Preamps?

[uZ'ReaL]

Hi,

I'm new to this forum, I'm also french so sometimes my english is bad. Ok, first, I have money this year, first time in my life I can put some in reserve. I have a good computer and a Audigy Platinium 2 sound card. I also have a mic, a Peavey dynamic cardioid. Ok, as I said, I have money this time so I'm willing to buy some gear, to record my music at home. Near me, nobody can really help me, so I found this forum, and seems like people know what they're talkin' about... I don't really know where to start. I would like to record myself in better quality, and by reading some posts, I heard of preamps?! Don't laugh, I bet this gear is very useful to have a clearer voice when recording. What do you think about my sound card? I also have a good keyboard and a drum machine. I don't really know how to use them with a computer. I lack some important puzzle pieces I think. So, all of you people, what you think I should do first? I thought about, gettin' a new mic, changing my sound card (heard of some M Audio stuff... but do I really need this), get a preamp, or a console? A DAT maybe? Let's say I have for now 3000 CAN$ (2000 US?), but I will get more during the year, up to 2000US more maybe, what would you do? I want to learn baby! Give me your ideas please.
I know I may sound confused, but start where you think it's best!

Thank you very much

L. Kébékois

 

[Jburn34]

You can do a lot with 2000! I think it would help if you said some more about what kind of music you record and what exactly you will be recording. There are plenty of people on here that are more qualified to answer than me, but I noticed no one had replied so I thought I would.

First of all, you probably need a new mic or two at least. I doubt that Peavey is going to give you the quality that you need. Most of the time you will use a Large Diaphragm condensor on your voice and perhaps a small diaphram on acoustic instruments. One decent dynamic mic to start with is a Shure sm57, which isn't too expensive and is plenty versatile. For budget condensors check out Studio Projects and Marshall (MXL) mics.

As far as preamps, I would definitely invest some money here if you want some good quality sounds. I have a couple (M-audio and Joe Meek) that were a couple of hundred each and really are decent sounding. For $500 you can get a Grace 101 which is almost professional level...it is supposed to sound great. How many channels are you going to record at one time?

You also need some good recording software and some monitors. Good monitors will make a huge difference in your recordings when you go to actually edit and mix the tracks on your computer. M-audio, Event, and Yorkville, among others, make good monitors for the price.

The next important thing is going to be working with the acoustics of your room. Depending on where you are recording, the room could need some work. If you are recording in a typical bedroom, den, etc. then probably the best thing to do is to build some absorber panels and make your room as dead as possible. You can then go back and add reverb, etc., on your computer.

This was all very general, but I hope it helped you some. Look forward to the other members as most of them are more experienced then me and have some really good advice.

For $2000, you really can get a decent setup. You just have to plan ahead and find out what gives you the best bang for the buck.

Jeremy

 

[acorec]

For your setup I would get the Focusrite Platinum Pro. It is ideal for this situation. Nice sounding and flexible unit. ABout $600 US

 

[uZ'ReaL]

Yeah thank yaw'll for the tips. I'm down with french Hip-Hop, so need a good vocal recording. I'ma go progressive and buy myself a good preamp. Thanks again.

uZ'ReaL

 

[pdaniels]

sequencer

Hello fellow Canadian!
In your post you say you don't know how to use your equipment with your computer. Getting the M-Audio Audio Card is definitely the first link in the chain. Try a delta 44 or 66, and maybe the OMNI for its preamps and extra ins/outs.
One thing you didn't mention, though, is your sequencer. Do you have one? Your first investment, honestly, (maybe second after the audio card) should be a great software sequencer. Shell out about 700.00 of that 2000.00 on Steinberg Cubase SX. You are pretty much crippled without it (or a different pro sequencer like Cakewalk or Nuendo or Logic). It will let you add any effect you want (or can afford), automate all channels, etc.
Next, get a great mic. read just about any post on this forum for advice on that. Studio projects sound great, and are affordable.
Now, before you start mic recording, ensure you have a completely silent place to record. Computers are suprisingly loud! Assuming you don't have a completely acoustically perfect studio, try to find a small place in your home you can record in. I record in the smaller-than-walk-in but larger-than-usual closet off the bedroom I have all my equipment in. It is (somehow) completely silent, and I padded the walls to eliminate the reverb, so I can add my own digital reverb in Cubase.
Remember, you will probably compress/limit your recorded signals yourself (especially vocals, to tame the dynamics), and then if your music goes anywhere (and we all know it will), it will be compressed/limited again in the mastering stage, and compressed/limited for a 3rd time by the radio station that plays your tune. Every time the signal gets compressed/limited, it makes the loud sounds (hopefully the ones you were actually trying to record) quieter, and the quiet sounds (background noise) louder. So record the best, cleanest signal possible!

Good luck!

Paul
Regina, SK

 

[crosstudio]

i do hip-hop also if you go to www.crosstudio.net you can see my gear list and listen to some tracks.

my suggestions (stuff i have and like)

audio technica 4033 microphone
FMR Audio RNP (stereo pre-amp)
Cakewalk Sonar
Waves DirectX effects (or Sonitus Ultrafunk if you run out of money)

The RNP is great for vocals and the DI inputs for the RNP are good for recording your drum machine and keyboard into the sequencer as well.

 

[scottr]

I hate to be a salesman in the forum, but I've got a Echo Layla 20 (which would be comparable to one of those M-audio delta cards with more ins/outs I think) and Cubase VST (which is not quite Cubase SX but very similar in functionality I believe) that I'm getting rid of pretty cheap. BTW, anyone know of the legality of selling software like this?

email me privately if you are interested, scott@earcandyonline.com

Scott

 

[chessparov]

Actually Peavey made one of the all-time "sleeper" dynamic vocal mikes, the PVM 520i large diaphram dynamic.
Oddly enough, a few minutes ago e-bay "went down" and I can't see if I got my (second) 520i yet from the closed auction!
(they compare well to RE20's, SM7's, and Sennheiser 421's)

In the true Peavey tradition, however, I think the 520i has been discontinued (like the VMP-2 dual mic pre), another good product they made by accident.
So...
I hope your Peavey is a PVM 520i!

Chris