Recommendations for simple home recording set-up

[Xcaliber]

Thanks everyone for the help. Any recommendations for decent monitors (I'm not looking for big ones ... most of the time they'll be used in my rec room) and microphones (for vocals and guitar)?

One last question: any recommendation for good headphones for this? I have some Bose QuietComfort 25 noise-cancelling headphones will they work well?

1. I have KRK Rokkit 5's and they work pretty well for me. There are a lot of threads on here about this exact question though.

2. I use the Presonus HD7 semi-closed back headphones for tracking and to do some listening while mixing. They work great and are pretty affordable.

 

[joey2000]

First want to say some great questions and answers; being new to this stuff it's good to read. Even hearing things I knew was good as a reinforcement. A few comments:

2) the USB/Firewire/Thunderbolt provides the power for the interface (or external power supply, depending on what you get) which provides 48v Phantom for your condenser mikes.

I'm probably misunderstanding you, but that sounds a bit misleading to me...the AI/mixer will (or should) provide the power for the mics, at least most do, ie "phantom power" (if needed) and a pre-amp. USB/etc is just the connectivity method or type.

Get a strong PC (or Mac) , so you won't be limited by proccessing power

From what I have heard, the odds of that are small...if anything, you might be limited by PC memory, but even then you'd have to be doing something pretty elaborate. If you have 8GB or more you should be fine, and even 4GB should be enough for more basic stuff.

Finally as to mics and speakers (ie "monitors"), this is just from having asked around, I can't speak from experience, but it would seem the Shure 58 is widely regarded of the best mics in its class and more than enough for most needs. For speakers, I keep hearing good things about JBL LSR series as a great bang for the buck (start at about $250-300 for a pair I believe).

 

[BroKen_H]

Sorry, poorly worded. Just sayin' the power for 48v comes from the AI or mixer. The AI or mixer get their power from the wall (120v/220v/whatever) or the connection (USB/Firewire/whatever) to produce that 48v...should have just stuck with the first half of this explanation.
No, the 48v does not come directly from USB, but indirectly is stepped up from the 5v the USB connection provides (or stepped down from the wall voltage).

 

[joey2000]

Cool thx just making sure I wasn't missing a finer point somewhere.

They need to invent something without all this messing around. Just hit GO and it records everything all nice n swell and saves it off to an .mp3 on Amazon complete with spiffy advertising and you make a mint.