Upgrade to Duet OR buy a Shure SM7? Also...

[yxz]

I currently own an M-Audio Fast-Track Pro and an MXL 990. I want to upgrade one or the other for my first purchase. Your opinions would meant a lot.

I currently record electronic music (mainly vocals, as most everything else is programmed) in a small, untreated, rectangular-shaped room. I will worry about treatments down the line as a progress as engineer. Right now, I just want to start learning the basics one piece of equipment at a time. Thanks!

Also, I am going to paint my room as soon as I deaden the sound from the window- Any color suggestions for something peaceful enough to work hours on end without any natural sunlight?

[Tarkovsky]

Hey dude. I just bought an SM7b and I own a duet. I think as far as I can tell, you're not using loads of stuff OTB (that outside of the box, not to condescend but you seem to imply your fairly new).

One really important point

1) according to the interwebs your fasttrack pro DOESNT have enough gain for the sm7b

So my observations are...

Tracking vox in a compromised room is awful. You get these nassssty resonances. I know. I do it all the time... Sigh. So I've got an sm7b coming, hopefully this should eliminate most of these problems. Plus the sm7b should sound better for the kind of vox. We aren't talking sunglasses at night Ehouse but they put the vocal upfront.
Is that what you want? What's the style your working towards?


I LOVE my duet. Honestly it's so great. For a laugh I went to a hifi store and had a shootout with a mate of mine. Beat 10ks worth of CD/source nonsense. Ok but do you need that quality... no because right now you're going to be using soft synths were there'll be no difference, so you could get away with any standard DACing but...

You NEED extra gain to use the sm7b. So if you're gonna get a pre amp... you might as well get the duet which CAN handle the 60db.

Your other option is to use a lesser cardiode mic, but it seems a waste of money.

I've presented you with a catch 22. Real sorry.

Can you maybe try and get both 2nd hand? I just saved myself a few £££ on an sm7b on the forum here...

[Blackleg]

I'm into Electronica too -- bought an SM7B yesterday, haven't mixed any recordings but I really love it. Don't know about that other mike. Can't go wrong with the Shure though!

EF

Blackleg

[Tarkovsky]

Oh BTW. Come join us over in the electronic music forum!

[yxz]

Originally Posted by Tarkovsky

Hey dude. I just bought an SM7b and I own a duet. I think as far as I can tell, you're not using loads of stuff OTB (that outside of the box, not to condescend but you seem to imply your fairly new).

One really important point

1) according to the interwebs your fasttrack pro DOESNT have enough gain for the sm7b

So my observations are...

Tracking vox in a compromised room is awful. You get these nassssty resonances. I know. I do it all the time... Sigh. So I've got an sm7b coming, hopefully this should eliminate most of these problems. Plus the sm7b should sound better for the kind of vox. We aren't talking sunglasses at night Ehouse but they put the vocal upfront.
Is that what you want? What's the style your working towards?


I LOVE my duet. Honestly it's so great. For a laugh I went to a hifi store and had a shootout with a mate of mine. Beat 10ks worth of CD/source nonsense. Ok but do you need that quality... no because right now you're going to be using soft synths were there'll be no difference, so you could get away with any standard DACing but...

You NEED extra gain to use the sm7b. So if you're gonna get a pre amp... you might as well get the duet which CAN handle the 60db.

Your other option is to use a lesser cardiode mic, but it seems a waste of money.

I've presented you with a catch 22. Real sorry.

Can you maybe try and get both 2nd hand? I just saved myself a few £££ on an sm7b on the forum here...

Yeah, that's what I was afraid of: the preamp not being good enough for the SM7 in the fast-track pro. How much did you snag an SM7 for here in the forums? Thanks.

[Tarkovsky]

Hey dude I paid $356.70 (total cost/shipping/paypal etc) for one as new. May not sound like much of a deal if you're state side, but the price made sense to me because I'm in the UK. Best places to look are ebay and here. Where are you based? You also did answer my question on styles?

[yxz]

Originally Posted by Tarkovsky

Hey dude I paid $356.70 (total cost/shipping/paypal etc) for one as new. May not sound like much of a deal if you're state side, but the price made sense to me because I'm in the UK. Best places to look are ebay and here. Where are you based? You also did answer my question on styles?

This is the kind of music I make: www.theabtheory.com Those were written a year and half or so ago, and I'm currently working on my next record which is darker and a lot bigger sounding than those. (I'd say 'Fatal Flaw' is the closest the the newer stuff.) But, you'll get a good idea of my vocals from that. Thanks!

[Convectuoso]

Originally Posted by the a-b theory

This is the kind of music I make: www.theabtheory.com Those were written a year and half or so ago, and I'm currently working on my next record which is darker and a lot bigger sounding than those. (I'd say 'Fatal Flaw' is the closest the the newer stuff.) But, you'll get a good idea of my vocals from that. Thanks!

I'm gonna take a wild guess and say you're a fan of The Postal Service?

Digging the tracks man.

Edit: Just looked at your other thread...I knew it!

[yxz]

Originally Posted by Convectuoso

I'm gonna take a wild guess and say you're a fan of The Postal Service?

Digging the tracks man.

Edit: Just looked at your other thread...I knew it!

Haha, yeah. That record was clearly heavily inspired by Ben and Jimmy, but I'm aiming to stray from that somewhat on my next record. I'll show you some more stuff once I get some better recordings. I'm just demoing right now. Thanks for the kind words though. Means a lot!