$500 home recording gear

[mattar]

here's the setup that i started out with that's really as cheap as it gets short of using a USB microphone (which I also did for a while) and pretty close to $500...

focusrite saffire 6 usb (used on ebay) - $80
2 used sm57 off the bay - $120 (i'm pretty sure)
blue spark (good room/overhead mic) - $200
A pair of Rokit 5 monitors - $300 (this is something i did without for a while while i had an interface... if you just get a pair of good $100 studio headphones for mixing, the monitors aren't crucial).
$100 Behringer Mixer (this lets me mic a drum kit and run the stereo mix into the two inputs on my interface). Unless you plan on doing live band recordings, this is a good and cost effective method.

so take out the monitors and you're right at $500. granted finding those used prices could take time. my philosophy on home recording was always to start with what you can get at the time, make do with what you have, and continue to build your studio piece by piece. it's also fun to acquire new pieces like a special occasion. $500 seems like a good start up cost to me, but you're definitally not going to be getting everything all at once, but that's a good thing.

Thanks for breaking it down for me. I agree about the slow build to a decent studio but i really want to get started so I can start working on building basic skills in recording. Reading about it doesn't really work for me, I have to learn hands on.

[mattar]

If I the saffire route what am i looking for in a mixer, 3-4 mic preamp channels? also when you run a mixer into the saffire I guess that would give me two audio tracks in my daw for drums. total recording noob, should have asked more questions to people who recorded my older bands. I also read that people have issues with the saffire and modern usb inputs, anyone know anything about that, the site says it needs usb 1.1 compatibility but i would think modern usb ports would be backwards compatible.

[Ancient Astronaught]

If I the saffire route what am i looking for in a mixer, 3-4 mic preamp channels? also when you run a mixer into the saffire I guess that would give me two audio tracks in my daw for drums. total recording noob, should have asked more questions to people who recorded my older bands. I also read that people have issues with the saffire and modern usb inputs, anyone know anything about that, the site says it needs usb 1.1 compatibility but i would think modern usb ports would be backwards compatible.

4 mic channels would be a decent start for a budget mixer, preferably one with 4 xlr inputs.. You then premix the drums on the mixer (set levels, eqs, and pans), send the master stereo send into the 2 channels on the saffire, make sure in your DAW that its either going into a stereo track or two tracks that are hard panned left and right and that levels left and right are even. Can't help with the USB compatibility.

[shred]

If I were going to start over with what I know now (not all that much really) I would get the biggest audio interface I could. I have an echo audiofire4 which I do most of my solo stuff on - super simple, affordable, reliable, and perfect size for me, myself, and I.
But when I play with my drummer friend and we record we'll take 4-5 mics from his kit and send them to a mixer (mackie 802 in this case) and then send the master outs to the audiofire 4. Sounds good like this but it means that we have to multitrack instead of being able to just plug everything in (drums, guitar, bass, keys, other various mic'd instruments) and play. If you have a big audio interface (something with a lot of inputs) you can plug everything straight into that, set up the appropriate channels on whatever DAW you're using, adjust the levels and eq for each instrument and just go.

So my advice would be to get something with functionality beyond what you currently need.

Are you going to be spending this money on more than just an interface? Sad to say $500 won't get you very far. Definitely go hunting for some deals to try and make that last a little farther like stripes suggested.

[mattar]

The more I learn the more complex it becomes. As I fall deeper down the rabbit hole, would I be able to use a mixer like the mackie profx12 to record a mixed drum track to my daw without additional interface and then use it to record other tracks thus eliminating my need for an interface? shred, this could very likely be a dumb question but, how were you able to uses the 802 to record 4-5 drum mics since it has just three mic inputs? My birthday is coming and so is christmas and my familly still likes me a bit so i might be able to get some mics from loved ones while I focus on the mixer/interface aspect but the more I dig the less I know. Preamps also frighten me but since im just starting I wont really worry too much about it but some models seem pretty pumped on them. I mean i might just get a basic mixer and the saffire( i found out the modern ones updated to usb 2.0) but if hundred dollars is gonna make a giant difference i would like to know rather than spend money with out knowing what I am getting and how much the price difference makes.

[erector]

The more I learn the more complex it becomes. As I fall deeper down the rabbit hole, would I be able to use a mixer like the mackie profx12 to record a mixed drum track to my daw without additional interface and then use it to record other tracks thus eliminating my need for an interface? ... I mean i might just get a basic mixer and the saffire( i found out the modern ones updated to usb 2.0) but if hundred dollars is gonna make a giant difference i would like to know rather than spend money with out knowing what I am getting and how much the price difference makes.

