Starting out @ $200.

[nps07]

hey all,
im 20 y/o , and i wanna get some good equipment, i hope you all can help me out with a 200 price cap.
i:
-beatbox (i can do live performance, but im talking recording)
-play guitar
-friend does vocals

we have organic beats and and rhythms.
we have stuff recorded with some cheap mic and alot of ideas that are ready to go for a good recording..

i was hoping you guys could point me at the optimal equipment as far as:
mic
audio to digital sound converter
maybe a nice program (we use acid and garage band)
maybe a nice pair of "monitors"? i think thats what ppl call speakers, i dont know the diffrence.

anyways this is my first post here, and ive really been looking at these forums for a while , so i hope you guys can help me out, id really appreciate any help.

-nate

[garww]

$100 each for a mic and a interface. Buy used if you know the stuff is in good condition. You really need monitors or headphones that let you hear what's going on.

You're really in a cash crunch with 200, so what exactly is wrong with what you got now ??

So if your soundcard is not terrible, Maybe a used condenser mic and cord for $50. A XLR adapter/interface/mixer new/used for $50 or less. That leaves you at the very bottom of the monitor pickings. or, really "decent" headphones $60-100.

My mic was $26 on ebay and Radio shack had a cord for $15. You can do it if you take the time.

[mindundermatter]

I'd get a USB mic with a built-in A/D/A converter in it and make sure it's one with a headphone output for monitoring purposes. Then I'd get a decent pair of headphones, a pop filter, mic stand, a quality mic cable, and whatever's left would go towards monitors. The DAWs you are using now will serve your purposes just fine until you get a bit more serious and want more flexability/capability.

Check out the Samson G Track for starters. Grab some $20 Sony headphones from Wal-Mart, a $5 pop filter, $20 mic stand, and another $30 or so for the cable. Come to think of it, you don't have enough left over for monitors, so just get some better headphones; but invest in monitors as soon as possible.

[nps07]

Originally Posted by mindundermatter

I'd get a USB mic with a built-in A/D/A converter in it and make sure it's one with a headphone output for monitoring purposes. Then I'd get a decent pair of headphones, a pop filter, mic stand, a quality mic cable, and whatever's left would go towards monitors. The DAWs you are using now will serve your purposes just fine until you get a bit more serious and want more flexability/capability.

Check out the Samson G Track for starters. Grab some $20 Sony headphones from Wal-Mart, a $5 pop filter, $20 mic stand, and another $30 or so for the cable. Come to think of it, you don't have enough left over for monitors, so just get some better headphones; but invest in monitors as soon as possible.

any idea of a good audio to digital converter, i was looking to just hook up the mic into the converter instead of using a usb mic.
also i need a guitar hook up since i also play that in my music.

[Husky Band]

Presonus Firebox $200?

[garww]

check;
USB Audio Interfaces | Sweetwater.com

No one is going to suggest low priced is good, but I use a basic USB interface with no big issues.

This page lists a couple new for $80 and you can find something used, also.

[nps07]

Originally Posted by garww

check;
USB Audio Interfaces | Sweetwater.com

No one is going to suggest low priced is good, but I use a basic USB interface with no big issues.

This page lists a couple new for $80 and you can find something used, also.

this looks like a sweet page!
thank you man!
any suggestions, or anything i should know spec wise?

[garww]

You want faster USB 2.0, phantom power for better MICs, and a switchable input for Hi-Z guitar.

Higher sample rates for A/D conversion may not be much of a issue, and make sure there are drivers for your OS.

Sweetwater's pages are not so crowded, but all the online places have tons of these interfaces. You should note that the cheap Lexicon does not have a user rating on this site. And, you can search the recording review site for the different models you look at.

I bot a eBay old Tascam US122(slower USB port) with the package MIC and Headphones for just over $100. None of the three are worth bragging about, but it got me going.

I don't think the interface is more important than a good MIC and headphones when you are on a penny budget.

With my low-end stuff, my just acquired $100 Headphones has been a big improvement to my perception of what's going on. The Tascam interface is OK. The $26 used Global Audio XL2400 condenser MIC is just enough. The ebay $10 boom stand is usable. I had to spend retail bucks for a mic cage and a couple cables.

Use your software until you tire of it : ) Reaper, found online, is worth checking out once you get familiar with your hardware setup.

[garww]

Oh, I forgot. With sound, it's the stuff on the ends that make the biggest sonic difference - MICs and speakers, for example. Not so much the electronics in the middle. There you look for features you can use - headphone jack, for example.