Newbie here. My setup needs improvement.

[R4LRetro]

Hey guys! I'm a newbie (obviously) and I have very little experience in producing/mixing. Right now, this is what I use:

I can upload pictures if needed.

1. An HP G60 laptop (2.1 GHz Dual Core, nVidia chipset, Altec Lansing sound)
2. An Alesis iMultiMix8 8 channel mixer with phantom power
3. Cheap computer speakers
4. Sony F-V320 dynamic mic
5. Samson Q2U dynamic mic
6. Peavey Bandit 112
7. Digitech Metal Master pedal
8. Zoom GM-200 guitar amp modeler
9. Dod stereo flanger pedal FX75-B
10. Behringer Digital Multi-FX pedal FX600

Then I have these programs:

1. Reaper - been using it for a year now, and I really like it. I have a feel for it now and have been tinkering with the VSTs and other plug-ins it came with like noise gates, compressors, parametric EQ. I still don't really know how they work however, except the gate, that's easy. I use ASIO4ALL drivers.

2. CakeWalk Music Creator LE - This came free with a Samson XLR mic my brother got. I haven't really used it yet.

3. Acoustica Mixcraft 4 - Used it a few times. Very Garage Band-like, which is cool.

4. Audacity - Mainly for if I have to convert MP3 to OGG or vice-versa, or for simple editing.

5. Guitar Rig 3 - Awesome amp modeling program.

My instruments:

1. Epiphone Acoustic
2. Devlin DV-400 with hotrodded Seymour-Duncan pickups
3. Ibanez RG-350 DX with stock pickups (infinity IIIs)
4. My cousin's D-Drum acoustic set

That's it for my equipment.

I'm still very new to mixing and producing. I'm reading a bunch of guides here and realizing I don't know jack about anything... I'm the audio engineer/producer/mixer whatever you want to call it for my band, and while the songs sound better now, they still don't sound great. I've come here to get advice and study. I really want us to sound good.

I will provide links to my youtube and a download of my band's demo when I can.

I'm open to whatever criticism; harsh or not. I really want to get better at this and I hope this is the place I can learn from.

Thanks. R4L.

EDIT: Links to my band's music

Demo Download (11 tracks, 98 MB, 320 kbps)
My Youtube Channel

 

[arcadeko]

Thats a good start for equipment - I would say the only real thing your lacking is monitors. Is that a Multimix USB 2.0 ? if it is your in good shape cause it is full duplex and you can record all 8 channels individually. If it's the old USB you can only record the stereo mix.

KRK G2's are very good and affordable. But you really need to listen to several, go to your local Guitar Center or whatever music store is around and check them out.

I am not a mic expert and I don;t know anything about those mics you listed but if they don;t do what you want them too try the mic forum - or just buy some Shure SM57's - cant go wrong

And check this out https://homerecording.com/bbs/gener...iques/acoustic-guitar-recording-101-a-290919/

 

[Brenton]

It does sound like a good start to record some ideas. I dont really know anything about the alesis multimix. I record with a presonus firepod 10 and adobe audition and get great results with it. arcadeko is right, go to guitar center and try out some equipment. thats the best way to find out what you like. sm57's will do well with the drums but for vocals you should try out some condenser mics. Guitar center has many of them. You can get a decent project condenser for under 100

 

[R4LRetro]

Wow, fast replies!

Yeah I want a Shure SM57. I lurked around and saw lots of people using them. Are condenser mics preferred for vocals? I'm still really new to this stuff...

It's not that they don't do what I want. They work just fine. But our vocals pop a lot, and sound hollow. It's probably the room we use.

"Is that a Multimix USB 2.0 ?"

Yeah it is. It's really confusing to use haha. I've never used a mixer before.

So I'm in good shape then? That's good! Also, great link on acoustic recording. My Epiphone is Acoustic/Electric but it's very basic and plugging it in really doesn't feel right, but it does work. I think I get it a lot better now though. So far so good! This forum is awesome!

Thanks so far!

 

[R4LRetro]

Since I have 5 posts now, I've updated the first post with links to our music so you can hear how this setup has been working. I'm most likely not using it to it's real potential so be prepared for some rough shit...