What to buy next?

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davdud101
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2013/12/30 16:54:41 (permalink)

What to buy next?

So I currently have 2 decent dynamic mics (yeah, don't criticize- they get the job done) and a good DAW. My next step is a BIG hardware purchase, but I'm torn between;
1) A cheap $60-$100 condenser mic
2) A pair of decent monitor headphones
3) An audio interface
 
I've been looking at the bottom two a lot:
1) SA dual mic pack, MP 600800, MXL 990
2) mainly the 7506's (which I've tried- LOVE them), V6's, Senn HD201, AKG k240's and AKG k44's
3) The ART interfaces (as recommended by a friend), Peavey PV6 (friend owns), and some others...
 
I do think an interface would help speed and clean up my process a little bit, but I'm not monitoring with accurate headphones at ALL, and dynamics don't give as much clarity or detail.
So any suggestions on what my next purchase should be? 

 
Mics: MXL 990, MXL R80, 2 x MXL Tempo XLRs, Cobalt Co9, SM48, iSK Starlight
Cans: Hifiman HE4XX, AKG M220
Gear: Cakewalk BBL - PreSonus Firepod - Alesis Elevate 3 - Axiom 49
DAW: Win10, AMD FX-8300, 16GB DDR3
#1

6 Replies Related Threads

    dwardzala
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    Re: What to buy next? 2013/12/30 20:49:28 (permalink)
    Next purchase should be an interface - you will be limited the most with your onboard sound card.  You can get some *decent* cans for about 50 bucks (and you will want to get monitors as soon as possible anyway and you'll need the interface once you do, but the $50 cans will be good for tracking then).  Mics you can get by with the dynamics for a good while (or pick up those Monoprice ones for cheap).
     
     
    Note - different people have different definitions for *decent*.

    Dave
    Main Studio- Core i5 @2.67GHz, 16Gb Ram, (2) 500Gb HDs, (1) 360 Gb HD
    MotU Ultralite AVB, Axiom 49 Midi Controller, Akai MPD18 Midi Controller
    Win10 x64 Home
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    Mobile Studio - Sager NP8677 (i7-6700HQ @2.67MHz, 16G Ram, 250G SSD, 1T HD)
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    Check out my original music:
    https://soundcloud.com/d-wardzala/sets/d-wardzala-original-music
     
     
    #2
    Cactus Music
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    Re: What to buy next? 2013/12/30 23:39:31 (permalink)
    A computer recording system without a good audio interface is like a car without gas. 
    There is no other option that anybody seriously looking into audio recording can make. 
    A cheap condenser mike??? why bother. Might as well use your cell phone. 

    Johnny V  
    Cakelab  
    Focusrite 6i61st - Tascam us1641. 
    3 Desktops and 3 Laptops W7 and W10
     http://www.cactusmusic.ca/
     
     
    #3
    SuperG
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    Re: What to buy next? 2013/12/30 23:50:38 (permalink)
    Well, I've got to disagree with Cactus, cheap does not automatically equate with worthless. It is true that there are worthless products that are inexpensive, and it is also true that there are expensive products so esoteric, they are useless for everyday use.
     
    Personally, I shoot for the the 'knee' of the value/quality curve. But for those on a budget, there are plenty of choices of good-sounding equipment. Before knocking someone, just remember the context in which that user finds themselves.

    laudem Deo
    #4
    davdud101
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    Re: What to buy next? 2013/12/31 00:10:53 (permalink)
    Pretty simple, it was the exact thing I had in mind- an interface. I'm looking mainly at the Saffire 2i2, because I found to really only need 2 inputs at any given time (although 4 is better, but there aren't many at the price), and I seen quite good reviews on it thus far.
    Are there any in this price range ($50~$120) that meet the basic home studio requirements (2-4 Inputs, USB, Phantom power, monitoring)?

     
    Mics: MXL 990, MXL R80, 2 x MXL Tempo XLRs, Cobalt Co9, SM48, iSK Starlight
    Cans: Hifiman HE4XX, AKG M220
    Gear: Cakewalk BBL - PreSonus Firepod - Alesis Elevate 3 - Axiom 49
    DAW: Win10, AMD FX-8300, 16GB DDR3
    #5
    AT
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    Re: What to buy next? 2013/12/31 01:40:07 (permalink)
    The saffire line is a good bet.  There have been a lot of people here who have had success w/ it, which is the best thing to go on.  Or the roland line.  The octa capture is getting blown out now, tho it is a bit more.  I bought a TC Konnekt 48 when they got blown out once - got it at half price and have never looked back.  But in general your bang to buck is very good in interfaces.  You may want an outboard preamp, but the interface preamps are pretty good, whle converters are cheap these days and do a great job.  combine those and you have a unit that should last a while and won't hold you back soundwise for the most part.
     
