Recording Noob, Please spare a few minutes

[adamjblakey]

Dec 16, 2007 02:48 am

Hi,

I have finally decided to get into the home recording scene and do not have a clue what is needed so hopefully you can help me out.

Basically i need a system that for around $300/$400 which will include everything i need. I already have a really good PC so this is not needed.

The majority of my songs will be done via just an acoustic guitar and vocals and maybe a few just vocals so this gives you an idea of what i might need.

Right first of all i am unsure on which microphone to buy as i don't know whether it is better to take both guitar and vocals in on the same microphone or to buy something like this www(dot)amazon.com/Behringer-Guitar-Link-UCG102-Interface/dp/B000PAPO9W/ref=sr_1_1/002-5591429-1148854?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1197794687&sr=8-1which will bring my guitar in separate?

Also with a microphone what other equipment do i need to hook this up to my PC to record the vocals?

Hopefully you can help me out as i have not got a clue.

Cheers,
Adam

 

[k-do]

ur gonna need a audio interface to hook the mic to.Im in the process of building my first studio and i picked up a m-audio mobile pre for 150 and it works great.

 

[Richard Monroe]

Yo AdamJ! This is a link to a thread where I did my best to answer a related question about a week ago:

http://www.homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?p=2831137#post2831137

If you already have a computer, as you say, you may decide to get an interface and a n entry level mic, but I really believe that a small portable digital recorder like the Zoom and an SM57 is a great learning tool and it maintains its usefulness even after you've spent thousands on recording equipment. I learned the basics of multitrack recording on a Korg PXR4 Pandora, a unit not that different from the Zoom, although more primitive. I now have over $20,000 invested in my home studio, and the Pandora still goes with me when I travel. It has become the PDA of a recording artist. It is a headphone amp, a sketchpad for ideas, and in a pinch, I've used it as a preamp for a talkback mic, and as a standalone reverb unit for a PA. For many people interested in home recording, a unit like the Zoom may meet all the needs they ever have. For others, like me, a portable digital recorder just becomes a sketchpad. However, it never becomes useless. Best of luck-Richie

 

[blazingstrings]

If you just need to record vocals and acoustic then I would look into a USB Mic preamp type of interface.
The M-Audio Mobile Pre USB is affordable at $150 The look into getting a Condenser Mic or two A large and Small diaphragm would be a good pair to have.
I use a MXL 990s($69.99) Large(voice generally) and a 604($99.99) Small(Instrument) for vocals and Guitar.

Add cables headphones and stands and use Reaper or a simular program and your all set at $400.

Just a suggestion.