[Zeckson]

Thanks for the prompt replies! Really appreciate that! Actually I have been running around the stores and doing a lot of research on the Internet on the topic on/related to home recording. There are many recommendations but those are posted on sites. I thought it could be link to some marketing gimmick as the site also promotes their products.

I want to get some real people opinions here. I do have in mind a setup which I think I can afford (or at least will save up enough money to meet that requirement) and wish to share this setup with you for your opinions.

Equipment I thought of are (maybe unrealistic):

1. Condenser microphone
2. Basic 4-channel or 6-channel mixer
3. Good home-use sound card
4. A damn solid computer
5. Recording software

Condenser Microphone:
I have read numerous about the wonder of the Rode NT1A condenser microphone. Comparing to the other microphones in the market, the Rode NT1A is very affordable on price and performance is very decent. In the past, I have tried some cheap microphones but the result is a very muffled vocal that sounds like speaking/singing with your hand covering the mouth. Using equalizers to adjust the signals helps but often not to the result I desire. Maybe I don't know how to do the adjustments on the software. I have come to realize that the quality of the microphone is utmost important. I need to capture all those tiny little noise, the soft low bass and those little "ssss" of my singing into the track. In other words, I need clarity. I need ti blend my voice into the mix. Previously my muffled voiced stood out, giving a feeling that the voice is in front of the mix. Adjusting the gain on the backing track will make my voice being more muffled at certain parts.

I have heard of the legendary Shure SM58 microphone. This microphone actually attentuates the 1K ~ 2.5K frequency when brought close to the singing mouth, giving a very smooth, low, **** sound that will bring out the very best of a man's voice. I myself had tried on the wireless version (I took part in many singing competitions before) and absolutely amazed with the performance. No rear feedback even right in front of the stage monitor speakers! But I am not so sure about this microphone when brought into use in a home environment.

Any comments on the Rode NT1A and the Shure SM58?

4-channel / 6-channel mixer:
I want to connect the microphone into a mixer so that I can tune my voice to the exact sound I want going into the sound card and eventually into the recording software. I hope to be able to do duets or group singing as well. I have walked some stores offering some decent basic mixers (sorry, I forgot the brand, not too well versed in mixers) and some used mixers as well. My motive is very clear -- link to the micophones and sound card and initial process my voice before going into the computer via a sound card (gain, echo, reverb, pan, EQ, etc.).

I have come across mixers that also provide a +48V phantom power pre-amplification to the microphones. Is this necessary?

Good home-use sound card:
Can Sound Blaster do the job? Any model to recommend? Or any other brand of sound card to recommend?

A damn solid computer:
Looking at a computer with at least the following specifications:

• At least a Duo Core CPU (AMD/Intel)
• At least 2 GB DDR2 RAM
• At least 160 GB Hard Disk space
• At least 256 MB graphic RAM video card
• A lot of USB slots

The rest are normal standard specifications not worth attention.

Recording Software:
I have been using the Adobe Audition eversince Cool Edit started out. Current version I have is version 1.5. Not willing to go into version 2 as it slows down my old computer by a lot.

What do you guys think?