Studio -- So many questions...

  • Thread starter Thread starter scottfisher
  • Start date Start date
S

scottfisher

New member
Hey everyone. Im thinking of starting a small place to record demos with my band, that we'll work on for a while, and eventually send them out.

Right now, we're using a PC mic to record stuff, and I do admit its bad, but when youre far away its kinda of half fine.

We're limiting our spending money to 500$, and want limited equipment. We are thinking of:

Studio Projects B1
Mobile Pre USB - M-Audio

We have a desktop computer, and a fairly good space for recording, and for mixing. Im using Cool Edit Pro 2.0.

We have an 8ft x 8ft room. We have already bought two pairs of wireless headphones. One for the mixer/producer (whatever) and one for the performer in the booth.

My concern now is if we get the condenser, will there be too much detail in sound. Because if we dont get this room soundproofed, as Ive read, you may hear people walking around upstairs, or the furnace.



PS - Edited this post.
 
Last edited:
get a shure sm 57 for the mic. a small yamaha mixer... or a maudio preamp... i cant think of the name right now, it runs about 150... and then a descent sound card... like delta 44. that will get you a 10 times better opportunity for getting a ok recording, if you know what youre doing.. but go that route.. it will run you less than 500... or get stuff used off ebay, and use the extra money to buy some cheap monitors. good luck.

start reading every thread on this site. learn as much as you can.
 
Do you have to use a laptop? The problem with laptop recording is that usb interfaces are flaky and don't have the bandwidth for recording more than 2 tracks at a time. Firewire interfaces are much better, but are more expensive. Mixing on the laptop can also be a problem once your tracks count gets up and you start adding plug-in effects, the cpu lacks the necessary grunt to get through the work.

It's preferable, and cheaper, to go for a desktop solution.
Then you can get the delta 44 as suggested by lbc, or if you want to record the whole band together get the delta 1010LT which has 8 inputs. You can get the LT new for around $220 and a Yamaha MG12/4 mixer for under $200, cheaper on ebay
 
I like to use software to edit, so could I still use all this stuff? Im not sure I like the idea of just using hardware, Im much more comfortable with recording through something and onto my computer.

Also, I cant buy off E-bay, so thats out of the question.

The computer I will get could be desktop or laptop. My dad said they have alot of computers at his work I can have, that were used for CAD. They are pretty fast. I only want to record one track at once, and mix them. No need for 8 inputs. :)
 
I think that lbcstudios was thinking of the M- Audio DMP3, which is highly recommended around here. I have one, it has a nice focused (clean) sound and can record quiet things really well.

So the DMP3, a Studio Projects mic, and a decent sound card would probably work well. I record to ADAT, so I don't know too much about sound cards (nor do I know your software). And if you can get your hands on a desktop, you probably should - previous comments above are dead on, getting the same sound out of a laptop is a tone more expensive since the components are more expensive.

Good luck!
 
Why don't you take the money and go to a studio instead? 500 bucks will get you something that sounds good and you can watch/learn how to do it on your own for next time.

Based on the description of rooms, equipment, knowledge I don't think you will have a lot of luck on your own.

Just my opinion though.
 
I kind of endorse Cloneboy Studio's perspective. I say, 'kind of', because if you want to get started recording you might as well do it now.

On the other hand, that's a very small space to try to record in, and if you are starting from scratch with mics, you've got a long (and expensive) way to go.

Is it more important to learn how to record, or to get great results this time? If the latter is the case, I will respectfully suggest you won't get slammin' results with your budget and space. You'll get better return from spending your money at an established studio. In fact, I would suggest booking the studio time, and arranging to be there for the tracking and whatever else they will tolerate. You may find that there is a lot more to getting acceptable results than just sticking up a mic in front of a drum kit. The first session I sat in on was a real eye-opener: the engineer was taking care of problems I hadn't even known existed.

