Starter for 10

[RichardTerris]

Hi everyone

I'm new here and in fact, while I've been singing in bands for a number of years I'm a complete noob to recording.
I've had some experience of studio work, which is to say I sat around for days waiting on everyone else doing their part, and then go in and sing a few takes but I have next to no experience of home recording.

My setup so far is limited but suits my needs; a few guitars, a couple of bass guitars, some harmonicas and cubase but at the moment I only have my live mics (Shure Beta 58a and Shure SM58) which I don't feel are going to give me the kind of sound I want for vocals.

So, my next port of call is going to be a condenser mic and I've been looking at the Rode - NT1A as an entry level mic.

Can anyone give advice on this mic, or other mics to get me started?

Thanks a lot,

Richard

 

[Steenamaroo]

I only have my live mics (Shure Beta 58a and Shure SM58) which I don't feel are going to give me the kind of sound I want for vocals.

Those two mics could easily cover everything you listed.
If the guitars are electric and through amps, then you're definitely covered for those, at least.

I have the NT1a and don't really have any problems with it. It gets good enough rep around here as a first condenser.
For vocals you may well prefer it.

If you do get one, just make sure you get a pop filter with it.

I was gona do an "I've started so I'll finish" gag before I realised "Started for ten" isn't from Mastermind!

 

[RichardTerris]

Thanks for the reply.
I think the Shure Mics are great for live performance, and as you say they may well record amp'd guitars well but I want a more natural and accurate sound with the vocals.

I did borrow a friends sE Electronics mic (can't remember the model) and I was amazed with the quality.
However I'm not as rich as him so I'm looking to start with something cheaper.

The NT1a does seem very good having read some reviews but I'm not too clued up on the techie stuff (yet) so I get a bit lost at points in the reviews.

Do you recommend an isolation screen also? Or should I be more concerned with dampening the sound behind me, such as walls?

 

[Justsomeguy]

I did borrow a friends sE Electronics mic (can't remember the model) and I was amazed with the quality.
However I'm not as rich as him so I'm looking to start with something cheaper.

Do you recommend an isolation screen also? Or should I be more concerned with dampening the sound behind me, such as walls?

It does depend on which sE model it was but the sE2200a (not the mkii) is about the same price as the NT1a and the sE X1 is cheaper and is also very good. Otherwise, in the same price bracket, things like the Blue Spark, Avantone CK6, and MXL V67g are all cool mics. If you can i'd suggest go out and try some different mics (which, and this may just be me, but in the UK it seems very difficult to do!) and see what suits your voice best or, at the very least, have a listen to stuff online (although you often have to take these online clips with a pinch of salt). saying that, if it's your first foray into LDC mics, the NT1a is a good starting point. it may be that you love it forever and works perfectly for you or it may be that, after a while, you start to look for something else. either way, it's often quite hard to really know until you've given it a go in your space with your voice.

The isolation/reflection filter thing seems to come up a lot around here. ideally, it makes more sense in the long run to treat your recording/mixing space appropriately (there's plenty of cheap and relatively simple DIY stuff you can find in the studio building threads). However, a reflection filter and something hanging behind you when you sing (a thick duvet does the job pretty well) should help to capture clean vocals. Again, if you do go down the reflection filter route, have a look and a read up on the various products out there. There's a huge price difference between some of the products and they all seem to have various mounting methods and sounds to them. IME the sE ones have worked the best in leaving the sound uncoloured whilst cutting down reflections, but they are quite pricey, although, if you can find the sE Reflection filter Project version on t'bay they seem to be much more reasonably priced.

 

[RichardTerris]

Yeah, not sure of the model. I'll be borrowing it again next week so I'll find out.
That IS the trouble in the UK because you're correct - a mic might be great for me but not for someone else. I'm a tenor singing tenor and high tenor, with a lot of top on my voice, but that still not help with an answer because I guess it depends on overtones, timbre etc.
There used to be 2 music shops (out of many) in Glasgow which did let you borrow equipment but sadly they've closed down now.

I think you're right, and I'll get the mic as a starter and if it's not working out I'll get something else.

Thanks for the tips on sound, I'll do some more research into that.