Need some help with getting proper equipment

[zane]

Hey guys, I am very new to all of this recording stuff. I want to record my music, right now I am using my laptop and cool edit pro, along with instrumentals and recording over them using cool edit pro v2.1. The problem is that my mic i'm using is a built in mic on my laptop, so it sounds awful, and its a very old laptop i'd might add

So I need help with getting better equipment. I want to buy a condenser microphone, preferebly a condenser microphone even though i don't know much about them. I actually have a particular one in mind with this one Audio Technica AT2035 Studio Microphone from zZounds.com!

I also want to get the rassexx stoppit and I probably will. I also am going to get a tripod as well.

Now, I don't know much about condenser microphones but it says something about phantom power required, what the ****ing hell does that mean?

Lastly, do you guys recommend any more gear I might need or that I actually have to have? Also, i don't know much about condenser microphones, so can i just plug that one microphone into my computers microphone jack? Or does it have another way you have to plug it in? Please help me with what I need to start recording properly, if I'm missing any gear I might need, please point that out.

Thanks for any help in advance.

[Lifted]

Originally Posted by zane

Hey guys, I am very new to all of this recording stuff. I want to record my music, right now I am using my laptop and cool edit pro, along with instrumentals and recording over them using cool edit pro v2.1. The problem is that my mic i'm using is a built in mic on my laptop, so it sounds awful, and its a very old laptop i'd might add

So I need help with getting better equipment. I want to buy a condenser microphone, preferebly a condenser microphone even though i don't know much about them. I actually have a particular one in mind with this one Audio Technica AT2035 Studio Microphone from zZounds.com!

I also want to get the rassexx stoppit and I probably will. I also am going to get a tripod as well.

Now, I don't know much about condenser microphones but it says something about phantom power required, what the ****ing hell does that mean?

Lastly, do you guys recommend any more gear I might need or that I actually have to have? Also, i don't know much about condenser microphones, so can i just plug that one microphone into my computers microphone jack? Or does it have another way you have to plug it in? Please help me with what I need to start recording properly, if I'm missing any gear I might need, please point that out.

Thanks for any help in advance.

First of all, you need an interface to which you are going to be recording to. If you are going to record to Pro Tools I suggest M-box 2 can start you up, it has Phantom Power which is the switch that supplies 48 volts needed to power the condenser mic.

I suggest buying a pre-amp, something in 300 dollar range can fit your goal. (Depends how professional you wanna be here)

Something like Presonus Channel Strip or ART PRO MPA 2 fit that category, or ART DPS II or ART TPS II pre amps are in the less money category.

Then obviously you need an XLR cable that goes from the mic into the pre-amp.

Another TRS cable that will take the pre-amped mic signal, and send it into your MBOX 2 interface (for example), that goes into Pro Tools.

If you are going to be mixing, you need decent speakers, if not then you can stick to headphones.

Don't know what budget you are operating with man. I can name things on and on, it's just a few things for the beginning.

[zane]

Originally Posted by Lifted

First of all, you need an interface to which you are going to be recording to. If you are going to record to Pro Tools I suggest M-box 2 can start you up, it has Phantom Power which is the switch that supplies 48 volts needed to power the condenser mic.

I suggest buying a pre-amp, something in 300 dollar range can fit your goal. (Depends how professional you wanna be here)

Something like Presonus Channel Strip or ART PRO MPA 2 fit that category, or ART DPS II or ART TPS II pre amps are in the less money category.

Then obviously you need an XLR cable that goes from the mic into the pre-amp.

Another TRS cable that will take the pre-amped mic signal, and send it into your MBOX 2 interface (for example), that goes into Pro Tools.

If you are going to be mixing, you need decent speakers, if not then you can stick to headphones.

Don't know what budget you are operating with man. I can name things on and on, it's just a few things for the beginning.

Ok, that sounds like more stuff then I thought I would need, but can you make it it a list of things I might need in order, not spread out. Like this

1. You need this
2. You need this well

Like that, so I can look for that stuff and such.

Also I am not using pro tools whatever that is, like I said I'm using cool edit pro, but it depends on what pro tools is but ultimately I want to use software for my computer to help me record, that's my ultimate goal, and i want it to have the best sound quality possible with a lot of options.

By the way, I have 900 extra dollars i can blow, so if you could give make a list of things I might need in order and maybe the price right by the thing that you listed, that would be much more helpful, this is all very confusing to me

[3rd Degree]

You really need to understand what a preamp is, what it does, how it works before you go any further.

$900 is a small budget, most people would consider $2000-4000 to be the ABSOLUTE minimum to get good results.

I often tell people to get a samson usb mic and computer speakers at first. Not because they are good products, infact they are horrible. But it gets your feet wet and you are only out $100. You can learn alot and save for nicer pieces. I would rather be out $100 than try to make $900 work, only to upgrade every single componet in the future.

[Storyville]

1. Cheapo condenser mic: 200$
2. Cheapo interface/DAW: 250$
3. Mic cable: 20$

Tracking and mixing with skilled and creative engineers, priceless.

