, and eventually more. I just don't know what equipment to get in the first place, or if I go with the Mac, what accessories to get with it.

Thanks for the help so far.

 

[zradioman]

Start with a mic and a preamp (brings mic up to line level so it can be recorded) . . .you might be able to get away with not having a good sound card for now. . .if these gigs are live- then do some research on a SM57 (industry standard). You'll also need some software- Adobe- Sound Forge- Frutty Loops- Acid- Reason are just some of the names you'll encounter.

Have fun. . .do lot's of research. . .and welcome

oh yeah. . .where in WISCONSIN?

 

[fyre_0bs3ssi0n]

great thanks!

ok, this is probably dumb but again me= 0 knowledge. what exactly is a preamp??
where can I get these items that are nice but not incredibly expensive.
I'm not sure if the gigs are live, but there is this one guy that's looking for a vocalist to make a few songs with. but w/e.
i'm from the madison area in wisconsin >.<
thanks again

 

[junplugged]

you're in the right place. tons of info i got from good people here over the >years<

preamp is needed for mics because they aren't line level. line level is what you get out of a cd player or line out or in on the computer. they also sound a little better than the little ones on some low cost stock sound cards. your audio interface for recording may have one that's good enough but you might be a ways away from one of those yet.

 

[austinm08]

If all you need is one mic for the time being (I.E. you only want to record one thing at a time), I might suggest the same route I took when I started out.

I got myself a Shure SM57 (industry standard instrumental mic- can be used for vocals, too) and an M-Audio AudioBuddy preamp.

--------------------------

AudioBuddy is listed as MSRP 119.95 at M-Audio's site, but you can get it for 79.95 at MusiciansFriend.com

The Shure SM57 goes for 99.99 at MusiciansFriend.com

---------------------------

I'm not saying this is the best route to take, but this is what I did when I first started about 1.5 years ago.. and I think it's very good for the money.

 

[fyre_0bs3ssi0n]

okay great! thanks for the help and explanations!

right now I'm just working on getting my laptop, and after that I'll know how much I'll have to spend.

are those prices average for those items, or is it the cheapest I'll find them?

anyways, thanks soo much!
oh yeah, also. Is there places to buy those besides online?? if so, what are the stores?

thanks

 

[danny.guitar]

AudioBuddy was my first preamp too. However, I'd advise to just spend the extra $50 on the M-Audio DMP-3. It's a great preamp and has full 48v phantom power if you ever want to get a condenser microphone. That will save you from having to upgrade later on.

Plus, a lot of people who have other much more expensive preamps still keep their DMP3 because it is a good, clean, pre.

MusiciansFriend, ZZounds.com, Sweetwater.com, etc. all have good prices. If you want to beat those prices you'll have to look for used stuff on eBay or other places.

 

[ErichS]

...Is there places to buy those besides online?? if so, what are the stores?

You probably have a Guitar Center or Sam Ash nearby, there like the Starbucks of musical equipment

 

[danny.guitar]

You probably have a Guitar Center or Sam Ash nearby, there like the Starbucks of musical equipment

Yea except Starbucks is gross.

 

[junplugged]

well, if you want to spend $99 for a sick deal, you get the Audio Buddy *AND* the mxl-990 and mxl-991. condensor mics you'll eventually like to try and the Audio Buddy has phantom power for them, from what i've read not the best phantom for 2 condensors but enough for one. That deal and a gs-57 or whatever that sm-57 mic copy is on Ebay all the time for only $40 or so....

 

[ErichS]

Yea except Starbucks is gross.

And Guitar Center is not

 

[fyre_0bs3ssi0n]

i think the only main guitar place we have is Good n Loud. or Wardbrodt which covers guitars to orchestra stuff. I can always check out both of those places to shop around as well as all those sites.

Thank you everyone for all the help!!

so all this equip will work on a Macbook or anything like that?? and what's the difference in a standard mic and a condensor?

i guess I'm looking for the basic stuff, nothing too fancy. just to get my voice clear and recorded on to the laptop. And then the rest I'm planning on doing with Garageband on Macbook Pro.

Thanks again for all your input. You've helped me get a start on something I've always dreamed of doing!!

 

[saigonman]

well, if you want to spend $99 for a sick deal, you get the Audio Buddy *AND* the mxl-990 and mxl-991. condensor mics you'll eventually like to try and the Audio Buddy has phantom power for them, from what i've read not the best phantom for 2 condensors but enough for one. That deal and a gs-57 or whatever that sm-57 mic copy is on Ebay all the time for only $40 or so....

can you post a link to that deal please?
thanks