New Setup Check?

[chiballer111]

This is my "wanted" setup....I'm looking for better options and better quality!
My budget runs on around 600 bucks. I am recording mainly Vocals for Hip-Hop and rock/metal.

MIC- Buy Shure KSM27 Studio Condenser Microphone | Condenser Microphones | Musician's Friend (I have a dynamic for Rock/ Metal.)

MIXER- Buy Alesis MultiMix 8USB Mixer with USB and DSP | Unpowered Mixers | Musician's Friend (Needed?)

MIC PRE- Buy ART ProMPA II — 2-Channel Tube Mic Preamp | Microphone Preamps | Musician's Friend (Quality better)



Any other ideas that would help quality would be greatly appreciated.
I'm still confused really..

[garageband]

Good mic, get two. No on the USB mixer and no on the preamp. Spend a little more money (as much as you can stand and then a little more) and get a proper, suitable interface.

For the latter, go here:
Audio Interface Wizard

[paul999]

Dido to garageband's advise.

[brandondrury]

For brand new dudes, I rarely recommend an upgraded preamp. There is no point early on. There is way too much to learn and way too many factors you didn't account for. I'm talking about everything from mic stands to guitar picks to chairs to cables.

I didn't see any mention of studio monitors. Check out my review on Audio Technica ATH-M50 Studio Monitor Headphones | Home Computer Recording

I think if you were to take a listen to the shootouts in Killer Home Recording you'd be shocked by how subtle of a difference we are talking. (With that said, I do have some expensive preamps, but.....) I always recommend getting a strong foundation of everything you NEED before you even consider upgrades.

I've had more damn tech support threads about that damn Alesis mixer/audio interface than I can count. I wouldn't recommend it either.

Brandon

[String7th]

If you concentrate on vocals. You can get away with a bigger name brand interface with less channels. Apogee is kinda the "top-dog" on digital to analog converters and have come out with the 2-channel Duet.
If you are on a budget, anything around $200-300 withh get a reliable 2 channel interface with built in preamps. Behringer being the exception.