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Help for home recording
(I'm also positing this on Gearspace, but given the nature of the project, I think I might get more specific information here)
I'm planning a home recording project with a budget around $800. Male and female vocals (both mid/high register and fairly quiet) Acoustic guitar Some synth Proposed set up: Macbook Pro (have) DAW: Garageband Interface: Audient iD14 ($300) Mics: SM57 ($90) and RODE NT1 ($230) With tax, that comes to about $660, which should leave a bit for mic stands and some minimal room treatment. My hope is that I can start with a home studio that is usable now and could potentially grow. Before I pulled the trigger, I just wanted to run this through the hivemind to make sure I wasn't missing anything significant. Is this a decent set up? |
#2
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Given the limits of your budget, your choices are fine. For the price, the Audient is certainly one of the best choices in the $200-$300 price range. For about a hundred bucks, the SM57 is a solid workhorse mic and the Rode is fine.
A couple of things are missing though... You're going to need a set of closed back headphones for recording. Closed back so that the sound doesn't bleed into the mic. You're also going to need a set of studio monitors to listen back and mix on.
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Jim 2023 Iris ND-200 maple/adi 2017 Circle Strings 00 bastogne walnut/sinker redwood 2015 Circle Strings Parlor shedua/western red cedar 2009 Bamburg JSB Signature Baritone macassar ebony/carpathian spruce 2004 Taylor XXX-RS indian rosewood/sitka spruce 1988 Martin D-16 mahogany/sitka spruce along with some electrics, zouks, dulcimers, and banjos. YouTube |
#3
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Lots of different ways you can do this with your anticipated budget. I'd personally not use SM57s, though. They are great mics, but most any condenser that is similarly priced is going to yield better results for you. The AT2020 (side address medium diaphragm) gets a lot of positive reviews.
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#4
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The newer NT1 (not NT1a, although that has its uses as well) seems to be excellent value according to reports from friends.
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Give a man a fishing rod... and he's got the makings of a rudimentary banjo. Last edited by shufflebeat; 11-24-2022 at 08:14 AM. |
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I think that's a fine setup to start recording. I started with a pair of dynamics (2x Beta 57a, once I moved to the audio interface+computer world from the little Sony stereo mic I'd used with my Sony portable cassette recorder).
In fact, don't be afraid to try the SM57 on vocals, the RØDE on guitar, whatever. I use a dynamic on my one croaking almost all the time anymore - just fewer problems and outside or house noises to fix! p.s. (edit) Oh, yeah, saw KW's post and the "some synth" topic slipped my mind. Unless you already have a keyboard, you should consider at least a small keyboard for managing that. Then, the issue becomes connectivity. If you have an existing keyboard, what are its outputs, i.e., analog/line (stereo?) only, MIDI or USB? And if you don't have a keyboard, do the ones you're looking at have outputs that can work with your interface or computer and DAW? If you want to use MIDI outputs from a keyboard, the interface must have a corresponding set of inputs. If you have only analog output from a keyboard, then you'll need to plug that in through the interface, but you will lose the flexibility of switching VIs in the DAW to do more experimentation. A USB output can work, even with a separate interface on USB, so long as you have enough ports available on your PC.
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"I know in the morning that it's gonna be good, when I stick out my elbows and they don't bump wood." - Bill Kirchen Last edited by keith.rogers; 11-24-2022 at 09:23 AM. |
#6
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Unfortunately blanket statements are likely too general to be of much use for recommendations for specifics uses . I think the Rode NT 1 is a fine LDC choice for inexpensive vocal mic and BTW it is only $199 with shock mount and wind screen at Sweetwater https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...ser-microphone
IMO either the SM 57 or the AT 2020 can be quite usable DEPENDING on what exactly the OP intends for production. But for my self for what I do I would probably not consider either (But that is just me and my suggestion later In a big mix with lots of instruments the 57 (which has very low almost none existent self noise) and although it actually has more of high mid boost frequency response than say the the AT 2020 It can indeed "sit in the mix" But it should be noted that "sit in the mix" actually translates to move back in the sound field .... So again it very much depends on whether the OP wishes to feature the acoustic as the primary instrument or actually have it sit back as part of the rhythm section...?? The OP stated "some synth" ( assuming the OP is actually means VI - virtual instruments as opposed to an actual synthesizer) if so that is pretty vague as far as what kind VI's and how many For me personally I do use VI's but only to back up my featuring of vocal and acoustic guitar,,,, so for me I would be much more inclined to consider something like a matched pair of Rode M5's for $149 https://www.sweetwater.com/c105--Con...E&gclsrc=aw.ds
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Enjoy the Journey.... Kev... KevWind at Soundcloud KevWind at YouYube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...EZxkPKyieOTgRD System : Studio system Avid Carbon interface , PT Ultimate 2023.12 -Mid 2020 iMac 27" 3.8GHz 8-core i7 10th Gen ,, Ventura 13.2.1 Mobile MBP M1 Pro , PT Ultimate 2023.12 Ventura 12.2.1 Last edited by KevWind; 11-24-2022 at 01:52 PM. |
#7
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If by "some minimal room treatment" you mean foam, don't waste your money. Foam is inadequate as room treatment. It will attenuate some high frequencies but those are not typically the issue in home studios. In the majority of home studios, it's the buildup of low frequencies that is the biggest issue and for that you need proper bass traps.
