Options for recording vocals?

[Roger Mac]

Hey guys.

Recordings are for a vocalist so all I need to do is record vocals only for pre-recorded tracks. Plus some way to hook up "real" monitors/speakers for evaluating.

Budget is around $1000 (not including speakers) but I would consider up to $2000 if the quality increase is worthy.

My PC has a 2.3 GHz processor with 512K memory running Sound Forge.

Thanks guys. Great forum.
Roger

 

[apl]

Dough

Hey, Roger,

You've got way plenty o' budget.

IMHO, I'd get a Tascam US122 input/output box, $200, a Rode NT1000 mic, $300, and a pair of Event TR6 monitors, $400. That would be a very sweet 2 channel set up that would allow you to record vocals with your tracks.

apl

 

[Roger Mac]

Very cool. Thanks APL. Sounds like exactly what I'm looking for.

I know I've seen the Tascam name everywhere in this forum but I have to ask...
Are there better/higher quality products/brands offering the same components?

I know I'm not setting up a pro shop but I want to make sure the hardware quality is at the high end.

 

[apl]

Of course!

Hi, Robert.

Of course there is better, but I think you'd be well beyond the point of diminishing returns. Maybe you should think about other things you'd want to do with the system, and then a strategy could develop.

 

[wockachucka]

I would avoid the Tascam or any USB interface. For the fewest issues, you'll want to use a PCI recording interface.

Do you need monitors as well? If not, for your budget, I'd recommend the following:

LynxOne PCI audio card: $450 USD
Audio-Technica AT4033 microphone: $400 USD

You can't go wrong with that pair. You can probably get the AT mic off eBay for around $200-250 USD if you shop around a bit.

If you do need monitors, that turns the whole budget upside-down. But it's nearly impossible value-wise to beat a pair of Tannoy Reveals (powered) for $700 USD. Also, you'll want a good mic pre. Try the FMR RNP for about $450. Again, you can probably save a few hundred shopping on eBay.

Well, all that should be under $2000 if you shop around a bit. If you know how to use that hardware, you'll sound as good as any pro studio out there. If you're willing to spend $1000 on a Great River mic pre, you'll sound even better.

 

[RWhite]

I think one thing you need to decide is whether you will need just a single mic pre amp, or whether you want to look at a mixer with multiple mic pre amps. And that will depend on what you wish to do in the future - is this just a one shot recording, or will you be doing more, possibly with more musicians?

 

[Roger Mac]

Best bang

If "diminishing returns" is correct then that setup would probably do. But I don't mind spending more if I know I'm getting better quality. I'm just like that.

The strategy is simple. My wife is a vocalist. We want to be able to record for demos or submissions or whatever and I want to know that the hardware quality isn't going to be an issue.

Thanks

 

[Roger Mac]

I would avoid the Tascam or any USB interface. For the fewest issues, you'll want to use a PCI recording interface.

Yea, the USB connection is a bit of a concern. Limiting the data transfer speed over other methods. Particularly if you're dasiy chaining (which I am not).

Sounds like some good info and suggestions. I'll check it out.

Thanks wockachucka.

 

[Roger Mac]

that will depend on what you wish to do in the future - is this just a one shot recording, or will you be doing more, possibly with more musicians? [/B]

Many recordings, not planning on more than one vocal track at a time. No musicians for the foreseeable future (vocals on pre-recorded tracks).

 

[wockachucka]

Yea, the USB connection is a bit of a concern. Limiting the data transfer speed over other methods. Particularly if you're dasiy chaining (which I am not).

Sounds like some good info and suggestions. I'll check it out.

Thanks wockachucka.

If there are any other quesitons or concerns, post them up here

 

[Roger Mac]

LynxOne PCI audio card: $450 USD
Audio-Technica AT4033 microphone: $400 USD

You can't go wrong with that pair. ...

... But it's nearly impossible value-wise to beat a pair of Tannoy Reveals (powered) for $700 USD. Also, you'll want a good mic pre. Try the FMR RNP for about $450. [/B]

Hey Wocka. I checked out the components you mentioned. Excellent stuff! I think you just put my system together (but I will go for the Lynx L22).

Thanks.
Roger

 

[wockachucka]

Hey Wocka. I checked out the components you mentioned. Excellent stuff! I think you just put my system together (but I will go for the Lynx L22).

Thanks.
Roger

Great! A better choice that the LynxOne. Just trying to stay within budget

FWIW, while you're at it, you may want to consider getting a second hard drive for nothing but Audio. It's usually recommended to get the biggest, fastest HDD that you can afford. Without bringing SCSI into the picture, you can pick up a 100G 7200RPM IDE drive with an 8MB cache for CHEAP these days....around $100 or less. I'd do that...because the R/W head on the hard drive can only do so much at once.

The AT4033 is the first mic that many, many pros reach for for many different situations. The Lynx converters are on par with the best ones on the planet. And the FMR RNP is *probably* the best you can do for less than $800....and it's only $500

Although you may ultimately move on to audio I/O's and mic pres with more I/O's, the quality of the hardware you're getting is going to be very hard to outgrow.

Let us know how it goes. Cheers.

 

[RD423]

Yea, the USB connection is a bit of a concern. Limiting the data transfer speed over other methods. Particularly if you're dasiy chaining (which I am not).

Sounds like some good info and suggestions. I'll check it out.

Thanks wockachucka.

I don't think so I have had my Tascam 428 for about a week now and using it with nuendo I haven't had a problem with the sound or the quality yet