There's a lot of hype around about the magic of digital recording, but most of it is just that: hype. The computer still won't place your mics for you, make a vocal recorded in a restricted area sound like Studio B, give you killer drum tracks from a kit recorded with a couple of inexpensive mics, and so on. There is a steep and very high learning curve, which is what makes it all so much fun. The up side is, that, once you get some recording under your belt, the results you CAN get with digital recording are amazing. Maybe not state-of-the-art, but a lot of pros don't get that good.

Good luck.
 
The small size of the room guarantees the recording will be TERRIBLE. I can't imagine the nodal response of a 4x4 room!

Can you say "mud" and "standing waves?"
 
Cloneboy Studio said:
The small size of the room guarantees the recording will be TERRIBLE. I can't imagine the nodal response of a 4x4 room!

Can you say "mud" and "standing waves?"
Click to expand...


I agree you can barely stand comfortly in a 4 x 4 space :eek:
 
Okay. I redrew the plan, so now I have my good desktop computer hooked up to whatever Im going to buy. I have a large room here, and I have measured a space where I want to booth to record things.

I measured the booth 8 ft long by 6 ft wide. Would this make a better space?

And the reason I want to do this myself, and not go to a studio is because for us we need something to be able to just record on the spot and stuff, and its something id like to to anyways. This is baiscally a pre demo project we want to do. Call me crazy.

I've heard of some bands (Evanescence, for example) who recorded their demos in a closet in someones apartment, on an A-TRAC (I think) recorder. So I dont know, please help!

Is there another mic that could connect to the Fast Tracks USB?
 
you should look into the mobilepre usb, also by m-audio. it gives 2 mix channels, phantom power for a condensor and can be taken anywhere. you can also connect headphones and monitors to it. it's $150(us) new, i've been considering selling it (so i can get another m-audio card) but i'd recommend it to anyone starting off and will until something better comes along in that price range. it gives you room to learn and then you can move on to something else if you outgrow it. best of luck in your search
 
scott. one word of caution. as far as i'm aware - and this was confirmed recently to me - the fasttrack apparently only records in mono. and not stereo. if your looking at using a desktop pc i would suggest you look at
delta sound card. i would also suggest you look at powertracks from pgmusic.com that i use. peruse the powertracks forums at pg and ask questions of users like myself, who will tell you it is a superb package for multitrack recording, if you dont believe me. also - apprently i just learned on the user forum that if you get a multiple output sound card you can do "stem mixing" to an external mixer. which might interest you in the future.
 
Im now looking at the MobilePre USB from M-Audio. I think it would be a better solution with my money. The site for it says stereo a few times, so I think it does record stereo. This way I can use my Studio Projects B1 Condenser! :)

Mobile Pre Site
 
in order to do stereo, you'll need two mics, since each channel is mono. but if you use one dynamic and one condensor (or any other combo of dynamic/condensor), you'll be able to do some cool stereo stuff.
 
philpereira said:
in order to do stereo, you'll need two mics, since each channel is mono. but if you use one dynamic and one condensor (or any other combo of dynamic/condensor), you'll be able to do some cool stereo stuff.
Click to expand...
well said.
 
So a dynamic up close (er) and a condenser a bit farther back?

What about vocals? Same setup?
 
yeah, that's the popular setup for that sort of configuration. i have no clue about vocal recording, i usually just use my dynamic mic (well it's my only one), but condensors are better for vocal recording (generally).
 
I wouldn't go for that MobilePre. It only records 16 bit so technology-wise, it's virtually obsolete. Plus it's usb.

If you only need to record 2 channels, look at either an M-Audio audiophile or an E-Mu 0404. Both those card will do 24/96 recordings.

Plug you mic into a Yamaha MG10/2 mixer. The mixer and the soundcard will cost you under $200 all up
 
scottfisher said:
I measured the booth 8 ft long by 6 ft wide. Would this make a better space?
Click to expand...

Hrm... in general I try to aim for 1500 cu.ft. minimum in any recording space. 8x6 *can* be done, but it requires about a thousand dollars of acoustic foam to absorb the low end muck.

Don't let me discourage you, just prepare to spend at least some money on acoustic foam.
 
How is it people record in closets?
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top