Which Mics do I need?

[Postkill]

Hi,

I have a shure 57 and a 58 mic. Which others do I need?

I am looking to record bands mostly Heavy Metal/Thrash/Hardcore and a bit of rock/alternative/prog. I am mostly home recording at the moment so just want some ideas.

What Vocal mics do I need?
What Drum mics do I need?
What Bass mic should I use? or should I DI?
What guitar mics do I need?
Do I need to put the mics through anything before going into Pro Tools?

Thanks!

[TrevCircleStudios]

All depends on your budget. Tell us about that and about what other gear you have and we'll point you in the right direction

[sureno]

may be introduce yourself a tell us a bit about yourself

[Postkill]

Ok, that makes sense.

I have been playing music for about 10+ years, I did a BTEC Diploma some years ago in Popular music. I have been playing on and off in bands in S/W UK and do recording at home in my spare time. I am starting my Pro Tools training this year at SSR , doing the 1st 3 courses between now and May. In the past I used Cubase SL3 and Cubase Studio 4.

My setup is pretty basic and embarrassing compared to some of you at the moment but I am trying to build things up and gotta start somewhere:

Pro Tools 8 LE
Mbox2
MIDI/USB Keyboard
Active Monitors
Bunch of Guitars
Line 6 PODXT
Big Guitar Amp and 4x12 cab
Ezdrummer with a bunch of different drum kit add-ons
Shure 57 and 58
Mini-disc player
Quad Core PC

I am looking to invest in a 303 Rack or the mixer by the end of the year, but got lots of bills at the moment.

Hope that helps-I know its not as great as a lot of you guys though.

[Postkill]

Ooops, lookign to spend around £300 ( I know, but I am skint).

[TrevCircleStudios]

ok. £300 is a pretty tight budget. If I was you I'd get a pair of small diaphragm condensers (audix f15s are great bang for buck) a shure beta 52 and the best preamp you can afford as you will need it to run dynamic mics.

The Rane MS1b is the cheapest useable pre I've come across though Fivefish audio's DIY pre is supposed to be slightly better (though I havent tried that - I think Dave Boulden has one so pm him)

Use the SM58 for vox, 57 for snare, guitar cab etc, the audix for acoustic guitar, overheads and percsussion. DI the bass.

Anything I've missed?

[Postkill]

Ok thanks again Trev. I will give that a go and see how I get on.

[TrevCircleStudios]

no worries man!

[Circlezero]

In a kind of response to this post it might not be too late for you to be saved!!!!


This is an eye opener for everyone and makes us all realise we have things to learn!!!


http://www.studioreviews.com/57song.htm

[TrevCircleStudios]

Originally Posted by Circlezero

This is an eye opener for everyone and makes us all realise we have things to learn!!!
http://www.studioreviews.com/57song.htm

Which is interesting for its own good and would be useful to get the OP working hard on his placement (which is everything). The key is it's easier to get better results if you use the right tool for the right job. Given that tha audix F15s I suggested are cheaper than the sm57 and the Beta 52 is not actually much more expensive then I still think that selection will get him overall better results for his money.

I guess your post though is support for the adage that George Massenburg will get better results with a consumer level interface than a monkey will ever get ith a neve (or put simply this is why you'll almost always get better results spending your money recording your song at a decent studio than spending it buying mics and ia's.)

[Circlezero]

Sorry, it was more to make the point that correc tarrangement, instrumentation, tuning can make a massive difference to the recorded material before you even think about the mics and yeah to prove you don't need to spend $$$$$ on "magic" mics.

I haven't used those aduix you mentioned athough I have used the Beta52 and I think it's a great mic.

If you're starting off I wouldn't worry too much about trying to shape your sound with mics, more to actually capture a good performance and learn from it. Saying that, a pair of sdc can be used for a multitude of uses and then something to cover the bottom end and something for vocals although you'll probably be able to use one of the other mics depending on the vocalist.

putting your "cheaper" mic in the right piece of air is far more important than putting an expensive mic just anywhere or in a place that's "meant to be right"

I don't think anyones mic locker is ever finished or full but making the right decision early on can mean you have some mics that will still be in your mic locker in the future.