Recording "kit"...

[gelocks]

Hello guys.

Since it's almost Christmas, I was thinking of buying some equipment to further develop my "songs" and keep learning and developing my skills (just for fun). So I was looking into buying this:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=248149

or this:

http://www.americanmusical.com/item--i-AMS-RSP1.html

Right now I'm using a cheap and old Nady SP-1 to record vocals.
An Lexicon Omega Studio to connect my guitars.
A Vamp-2 for the few times I use an electric (but I'm mostly using Guitar Rig anyway).
And I'm mixing with headphones (Sony MDR-XD100).

I believe that any of these 2 packages will be sufficient to keep on practicing and maybe getting a better sound without spending too much. Now, ...

what do you think?!?!

Should I just Spend the $300 on better monitors and forget about the rest?
etc.?


Thanks much.

[C00kie]

If you have nothing at all and your quality standards aren't too high, then those starter kits may be fine. Milage may vary... To me those kits look like ideal Christmas gifts to newbies, not for people that aim for higher standards.

Both these kits contain the $200 M-Audio DX4 monitors. Surely not the best money can buy, but probably decent enough considering the price. Haven't heard them myself. Listening to monitors before buying and checking weather you like how they sound is the only solid recommendation I can make. The same goes for large-diaphragm vocal microphones.

I doubt weather there's that much difference between $200 monitors and $300 monitors. The point at which they really start sounding great and uncoloured is at at least twice that price. It could be that to your taste these $200 ones sound better than $300 ones. But buying monitors is one of the best investments you can do to raise your production quality. Just a pair of headphones is not enough...

BTW: what soundcard and mic preamp do you currently use?

[gelocks]

Hello.

I definitely get what you mean.
The fact is that it is difficult to find a good music store here with a nice selection of monitors to try so I heavily rely on online reviews

For "sound card" and pre-amp I'm using the Lexicon Omega as my interface with the PC.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=245505

It connects through USB to my PC and I'm using Cubase SX3 for recording.

You can find some of the songs I've recorded here:

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default ... dID=639185

I really would like to "space" things out and make them sound a bit better so that's why I was thinking of buying one of those starter kits.

Thanks.

[gelocks]

Any other suggestions?
I think I'll buy something next week so more inputs are appreciated!


Thanks.

[stk]

I second the suggestion for good monitor speakers.
Monitors don't have the same sexy new gear appeal as something "useful" or fun like a mic, outboard, synth, etc - but buying the best speakers you can afford (and then learning them, of course) is a surefire way to improve your production skills. Nothing in a studio is as important as decent monitors.

They don't have to be >$1k monsters, but you should be able to tell, for example, good sub bass from mud, smooth cymbals from harsh top-end, et cetera.


/sk

[gelocks]

Hi stk!

Thanks for your inputs.
Well, I'm torn.
A couple of guys say buy better monitors, some others tell me to get a better microphone, etc.

I was thinking of staying with the fairly cheap M-Audio DX4 monitors (all of the reviews I've seen are very positive for such cheap monitors) and I'm seriously considering getting a Rode NT1-A microphone...

but again... argh... this is more difficult than I thought....

Any more opinions?

Thanks.

[stk]

Any more opinions?

I'm not familiar with those speakers, they may well do a good job.

Regarding speakers, look at it this way - you can buy a $8K vintage valve mic, but chances are you'll make it sound like puke if you're trying to use it with dodgy monitors On the other hand, I've recorded commercially released (albeit somewhat nontraditional) albums using $50 Behringer mics

I'm certainly not advocating buying uber-cash top-shelf speakers. I've been using a pair of passive Tannoy Reveals for almost ten years now, and they've been nothing short of fantastic. But like I said, I haven't listened to the speakers you currently have, so they may well be fine.

In in the end, I think you should buy what you think will inspire you to make music. That's what counts.

Cheers,
sk

[gelocks]

Hi stk.

I wasn't using any speakers before, just using cheap Sony MDR-XD100 headphones ($20) for mixing!

And in the end, I didn't buy the M-Audio DX4s, nor the Rode NT1-a, nor AT-2020s, not AKG Perception 200!!! lol

I just bought:

- Studio Projects B1 microphone
- Raxxess Stoppit 6 Inch Microphone Pop Filter
- Tapco by Mackie S5 Active Studio Monitors

I was going to buy a pair of KRK RP5 Rokit monitors since I was reading good things about them online but read more reviews of the Tapco by really good and trustworthy magazines and decided to take those (since they were going to cost $300 anyway) and I believe they are more tweakable that the KRKs (I know my room is not optimal).

Hopefully they will not sound that bad (anyway I wont know since they will be my first monitors!!! ). What I'll do is try to "calibrate" them by listening to the music I usually hear. Hopefully I will be able to "set" the sound the way I like it and start mixing and testing CDs created in different stereo systems, etc.


Thanks for the help and suggestions.
I know that I would have probably picked better things if I have more money but for now this will have to suffice. I guess I'll buy more stuff in the future if I feel I'm getting good at this :p


Thanks again.

[downfader]

Hi there, hope you dont mind me chipping in. This is my first post here.

Now that you've ordered some monitors may I suggest you look up some articles on acoustic treatments as this will help you get the best out of them. Sound on Sound magazine had a load of articles on this subject, as did The Mix (the US version too I think, dont think you can get the UK version anymore)

Mixing on speakers really adds a new joy to music.

As for the Rode mic, perhaps thats something for later - quality mics, worth saving up for..

[stk]

Thanks for the help and suggestions.
I know that I would have probably picked better things if I have more money but for now this will have to suffice. I guess I'll buy more stuff in the future if I feel I'm getting good at this :p
Thanks again.

Congratulations on your purchases
Heh, we all make do with what we can afford, nothing new there.
Calibrating your speakers to music you are very familiar with is a good idea, but also try and make sure they stay as "flat", frequency-wise, as possible.
Which is kind of hard to call objectively, but

As far as acoustic treatment, rather than sinking more cash into special foam, etc, consider using what you already may have - bookshelves (with books in them, of course) are great at breaking up standing waves, wall hangings and curtains can subtly dampen ringing high frequencies. There's info out in googleland on making a simple bass trap, if necessary.

Cheers,
sk

[amarule]

Dedicate a space for a control room area, and properly acoustically tune it, then get the best monitors you can afford. Headphones, no matter what you are using, are extremely inaccurate and potentially dangerous over time to your hearing.

[gelocks]

Hi guys!

So I finally got a little time @ home today to play with this stuff... and came up with two files. For both, I ended up using the same settings (including the Dynamics on the vocals which in turns mess up the output with the new mic -- i.e. you'll hear fluctuations in the track,.. up and down)

First up:

http://gelocks.topcities.com/Music/Como ... 20mic).mp3

This one was recorded with my cheap Nady SP-1 and mixed with my Sony Headphones.

Second go:

http://gelocks.topcities.com/Music/Como ... 20mic).mp3

This one was recorded with the new condenser mic and mixed with the new monitors. I'm still getting used to them but I think the difference is substantial! More "in your face" I guess?!?


What do you say!


Thanks.


P.S. Lyrics are in Spanish and hopefully I'll find a woman who'll sing this!