gear suggestions

[Contagion]

ayo.. first post here, thought id actually ask somethin that i need to know.
i currently use a samson co1u condenser and adobe audition 2 to record.. but i get a pretty muddy/hissy sound that i cant get rid of.

my soundcard also sucks, so i was wondering if i could get some suggestions for some gear that i could get a CLEAR sound with.

microphone?
compressor/preamp?
soundcard?
phones/monitors?

anythin else i might have missed? would be hugely appreciated cause im tryna get a decent sounding demo done. 1

[Contagion]

oh yeah, i've also read the stickied posts for suggestions, id just like some wider suggetions from all you who record. 1

[Brandon Heat]

good... what is your budget..?


honestly... it's easier to find a studio and pay for studio time but we'll help you as much as we can

[Zed Peace]

This is what i use:

Rode NT1a
Emu 0404 usb
I mix using my laptop stock soundcard tho, which sounds fine to me.

Mixing on Adobe Audition:
Graphic Equliaser > 30band punch&sparkle
Dynamics Processing > VocalComp, 8:1, -24, Fastattack
Reverb > Vocal Nice Presence
(and sometimes add an echo depending if it matches the beat)

After adding effects the vocals sound very uplifiting and bright which is what i try to aim for, kinda reminding me of kanye vocals on tracks like Can't tell me nothing. However, because i use that specific graphic equaliser, the sibilence from my raw vocals stand out very much so making the S's sound subtly harsh, so i usually end up using the eq section of the track, and set the Hi's to -4 or -5db, and boost up the Mid a lil' bit.

Thats basically what i do on a quick recording. This might be one of more sloppier mixing techniques so it might not be what you were looking for. But my equipment i know is quite decent and i do get warm sounding quiet raw vocals. However i still do plan on buying a more expensive condenser mic in the near future.

[Kris Cain]

lol@"subtly harsh"

[Contagion]

budget is £700. about $1000? i'd prefer to do it in a studio, but i don't live near any, the closest is in london, and they charge like £75 an hour, can't afford that ish lol.

[Zed Peace]

you live in london? i go to uni in Loughborough. I bought my equipment in the shop under Virgin Megastore in tottenham court road. all in all was around £240. should invest in decent monitor speakers as well. but with £700 you can get yourself with the hi-end range equipment.

[Contagion]

no, i live in bournemouth. £700 is the absolute max im willing to pay, because i really do want some decent equipment, but if its possible to get a mic, 'phones, soundcard, a preamp and monitors for under that... thats good ish.

[Brandon Heat]

yea that's not a problem... around a 1000 isn't bad at all... you won't get much... but what you get will be good enough.

[Contagion]

thats pretty much what i thought. any suggestions for;

mic
preamp
soundcard
monitors
phones?

[Brandon Heat]

yes...

headphones: sony mdr7506...

mic: audio technica 3035...

soundcard: maudio 410...

the remainder of the money spend on a good mic cable the highest you can afford... and pop filter stand etc...

[Contagion]

cool. already have a stand and popfilter, so money saved there. seems like decent equipment, and affordable.
good looks on the suggestions mang, got some orders to put in. 1

[Paze]

budget is £700. about $1000? i'd prefer to do it in a studio, but i don't live near any, the closest is in london, and they charge like £75 an hour, can't afford that ish lol.

Whoah... you aint chacked the exchange rate since 2000?
£700 = about $1300

[Possible]

yes...

headphones: sony mdr7506...

mic: audio technica 3035...

soundcard: maudio 410...

the remainder of the money spend on a good mic cable the highest you can afford... and pop filter stand etc...

In a cheap, lazy way, those phones can subsititute monitors in a small, small way? I mean I notice the dynamic range and the magnent, what chu think? I should say too for a broad, broad range I would assume they would smoke some say, desktop speakers out the water. Give me some opinions if you can on some low/mid priced monitors if you can please. I been using this boston accousitcs setup for a while, but they just crapped out on me. I tink I blew my 8 inch sub on it so I think its irreparable.