    One thing is look at how you work.  If you do mostly in the box productions spend the first money you have on an interface.  If you do a lot of dubbing of acoustics you still need that interface, followed by an OK mic.  I mean, really, those will get you 95% of the way there once you learn to use them. 
     
    If I was starting out today building a home studio and knowing what I do now I'd spend money on above average stuff.  The Forte or audient interface would give superb conversion and a good preamp or two ($500).  A good condensor mic for vocals ($200-300).  If I was recording electric guitar a cheap ribbon (-$100).  I bought an mxl just to fart around w/ and love it on electric guitar.  It also works nice doubling w/ my oktava lcd on female vocals.  They blend together well and that might be a way to get rid of some of the chinese shrillness of the cheaper ldcs - the oktava is much more a mid-forward design and the ribbon fills it out.  An interesting way to go might be a oktava mk102 sdc and a micheal joly k47 head.  You can do it cheaper but he sells it for $750 and you get a very good sdc and the ldc.
     
    Once I had a stereo sdc and ldc then it is time to look at outboard preamps.  $400 for a warm audio or focusrite ISA one; $600 for a warm tone beast, which is one of the more flexible preamps around at any price (which sounds crazy for a mere transducer, but can add a bunch of different textures to your sound).  As you can see - high end recording starts costing money, but that last 5% of a professional sound costs real money.  About $1500 for an entry level, pro recording channel (mono) if you do the math.  If you spend that you can't blame the tools, so it is wise to know what you are doing before slapping down that much green.
     
    But first find  an interface that works w/ your specific computer.  Most should, but it might happen that brand X doesn't like your computer configuration.  Try brand Y.  Hardware wise, they are all pretty much the same at the same price point.  If someone sez night and day between two $100 interfaces you figure they are lying to themselves.  There is only so much difference when you are working on such a tight budget.  Get the interface that ... well, interfaces w/ your computer the best.  Start making music, and learning.
     
    @

    https://soundcloud.com/a-pleasure-dome
    http://www.bnoir-film.com/  
     
    there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.
    24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.
    #6
    AT
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    Re: What to buy next? 2013/12/31 01:40:07 (permalink)
    The saffire line is a good bet.  There have been a lot of people here who have had success w/ it, which is the best thing to go on.  Or the roland line.  The octa capture is getting blown out now, tho it is a bit more.  I bought a TC Konnekt 48 when they got blown out once - got it at half price and have never looked back.  But in general your bang to buck is very good in interfaces.  You may want an outboard preamp, but the interface preamps are pretty good, whle converters are cheap these days and do a great job.  combine those and you have a unit that should last a while and won't hold you back soundwise for the most part.
     
    One thing is look at how you work.  If you do mostly in the box productions spend the first money you have on an interface.  If you do a lot of dubbing of acoustics you still need that interface, followed by an OK mic.  I mean, really, those will get you 95% of the way there once you learn to use them. 
     
    If I was starting out today building a home studio and knowing what I do now I'd spend money on above average stuff.  The Forte or audient interface would give superb conversion and a good preamp or two ($500).  A good condensor mic for vocals ($200-300).  If I was recording electric guitar a cheap ribbon (-$100).  I bought an mxl just to fart around w/ and love it on electric guitar.  It also works nice doubling w/ my oktava lcd on female vocals.  They blend together well and that might be a way to get rid of some of the chinese shrillness of the cheaper ldcs - the oktava is much more a mid-forward design and the ribbon fills it out.  An interesting way to go might be a oktava mk102 sdc and a micheal joly k47 head.  You can do it cheaper but he sells it for $750 and you get a very good sdc and the ldc.
     
    Once I had a stereo sdc and ldc then it is time to look at outboard preamps.  $400 for a warm audio or focusrite ISA one; $600 for a warm tone beast, which is one of the more flexible preamps around at any price (which sounds crazy for a mere transducer, but can add a bunch of different textures to your sound).  As you can see - high end recording starts costing money, but that last 5% of a professional sound costs real money.  About $1500 for an entry level, pro recording channel (mono) if you do the math.  If you spend that you can't blame the tools, so it is wise to know what you are doing before slapping down that much green.
     
    But first find  an interface that works w/ your specific computer.  Most should, but it might happen that brand X doesn't like your computer configuration.  Try brand Y.  Hardware wise, they are all pretty much the same at the same price point.  If someone sez night and day between two $100 interfaces you figure they are lying to themselves.  There is only so much difference when you are working on such a tight budget.  Get the interface that ... well, interfaces w/ your computer the best.  Start making music, and learning.
     
    @

    https://soundcloud.com/a-pleasure-dome
    http://www.bnoir-film.com/  
     
    there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.
    24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.
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