Opinion on equipment for beginner DAW recording?

[eger]

I was hoping this might be the right forums to ask for some opinions. I really like playing the guitar and writing melodies (melodic death metal, grunge, progressive metal genres) and am getting more in to drum tracking and keyboards also. Naturally this is leaving me with a BIG desire to record tracks to a metronome one by one.

I have tried doing with with various soundcards just using line-inputs (direct from amp or from guitar) and with microphones I could fine (computer mic, microphone from Rockband Xbox game ). The sound seems really sub-par and it seems it is probably a combination of the poor quality sound interface, line-input, and poor microphones.

I was thinking about purchasing a single or pair of Shure SM57 (read reviews about being good starter amp recording microphones) and an interface such as the Edirol UA-101 or M-audio Fast Track Pro for recording amplifiers together (2 tube amps).

I am already using Cakewalk Sonar DAW and am used to it and like it a lot. Though I seem to have a problem with input latencies on my current card (which I would think might be fixed with a better interface supporting ASIO 2).

Would a Shure SM57, some good XLR cables, a recording interface with Phantom power, coupled with Sonar be a step in the right beginner direction for better sounding recording? As a person writing, recording, and mixing my own music is there any other hardware or software which I might check out?

No set budget in mind. But based on what I have read about interfaces and microphones I wouldn't mind spending $500 - $1000 to have better sounding, quicker, and easier recording

 

[ralpheo]

Absolutely, take a look at this http://www.sonarvstudio.com/100/index.php.

This is probably my next step as I love both Cakewalk and Roland. It's basically a Roland BR recorder, which makes it portable so you can take it to gigs: plus it's paired with Sonar VS Studio (product specific version of Sonar 8). Just check out the link. It will give you more info than I can.
My only gripe would be that there is no fiber optic i/o.
Hope this helps.
This is the same post I sent as a reply to someone who's EMU 1820 just died.

 

[Kaloaloa]

Well, let's see what you've got.

You're using sonar right now, but from what I can tell, you haven't really spent any money, correct?

if you don't need to track live drums, then I would just go with something from digidesign. And if you're on a really tight budget, perhaps something used on ebay...just at thought.

the mbox2 and mbox2 pro would be enough to do your whole band except for live drums. However, the mbox2 pro had a MIDI in, so you would be able to use midi drums.

Now, if you can spend $1000, buy two SM-57s, or one Sm57 and a KSM-27 (both from shure)

As far as XLR cables, look into Planet waves, just becasue they have a lifetime warranty.

I really would recomend staying away from the other softwares and go for broke with Pro tools. Sure, its kind of expensive, but beleive when I say its worth it. Especially if you plan to expand your setup one day!

If I can help you more, email me at Kaloaloa@gmail.com

 

[noisewreck]

Now, if you can spend $1000, buy two SM-57s, or one Sm57 and a KSM-27 (both from shure)]

$1000 for two SM-57s? Where did you get that number? Musician's Friend and Sweetwater have it on sale for $99 each.

if you don't need to track live drums, then I would just go with something from digidesign.

Err, what? So you can't track live drums with Digidesign software? Where are you getting this from?

I really would recomend staying away from the other softwares and go for broke with Pro tools. Sure, its kind of expensive, but beleive when I say its worth it. Especially if you plan to expand your setup one day!

I nominate this as the bullshit post of the day.

Who are you? Are you some half-educated Guitar Center sales rep? WTF?

 

[noisewreck]

Sorry, got caught up with the dumb post above and failed to answer the OP.

I'd say since you got yourself Sonar, and have a $500 - $1000 budget, and assuming you have a decent computer, I'd say get yourself a decent Fire-Wire or PCI based audio interface. Presonus, MOTU and others have stuff that will fit the bill nicely.

While you don't need phantom power for the SM57s since they are dynamic, it might be good to have an interface with one, in case you augment this initial setup with condencer mics in the future.

Having said that, you don't mention anything about your monitoring chain. What kind of monitors do you have? Have you given any thought about sound treatment in your recording/mixing room?

 

[goodmusic]

I would say that yes, what you were mentioning is a step in the right direction.

57s are great for guitar cabs. If you are recording vocals, I would go for another mic, possibly a Rode. If you're using Sonar now, stick with it. All the DAW programs basically
do the same thing, bar a few features here and there.

If your room is untreated, definately look into a reflexions shield and treatment for your monitering environment.

 

[hardwire666]

I agree as well you are definitely on the right track. Also like stated above look into a fire-wire, or PCI based interface they will give you the lowest latency. Just make sure the appropriate drivers are available for your system (Example: Vista 32, or 64bit, OsX "whatever version you have"). If the appropriate drivers aren't available you will be hosed. And with an SM57 you just can't go wrong, its one of the most widely used mic's for mic'ing up a guitar cab. Amateurs, and professionals alike. I don't personally own yet one because I have been recording guitars direct in, but as soon as I can I will have one.

Also don't worry about Pro tools. In this case while it's widely used it doesn't mean it's the best. Sonar can do things just as well, or better. The nice part about Pro Tools is that is runs on dedicated hardware... or something like that. I honestly don't know much about it. Except that it's not the "BE ALL TO END ALL" that some people make it out to be. Some people actually argue that it's overpriced, and pointless because of the other options out there.

Good Luck!

 

[Bristol Posse]

I started with an M-Audio Fastrack Pro and reqlly enjoyed using it. Simple and effective, moving to an external dedicated recording soundcard is probably the single biggest thing you can do at the initial stage to improve the recording quality you get

I did find that I had out grown the unit in about 6 months however so you may want to look at a firewire interface (if budget allows) and save yourself buying twice.

SM57 is a good all rounder and certainly very usable for micing cabs but does need a lot of gain on quieter sources so you'll either have to crank the amps or the preamps on the unit to get to resonable levels (ie peaks around -10dbfs)

 

[Emerson Maningo]

...
No set budget in mind. But based on what I have read about interfaces and microphones I wouldn't mind spending $500 - $1000 to have better sounding, quicker, and easier recording

I start working with very cheap equipments at first since I do not have the budget and I depend on my ear as the most precious studio equipments while stick on basic recording principles that should not be violated, for example (when recording digitally , it should not clip...or observing standard audio mixing principles)...

I challenge to develop even great recordings produced on cheaper gears and I even do it. Now as I start earning income from it, this is where I start upgrading some gears but I keep those very important gears in my studio..even those cheap ones that help me earn some cash and reputation...

For me, learning and being a great engineer is not at all having the budget and with expensive equipments..It is your ability to maximize and master your present gears to produce the sound you want and never stop experimenting and creative at the same time while depending on your "ear" as your no.1 gear.