Home Studio

Hi there, welcome to maketunes. You're right that $200 is going to be tough to work with! But, you will be able to get something to get started with I think.

PCI vs Firewire - generally each have their advantages, but if you're using a desktop machine, then an internal PCI card will usually be a bit cheaper for the equivalent specs.

Bear in mind I don't work with microphones much, but I think the basic core of what you're needing is:

- Good ASIO audio interface.
- Condenser microphone, not dynamic one.

- A microphone PREAMP is also needed to boost signal/noise ratio, and will often provide the Phantom Power that a condenser microphone requires.... sometimes a preamp is built into an audio interface card/external device.

The generally cheaper dynamic microphones around which don't require Phantom Power, are more designed for like a live performance etc, where recording quality doesn't count. If you cannot afford/organise a condesnor mic and preamp setup, you can get away with using dynamic mic and no preamp - but you will likely have some background hiss in your recordings if you boost the volume of your vocal tracks. This might not be an issue for you.

I'm sure some others here who regularly work with dynamic / condensor microphones and preamps can give you more real world advice on this stuff than I can :)

Yeah thats a good call. I'm always hearing about the sm58, and shure range in general also of course.

Great price too!

Thanks for your replies. I have decided on the Presonus Inspire 1394 because it seems a little more user friendly and the hookups are easier to get to and my father-in-law has a macbook pro and is interested in borrowing it to record with garageband. I can get it for $119 online with free shipping.

Now, with $80 left in my $200 budget, would I be better off spending that on a cheap compressor mic or the sm58?

My wife's acoustic has a 1/4" out but I have heard you have more flexibility with sound if you record guitar with a mic. Is there a mic out there that could do a good job at both or am I asking too much?

The V63M is a more sensitive. With a bigger diaphragm you can get a more crispy response. But if you have no sound isolation (ie acoustic foam panels, or some hustle 'n flow style cardboard cup holders/egg cartons) you gonna pick up EVERYTHING!!!!! I've used sensitive mics before and was not impressed with them due to my lack of isolation.

Also, using an external mixer, like i suggested, (and FYI that tapco is a revised and updated model of the original Makie line mixer from the 70's) will allow for more overall control of the mic gain and eq. Using a digital mixer like the one that comes with the PreSonus will be a bit of a hassle when getting the levels correct for recording. The Behringer will also work with garageband as well (extremely well actually) You will also be able to get more reach with my method, allowing for better isolation. More cable means you can run you mic into a closet or bathroom. and using a succession of cables as opposed to one long cable will give better quality of sound. ie, 6ft mic cable to mixer then six foot 1/4" instrument cables to audio interface is better that 12ft cables. Closets with a good amount of clothes work rather well for sound isolation. The fabrics will act as sound absorbers removing ambient acoustics preventing them from hitting your mic. Then you can have you mixer in your "booth" with you so you can adjust levels on the fly without having to open the door or go to your computer.

well, the more info you can gather, the better your decision will be. Now go forth and record till the sun comes up then goes down again.

It'll do what it do till it done
You keep it pimp... I'm a keep it gangata!

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