Trying to start recording

  • Thread starter Thread starter suntzu1982
  • Start date Start date
suntzu1982

suntzu1982

You got to funkafize.
I'm trying to see how much money i'll need, that's why there is no budget. Immediately I can afford about 200 dollars, but if its worth waiting a few months, then i'll be able to have about 500-700 dollars.

However, of course, I'd like to hold off spending the extra 300-500 dollars. But that's why I'm posting to figure out what i need to consider when I'm purchasing this equipment.

Here's what I gather:

1. Soundcard with preamps
2. Mixer with preamps into stock soundcard
3. Soundcard (preamps?) and mixer
4. Compressor.

I can find information on the specific brand/make of equipment, but I'm not sure which piece of equipment to buy first.

Immediately, I would like to be able to improve my vocal recording, so that I can have two mics, and perhaps a midi keyboard. Eventually i'd like to be recording live instruments.
 
$200 sure can't buy much.

A halfway decent mic is more than $200. A halfway decnt mic pre is more than $200. A few decent cables will cost more than $200.

If you start buying extremenly low cost gear ($40 mics, $100 pres, etc) you will likely find yourself less than satisfied - probably fairly quickly. This then results in upgrades - with the original gear traded at pennies on the dollar or sitting in a closet.

I'm sure there are numerous people on this site who will begrudgingly admit to this!

Perhaps you should save your money for a while and continue to use this site and other resources (gear mags, etc, etc) to gain a better understanding of gear - so that you can make better purchasing decisions, and estabish a reasonable budget!
 
Well, that's what I was trying to do actually, try to gain a better understanding. I am reading the forum everyday, trying to do so. So then, let's say I want to start building my equipment. I know I am not going to get all of it at once, so what should be first? I have two mics already, not great ones and a computer. What should be my first purchase, when thinking about long term goal of more complex system but a short term goal of wanting to record with two mics and try to improve the vocal quality. (i know that all equip. together will do so, but immediately).

Also, if so, what kinda of budget am I look at initially?
 
Figure what you want to be able to do (how many tracks at a time do you need to record? how do you want to monitor? how many people need monitor headphones? etc.) and use your money to acquire capabilities you don't already have.

THEN start replacing cheap components with quality components.
 
$200 can be used as "trial" money to understand what you're really going to need. if you're using a computer to record/mix then you probably aren't going to need an outboard compressor. you'll want a recording soundcard, a preamp or mixer to boost the volume from the mics, cables to go from the mic to the preamp and from the preamp to the soundcard, and then most importantly a mic. then you can use trial software from various companies until you find what you like. then you'll need to get some headphones, monitors, you'll probably want to start recording drums with multiple mics which means more preamps and more inputs on your soundcard and so on and so forth
 
My initial budget was about $2000. I thought I was done with that, then I decided my soundblaster and yamaha mixer wasn't cutting it. I quickly upgraded to a 002r, Imac G5, Blue Baby Bottle, and so on. I have about 20 thousand invested now, and about another 20 more to go. I'm not trying to disuade you but realisticly 200 bucks won't get you shit, and what it does get you you won't be too happy with not long after. What kind of mics do you have now? If you already have decent ones then you're good there, however if they're plastic radioshack mics, take them apart, look real close at how they're made and then throw them away. I'll build you a little started system. Assuming you already have the computer here are some options.
E-Mu 0404 soundcard(entry level but useful) $99
Behringer UB1002 Mixer(will also get the job done)$59
MXL 990 Condenser(I own it, entry level also but good)$59
M-Audio DX4 Monitors(bottom of the line but better than pc speakers)$149
Various cable and cords $50

Thats $420 bucks its a very entry level home set up, but will get you better results than what you have now. The soundcard comes with software I'd say check it out see if it suits your needs and if not check out cubase se its about a hundred bucks.
 
So, what it seems like is that there is obviously no limit to the amount of money spent. But to get my feet wet, a soundcard and studio monitors is what I will need? Maybe a new mic? (I got two random dynamic mics, I'll post later the brands, not radio shack. One was for a karoke machine, the other one seems nice too, though probably not high quality).

My next question would be this then:

Do I buy a separate preamp, a mixer with preamps or a sound card with preamps?
 
Oh and one more thing...the E-MU 0404 has 2 I/O, so that means two mics. If I want to exapnd the number of mics, can I use a mixer and then plug into soundcard?
 
Why do you need a mixer? I'm a few thousand dollars deep into my investments and I still don't use a mixer.. well I have a little samson mixer as a headphone amp.. but not for mixing... Point is, you can do all your mixing inside the box.
 
Mixer for the preamps and multiple inputs? That's what i've read so far, anyways.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top