I rocked the mixer-cum-audio-interface (not sure if there's a proper term?) for a while (Behringer Xenyx1204USB). The Behringer wasn't great—drivers sucked—but yeah, the basic idea of having a mixer that also doubles as an audio interface is pretty great. Does the Mackie send all its inputs to the computer, or does it only send a stereo (left/right) signal? I'd imagine it's the former, but you should check that. I went back to a separate mixer and audio interface setup partly because the Behringer kinda sucked as an interface, but also because I occasionally do live laptop sound and I just didn't feel like carting the Behringer around. I also don't think it had the ability to recieve (my terminology may be slightly wrong here) any of the DAW channels for mixing on the console either (unlike a friend's Mackie Onyx and, I would presume, the ProFX).

Also, about the "modern" Saffires, are you sure you're not looking at the Scarletts? I have an 18i6, it's good, but the instrument-level inputs are really hot and active pickups will clip the input like mad. No -10dB pad, either, which I can't believe I overlooked.

[mattar]

The more I learn the more complex it becomes. As I fall deeper down the rabbit hole, would I be able to use a mixer like the mackie profx12 to record a mixed drum track to my daw without additional interface and then use it to record other tracks thus eliminating my need for an interface? ... I mean i might just get a basic mixer and the saffire( i found out the modern ones updated to usb 2.0) but if hundred dollars is gonna make a giant difference i would like to know rather than spend money with out knowing what I am getting and how much the price difference makes.

I rocked the mixer-cum-audio-interface (not sure if there's a proper term?) for a while (Behringer Xenyx1204USB). The Behringer wasn't great—drivers sucked—but yeah, the basic idea of having a mixer that also doubles as an audio interface is pretty great. Does the Mackie send all its inputs to the computer, or does it only send a stereo (left/right) signal? I'd imagine it's the former, but you should check that. I went back to a separate mixer and audio interface setup partly because the Behringer kinda sucked as an interface, but also because I occasionally do live laptop sound and I just didn't feel like carting the Behringer around. I also don't think it had the ability to recieve (my terminology may be slightly wrong here) any of the DAW channels for mixing on the console either (unlike a friend's Mackie Onyx and, I would presume, the ProFX).

Also, about the "modern" Saffires, are you sure you're not looking at the Scarletts? I have an 18i6, it's good, but the instrument-level inputs are really hot and active pickups will clip the input like mad. No -10dB pad, either, which I can't believe I overlooked.

thanks for the info,
The mackie profx is two channel stereo or single mono but that is basically what i was looking at with an interface anyways, i was wondering if there is a big difference in just getting a profx and layering or getting a mixer with out a usb and mixing the drums into the interface? I just thought it would be pretty much the same and i could just get a bigger mixer with the same tracking ability by spending the money i would spend on both on just a mixer. I saw the scarlets but I am talking about the saffire, http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Saffire ... B002R9ILOY, under features it says "new usb 2.0." I dont have super hot pickups so i dont think that would be a problem plus i would be recording my amp, i dont know if you meant that if i plugged directly in with active pups but i guess its besides the point bc i dont have them anyway. so far the only thing i know for sure is i need mic stands and probably at least one sm57.

[erector]

If the ProFX only sends a stereo signal to the PC then it'll be much the same, since you'll have to get your levels right on the actual mixer itself, without any possibilities to redo the mix in your DAW of choice. It's entirely possible to work this way, of course, but it leaves less room for error.

[stripes]

If I were going to start over with what I know now (not all that much really) I would get the biggest audio interface I could. I have an echo audiofire4 which I do most of my solo stuff on - super simple, affordable, reliable, and perfect size for me, myself, and I.
But when I play with my drummer friend and we record we'll take 4-5 mics from his kit and send them to a mixer (mackie 802 in this case) and then send the master outs to the audiofire 4. Sounds good like this but it means that we have to multitrack instead of being able to just plug everything in (drums, guitar, bass, keys, other various mic'd instruments) and play. If you have a big audio interface (something with a lot of inputs) you can plug everything straight into that, set up the appropriate channels on whatever DAW you're using, adjust the levels and eq for each instrument and just go.

So my advice would be to get something with functionality beyond what you currently need.

Are you going to be spending this money on more than just an interface? Sad to say $500 won't get you very far. Definitely go hunting for some deals to try and make that last a little farther like stripes suggested.

i have to disagree with this.. you can do a lot with a little if you get creative. you can also learn a lot about recording beyond the gear that you need (navigating interfaces, using plug ins, gain staging, etc..) with little equipment. the most of my experience came from making a little go a long way, making something "cheap" sound good. if you learn how to mix things well and give them the right limits, effects, and compression, all you really need is a microphone and some spare time. doing this will also benefit you in the future when you will inevitably invest more money into more expensive mics, mixers, interfaces, preamps, software and what have you, because you will already know how to make just about anything sound good. it will only sound better because you're now using equipment that is, well, better. trust me, being a novice at recording and blowing money on really expensive equipment will only get you more expensive equipment, not better sounding recordings.

it's going to be expensive both now and later down the road, so i wouldn't worry about getting the better and more expensive things now because you're thinking about the future that you have with recording. starting small is something that people still do for a reason when they're getting into something. it can also be overwhelming to have a lot of complex gear that you don't really know how to use. tackle it one step at a time. get a small interface and a mic, record a song with a couple layers of guitar or vocals if you sing, learn your program, get a feel for what everything sounds like. then work your way onto something else. and above all else, just do whatever sounds good to you!

