600 bucks and a desire for recording

Okay. So I have $600, and I was wondering what would be some good things that I could buy with that budget to start out with/upgrade what I already have. Here's what I already have:

• An Edirol UA-20 USB interface
• An Acoustic-Electric Guitar
• A cheapy, out-of-the-basement Shure Prologue microphone (dynamic)
• Sonar 2.0

I'm really looking to just upgrade what I do have so I can do what I'm already doing more effectively/professionally. What are your recommendations? And you can listen to my music at either Myspace, SoundClick OR Facebook. As you can see, I wanna keep it pretty acoustic-based.


Thanks guys!

a sonar upgrade would give you a lot of functions, effects and softsynths to add to your projects.

Nick,
I have recommendations for mics, soundcards, preamps and others for entry level on my website.

personally I'd not recommend SHS7 for anyone who has used a full version of sonar before - it's a step back in functionality.  I'd recommend Sonar 8.5 at the minimum.

you can upgrade to S8.5 Studio right now for $199.  that price will go up soon (end of the month?)

yes as long as you registered sonar 2.

I think I'm going to definitely look into two major things - a mic and a software upgrade. Other things will come after that (like an external HDD, better XLR-quarter inch cable, etc.)

Thanks guys! Any other input is much appreciated.

that's a good point by Karyn.  if your computer won't handle S8.5 then don't get it or you'll be stuck with software you paid for and can't use.

The demo should be up on this site.  Don't know which version - probably 8.xxx

Your computer should be fine - I run a similiar system.  Just be sure to have a second drive for audio.

The best bang for the money is probably a good interface w/  preamps.  Can't do anything w/o those things.  Most convertors are good these days - don't know about the roland you have, but if you are happy.  Preamps are generally good also.

If you do any acoustic recording a good general purpose mic is next on the list.  If you are recording your own vocals it is worthwhile to shop with that in mind.  For $600 you can get a good one.  For male vox a Large Condenser is most common.  For many instruments (acoustic guitar and female vox) a small condensor is better.  A shure 57 (-$100) is a great all arounder, tho not for vox.  another "secret" weapon is a good PZM for a clean, realistic sound.

With mics you can go two ways - a couple of good mics or one really good one.  A 57, a fathead ribbon and something like the MXL sited above would give you a good start on a mic closet.  But if you can get one mic that sounds good on YOUR voice it is worth cutting out some of the others.  You never know until you try.

Next is a quality preamp (if you are doing acoustic music, again).  Makes a big difference, esp. once you get your recording chops.  Something w/ transformers, which most interface preamps don't have.

After that, it is all gravy.

@

mics have weak signals... so a preamp bumps the signal and at times adds some color to the sound... often a desirable thing.

Your interface/sound card might have a preamp built in..... mine does. That would not prevent you from buying a pre amp.... many good pre's are in the price range of your entire budget.

BTW: you only "really need one" if the mic plugged into the sound card has extremely low volume.

Guitarhacker


mics have weak signals... so a preamp bumps the signal and at times adds some color to the sound... often a desirable thing.

Your interface/sound card might have a preamp built in..... mine does. That would not prevent you from buying a pre amp.... many good pre's are in the price range of your entire budget.

BTW: you only "really need one" if the mic plugged into the sound card has extremely low volume.

Jim Roseberry


I'd start by getting a decent condenser mic.
That would allow you to capture more nuance/detail on both the guitar and vocals.
 
Next up, I'd consider upgrading the audio interface to something like the FastTrack Ultra (which would deliver low round-trip latency)... and I'd upgrade Sonar to a more recent version.
 
First things first, I'd start by having a mic that'll do a good job capturing your guitar/vocals/etc.
There are many good reasonably priced choices.
The Studio Projects B3 would be worth a look.  It's a large diaphgragm mic with a thin diaphragm.
The B3 sounds good on acoustic guitar because the thinner (3-micron) diaphragm responds quicker to transients than a typical (6-micron) large diaphragm condenser.  IOW, You get the 'size' you'd expect from the large diaphragm... with transient response closer to a small diaphragm condenser.

This is all very good advice/information! Thank you! I think my first priority is a new mic. From there, I think I'm going to look into upgrading my software. I'll give you guys a little list of what I'm going to buy when I have time - then maybe you can give me guidance on what I should change. 

And I am also going to recommend the Fast track ultra, $350.
And a large diaphragm condenser mic.  I like the M-Audio Nova, $100

In particular, what do you think of this one? http://pro-audio.musician...dio-Package?sku=485736 I know it's PT, but hey, it would work with sonar. Also, here's an even better one - but it maxes out my budget (leaving no room for other things). http://pro-audio.musician...ox-2-Bundle?sku=702526

I'd avoid both of those units...  

The FastTrack Ultra and 8R are the USB units with low round-trip latency.
The mkII unit is a typical USB audio interface (higher round-trip latency).

The Mbox-II's ASIO driver is sub par.  It works... but not nearly as well as the FastTrack Ultra.

Okay. So all I want to do at this point is record my voice and guitar at the same time. I can't do that with my UA-20, so what do I need to be able to do that (I'm guessing a pre-amp...but if I bought the FastTrack, I could probably just skip the preamp, right)? Also, for a mic, what about that AT2020 in the second package I posted? And monitors - would a good set of headphones do the trick? I still would like to upgrade Sonar as well. 

Haha, thanks for all your input guys - I really do appreciate it.


EDIT: Okay, I see what you're saying now, Beagle. But I found a Fast Track Ultra on craigslist for about 250 - is that a good price? I'm thinking I could just dissolve the cost of a preamp into this. 

Beagle


why can't you do that with the UA-20?  it has 2 inputs.

yes, a fast track ultra for $250 is a good deal - if it works 100%
 
and for $250 it would be a decent preamp and soundcard.  it's not the lowest latency, but you won't need super low latency unless you want to record with FX on.

Well its strange because it has a switch for mic, guitar, and line, which makes the L/R ins of the thing very unbalanced in volume. (so if I have guitar chosen, and I plugged my vox into the other IN, the vox would be extremely low in volume) It's just weird in general. It has a MIDI in/out, so maybe you're thinking of that as the second in. I don't know, its weird.

Two different ways to go - all in one or buy good stuff in pieces.  If your computer and interface are ok, I'd suggest buying a few good pieces.  For $600:

I think this is the one 2003 A.  There was a discussion on Gearslut about the mic - it is supposed to be very good.  Do a search there to make sure.  Several of the mic modders were very happy w/ it - before modding.  There was some kind of special going on for less, and w/ a shock mount, bla bla.  Worth a look, tho it might have been the 603A (damn all these numbers and MXL's 500 mics).


[link=http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/MXL-2003A-Condenser-Mic?sku=621065]http://pro-audio.musician...ndenser-Mic?sku=621065[/link]

Pair it w/

http://www.zzounds.com/item--FOCISAONE

I found one for $400 - they were blowing them out.  Maybe not now.  It has a transformer preamp, separate DI (that you can switch the transformer into), headphone outs, inserts and an optional AD.  Almost perfect for the singer songwriter/guitarist for recording.  Another is the Golden Age Pre for $300.  I haven't used it be have only heard good things about it. 

http://www.zenproaudio.com/goldenagepre-73.aspx

If not one of those, get an interface w/ some good preamps but be prepared to buy one later.  A new condender is the Roland interface Octo whatever. There is a SONAR thread about it and Zo sez he heard (he has cakewalk contacts) that the preamps are better than the VS 700 - which were good.

@

ah, right.  I thought he said only the 8R was the low latency one.  my bad.