Take a look at the "AGF MEMBERS GEAR MASTERLIST with RECOMMENDED TUTORIAL VIDEOS & PODCASTS" thread stickied at the top of this subforum. In post #16, there are videos about room treatment.
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Jim 2023 Iris ND-200 maple/adi 2017 Circle Strings 00 bastogne walnut/sinker redwood 2015 Circle Strings Parlor shedua/western red cedar 2009 Bamburg JSB Signature Baritone macassar ebony/carpathian spruce 2004 Taylor XXX-RS indian rosewood/sitka spruce 1988 Martin D-16 mahogany/sitka spruce along with some electrics, zouks, dulcimers, and banjos. YouTube |
#8
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I just run a 1/4" guitar cable out of my synth into the audio interface.
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2018 Guild F-512 Sunburst -- 2007 Guild F412 Ice Tea burst 2002 Guild JF30-12 Whiskeyburst -- 2011 Guild F-50R Sunburst 2011 Guild GAD D125-12 NT -- 1972 Epiphone FT-160 12-string 2012 Epiphone Dot CH -- 2010 Epiphone Les Paul Standard trans amber 2013 Yamaha Motif XS7 Cougar's Soundcloud page |
#9
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Quote:
https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/rode-nt1 (The Sweetwater one is the nt1a, which is a different beastie altogether) Quote:
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Give a man a fishing rod... and he's got the makings of a rudimentary banjo. |
#10
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But in terms of self noise while it is true a dynamic mic has virtually no self noise, it is true however their noise will be effected the mic pre .. From the Neumann web site :: Quote:
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To my mind there are basically three positions in the front to back sound field #1 behind the main mix, usually more subtle background or interest elements # 2 in the main mix (often the position of rhythm section) ( and the position of what I understand the term "sit in the mix" to mean) #3 forward of the main mix often vocals or lead melodic riffs, or any featured element . So I was referring to "sit in the mix" as it being back into the main mix as compared to any forward element of course that is just my understanding as always YMMV
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Enjoy the Journey.... Kev... KevWind at Soundcloud KevWind at YouYube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...EZxkPKyieOTgRD System : Studio system Avid Carbon interface , PT Ultimate 2023.12 -Mid 2020 iMac 27" 3.8GHz 8-core i7 10th Gen ,, Ventura 13.2.1 Mobile MBP M1 Pro , PT Ultimate 2023.12 Ventura 12.2.1 Last edited by KevWind; 11-24-2022 at 02:47 PM. |
#11
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Fair enough, no offence intended.
FTFY stands for "fixed that for you" and has an implicit light-hearted bent to it, which obviously doesn't come across if you're not familiar with the term. It doesn't really work if I comment outside the quote and the bolding of the script makes it very clear what the comment refers to. I'm afraid you won't hold back such terms by objecting to them - but I take your general point. Dynamic mics do not generate self noise like condensers, which have integrated preamps, hence the need for phantom power, some of which are akin to pink noise machines. For dynamics in the world of music, as opposed to academic discussion self-noise is negligible in the true sense of the word. "Sitting in the mix" is as important (if not more so) for a close-up, exposed element of the arrangement as anything "back in the room" as it shouldn't sound like it has been super-imposed over an existing background. One of the best features of the '57 is it's midrange character which can be surprisingly complex in a vocal (particularly harmonies) or acoustic guitar track. With cheap condensers this is sometimes lacking or overwhelmed by a clash-y presence peak (often on the initial transient) which attracts the initial attention but is fatiguing after a while.
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Give a man a fishing rod... and he's got the makings of a rudimentary banjo. Last edited by shufflebeat; 11-24-2022 at 04:09 PM. |
#12
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Enjoy the Journey.... Kev... KevWind at Soundcloud KevWind at YouYube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...EZxkPKyieOTgRD System : Studio system Avid Carbon interface , PT Ultimate 2023.12 -Mid 2020 iMac 27" 3.8GHz 8-core i7 10th Gen ,, Ventura 13.2.1 Mobile MBP M1 Pro , PT Ultimate 2023.12 Ventura 12.2.1 Last edited by KevWind; 11-25-2022 at 08:10 AM. |
#13
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As always.
Appreciate the positive approach to discussion.
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Give a man a fishing rod... and he's got the makings of a rudimentary banjo. |
#14
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Watch the "self noise" spec of a microphone. Wrong or right, I always try to get the lowest I can find.
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Barry Sad Moments {Marianne Vedral cover}: My SoundCloud page Some steel strings, some nylon. |
#15
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While an important spec, it shouldn't be the primary reason for choosing a mic. You want a mic that sounds best on the source you're recording. That may not be the mic with the lowest self-noise.
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Jim 2023 Iris ND-200 maple/adi 2017 Circle Strings 00 bastogne walnut/sinker redwood 2015 Circle Strings Parlor shedua/western red cedar 2009 Bamburg JSB Signature Baritone macassar ebony/carpathian spruce 2004 Taylor XXX-RS indian rosewood/sitka spruce 1988 Martin D-16 mahogany/sitka spruce along with some electrics, zouks, dulcimers, and banjos. YouTube |