Howdy!

[Sir Chris]

You don't really mention what you plan on recording, type of music, etc. But since you said you've been borrowing your friends gear for recording then I assume you know what you want/need.

I think the list you mentioned is fine.

Apogee One
TLM-102 mic
ISA One pre

Is a pretty solid chain if you ask me. The way I ordered it is the order of importance as far as sound quality.

Interface is the most important piece of the three when it comes to the audio quality, then mic, then pre.

My .02 cents for w/e its worth lol.

Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk

[tsiu6]

Oh sorry! I am recording alot of folk/indie music... kind of dave matthews/john mayer/imogen kinda sound. haha im nowhere as good as that, but thats just kinda the sound i am shooting for

[heyokay]

Your chain looks pretty nice, especially for your first setup. The TLM-102 will definitely be good enough for the sources you wanted to record, and the interface & preamp you've suggested are more than good enough.

You'll get a lot of milage from that setup, and it'll be easy to add and upgrade parts overtime, as and when you need it. Having only one mic will also make you think more creatively about where you place it, so you'll learn an awful lot.

[kosty]

I would get the tlm102 and the apogee first.
Converters and preamps are not that important than a good mic !

[tsiu6]

thats kind of what im going for, id like to get something that will be a good base for future expansion. How does the focusrite compare to something like the UA 710?

-trev

[Tel]

I have the Apogee One. It doesn't accept line level, so you can't use it with an external preamp. It also only has a single unbalanced 1/8" output, which means if you want to use it with external monitors, you're going to need an adapter. If you want to use it with monitors and headphones, you'll need a splitter or monitor switcher. In this case, more problems, more money... Expect a nice helping of unwanted noise.

I also have a Duet at work and find it to be far more flexible than the Apogee One. I regularly use its built-in preamps for TV voice-over work. They have more gain than the One's pre, which helps when using a mic like the SM7b. It will give you great results without needing an external preamp. It includes balanced monitor outputs (read: no unwanted buzzing) and a separate headphone out. It's a simple and wonderfully designed interface. Its only downside is that it's Mac only.

So, my advice would be to save some money, forgo the Apogee One and Focusrite preamp, and just get the Duet. You can put all the money you save towards a better mic/beer.

[tsiu6]

I hadn't thought about the One not accepting Line level input. Thank you for that catch!! Do you think the pre on the duet 2 is good enough to forgo an external pre? Or should i also look at something else, like the Focusrite Sapphire stuff as well?

-trev

[Tel]

That's exactly what I'm saying. Just get the Duet and mic and go make some music.

[brianellefson]

I'd be very careful of what you buy to put that TLM 102 through. The TLMs seem to prefer darker, less pristine pres. I have a 103 and it only really works well for me when driven with my GAP Pre 73 or my UA M610 ... the times I've tried to use Apogee or Focusrite pres with it hasn't resulted in anything great. All of the gear you've listed sounds great. Just make sure, if you can, that the mic works well with the Pre.

[tsiu6]

If you could elaborate a bit, is there anything specific that doesnt work well, or is it just the overall tone/timber of the mic not sitting well with a clean pre?

[brianellefson]

Well, I have a ton of experience with the 103. It's just too brittle on the high end when combined with an ultra clean Pre. HOWEVER ... when driving with tubes or something warmer/darker .. man ... I've gotten some great sounds with it. To me it's been a very picky mic. The 102 may be a bit different. Not sure.

[tsiu6]

Jw, what do you normally use it to record?

Also, is there any tutorials/background info threads i can read to learn more about mic placement/pres/daws and things like that?

Cheers!
trev

[donsolo]

You're already here for background information on mics, pres, daws, everything. You just opened Pandora's box with these questions!

I am probably in agreement on the Apogee Duet as the way to go initially. Same reasons, flexibility later on, better pres, more standard connections etc.

In terms of mic, the only reason to buy a TLM102 is to get it second-hand and selling it later for the same amount. I'm of the opinion that you can spend a fraction of that on something like an AT4047, A pair of SM57s and better monitoring. You're going to want to record stereo sources faster than you know, get a pair of 57s now. If you're buying new, see if you can get them with consecutive serial numbers for consistency. I think you can order matched pairs.

As for the Focusrite, I have no opinion but the apogee preamps you won't grow out of very quickly so you should be spending that money in monitoring. I know you're a college kid, I was too but learn this lesson now, buy good monitoring.

Mixing on headphones is a dubious task but probably a necessity in your situation, buy good ones. If not, spend the money on real speakers. When I was in school, everyone had KRK Rokkit 5s and they just sounded terrible. Plus, we were working in untreated dorm rooms on a tiny desk with nothing more than a laptop, some pirated software and a dream. It's a nice place to start, but don't waste money where you don't have to. If you can't afford real monitoring or can't make the amount of noise needed to mix, don't be a poser. Get under good headphones and really learn the limitations of what working under cans are.

So:
1. Apogee Duet
2. AT4047 and 2 SM57s
3. Mixing headphones (ath-40s I think are what I use to listen, there are better)
4. Real monitors and some real room treatment.

Welcome to the rabbit hole, now it's just a matter of how far down you really want to go.

[tsiu6]

im having a hard time finding an at4047, where should I look/whats a good price to pay?

[ironman187]

What do you have access to as far as borrowing goes? Buy what you can't borrow first. Don't bother with a really expensive mic (over $400.00) unless you have the budget (and it sounds like you don't), $400 seems to be the point of diminishing return where the difference between a $3000.00 mic and a $400.00 mic is minimal best.

[the keester]

Duet
BLUE Spark
Decent monitors and headphones for mixing and perhaps some room treatment.

Sometimes I wish I had a simple setup like this. I would get more done.

[tsiu6]

What are the feelings about the blue spark? What kind of sound? Any samples?

Regards
Trevor

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk

[ironman187]

Originally Posted by tsiu6

What are the feelings about the blue spark? What kind of sound? Any samples?

Regards
Trevor

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk

The blue mics are ones that have the "either you love them or hate them, there is no in-between" syndrome. If you can, go to a guitar center or some other retailer that sels mics, flash them some money and watch them trip all over themselves to get mics set up so you can audition them.