upgrade

[cpc]

right now i record on my computer as a hobby , to lay ideas out for band practice, record my own stuff, or to do online collabs. ive been using the most basic setup possible, i use a cheap behringer ub802 mixer into my stock soundcard and record with an sm58 microphone and adobe audition. it has been getting the job done but i feel its time to go further . i was wondering what the best upgrade i could make with 400-500 dollar budget was... a couple things i was looking at are
-dmp3
-shure ksm27
-better interface/soundcard

..or if upgrading at that cheap of a price would even produce a noticable difference to the average or slightly trained ear. all i record is 1 track at a time with a microphone...mostly vocals.

 

[cawhite12]

Maybe consider a Presonus Firebox ($299) and a Studio Projects B1 ($99). Would bring you right to the $400 mark.

 

[giraffe]

put the money in mics, you'll see a bigger change from a step up in mic quality than a step up in pre quality.

 

[cpc]

Maybe consider a Presonus Firebox ($299) and a Studio Projects B1 ($99). Would bring you right to the $400 mark.

my computer does not have a firewire port....

would buying a dmp3 to run through my stock soundcard be pointless? or would it still be a good upgrade

 

[cpc]

bump..is anyone able to please answer that last question of mine?

 

[matt rascal]

A better soundcard is definitely needed. An Audiophile 24/96 or an emu 0404 (100 bucks each) would probably be all that you would need. Take a look at this thread: https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=182126 . You should definitely look into a good vocal mic. There are many out there to choose from in the $100-200 price range (Rode nt-1 and B1 to name a few). Depending on how versatile you want to set-up to be, you may want to purchase a better small mixer like a yamaha mg 10/2 for example ($99). I don't know what speakers you are using, but you can't really notice an increase in quality unless you are listening with quality speakers. And as always, money put into room treatment is always money well-spent.

good luck, you have many options and I hope you're happy with whatever you choose.

 

[matt rascal]

oh, and $400-500 will make a big difference to any ear.

 

[altitude909]

A good TI based firewire PCI card is about $30

 

[cpc]

thanks alot...well the thing is i would rather get an external interface rather than a soundcard if at all possible...just for ease of connections and i may get a laptop or a new computer in the future. also i would prefer if it was usb i guess...... and i still need to know the answer to this question "
would buying a dmp3 to run through my stock soundcard be pointless? or would it still be a good upgrade"

 

[cawhite12]

The conversion in your stock soundcard will pretty much negate any good that the dmp3 would do, IMO.

 

[cpc]

any other opinions on if a DMP3 running into my stock soundcard would be a waste?

also would the m-audio mobile pre usb be a great upgrade over my stock soundcard even though they're both 16 bit?

 

[Thunder33]

just my $.02.....

I did pretty much what you were doing for a long time. I was afraid of the pci-soundcard thing too because I don't take computers apart.

a few weeks ago I finally took a chance and got the Delta 1010lt. Took me about 45 seconds to install it and about 5 minutes to set it up. $200 well spent for 8 inputs. It says 10 but two are digital and I don't need that.

Good luck

 

[altitude909]

any other opinions on if a DMP3 running into my stock soundcard would be a waste?

Totally, the A/D's (anlog to digital convertors) on you soundcard are of poor quality. Anything made by m-audio will be cheap and effective