Some newbie questions. HELP?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rhino_Rick
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Rhino_Rick

New member
So I've got a fun little band over here and I just started experimenting with home recording.

I recently recorded 3 songs as a demo. My system includes:

1.3 AMD Athlon, Overclocked and cookin' at about 1.45
256 RAM
7200 Speed Maxtor Drive
Audiotek Inca 88 16 Bit with breakout box
Cubase (rocks)

The recording went fairly well, but it didn't turn out as "big" as I'd hoped.

I've got a couple of questions about upgrading my system. I'm thinking that I'm going to pick up an Aardvark Q10 so I can go 24 bit and have plenty of pre's. Is this a good unit? Will it blow the 16-bit Inca out of the water?

MY NEWBIE QUESTIONS:

1. How important is a mic pre? When I recorded the first few tunes, I didn't have enough mic-pre channels to do everything. Every XLR mic I needed (4 at a time) had to be converted into 1/4 inch with a clip-on convertor, and since I only have 2 pre's on this breakout box, some of the mic's were converted into un-pre'd slots. Is this a bad thing? I don't understand the balanced/unbalanced thing. Could someone explain?

2. Is a SM57 good enough for kick/snare recording? Will this do the job? Could I use a SM58 for an overhead drum mic?

3. What's the SPDIF thing I'm reading about? I really don't have a clue but I've seen it mentioned numerous times! ;)

4. Is it vital that I get studio monitors to use when mixing down instead of headphones?

Thanks guys. This is the most informative forum I've found anywhere and when I get some music to pass along that I deem worthy I shall do so immediately!

-Rick, Detroit
 
I can handle some of your questions.

1. A mic pre is important. In short, it takes the signal generated by your microphones and brings them up to line level. This allows you to have much better dynamic control of the signal. Otherwise, you will have to crank the level to be able to deal with it during the mix, putting your signal at risk with unnecessary distortion. In addition, a decent tube mic pre adds considerable warmth to the signal and can give it a more "professional" sound.

2. The SM57 and 58 are good overall mics for recording. They will do just fine for your purposes. (Note: the 58 is essentially the same as the SM57 except that it has a windscreen. Get the SM58).

4. It is certainly vital to use studio monitors instead of headphones for mixing. Headphones do not give you accurate sound dispersion that is key to a good mix. Monitors should also be used before the recording process begins, when you are trying to get the best sounds possible to put to tape. You can use headphones when you are actually recording to tape, and you can use them to check your mix after you have mixed down using monitors.. Believe me, when you get a good sound through studio monitors, it sounds fantastic through headphones.

Cy
 
Some further answers:

2. You can use an SM58 or 57 as overhead, but it's not really a good mic to do that. It has it's uses in a studio, but overhead isn't really one of them. If you don't have anything else, go ahead...

3. SPDIF is a standard for transmitting digital audio. Like with analog, where a standard is made for the level at which the audio is send through, there has to be a standard to transmit the digital audio too, so that the receiver knows what the meaning is of what he receives. (in which order do the bits come in, how do I know which bit is the first one of the byte, how fast are they coming in, how do I know if it's 44.1kHz or 48 kHZ...) I don't know the details of the standard, but I'm sure you can find alot of info on the net...
 
so that the receiver knows what the meaning is of what he receives
Click to expand...
Roel, how do you know Rhino_Rick's reeiver is a HE? It could be a SHE.
:):D:):D

spin
 
Since it's a communication standard, both sender and receiver are supposed to be male. Female communication works with assumptions and aesthetic 'norms'. :D
 
I don't agree. :)

You should have referred to the receiver as "IT". :D
 
Rick, the Q10 should be a fine choice for you. You've been recording at 16bit and then adding effects which degrades the signal somewhat. By the time you're ready to burn a CD, you're bit rate is lower than a CD's 16bit max. Starting higher affords a buffer to compensate for this.

I haven't heard any feedback on the Q10's pres, but they've got to be better than what you've been using (or not using).

As for overheads, you might consider the Behringer ECM8000 ($35 ea) or Marshall MXL603 ($79).

I think the pre issue and bit rate will bring life to your mix that you've been missing. I hope you'll post your review of the Q10 if that's what you go with.

Good luck and welcome to the site,
Rick
 
Thanks much for the replies and the warm welcome, guys.

I've read some reviews on the Q10 and it seems to be stable and have a little of everything I need.

Final question--

Will the pre's on the Q10 be good enough for me to accomplish my goal of having a good recording? Or should I run out and by a pre and bypass the ones that are built in? If the pre's on the Q10 aren't good enough, wouldn't I be better of getting a lesser-priced system and buying pre's?

Laters,

-Rick, Detroit
 
Absolutely. Try to find some feedback on the pres.
Alternatives to the Q10 would be Omni Studio (6X6 24/96 with two pres) or ST-Audio C-Port (10X10 24/96 2 pres and midi) $385 and $300 respectively.
 
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