Total costs: 500$ +

You'll start figuring it all out. Just make sure you try to research things as much as possible on your own before posting lots of threads .

[phillysoulman]

Zane,
Youre on the wrong site.
Go over to Future Producers maybe they can help you out.

[Stacks]

Low end forum would probably be a good place to ask this question, you'd get responses from people who have extensive experience with the lower end of audio equipment. It would probably be a more beneficial experience.

[Lifted]

Originally Posted by zane

Hey guys, I am very new to all of this recording stuff. I want to record my music, right now I am using my laptop and cool edit pro, along with instrumentals and recording over them using cool edit pro v2.1. The problem is that my mic i'm using is a built in mic on my laptop, so it sounds awful, and its a very old laptop i'd might add

So I need help with getting better equipment. I want to buy a condenser microphone, preferebly a condenser microphone even though i don't know much about them. I actually have a particular one in mind with this one Audio Technica AT2035 Studio Microphone from zZounds.com!

I also want to get the rassexx stoppit and I probably will. I also am going to get a tripod as well.

Now, I don't know much about condenser microphones but it says something about phantom power required, what the ****ing hell does that mean?

Lastly, do you guys recommend any more gear I might need or that I actually have to have? Also, i don't know much about condenser microphones, so can i just plug that one microphone into my computers microphone jack? Or does it have another way you have to plug it in? Please help me with what I need to start recording properly, if I'm missing any gear I might need, please point that out.

Thanks for any help in advance.

P.S. you can save yourself some money (about 50 bucks) buying AT2035 here:

Audio Technica*AT2035*AT-2035 AT3035 Condenser Mic NEW - eBay (item 170372355919 end time Aug-21-09 22:43:53 PDT)

[rhodesp04]

i guess i'll drop some knowledge on you because nobody else seems to want to...

a couple things:

1. you need to learn about "signal flow" do some searches on the internet and this will teach you how to get your recording from start (microphone) to finish (in the computer) most signal flows look something like this:

microphone -> preamplifier -> audio interface -> computer

many audio interfaces come with preamplifiers on them so you could just plug your microphone into that and record it nice and simple.

2. to your question about the "phantom power"...that is term used for a 48volt power needed to run most if not all "condensor" microphones. traditionally condensor microphones are used in situations that require a more detailed recording like vocals (they're more often more sensitive than the other type of microphones called "dynamic" microphones often used for things like electric guitar recordings that may be too loud and damage a sensitive condenser)

so when you make your audio interface purchase you need to make sure that it has "phantom power" if your microphone requires it. it is usually a clearly labeled button that you can simply turn on/off because it is a very common need.

unless you want to risk making blind purchases i'd try to get some experience before i made any purchases if not you'll have to buy more and more to get the sound that you want. i had a similar problem. at one time i had a lot of studio experience but never knew about how things worked so when i wanted to make a home setup i was clueless and expected "big studio" results with not knowing how and what equipment was necessary.

[phillysoulman]

Originally Posted by zane

Hey guys, I am very new to all of this recording stuff. I want to record my music, right now I am using my laptop and cool edit pro, along with instrumentals and recording over them using cool edit pro v2.1. The problem is that my mic i'm using is a built in mic on my laptop, so it sounds awful, and its a very old laptop i'd might add

So I need help with getting better equipment. I want to buy a condenser microphone, preferebly a condenser microphone even though i don't know much about them. I actually have a particular one in mind with this one Audio Technica AT2035 Studio Microphone from zZounds.com!

I also want to get the rassexx stoppit and I probably will. I also am going to get a tripod as well.

Now, I don't know much about condenser microphones but it says something about phantom power required, what the ****ing hell does that mean?

Lastly, do you guys recommend any more gear I might need or that I actually have to have? Also, i don't know much about condenser microphones, so can i just plug that one microphone into my computers microphone jack? Or does it have another way you have to plug it in? Please help me with what I need to start recording properly, if I'm missing any gear I might need, please point that out.

Thanks for any help in advance.

Get your room treated and then get some propper cash.

[Monroe/Rampart]

Originally Posted by phillysoulman

Get your room treated and then get some propper cash.

It's "proper" Philly...with a single "p".

[XHipHop]

Originally Posted by Storyville

1. Cheapo condenser mic: 200$
2. Cheapo interface/DAW: 250$
3. Mic cable: 20$

Tracking and mixing with skilled and creative engineers, priceless.

Total costs: 500$ +

You'll start figuring it all out. Just make sure you try to research things as much as possible on your own before posting lots of threads .

+1 to this.

"All i need is one mic."

I think that AT mic will be fine to get you off the ground.

[Spy!]

Originally Posted by Monroe/Rampart

It's "proper" Philly...with a single "p".

Actually 'proper' has two P's, if we're getting pedantic...

To the OP, check this out for a fairly comprehensive guide for the beginner.

HTH

[Audio Child]

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Spend some time on there!