Economic Pre-DAW Equipment

[jonathansorensen]

On a midrange budget, (a few grand), what would be one mic, one preamp and one digital converter that someone could pick up for home recording to do recordings of high enough quality to get forwards to film/TV (given that the material is good)?If this has already been addressed, can you direct me to the link?ThanksJS

[paults]

You don't have to spend that much if you don't want to - I got a recent film forward for a song where I used an AKG 3000 into an M-Audio Omnistudio (then into the computer) for the vocal.That's only around $230 plus shipping for used ones on eBay

[andreh]

JS-Don't forget to address room acoustics; this aspect of your recording chain can have a greater influence on your sound than any of the items you mentioned.André

[stick]

At the Rally, big time producer dude, Fett, was praising the MXL V69 as a great all around vocal mic. He said it often beats some much older/more expensive condensers. I think it's pretty cheap. For pres there are TONS of options in the $500-1000 range. Look at a clean pre (rather than one with a strong "sound") if you'll be using it for lots of different instruments and add the "sound" in the mix. Check out Grace or True. If you're only going to be using this combo for your voice or whatever, then you may want to look at some other choices... The GrooveTubes Brick, or UA Solo610 or something like that with more "vibe". The key there though, is that it has to work great for your voice, or it'll be hurting. I'd still go clean probably. More flexible in the long run. You may want to think about a dual channel one if you ever need to mic an acoustic guitar in stereo or whatever. I'd say the converter is the least of your worries at this stage. Sure, it makes a difference, but not nearly as big a one as the mic/pre will. What are you recording through now?

[billg]

I'll have to throw my vote in for the MXL V69. I had been doing a lot of stuff using a vintage Neuman so my benchmark was pretty high when I went shopping for a mic (that I could afford!). I tried every affordable mic I could get my hands on & the MXL V69 was the best for my voice. I also tried a Studio Projects C1 which sounded too hyped & crappy in the upper mids for my voice. I kept it (because of a no-return policy on mics where it was purchased). About a month ago I was tracking some vocals for a country singer friend of mine & the C1 sounded awesome on his voice. He even made the comment that it was the BEST his voice had ever sounded! So a lot depends on your voice as far as mic selection goes, but both of these are capable of doing the job of mics that cost a lot more.

[matto]

Please don't spend a few grand on a mic, pre and converter . Unless you have a money tree growing outside your window or married a rich chick.You can easily do broadcast quality recording while staying at around $500 for all of the above items, IF you know what you're doing.Spend a little more, up to maybe 1k or so, if you're picky or need flexibility.Yes there is gear out there that costs several grand for just one of the above items and (in most cases) it WILL sound better. But you don't need that stuff to produce broadcast quality.90% of achieving broadcast quality is about your writing, production and engineering chops.mattoAnd for the rest, listen to stick...

[mazz]

I think the Grace preamp and the MXL mic would be a winning combo, as long as the mic sounds good on your voice. That's the big take home point here. Try before you buy or buy from a place that lets you try and return if it doesn't work. The Grace preamp will sound great with any mic so take your time and find the mic that works best for you.Stick is the man on this stuff so as matto so eloquently said: listen to stickMazzPS: Andre is right about room acoustics but if you're doing vocals, you can make a little vocal "tent" from blankets and mic stands that will work pretty well. It's the reflections off the walls of small rooms that you can't get rid of once they're recorded.

[davewalton]

Quote:Stick is the man on this stuff so as matto so eloquently said: "listen to stick"T-SHIRTS!

[stick]

LOL! Yes. I need those when I'm producing stubborn singers. I could wear it under a jacket or something and then when they're acting like an "artist" I'll whip off the jacket! Mwah ha ha ha ha!!!!!!

[andreh]

Quote:PS: Andre is right about room acoustics but if you're doing vocals, you can make a little vocal "tent" from blankets and mic stands that will work pretty well. It's the reflections off the walls of small rooms that you can't get rid of once they're recorded.Mazz's suggestion will work in a pinch, but if you're going this route, the thicker the blankets, the better! Even dense rugs will only absorb high frequencies, so you might end up with a mix that's boomy and mid-heavy (or light, since reflections can actually "cancel out" certain frequencies).It might be worth spending a few hundred dollars on an Auralex or similar package that contains some corner traps as well as mid and high frequency absorbers. You can build a make-shift booth with a few cheap doors from home depot, cover 'em with foam panels, stick some low frequency traps in the corners, and be good to go.André