Will this setup work for a beginner?

[Prometheus Rex]

I feel stupid asking since I've never tried to assemble a recording bay before, but I wanted the opinion of people who know what they're doing.

With the holidays coming around, I figured what I'd ask for is some items to build around the mixer I got a couple years ago to finally get started on recording some music. So after researching the Tascam DP-01 I have, I realized that it does not have phantom power which I read the mic I wanted needed in order to work, thus the phantom power supply. It also does not have a XLR input, so I got a TRS adapter jack to take care of that. My question is, am I missing anything? Will one of these items not be compatible or get the job done? Here's a list of all the equipment above if you need it:

Audio Technica AT2020 Side Address Cardioid Condenser Studio Microphone
Behringer UCA222 U-Control
Behringer PS400 Phantom Power Supply

Also, I'm a bit confused with what cables I need to link the mic to the power supply and the supply to the mixer. Please be gentle.

 

[Armistice]

Tascam made a digital recorder without XLR inputs and phantom power? What were they thinking?

So, firstly, the Tascam device you have isn't a mixer, it's a hard disk recorder, so I'm not sure what the computer's doing in your picture if you already own a recorder. Nor do you need an interface between your recorder and your monitors, nor your recorder and your computer which you don't need anyway. Your Tascam unit has a USB 2.0 connection, so if you want to back up what's on it, you can go direct to your computer.

But really, why do it this way at all? I'd be selling your Tascam recorder and spending my money on a decent interface (not that Behringer thing) which has phantom power and XLR inputs and running that straight into your computer, assuming the computer isn't too old.

Too many limitations with low end studio in a box things like the Tascam, especially these days.

Reboot your thinking is my advice. And read all the stickies at the top of this forum.

 

[smili]

I'm not sure what the thing between the mic and your recorder are, but I'm assuming it supplies phantom power to the mic.

If I were you, I'd just get a small mixer instead that will give you more input options including mic and line inputs. There are some inexpensive low cost mixers out there - especially if you're willing to go used. I have an old 16 channel Mackie that could probably be picked up on craigslist or ebay for around $100 - so I'm sure you can find something smaller for not much $. I'd do that first.

If you have powered speakers (I'm assuming those are powered speakers based on how you have things wired) I'd just run your recorder outs directly to your powered speakers.

If you want to wire up things so you can play back both from your recorder and your laptop - I think it'd be best to just run from your recorder out to your laptop, and then send the combined signal from your laptop to the speakers. (again - I don't know what that red device is there). A small mixer after your recorder might be useful also if you're wanting to combine more lines of audio prior to it all hitting the speakers. (like if you want to run both your stereo, laptop, and digital recorder outs all to the speakers). This would be something similar to a Mackie Big Knob as it allows you to easily toggle between various inputs and outputs.

 

[ecc83]

Hi Rex,
Very much depends upon what exactly you have at the moment.

If you just need to buy the Behringer phantom power box don't! I do not know that Tascam unit but there is no guarantee that the inputs are balanced and I doubt that the pre amps are very good in terms of noise so, as has beem mooted, get a small mixer, vastly more flexible and the UCA 202* outputs can return to that.

But yes, the best way is a decent Audio Interface. The NI Komplete Audio 6 is excellent and will give you Cubase LE6, Traktion, Kontakt, and Guitar rig 5 as a bundle at the moment.

If you do not yet have a mic you might consider a dynamic for guitar cab work? SM57 is a bit of a standard but there are now some excellent dynamics about at £30-£40 or so. A slim, pencil style capacitor can be had for ~ £50 and will be found infinitely more useful in the projjy home "studio" (I assume you do not have a vast, well treated recording space?).

*The 202 is not that bad! Better than almost any built in soundcard. Noise is pretty low but you have to watch the top level, keep it below -10dBFS or so, neg 6 absolute max! Quite good enough for noisy guitar amps and dubbing tape and black discs.
But still get an AI!
Dave.

 

[mjbphotos]

I'll third what has been said before - forget the DI box/preamp for phantom power, and what looks like a Behringer UA converter.
If you are only (ever) going to use one microphone for recording (1 separate track at a time), or even 2, there are multiple choices for audio interfaces for less than $150. Look at a DAW like Reaper (freee to download, $60 to register), and sell the Tascam for whatever spare change you can get.
It doesn't surprise me that the Tascam doesn't have phantom power or XLR input - neither did my Boss BR600 - none of the lowest price digital recorders of the last generation did.