Xplorer Posted June 23, 2006 Posted June 23, 2006 I'm now wanting to mic up my rig to do some recording on my computer. I know absolutley nothing about doing this though! Can anybody suggest what type of mic I need? Condenser? I don't have a mixer, DI, or anything like that. Just amps and guitars. My computer does have Cool Edit and I usualyy just line-in into my soundcard through my ART DST-4 preamp. I want to instead be able to capture the tone of my main rig (Roland Jazz Chours JC-120H into a Marshall 4x12). I have NI Guitar Rig 2, it has a simulation of different mics and cabinet mic'ing orientaions, but I would like some advice from some of your recording and gigging pro's! I was looking at the Samson C01U Condenser Microphone with USB Output. Does anyone have one of these that can comment on it? What a horrible night to have a curse.
Warthog Posted June 23, 2006 Posted June 23, 2006 I think many folks will tell you the Shure SM-57 is one of the best mics out there for this purpose. I wouldn't use them on vocals, but I use them on amps. They're also notoriously good drum mics. You'd need a mixer for these though. Phantom power is not required but a mic preamp would certainly help. I do all my recording through a Roland VS-2400CD DAW so I can't comment on computer recording, sorry.
Xplorer Posted June 23, 2006 Author Posted June 23, 2006 Good advice man. I'm learning the SM57 is kind of an industry standard for hard rock and metal. I'm really trying to get the job done on a budget though. What a horrible night to have a curse.
Warthog Posted June 23, 2006 Posted June 23, 2006 Originally posted by Xplorer: Good advice man. I'm learning the SM57 is kind of an industry standard for hard rock and metal. I'm really trying to get the job done on a budget though. Understood. Realize that SM57's are about as cheap as a decent mic comes...I got my two for under $100 each. I too was on a budget and bought a Behringer Ultragain Pro preamp for $89. It's pretty good and reliable for budget gear. You could get a small mixer for around that price too. Maybe you don't have $400 to spend though. Have you thought of borrowing an item or two? Perhaps you could buy a couple mics and borrow a mixer and a preamp and then acquire items as you are able?
miroslav Posted June 23, 2006 Posted June 23, 2006 While I won't knock the SM57 as the standard go-to guitar cab mic... ..I never much cared for them, as I always found them lacking in mid/upper end clarity. Now, for a lot of tones...that may not be an issue...and if your guitar/cab tone jives well with the 57's frequecny range...then you're set. A lot of folks also rave about the Sennheiser e609...but I find that it's even darker/duller than the 57...though again, it depends on the tone you are trying to capture. I'm more of a tube mic guy...and I also don't like to plaster the mic up against the grill, as most SM57/e609 setups indicate. I like to put the tube mic about 18"-24" away from the cabinet. So, other than picking a mic...you will need a mic preamp between your mic and your soundcard if you want to mic your cabinet to get it's tone. Otherwise...if you want to go DI...you really don't need a DI box as you already have the ART DTS-4. miroslav - miroslavmusic.com "Just because it happened to you, it doesn't mean it's important."
Xplorer Posted June 23, 2006 Author Posted June 23, 2006 Should I just run the mic into my guitar pre-amp and then to the computer? The DST-4 has a tube preamp for a clean tone. Should I just use that setting and play with the tone controls to get a decent capture? What a horrible night to have a curse.
fantasticsound Posted June 23, 2006 Posted June 23, 2006 HOLD ON! You mentioned the Samson C01U. That is definitely the way to go, unless you have need to spend money for no reason. The only thing you won't be able to use the C01U for is as a mic for live performance. (Unless you have a USB interface to use as an input.) We talked about this in a thread a few months ago and the choices were the C01U or the Blue Snowball, the other relatively inexpensive USB compatible mic. (Although it's more expensive than the C01U.) Here\'s the "Thanks to Fantasticsou... er, A-string!" thread posted by Hardtail and seconded by Ellwood who both bought C01U's. It's easiest to find me on Facebook. Neil Bergman Soundclick fntstcsnd
Xplorer Posted June 23, 2006 Author Posted June 23, 2006 Originally posted by fantasticsound: HOLD ON! You mentioned the Samson C01U. That is definitely the way to go, unless you have need to spend money for no reason. The only thing you won't be able to use the C01U for is as a mic for live performance. (Unless you have a USB interface to use as an input.) We talked about this in a thread a few months ago and the choices were the C01U or the Blue Snowball, the other relatively inexpensive USB compatible mic. (Although it's more expensive than the C01U.) Here\'s the "Thanks to Fantasticsou... er, A-string!" thread posted by Hardtail and seconded by Ellwood who both bought C01U's. Thank's dude, that's what I was looking for! You always seem to come through with solid advice. Cheers. What a horrible night to have a curse.
janalon Posted June 23, 2006 Posted June 23, 2006 Yeah - I second that. Purchased the Samson Co1U based on recomendations from the board. Found it from an eBay "Buy Now" for $74, shipping included. Not bad if you ask me! Initial tests looked good, though I haven't had much of a chance to really sit down and put it under the test (I'm a teacher, and end-of-year always gets overly hectic). I hope to record a few tracks this weekend though. http://www.wordsareworlds.net
miroslav Posted June 23, 2006 Posted June 23, 2006 Well...that Samson is a "solution"... ...but if you are concerned about capturing the best you can from your guitar/cab rig... ...then a proper mic/preamp combo is needed to get you there. It's really a question of what you want/need... 1. A way to get your guitar/amp sound into the computer. 2. A way to get a really high quality recording of your guitar/amp into the computer. Not meaning to chastise too harshly... ...but too often I see guitar players get all worked up about needing a $2k guitar and a $2k amp...and a slew of high-end stomp boxes in order to.*get their tone*... ...and then when it comes to recording that tone...they want to do it on the cheap. So like I said...it's a question of what you really want/need... miroslav - miroslavmusic.com "Just because it happened to you, it doesn't mean it's important."
fantasticsound Posted June 23, 2006 Posted June 23, 2006 Yeah, Miro. I was definitely reading this as an, "I need a decent, but user friendly way to record my guitar amp." The C01, for what it is, has received fine reviews and the USB version is definitely the pocket, swiss army knife of digital recording. A one piece recording capture device that sounds pretty darn good for a mere $89 or so. It's easiest to find me on Facebook. Neil Bergman Soundclick fntstcsnd
Xplorer Posted June 23, 2006 Author Posted June 23, 2006 Originally posted by miroslav: Well...that Samson is a "solution"... ...but if you are concerned about capturing the best you can from your guitar/cab rig... ...then a proper mic/preamp combo is needed to get you there. It's really a question of what you want/need... 1. A way to get your guitar/amp sound into the computer. 2. A way to get a really high quality recording of your guitar/amp into the computer. Not meaning to chastise too harshly... ...but too often I see guitar players get all worked up about needing a $2k guitar and a $2k amp...and a slew of high-end stomp boxes in order to.*get their tone*... ...and then when it comes to recording that tone...they want to do it on the cheap. So like I said...it's a question of what you really want/need... Like I said, I'm trying to do it on a budget. I'm in no way a recording pro, just playing around. I like my tone however, but it does not have to be 99% accurate in a recording. I think the Samson mic is the solution I'm looking for. Thanks guys! What a horrible night to have a curse.
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