First Post: Need advice on what to Upgrade/Live Question

[Guastafarian]

Awesome Forum Brandon, kudos. Love all the info I've already gotten on here!!

Few questions.

1) I currently run:
Logic Express 8 on a Macbook Pro with 2gb RAM
Presonus Firebox 6x8 Firewire audio interface
Samson MDR624 mixer as a 2 ch preamp
Alesis 16Multimix Firewire (more preamps, never for recording)
Boss GT-8 for running electric guitars direct
M-Audio Axiom 25 MIDI Controller
--Microphones:
Rode NT1-A Studio Condenser (love the sound and no noise!)
2 SM57s
1 SM58

I was thinking of upgrading to one or some of the following:
1: a kick drum mic like the akg d112 or shure beta 52 (instead of using the SM57) on kick drum/bass cab, or another large or small diaphragm condensor (i record mostly acoustic guitar and vocals... but i do record my full band often)
2: a plug-in pack like Izotope (for the brick wall limiter) or upgrading to Logic Pro, or mastering software to get the volume up
3: studio monitors? I have a pair of Sony computers and a bass amp that get the job done though, living in a college apartment i don't have the most room in the world.
4: acoustic foam?

Thanks for all the help I get on that from everyone, and two more questions.

I have a Hartke 200W bass amp, but i don't want to bring the enormous cabinet because I already have a full PA with subwoofer (2 JBL Powered EON 15's and an 18" Peavey sub). Could I just use the head straight into my mixer? Would the sound guy FOH hate me at every show for bringing all that equipment?

One more... if I have phantom power on from the audio interface, and I also plug in an SM57 next to it, will it screw up the SM57? Would it be better to plug the Samson mixer into the interface? or would it just screw that up too...

thanks for all the feedback i get on this!!! sorry for the ridiculous amount of questions/details.

I think i'm gunna post one of my recordings on that section of the site to get bashed for further criticism.

[brandondrury]

1: a kick drum mic like the akg d112 or shure beta 52 (instead of using the SM57) on kick drum/bass cab, or another large or small diaphragm condensor (i record mostly acoustic guitar and vocals... but i do record my full band often)

I'd highly recommend the Shure Beta 91 as it is definitely my favorite kick drum mic or inside micing.

I've used large diaphram condensers inside kick drums with success too, so if you wanted to kill more birds with one stone you could buy an LDC and use it for both kick drum and the typical LDC stuff (acoustic guitar, vocals, everything).

2: a plug-in pack like Izotope (for the brick wall limiter) or upgrading to Logic Pro, or mastering software to get the volume up

Why You Don't Need Mastering Software

Aradaz Maximizer 5 VST Brickwall Limiter

3: studio monitors? I have a pair of Sony computers and a bass amp that get the job done though, living in a college apartment i don't have the most room in the world.

Budget Studio Monitors: Do They Work?

Buy Audio-Technica ATH-M50 Studio Monitor Headphones online at Musician's Friend

4: acoustic foam?

Yes and no. Room treatment is important, but it MUST be the right treatment. Blindly/deafly gluing up a bunch of foam is not the way to solve the problem. I have a big section on this in my upcoming home recording book that'll save you a ton of wasted time and cash.

In the mean time, I'd use blankets when necessary to control excessive room ambiance. As for studio monitoring accuracy, it appears you aren't sold yet on studio monitors so I'd say this isn't robo critical just yet.

Brandon

[brandondrury]

I have a Hartke 200W bass amp, but i don't want to bring the enormous cabinet because I already have a full PA with subwoofer (2 JBL Powered EON 15's and an 18" Peavey sub). Could I just use the head straight into my mixer? Would the sound guy FOH hate me at every show for bringing all that equipment?

When doing live sound, I prefer to use the DI out of the amp. The amp is usually a good monitor for the bass player, but other than that I don't have much use for it if the PA is adequate.

One more... if I have phantom power on from the audio interface, and I also plug in an SM57 next to it, will it screw up the SM57?

It's tough to tear up a 57 with a dump truck. Phantom power won't hurt it a bit. Phantom power can destroy some old ribbons but that's about it.

Brandon