#1March 22nd, 2011 · 12:37 PM
117 threads / 55 songs
1,540 posts
Chile
Gear upgrade
Well guys, I've been wanting to get some decent stuff to record my music. Until now I've always recorded with my integrated sound card and a cheap PC microphone. Also used my POD but since my PC is not working properly  I had to go back to the cheap PCI sound card.

I don't want anything too big or expensive; just decent enough. I intend to spend about US$300 for an audio interface (hopefully 2 separate channels, if not, then 1 it's OK) and a microphone for recording the voice and maybe miking the guitar amp. If I can spend less, then even better... while the gear is good enough.

I hope you have suggestions to make.
Cheers.

             > Iszil
#2March 22nd, 2011 · 02:08 PM
117 threads / 55 songs
1,540 posts
Chile
BTW, I have access to a Shure SM58 but I'm not sure it that microphone is good enough for studio recording, specially vox and guits. What do you think?
#3March 22nd, 2011 · 03:38 PM
92 threads / 12 songs
906 posts
United States of America
sm58's are known as the "industry standard" for performance (for that matter the Shure sm 57 is as well. They are both essentially the same mic with a different screen). They are both extremely rugged mics with great sound. They are used a little less for studio recording, but reportedly "Bono" of U2 fame only uses a sm 58 for recording vocals in the studio. There are quite a few on this site that use a sm58 - I know Marino used to use one for vocals in past recordings. I have two 58's and a 57 that I've used for recording vocals with decent results. However, I also have a cheap large-diaphragm condenser mic that I gravitate to when I record vocals because it tends to produce a bit more detail than the 57-58. I understand that if you use a decent mic-preamp (perhaps a tube preamp) it really livens up a 57-58. If I had to choose one mic for all around good performance, I would choose a sm58. Here's a couple links that also discuss the sm58.

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/mar04/articles/computervocals.htm

http://www.onlinemusicmixing.net/blog/home_recording_tips/sometimes-an-sm58-beats-a-cheap-condenser-mic/
#4March 22nd, 2011 · 03:45 PM
117 threads / 55 songs
1,540 posts
Chile
Thank you for the info, Cat!
So I guess I'll just focus on buying and audio interface since I (actually my band (actually the singer of my band)) have an SM58.

So, any ideas about a good and cheap (or not so cheap) audio interface. I'm thinking about the Line 6 Tone Port UX2. I've had a POD for like 5 years and I absolutely love it so I'm sort of a big fan of Line 6's work.
What do you think?

Cheers.

            > Iszil
#5March 22nd, 2011 · 10:04 PM
92 threads / 12 songs
906 posts
United States of America
Iszil wrote…
Thank you for the info, Cat!
So I guess I'll just focus on buying and audio interface since I (actually my band (actually the singer of my band)) have an SM58.

So, any ideas about a good and cheap (or not so cheap) audio interface. I'm thinking about the Line 6 Tone Port UX2. I've had a POD for like 5 years and I absolutely love it so I'm sort of a big fan of Line 6's work.
What do you think?

Cheers.

            > Iszil
I've got a couple pods and I like them - it might be good to read some of the line6 community forums on their audio interfaces, They're available at......
                      
                                                       http://line6.com/community/groups
#6March 23rd, 2011 · 03:05 AM
77 threads / 59 songs
923 posts
Netherlands
u might wanna check how they are with driver updates also,
M- audio always worked fine for me (for 10 years now!) but has limits too(crashes now and then).

if u have the sm-58 as option already, i'd go for a big condensator mic, I own a very cheap Behringer B-2 and it sounds much richer, only lacks in output but thats solved with the (tube) pre amp too,
u need phantom power for that so check thats on the card too or use a cheap (ART) mic amp(50 bucks orso)
A friend of me owns this one and u wont believe it till u hear it:
http://www.homerecording.be/product/se-electronics-se2200a
of course sm 58 will do
#7March 23rd, 2011 · 04:45 AM
117 threads / 27 songs
1,057 posts
Germany
"Thomann" is germany´s (europe´s ?) biggest trader of instruments and anything else musicians / producers need . I´ve purchased a lot of my gear from them . Also my condenser mic " the t.bone SCT700 ".
I used it on "power of mentality" . It´s a decent ´allrounder`mic.