[mattar]

If I were going to start over with what I know now (not all that much really) I would get the biggest audio interface I could. I have an echo audiofire4 which I do most of my solo stuff on - super simple, affordable, reliable, and perfect size for me, myself, and I.
But when I play with my drummer friend and we record we'll take 4-5 mics from his kit and send them to a mixer (mackie 802 in this case) and then send the master outs to the audiofire 4. Sounds good like this but it means that we have to multitrack instead of being able to just plug everything in (drums, guitar, bass, keys, other various mic'd instruments) and play. If you have a big audio interface (something with a lot of inputs) you can plug everything straight into that, set up the appropriate channels on whatever DAW you're using, adjust the levels and eq for each instrument and just go.

So my advice would be to get something with functionality beyond what you currently need.

Are you going to be spending this money on more than just an interface? Sad to say $500 won't get you very far. Definitely go hunting for some deals to try and make that last a little farther like stripes suggested.

i have to disagree with this.. you can do a lot with a little if you get creative. you can also learn a lot about recording beyond the gear that you need (navigating interfaces, using plug ins, gain staging, etc..) with little equipment. the most of my experience came from making a little go a long way, making something "cheap" sound good. if you learn how to mix things well and give them the right limits, effects, and compression, all you really need is a microphone and some spare time. doing this will also benefit you in the future when you will inevitably invest more money into more expensive mics, mixers, interfaces, preamps, software and what have you, because you will already know how to make just about anything sound good. it will only sound better because you're now using equipment that is, well, better. trust me, being a novice at recording and blowing money on really expensive equipment will only get you more expensive equipment, not better sounding recordings.

it's going to be expensive both now and later down the road, so i wouldn't worry about getting the better and more expensive things now because you're thinking about the future that you have with recording. starting small is something that people still do for a reason when they're getting into something. it can also be overwhelming to have a lot of complex gear that you don't really know how to use. tackle it one step at a time. get a small interface and a mic, record a song with a couple layers of guitar or vocals if you sing, learn your program, get a feel for what everything sounds like. then work your way onto something else. and above all else, just do whatever sounds good to you!

thanks, ill just stick to something basic then and when i know more and have more money ill probably know more about the gear as well.

[shred]

i have to disagree with this.. you can do a lot with a little if you get creative. you can also learn a lot about recording beyond the gear that you need (navigating interfaces, using plug ins, gain staging, etc..) with little equipment. the most of my experience came from making a little go a long way, making something "cheap" sound good. if you learn how to mix things well and give them the right limits, effects, and compression, all you really need is a microphone and some spare time. doing this will also benefit you in the future when you will inevitably invest more money into more expensive mics, mixers, interfaces, preamps, software and what have you, because you will already know how to make just about anything sound good. it will only sound better because you're now using equipment that is, well, better. trust me, being a novice at recording and blowing money on really expensive equipment will only get you more expensive equipment, not better sounding recordings.

it's going to be expensive both now and later down the road, so i wouldn't worry about getting the better and more expensive things now because you're thinking about the future that you have with recording. starting small is something that people still do for a reason when they're getting into something. it can also be overwhelming to have a lot of complex gear that you don't really know how to use. tackle it one step at a time. get a small interface and a mic, record a song with a couple layers of guitar or vocals if you sing, learn your program, get a feel for what everything sounds like. then work your way onto something else. and above all else, just do whatever sounds good to you!

I wasn't suggesting he go out and get expensive gear I was just trying to make the point that I think it's better to get something and grow into it. I've gotten a lot of things which, after spending time with it, realized I wanted/needed more functionality, better quality, easier interface yadda yadda. So to save the trouble of buying something, growing out of it, getting something bigger/better in a never ending cycle of upgrading you start of with something bigger than what you currently need. Thinking a step ahead so to speak. This is of course not the way it has to be done, it's just what I have discovered about myself. Something I wish i could have told myself 8 years ago.

And it doesn't really apply to everything, mostly I'm just thinking about the interface or mixer or whatever he decides to go with. I wouldn't suggest going out and getting a really nice expensive mic over 3-4 decent cheaper mics.
Couldn't agree more with your last sentence.

mattar - using xlr-trs adapters for the other couple mics. Doesn't seem to make a difference to our ears.

[mattar]

mattar - using xlr-trs adapters for the other couple mics. Doesn't seem to make a difference to our ears.

Cool thanks for clearing that up for me.