Opinions needed!

[PRiZ]

First off, I'm wondering what's worth spending more cash on a preamp or a MIC? (I know they both need quality, but what's going to make the biggest difference a good MIC or good preamp?)
That MIC cyanjaguar just showed looks good! can anyone back this up....It's called the SE-Electronics SE5000 - VacuumTube Condenser...?
and another MIC called... Shure BETA87A Condenser vocal MIC...?
Please if anyone has any info, it's highly needed.
Thanks for reading!

 

[PRiZ]

Yeah! I agree...

but there are mistakes made by being stupid, and there are thoughtfull mistakes, one of them has regrette.
I'm not going for a demo, because I already know no one wants it. I'm going to be independant, it's not about money, but I wouldn't mind getting some back.
I've already learned that getting crap equipment isn't worth it, give it a month at most and you'll want better...I'd rather give it a few years, but eventually your alwasy gonna want better.
My concern is this, I saved halla cash for equipment, I quit my job with plans to use it, and make some music, I should'ov realized I needed more money, but I had a shitty job and it was hard enough to get this far. I KNOW!!! I need decent equipment, I KNOW!!! I can get decent equipment with my money although some might think otherwise, but if I mess up and get a mic I don't like I'm stuck with it, I don't have money to get another and no payroll and that goes for everything else...
I havn't been on message boards and researching for the last month atleast, for no reason. In that time, I've gone from what do I need, what's a synth etc...to here, which is very good.
I already ordered a soundcard (c-port) about a week ago, if the computer shop didn't take so long trying to get me a deal, I would'ov had it by now and not changed my mind. I realize now I would have been satisfied, but if i had the knowledge I do now I wouldn't be. One of the reasons I'm so cautious...anyways, what I'm saying is what I get, is what I get. Unless something is just wrong for me.
This is deffinitely not a hobby, I'm taking this as far as I can...or atleast that's my moto now. I can't listen to MP#'s, I don't got a soundcard yet, I just picked up my computer from the store a few days ago, I got an Athlon which might have been a mistake for doing music, but lots of cards should work fine with it. I'm trying to not waste money unessasarily.
That's what I got...a computer and some cash. Actually I have an old digital reverb by Korg that should be pretty good, but I'm sure it's more than updated by current software.
I think I really do understand what people are talking about. I used to use my five-dollar mic to record on my home stereo...I made a whole 90 min tape and listned to it alot, but it's serious now...I know that quality isn't good enough. I thought I'd have enough, but I think my keyboard will have to be in the future.
Alright, enough babble, time for action...
I was asking bassically how much a good, excellent value MIC is compared to a good, excellent value preamp. So I can get them at similar quality and balance the price I need to devote to each side. I'm thinking the Art tube preamp which is about 100-150 is alittle cheapo for me, I think I can do atleast 300.
Or 250-300 on a mic too...I don't like saying how much to people becasue then they restrict themselves, because if a mic costs 400 but is regularly 1000 in gonna go up na'mean.
The one thing you pointed out is really my only concern, The fact that producing, will take away more time I can be deidcating to lyrics...













You stressed my one concern

 

[PRiZ]

oh damn!

That's hella cornball, I didn't mean to say that at the end, I forgot it was there from when I started writing above it...

 

[Tekker]

Re: oh damn!

That's hella cornball, I didn't mean to say that at the end, I forgot it was there from when I started writing above it...

That's what the "edit" button is for

(I don't know where I would be without it)

 

[Harvey Gerst]

PRiZ,

If you can wait a little longer, the RNMP (Really Nice Mic Pre) is coming out around June, and from what some of the testers have said, promises to be spectacular sounding. A good mic will simply sound better into a good preamp.

The choice of mics IS personal, but it also depends on the type of music you record and what you want YOUR sound to sound like.

The big problem most people face when moving up the mic ladder is hearing peaks in the response and mistaking it for "greater detail" and "clarity". Manufacturer's inconsistancy is another problem - the mic you buy may not sound the same as the mic someone has that is recommending the mic to you.

If you plan to record a wide variety of instruments, you'll need a few good dynamic mics, a pair of small cardioid or omni condenser mics, and one or two large diaphragm condenser mics for vocals and a few other instruments.

Look for mics that don't have any negative comments from people that actually own them or have used them. (The Shure SM-57 is universally considered a "good" mic by most people, while the AKG C1000 has both ardent admirers and detractors - a good mic to avoid). Find a few mics in your budget range that EVERYBODY agrees on.

