USB Microphone / Recording with Ableton

[rabbuhl]

I have a Audio-Technica AT2020 USB Condenser USB Microphone for recording vocals. I connect it Ableton Live using the asio4all Drivers. asio4all works but it is clumsy to use and the volume is not loud. Furthermore, I had to go back to an older version of asio4all for it work on Windows 10 with Ableton Live.

I am looking for something easier perhaps an XLR microphone. That would require an audio interface like the BEHRINGER Audio Interface.

Which microphone do you recommend? Which audio interface?

[KevWind]

What is the $ budget range you would like to be in for mic and for the interface ?

[rabbuhl]

For the microphone 100-200, and for the interface 100-200.

[DukeX]

You'll get a lot of good advice here.

If it was me I'd probably get a Scarlett 212 interface/preamp ($150) and a 3U Audio CM1 Teal mic ($120).

[rabbuhl]

Originally Posted by DukeX

You'll get a lot of good advice here.

If it was me I'd probably get a Scarlett 212 interface/preamp ($150) and a 3U Audio CM1 Teal mic ($120).

Thanks. These look interesting:
- Focusrite Scarlett 212 3rd Gen (2 inputs) - 169 EUR
- Steinberg UR22 MK2 (1 input) - 115 EUR
- Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen (1 input) - 114 EUR

Question: should I get an audio interface with 1 or 2 inputs?

I did not see the 3U Audio CM1 Teal. So, I am looking at these.
- Audio Technical AT2020 - 89 EUR

[KevWind]

Again it would be helpful for you to post a budget range your thinking about.

But in answer to your one question . Because home recording is an evolving endeavor it is almost always (to a point) more advisable to opt for more inputs looking to the future, rather than less inputs looking at the present.

So I would advise a 2 mic input interface at the very least (allowing the use of stereo recording for your guitar). And given you are talking about vocals as well as guitar. (Depending on your budget range) I would advise a 4 input interface for better future proofing.

A 4 input interface allows you to eventually experiment with simultaneous recording of a stereo mics on guitar and a single vocal mic all in one recording pass . And gives the ability to pan the guitar left and right and run the vocal up the middle yielding a nice wide soundstage .
Which can be done with only two inputs but using overdub , not simultaneous .

[rabbuhl]

Originally Posted by KevWind

Again it would be helpful for you to post a budget range your thinking about.

But in answer to your one question . Because home recording is an evolving endeavor it is almost always (to a point) more advisable to opt for more inputs looking to the future, rather than less inputs looking at the present.

So I would advise a 2 mic input interface at the very least (allowing the use of stereo recording for your guitar). And given you are talking about vocals as well as guitar. (Depending on your budget range) I would advise a 4 input interface for better future proofing.

A 4 input interface allows you to eventually experiment with simultaneous recording of a stereo mics on guitar and a single vocal mic all in one recording pass . And gives the ability to pan the guitar left and right and run the vocal up the middle yielding a nice wide soundstage .
Which can be done with only two inputs but using overdub , not simultaneous .

I was thinking about a budget of 200 EUR but it sounds like spending more would be wise. I was just thinking of recording the vocals and guitar separately. I had not consider simultaneous recording. Thank you!!

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by rabbuhl

I was thinking about a budget of 200 EUR but it sounds like spending more would be wise. I was just thinking of recording the vocals and guitar separately. I had not consider simultaneous recording. Thank you!!

Just to clarify a bit further. Some people prefer simultaneous, some prefer to overdub, some do both. Both methods are completely valid.

Personally I have a fairly high end interface BUT it has only 2 mic inputs and 2 line inputs , so I have always overdubbed.
Thus if I wanted to try a simultaneous 2 gtr mic, one vocal mic recording, I would have to get a an additional outboard preamp to plug into a line input. Which I may do, but was thinking if I had purchased a 4 mic input interface to start with, I would not have to spend any more to expand my recording options .

[rabbuhl]

Originally Posted by KevWind

Just to clarify a bit further. Some people prefer simultaneous, some prefer to overdub, some do both. Both methods are completely valid.

Personally I have a fairly high end interface BUT it has only 2 mic inputs and 2 line inputs , so I have always overdubbed.
Thus if I wanted to try a simultaneous 2 gtr mic, one vocal mic recording, I would have to get a an additional outboard preamp to plug into a line input. Which I may do, but was thinking if I had purchased a 4 mic input interface to start with, I would not have to spend any more to expand my recording options .

It sounds like I need to consider my usage, i.e. it is for doing demos and keeping it simple. Maybe I'm better off with just 2 inputs. Otherwise, I need to have a lot more microphones and so on to record more elaborately.

[DukeX]

Originally Posted by rabbuhl

...I did not see the 3U Audio CM1 Teal. So, I am looking at these.
- Audio Technical AT2020 - 89 EUR

Do a Google search and you will find the website. There you will find their products and a link to another website where there is a major thread (nearly 200 pages and 6,000 posts) about these mics.

The AT2020 is a decent, popular mic. But not in the same league IMO.