Getting Started... Need Help!

[bhoerner]

What's up everyone,

I am looking to get my foot in the door of the recording industry. I am a musician of seven years, I have taken recording classes, and just started an internship at a studio. But I realize that I will benefit greatly if I have my own equipment to get started. I have around $2,000 to work with at the moment and am trying to figure out the best possible route to take. My biggest descision to make is microphones. As of now I have three cheap dynamic mics (2 AKG D 9000 and 1 Shure PG 57 to be exact). I would like to have at least 1 decent condenser (maybe AT 4040 or Blue Baby Bottle) for recording vocals, acoustic guitars, strings, etc. Or, I could just go out and get 4 SM57/58, or a combination of both a condenser and a dynamic. Here are my plans:

IMac- $1000-$1200
Presonus Firestudio w/ Cubase 4 Le(and plugins)- $500
Microphone(s)????- $500-$600

I would greatly appreciate all comments, concerns, and suggestions. Thank You,

Brett

[brandondrury]

Man, I hate to see you dump 60% of your budget into the computer. Some people are just Mac people. If you insist on Mac, that's your business, but I hate to see you sacrifice studio monitors, another microphone (or 5), room treatments, or plugins.

It appears that you haven't made up your mind about you goals. Getting one nice, $400 condenser is seldom a bad move, but then you mention maybe buying a bunch of SM57s. Are you going to be recording drums or live bands anytime soon?

I do record drums quite a bit, some full bands live in the studio, and lots (LOTS) of overdubs. It's always a debate. Should I load up on one killer channel or improve all my channels. How to blow the cash is always tough.

Brandon

[bhoerner]

I appreciate your advice Brandon, thank you.

I feel that the sacrifice I want to make for the computer is a good one because I am thinking more long term. I personally don't think it would be a good idea to get an average computer and a pair of average or sub-par monitors. I would rather save some loot and look to buy some very good monitors in the future when the time is right, and rely on my nice pair of cans for the time being. But I must admit, I am uneducated when it comes to monitors. Can a get a good pair for a few hundred dollars??

As far as microphones go, that's where I was looking for some advice. I plan on recording drums sometime in the future, but at the moment I'm not really into using a lot of mics for drums. I've been listening to a lot of records where there are only 4-6 mics used, and I really like the space and the vibe that is heard throughtout the room and the different instruments. I guess it depends on the style of music. I am leaning towards a nice condenser and probably one dynamic (sm57), but I am still unsure if that is what is best for me. I do know that I need a mic that will capture good vocals and acoustic instruments. What are your thoughts? Thanks,

Brett

[brandondrury]

I would rather save some loot and look to buy some very good monitors in the future when the time is right, and rely on my nice pair of cans for the time being. But I must admit, I am uneducated when it comes to monitors. Can a get a good pair for a few hundred dollars??

There is definitely something to the "buy once" theory. Of course, I said that about a Taylor acoustic guitar in 1999. I still don't own an acoustic guitar.

There is no such thing as a "long term" computer. No computer holds it's resell value. I through a $2k computer in the trash the other day because it isn't worth $8 now. You know this. It comes down to spending $1200 on a computer that will give you X years verse going with something cheaper that will give you Y years. Only you can decide that one. All I know I'll be upgrading my recording rig in future and this $250 investment will give me a dramatic boost in power. With that said, I'm making cash right now with my crappy Athlon 64 2800. You figure it out. I guess the question I'm asking is: Why do you need a better computer than me when your recording chain is worse than mine? (That's the bold, asshole version. I didn't mean it to come out assholish, but you get the idea.)

Can a get a good pair for a few hundred dollars??

No, but this thread can. http://forum.recordingreview.com/f8/...hey-work-6404/

I've been listening to a lot of records where there are only 4-6 mics used, and I really like the space and the vibe that is heard throughtout the room and the different instruments.

Minimal micing forces you to approach the drums "correctly". When you have only one mic, you probably won't be placing it 1" from the snare drum. You'll place in the spot where the drums as a whole sound good. This concept is something that most beginners miss. So I'm with you on the minimal micing thing even if I also close mic all drums just in case.

A Shure SM 57 and a good large diaphram condenser is a great way to start. There are many excellent ways to go here. I own the AT4033 and AT4050 but I've never heard the AT4040. I hear good things about it. If it was me, I'd get a Kel HM-1. They are like $120 and get rave reviews for not sounding harsh and thin by big boy engineers. I would have a hard time spending $500 on a single mic if my budget for everything was $2k. There are all kinds of things that most people don't think about in the process.

The Kel HM-1 is just as "good" as any other mic, just different. You won't outgrow it. It's neutral character makes it a great overall mic for everything. I own a $2500 mic, a $1200 mic, and bunch of cheaper mics. In many shootouts $300 mics beat my $2500 mic. As soon as you understand that concept, the sooner you'll be spending less and making better recordings. I cover this concept heavily in my upcoming home recording book.

Brandon