 

[czar of bizarre]

But even the very best mics and pres are only gonna sound as good as you can engineer.

priz do you understand that?

A great mic will not reach it's full potential through a crappy pre. And vice-versa.

priz do you understand that?

I guess the bottom line is that at some point you are just gonna have to go for it. When you hear the results on YOUR voice done in YOUR room on YOUR machine then I think you are gonna have a much better idea about what people are talking about.

priz do you understand that?

The choice of mics IS personal, but it also depends on the type of music you record and what you want YOUR sound to sound like.

priz do you understand that?


i hope so


czar

 

[PRiZ]

I understand it all...

There's vocal mic's for vocals, I assume this is the best start for vocal's in my position, right? I know I need to test MIC's but I can't...I'm sure any "good" mic will satisfy me, besides I can do a little adjusting to make it sound more the way I won't it right, or is a mic a mic and there's no cahnging how it sounds at all.
Couldn't I fiddle with an algorithim a bit if I wasn't completely content. Is the difference between mics that great, that one will make or brake my voice...? even if there all mic's for vocals?

 

[Dolemite]

Dude.....

priz,

I appreciate (and share) your desire to learn and gain experience in home recording but I really think your approach is all wrong. There is not some magical mic or piece of gear that's going to turn Joe Blow into George Massenburg. My advice, based on the little I've learned over the past few months, is as follows:

1. Get an SM57, a decent mic pre or mixer, a decent sound card, and the recording/sequencing software of your choice. Work with it, learn it.

2. Go through old posts on this BBS, paying special attention to posts from sonusman, Bruce (aka Blue Bear Sound), Recording Engineer, Harvey Gerst, etc. (I'm sure I'm forgetting people here so I'll apologize in advance). There's a wealth of information that you can access through the search function and just by browsing through old posts. Also, go here:

http://groups.google.com/advanced_group_search

Under newsgroup, type in "rec.audio.pro", and search to your heart's content. This is a seriously huge asset to someone just starting out or even to seasoned pro's.

Instead of asking weird, rambling questions on this BBS, I've found the best thing to do is "lurk" for a little while, read up on old posts so you know what's been discussed before, then you know more and you'll be asking better questions that are beneficial for all of us to discuss. For example, you probably don't realize how many "best mic for $100 for vocals" or "best preamp for $200" posts I've seen in the few months that I've been hanging out here. Not that I don't find that sort of thing interesting. We all want the best gear for the money but these topics have simply been discussed ad nauseum, not to mention that there's rarely a conclusive answer and the source of the recommendation is often questionable. But with a skeptical eye and a combination of knowledge gleaned from both this BBS and rec.audio.pro, you can end up with some very good gear for not much money and even some ideas on how to use it.

 

[Tekker]

That MIC cyanjaguar just showed looks good! can anyone back this up....It's called the SE-Electronics SE5000 - VacuumTube Condenser...?

I still really want to hear from someone who has used/heard this "cool lookin" mic. (still droooling)

-tkr

 

[PRiZ]

.....

I do actaully check around and search the web on products, aswell as look back on posts, but that gets really tedious for hours straight. Also back then is back then, there's always new products...also I'm in a rush and very impatient. hopefully MIC's preamps and Monitors are easier to decide on than soundcards.
I'm sure unless something changes that the Lynx one is the card for me.

 

[czar of bizarre]

I'm sure any "good" mic will satisfy me, besides I can do a little adjusting to make it sound more the way I won't it right, or is a mic a mic and there's no cahnging how it sounds at all.

eq,mic placement,where you stand,how you speak into the mic and room acoustics will change the sound.

Also back then is back then, there's always new products...also I'm in a rush and very impatient.

THATS A VERY DANGEROUS WAY OF THINKING! he is telling you to BACKTRACK and READ old post becaues 99% of the stuff your asking is OLD and has been asked "BACK THEN". yes new products come out and they are always covered on this forum. however if you base what you want because its "new" your gonna LOOSE EVERY TIME. digital is new. is everyone using digital? NOPE! your in a rush and impatient? thats NOT good. means you will not do REAL research on the product,it also means you will through your money away in the long run because you didnt WAIT.

hopefully MIC's preamps and Monitors are easier to decide on than soundcards.

nope. not easier. probably more hectic.


czar