Questions on gears needed for recording guitar and vocals

[funwithmusic]

Hi to all! I see that there's many people here who are quite knowledgable in recording stuff. Im totally new to this and I would just like to ask a few questions, hope you guys can help me out. Thanks!

I want to record myself singing and playing the guitar, and I tried doing so using the computer's built in mic and it sounds like shit. But maybe my voice sounds bad too. I would really like to find out what's needed for me to record a decent track? I know for sure I must get a microphone, but what kind? Im looking for budget ones. Where can i get them? Can i make do with just a microphone? Cos i did some reading and some of you recommended buying what mixers.. I dont really understand all these terms so i hope to get to know the big picture of recording audio.. Many thanks!!

 

[blueprintstudios]

1) welcome to soft
2) http://tinyurl.com/diyrecording
3) budget ones i'm using an Audio Technica AT2020 ,which you can get at citymusic around $160+/- but you'll need an audio interface (that supports phantom power) on top of that. at2020 is a pretty versatile mic for acoustic guitars/cabs/vocals/overheads etc.

gd luck!

 

[funwithmusic]

lol i went to citymusic today to ask about the audio Technica AT2020 but they say they dont have..

 

[soft]

Have you gotten the audio interface?

 

[funwithmusic]

no i havent. and i dont know whats that.. is it necessary? or can i just get the mic and plug into my com and start using it? haha sorry ok for my noobness.. really sorry

 

[parablue74]

Audiotechnica is a good brand, cheaper, rugged, hard to spoil and good sound, i honestly prefer them to high ended brands like Shure, Sennheiser etc..
I'm using an Audiotechnica AT-4033A as my main mic for vocals, been using it for years, it's great stuff! It's actually the higher end model of AT2020 i think.
Heard AKG have some new mics coming along, released past 2 years, never tested it. AKG gives good sound too, but more pricey, and sometimes, there are some odd ball discrepancies in their manufacturing. Had one AKG mic sent back for repair in only few months of usage.
Besides that, they do sound good.
OP, if you are rich, you can go for Neumanns.. hehe..
Well, if you are on a tight budget, just go for a pair of Samson CO2s, it's one of my most used mics, works great for vocals and acoustic, the rest of Samson mics sound crap, but not the CO2s.
Do get a decent audio interface with good enough preamps (gain) to boost the mic, and make sure your have +48v phantom power..
Enjoy!!!!

 

[funwithmusic]

thanks!! anyway my uncle gave me this mixer yamaha mg 10/2. is it good? he told me it's very old already. im not sure man just gonna use it cos can use the condenser mic.. haha

 

[studio2105]

Audiotechnica is a good brand, cheaper, rugged, hard to spoil and good sound, i honestly prefer them to high ended brands like Shure, Sennheiser etc..

Funny, high end usually refers to Neumann, Telefunken, Brauner. AT usually gets tagged in the mid-market along with Shure/Sennheiser, AKG (save the C12 and 414).

I'm using an Audiotechnica AT-4033A as my main mic for vocals, been using it for years, it's great stuff! It's actually the higher end model of AT2020 i think.

+1 for the AT4033. It comes very highly on the list of cheap, affordable condensers that don't suck. Fairly neutral response and takes a hell lot of SPL (~155dB). Some Neumanns will crap out at volume levels that barely strain the 4033. It is a totally different league from the AT2020 (and costs 4x more)

I can vouch for the AT2020 as an excellent mic to start of with. It's neutral character means it will sound good on a wide range of sources. No such luck with other budget condensers which tend to hype the highs; at first this gives an impression that it sounds better compared to a more neutral mic. But if you encounter a singer who is particularly sibilant (ssssssSSS), a bright sounding acoustic guitar or use it on metallic percussion, you can practically better use for such mics as paperweight. A neutral mic will also give you less problems when you start using multiple layers of vocals. All that treble boost will only serve to add a harsh scratchy high-end; try shelving if off with EQ and you end up robbing the tracks of brightness. A more neutral mic will behave a lot better when stacked and also respond a lot better to EQ changes.