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Music, Audio, and Podcasting
New to home recording, need advice on gear
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<blockquote data-quote="robduckyworth" data-source="post: 1252030" data-attributes="member: 184879"><p>oh, where to start....</p><p></p><p>For guitars you want decent quality dynamic microphones. Dynamics can withstand higher SPL levels (guitars get loud) without being damaged.</p><p></p><p>Vocals, and pretty much anything which has most of its fundamentals in the higher frequencies (violins, strings, acoustic guitars, tambourines, etc) are best suited to a Condenser microphone.</p><p></p><p>Condenser mic's require Phantom Power (+48v) to operate, so make sure your interface accomodates this feature if you plan on using one.</p><p></p><p>Id recommend a Shure SM57 to anyone buying a guitar microphone, and a Rhode NT1A to vocalists. good price points and excellent quality.</p><p></p><p>For bass I'd recommend DI'ing or if you have the cash a dedicated AKG D112.</p><p></p><p>M-Audio make good interfaces. decent DAC on them, from what I have heard and driver support is good.</p><p></p><p>Not sure about lexicon's interfaces, but they are renowned in the industry for quality reverb units, so they are a brand that can be trusted.</p><p></p><p>Apogee are known to play nicely with Macs. Also have a look at Focusrite (very highly regarded pre-amps) and Avid hardware.</p><p></p><p>On the monitor side, dont buy Behringer! they make terrible sounding, "boxy" monitors in my opinion. always go premium on monitors, as they are your last port of call for the final mix. Good monitor brands: Adam, KRK, Fostex, Dynaudio.</p><p></p><p>Also, the key to a good mix is <strong>understanding what your room sounds like.</strong> Every room has a different characteristic which blurs your perception of the audio; it may sound great, but someone in a different room may have a completely different sounding room and therefore it will sound crap to them. its important when making mixing decisions.</p><p></p><p>Monitors might sound nice in the shop, but will they sound good (or more correctly, accurate) in my room?</p><p></p><p><strong>Always listen to monitors in a store before buying.</strong></p><p></p><p><strong>If you want a good mix, don't do it on headphones.</strong></p><p></p><p>Audio gear, like pretty much everything, is one of those "you get what you pay for" industries. 500 bucks isnt going to get you the best gear, and most of the stuff i have recommended is beyond your budget.</p><p></p><p>But when buying, <strong>compare</strong> what you are interested in with what i have recommended. i suggest these because they are like the staple diet of studios today. If you are interested in a Dynamic mic for your guitar, think, what is that like in comparison to an SM57? Read reviews, if you are lucky, give them a listen, do an a/b comparison and so on.</p><p></p><p>Well havent i rambled on... hope some of this helps you.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="robduckyworth, post: 1252030, member: 184879"] oh, where to start.... For guitars you want decent quality dynamic microphones. Dynamics can withstand higher SPL levels (guitars get loud) without being damaged. Vocals, and pretty much anything which has most of its fundamentals in the higher frequencies (violins, strings, acoustic guitars, tambourines, etc) are best suited to a Condenser microphone. Condenser mic's require Phantom Power (+48v) to operate, so make sure your interface accomodates this feature if you plan on using one. Id recommend a Shure SM57 to anyone buying a guitar microphone, and a Rhode NT1A to vocalists. good price points and excellent quality. For bass I'd recommend DI'ing or if you have the cash a dedicated AKG D112. M-Audio make good interfaces. decent DAC on them, from what I have heard and driver support is good. Not sure about lexicon's interfaces, but they are renowned in the industry for quality reverb units, so they are a brand that can be trusted. Apogee are known to play nicely with Macs. Also have a look at Focusrite (very highly regarded pre-amps) and Avid hardware. On the monitor side, dont buy Behringer! they make terrible sounding, "boxy" monitors in my opinion. always go premium on monitors, as they are your last port of call for the final mix. Good monitor brands: Adam, KRK, Fostex, Dynaudio. Also, the key to a good mix is [B]understanding what your room sounds like.[/B] Every room has a different characteristic which blurs your perception of the audio; it may sound great, but someone in a different room may have a completely different sounding room and therefore it will sound crap to them. its important when making mixing decisions. Monitors might sound nice in the shop, but will they sound good (or more correctly, accurate) in my room? [B]Always listen to monitors in a store before buying.[/B] [B]If you want a good mix, don't do it on headphones.[/B] Audio gear, like pretty much everything, is one of those "you get what you pay for" industries. 500 bucks isnt going to get you the best gear, and most of the stuff i have recommended is beyond your budget. But when buying, [B]compare[/B] what you are interested in with what i have recommended. i suggest these because they are like the staple diet of studios today. If you are interested in a Dynamic mic for your guitar, think, what is that like in comparison to an SM57? Read reviews, if you are lucky, give them a listen, do an a/b comparison and so on. Well havent i rambled on... hope some of this helps you. [/QUOTE]
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