Need A Recording Set-up Options

[Adam]

Hi GMC-ers! I already asked about it but I've saved up and need to make my decision ASAP. My guesses are Steinberg, Presonus and Focusrite, as for DI boxes. But if it's possible to use SM57 with a console mixer, then it's my preferred choice. Can it work that way with one of the USB mixers? I'm getting fluent at Audacity and I don't need anything for digital processing.

I just want something I can plug in to and not worry about outdated drivers and configuration, so I can start some serious recording. I recently graduated from Uni and time-wise, I can do it now My brother released two solo albums to YT, as I accidentally found out and i don't want to stay behind.

[Mertay]

First of all congrats on the graduation

I don't recommend consoles as to be honest unless high-end they don't contribute to tone, take too much space and might even be more noisy due to the extra internal components.

Soundcard brands you listed are fine, I don't see driver problems as often I did compared to the past with popular soundcards. You can also check Audient as supposedly it has a touch better di sound but I have no experience.

I never used Audacity but if its limited in any way compared to reaper I wouldn't waste time on it. You may not need all reaper features today but as you progress and have bigger expectations in the future, not needing to learn a new DAW will be a huge comfort.

[jstcrsn]

these days these are so far better than ten years ago, that being said I would try to find one that has 4 outputs , for future routing options for not having to buy another one , for instance you could re-amp your signal while mixing in stereo

[Todd Simpson]

The iconnectivity 4+ lets you route all of the outputs and inputs. It's darn handy. It has four ins and four outs that you can configure in any way you like, you can loop audio back through it as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_D41i6EWfqs

these days these are so far better than ten years ago, that being said I would try to find one that has 4 outputs , for future routing options for not having to buy another one , for instance you could re-amp your signal while mixing in stereo

This post has been edited by Todd Simpson: Nov 10 2019, 12:08 AM

[jstcrsn]

having not researched this since I was not in the market for one . I am going to strongly agree with Todd on this one

[Adam]

First of all congrats on the graduation

I don't recommend consoles as to be honest unless high-end they don't contribute to tone, take too much space and might even be more noisy due to the extra internal components.

Soundcard brands you listed are fine, I don't see driver problems as often I did compared to the past with popular soundcards. You can also check Audient as supposedly it has a touch better di sound but I have no experience.

I never used Audacity but if its limited in any way compared to reaper I wouldn't waste time on it. You may not need all reaper features today but as you progress and have bigger expectations in the future, not needing to learn a new DAW will be a huge comfort.

these days these are so far better than ten years ago, that being said I would try to find one that has 4 outputs , for future routing options for not having to buy another one , for instance you could re-amp your signal while mixing in stereo

The iconnectivity 4+ lets you route all of the outputs and inputs. It's darn handy. It has four ins and four outs that you can configure in any way you like, you can loop audio back through it as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_D41i6EWfqs

Thank you for the replies! It seems that going for just a mic isn't the best way out, so maybe in the future. I'll forfeit my analogue pride for now and get the DI box. Focusrite 2i2 3Gen. seems a good choice. I've watched a few tests, etc. and Steinberg has the loudest noise level out of the three. Prosonus seems to have less headroom than others. Scarlett has no MIDI ports but I'll worry about it when I get a proper keyboard.

I just have one more question: can you plug a signal chain from the guitar, through preamp section and stompboxes into the interface?

[jstcrsn]

Thank you for the replies! It seems that going for just a mic isn't the best way out, so maybe in the future. I'll forfeit my analogue pride for now and get the DI box. Focusrite 2i2 3Gen. seems a good choice. I've watched a few tests, etc. and Steinberg has the loudest noise level out of the three. Prosonus seems to have less headroom than others. Scarlett has no MIDI ports but I'll worry about it when I get a proper keyboard.

