Complete Studio Upgrade

Ziekdope · 8th February 2010

Hey everybody,

I've been working with my home studio for about two/three years now and I think it's time for a complete upgrade (except my PC).

The equipment that I am using now:
Phonic MU-802
Rode NT1-A (with SM-1 mount and pop shield)
Behringer B1
Behringer C1
Shure SM58
Asus D2/PM
Alesis Monitor One Mk. II
Cambridge Audio Azur 340A SE
Behringer HPM 1000
A lot of cables and some mic stands

Now I want to upgrade everything, this is what we are currently getting out of our equipment, it's recorded with the Behringer B1 and Mixer not connected to the soundcard -not a fan of the autotune effect, but believe me they need it- just so you kind of know our voices.

This is what I had in mind for the upgrade:
The interface will be the TC Electronic Desktop Konnekt 6, it's pretty basic but that's what I like about it. We are only using one microphone at the time so we don't really need more connections, plus I've read some good reviews about it and heard a few people that were pretty positive about it.

The headphones need an upgrade to the cable is too short since we want to build a dedicated booth with isolation. There are going to get replaced by the Audio Technica ATH-M30, because I like the sound of them and the cable is one meter longer.

About the monitor's I'm pretty sure they are going to be the Adam A5 Pro, and I want to buy the Adam Sub 10 Mk. II after a short while for the lower regions.

And now for the difficult part, the microphone. I narrowed my choice down to three microphones:
Audio-Technica AT-4040
Shure SM7b
ADK Vienna Mk. 8

Testing these microphones will be very difficult because there isn't a shop where all three are available, I need to go to three different shops to test these microphones. So I'm stuck, the Shure SM7b is a great microphone and I've hear a lot of songs recorded with the Shure SM7b, it sounds great and I don't really need great isolation for when using this mic, at least I think so. But since we are building a booth, wouldn't it be better to get a good condenser microphone? Like the AT-4040 and ADK Vienna? Also am I going to regret getting an AT-4040 in stead of the more expensive Audio-Technica AT-4047, is the AT-4047 really worth the price difference over the AT-4040? Since our budget is € 1200,- and we shop in Europe. And we'll be mainly recording rap vocals with the microphone.

Anybody that can help us choosing the next microphone? Or maybe better gear for the same pricepoint?

Ziekdope · 9th February 2010

Nobody?

Eric Pederson · 9th February 2010

You can always buy a headphone extension cable to run to the booth. I'm not familiar with any of your gear, sorry.

I always break my situation down into zones, and try to rank where the most need is, i.e Microphones, preamps, A/D D/A, acoustic treatment, and of course good instruments etc. Spend the money where its needed most.

Ziekdope · 9th February 2010

Well the room now is completely untreated, so that's where I am spending most the money.

We have two options with treating the room, first one is building a dedicated booth filled with acoustic foam, which is less expensive, but takes a lot of time and we havo to work, working isn't the problem, our craftsmanship is :P

The other option was treating my room as it is now, probably by buying a full room kit like this one. It also effects the mixing room, so that's a good thing, at least I think so, the disadvantage is it's more expensive.

I want the headphones because the current one doesn't sound as nice and I use my headphones a lot, not only for recording but also for listening to music.

And everything is needed equal, at least that's what I think, because we want to upgrade everything expect for the PC, micstands and cables. We just want the best quality for our money, if we can get that by spending 70% of the budget on a pre-amp and the other 30% on the rest of the stuff than we'll do that.

twentyhertz · 9th February 2010

I'm going to make the bold prediction that 75% of the mic recommendations you receive will be for the SM7b

Ziekdope · 9th February 2010

I get a lot of recommendations everywhere, so I figured that out :P. I know a lot of artists that use the SM7b. But I'm nog really charmed of the SM58, does the SM7b have the same sound as the SM58?

All these sessions are recorded with the Shure SM7b, but they don't sound that impressive. Buy maybe trying it out will change my opinion.

What about the HM-7U by the way? Is that a good microphone for recording rap vocals?

Eric Pederson · 10th February 2010

The SM7B is in a different league than the SM58. The SM58 is more of your go-to live vocal mic. The SM7B is a hugely popular recording microphone obviously loved for rock and hip hop and probably works for alot of other styles too.

Jose Skertchly · 10th February 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Pederson

The SM7B is in a different league than the SM58. The SM58 is more of your go-to live vocal mic. The SM7B is a hugely popular recording microphone obviously loved for rock and hip hop and probably works for alot of other styles too.

What about the KSM27?

Ziekdope · 13th February 2010

I was searching the forum and I heard this song: SoundClick artist: DJ Hellfire - Hip Hop/Rap Beats

Which was recorded with the AKG C214, which is cheaper than the AT-4040 in Holland sounds great? Will the AT-4040 or SM7b be better than this?