Here´s a link to the ´mic-site`. http://www.thomann.de/gb/large_diaphragm_mics.html

I´ve made very good experiences with "thomann" since they offer their stuff under fair conditions & prices .
It´s hard to find better prices in germany .
And this is another "big player" for music equipment.http://www.musicstore.de/en_EN/CHF/Recording/Microphones-and-accessories/cat-RECORDING-RECMIKRO
#8March 23rd, 2011 · 10:04 AM
371 threads / 187 songs
3,394 posts
United Kingdom
Pre-amps
For £300 bucks the quality will be fair, might be better getting a good quality second hand one.
Here in the UK
Focusrite (Solid state) and TL Audio (tube) are great value, you could probably pick one up second hand.

Or try an ART, I've got a 2 channel one, good sound, but poorly made, I went through three under warrenty and the one I have plays up oaccasionally, but the model I have has been upgraded, so may be it's better. The single channel ones are so cheap, you could buy two, although the one I have has more features which work well this is what I have
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/ART-MPA-Gold-2-Channel-Microphone-Preamp-with-Variable-Impedance?sku=180630
this is the updated version
http://www.dv247.com/studio-equipment/art-pro-mpa-ii-gold--67627

EDIT** - Art do two single  channel TUBE preamps, for a few dollers more get this one, it has simmilar features to the one I have, SUPERB value.
http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?hl=&q=art+preamp&rlz=1B3GGLL_en-GBGB381GB381&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=2015559823819479904&sa=X&ei=cSKKTampF9CwhAfYo-2tDg&ved=0CFoQ8wIwBA#
#9March 23rd, 2011 · 04:57 PM
117 threads / 55 songs
1,540 posts
Chile
Thank you guys for all the feedback. I'll be checking all your suggestions and then make a decision.
Cheers!
    
             > Iszil
#11March 23rd, 2011 · 06:06 PM
117 threads / 55 songs
1,540 posts
Chile
BTW, if you suggest items that are in MusiciansFrind.com (or similar) it would be much better because I'm gonna ask an uncle who lives in Washington to send me the stuff so it's better is it's a big north american store so they send him the stuff for free.

            > Iszil
#12March 24th, 2011 · 03:28 PM
371 threads / 187 songs
3,394 posts
United Kingdom

Anyone will do, at this entry level there is not much difference. If I was gonig to buy a large diapgrame condenser I's go with something that has pedigree something like the Rode NT1A, it's abit more, but you can pick one up second hand for the same price as the ones you picked above.
http://www.zzounds.com/productreview--RODNT1A
#13March 24th, 2011 · 03:56 PM
#14March 24th, 2011 · 08:24 PM
117 threads / 55 songs
1,540 posts
Chile
Thank you Denis but that's too expensive. I don't wanna spend more than $300. The shipping is already $30 so it's basically $270 to buy both the interface and the mike.
I've been using a PC mike for years now so anything will be 100 times better, even if it's not great.
I think I'll just go for:
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/MAudio-MobilePre-mk-II?sku=H65460&rec=product_sim_A
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Audio-Technica-AT2035-Large-Diaphragm-Cardioid-Condenser-Microphone?sku=276789&rec=product_sim_A
That looks good or me and adjusts to my budget.

           > Iszil
#15March 25th, 2011 · 06:32 AM
371 threads / 187 songs
3,394 posts
United Kingdom
Iszil wrote…
Thank you Denis but that's too expensive. I don't wanna spend more than $300. The shipping is already $30 so it's basically $270 to buy both the interface and the mike.
I've been using a PC mike for years now so anything will be 100 times better, even if it's not great.
I think I'll just go for:
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/MAudio-MobilePre-mk-II?sku=H65460&rec=product_sim_A
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Audio-Technica-AT2035-Large-Diaphragm-Cardioid-Condenser-Microphone?sku=276789&rec=product_sim_A
That looks good or me and adjusts to my budget.

           > Iszil

Sure it will be much better than what you have, don't forget you can sometimes find nealry new ex demo kit if you look hard enough.  For instance I purchased an Ex Demo Tenor Sax in February from a respectable Ebay/Music store, They nornally sell for £250.00 I purchased it for £126.00, Bargain. It was was in near perfect condition, bought a Line 6 Bass pod Half price, again near perfect condition.
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