Ziekdope · 14th February 2010

Nobody knows more about these microphones? Maybe a comparison?

Ziekdope · 17th February 2010

Nobody? Does anobody maybe have a track recorded with the ADK Vienna mic, preferably hip-hop and maybe the KEL Audio HM-7U. Because those mics are recommended a lot but never heard them on a hip-hop vocal,

Ziekdope · 21st February 2010

wow, 4th post in a row but i have an idea..

can i hook up a pre-amp like the gap pre-73 to my soundcard (asus d2/pm), and get rid of the mixer..

8th February 2010	#1
Ziekdope Gear Head Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 30 Thread Starter	Complete Studio Upgrade Hey everybody, I've been working with my home studio for about two/three years now and I think it's time for a complete upgrade (except my PC). The equipment that I am using now: Phonic MU-802 Rode NT1-A (with SM-1 mount and pop shield) Behringer B1 Behringer C1 Shure SM58 Asus D2/PM Alesis Monitor One Mk. II Cambridge Audio Azur 340A SE Behringer HPM 1000 A lot of cables and some mic stands Now I want to upgrade everything, this is what we are currently getting out of our equipment, it's recorded with the Behringer B1 and Mixer not connected to the soundcard -not a fan of the autotune effect, but believe me they need it- just so you kind of know our voices. This is what I had in mind for the upgrade: The interface will be the TC Electronic Desktop Konnekt 6, it's pretty basic but that's what I like about it. We are only using one microphone at the time so we don't really need more connections, plus I've read some good reviews about it and heard a few people that were pretty positive about it. The headphones need an upgrade to the cable is too short since we want to build a dedicated booth with isolation. There are going to get replaced by the Audio Technica ATH-M30, because I like the sound of them and the cable is one meter longer. About the monitor's I'm pretty sure they are going to be the Adam A5 Pro, and I want to buy the Adam Sub 10 Mk. II after a short while for the lower regions. And now for the difficult part, the microphone. I narrowed my choice down to three microphones: Audio-Technica AT-4040 Shure SM7b ADK Vienna Mk. 8 Testing these microphones will be very difficult because there isn't a shop where all three are available, I need to go to three different shops to test these microphones. So I'm stuck, the Shure SM7b is a great microphone and I've hear a lot of songs recorded with the Shure SM7b, it sounds great and I don't really need great isolation for when using this mic, at least I think so. But since we are building a booth, wouldn't it be better to get a good condenser microphone? Like the AT-4040 and ADK Vienna? Also am I going to regret getting an AT-4040 in stead of the more expensive Audio-Technica AT-4047, is the AT-4047 really worth the price difference over the AT-4040? Since our budget is € 1200,- and we shop in Europe. And we'll be mainly recording rap vocals with the microphone. Anybody that can help us choosing the next microphone? Or maybe better gear for the same pricepoint?

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9th February 2010	#2
Ziekdope Gear Head Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 30 Thread Starter	Nobody?

9th February 2010	#3
Eric Pederson Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 783	You can always buy a headphone extension cable to run to the booth. I'm not familiar with any of your gear, sorry. I always break my situation down into zones, and try to rank where the most need is, i.e Microphones, preamps, A/D D/A, acoustic treatment, and of course good instruments etc. Spend the money where its needed most.

9th February 2010	#5
twentyhertz Gear maniac Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 271	I'm going to make the bold prediction that 75% of the mic recommendations you receive will be for the SM7b

10th February 2010	#7
Eric Pederson Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 783	The SM7B is in a different league than the SM58. The SM58 is more of your go-to live vocal mic. The SM7B is a hugely popular recording microphone obviously loved for rock and hip hop and probably works for alot of other styles too.

13th February 2010	#9
Ziekdope Gear Head Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 30 Thread Starter	I was searching the forum and I heard this song: SoundClick artist: DJ Hellfire - Hip Hop/Rap Beats Which was recorded with the AKG C214, which is cheaper than the AT-4040 in Holland sounds great? Will the AT-4040 or SM7b be better than this?

14th February 2010	#10
Ziekdope Gear Head Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 30 Thread Starter	Nobody knows more about these microphones? Maybe a comparison?

17th February 2010	#11
Ziekdope Gear Head Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 30 Thread Starter	Nobody? Does anobody maybe have a track recorded with the ADK Vienna mic, preferably hip-hop and maybe the KEL Audio HM-7U. Because those mics are recommended a lot but never heard them on a hip-hop vocal,

21st February 2010	#12
Ziekdope Gear Head Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 30 Thread Starter	wow, 4th post in a row but i have an idea.. can i hook up a pre-amp like the gap pre-73 to my soundcard (asus d2/pm), and get rid of the mixer..