I just have one more question: can you plug a signal chain from the guitar, through preamp section and stompboxes into the interface?

not to get a good sound , if you want to do that , you want to run your pedels/amp and then go into " two notes torpedo "

[Mertay]

Pedals work fine, preamps though will need poweramp sim.s or they'll sound very weak.

[Todd Simpson]

agreed. Or skip the pedals and use overloud ThU which has a cheaper rock version about 100 euro with every pedal you can imagine and every amp every cab etc. You are not married to the sound you can change it at any time. It's a revolution in home recording to be honest. Once you are ready for it that is
Also the scarlett is a fine choice. You'd asked about four outputs and routing which is something the other one does a bit better but still the scarlett is a fine unit and the other one is way more complicated.

Pedals work fine, preamps though will need poweramp sim.s or they'll sound very weak.

This post has been edited by Todd Simpson: Nov 11 2019, 06:12 AM

[Adam]

not to get a good sound , if you want to do that , you want to run your pedels/amp and then go into " two notes torpedo "

Pedals work fine, preamps though will need poweramp sim.s or they'll sound very weak.

agreed. Or skip the pedals and use overloud ThU which has a cheaper rock version about 100 euro with every pedal you can imagine and every amp every cab etc. You are not married to the sound you can change it at any time. It's a revolution in home recording to be honest. Once you are ready for it that is
Also the scarlett is a fine choice. You'd asked about four outputs and routing which is something the other one does a bit better but still the scarlett is a fine unit and the other one is way more complicated.

I suppose I will skip pedals completely. I want a MIDI controller too, so I can compose music for my game. Those items you linked look great but not for my budget. The 4 input units, both the iConnectivity and Scarlett version are too expensive for the same reason. I just have the tone I like already and I don't want to sound like my idols etc., so I don't think I will be upgrading it. I might get SM57 in the future, when I save up some more, and put that through the Scarlett to shape my recording tone that way instead.

I got a BIAS FX, the standard version, when they were giving it away and it has a few amps and boxes. Maybe it will work out just fine with whatever comes with Scarlett unit.

[Todd Simpson]

The 2 inputs scarlet is a GREAT unit and will make you happy im sure . One thing about Midi, most any decent keyboard, even cheap ones will have a USB output which lets you plug it right in to your computer or usb hub so you don't need a usb converter as that is done in the keyboard. Assuming I understand what you are saying. If you want a midi guitar thing, that's another story. The cheapest way is to do what I do and get a guitar game controller and a midi to usb adapter. Entire setup $80 it's the chepest way to play guitar notes in to your computer. There are other ways, they are just all more expensive.

I suppose I will skip pedals completely. I want a MIDI controller too, so I can compose music for my game. Those items you linked look great but not for my budget. The 4 input units, both the iConnectivity and Scarlett version are too expensive for the same reason. I just have the tone I like already and I don't want to sound like my idols etc., so I don't think I will be upgrading it. I might get SM57 in the future, when I save up some more, and put that through the Scarlett to shape my recording tone that way instead.
BIAS is AWESOME!!! if you get the scarlet, and use BIAS, congrats! You have a full on production home studio. You can start recording right away and and you can change the bias tone at any time in production which is the modern way of going about things. That way, you can change it during mix down if you find the guitar tone is not working. So really, from the sound of it, you just need the scarlett to get started.


I got a BIAS FX, the standard version, when they were giving it away and it has a few amps and boxes. Maybe it will work out just fine with whatever comes with Scarlett unit.

This post has been edited by Todd Simpson: Nov 11 2019, 10:35 PM

[Adam]

The 2 inputs scarlet is a GREAT unit and will make you happy im sure . One thing about Midi, most any decent keyboard, even cheap ones will have a USB output which lets you plug it right in to your computer or usb hub so you don't need a usb converter as that is done in the keyboard. Assuming I understand what you are saying. If you want a midi guitar thing, that's another story. The cheapest way is to do what I do and get a guitar game controller and a midi to usb adapter. Entire setup $80 it's the chepest way to play guitar notes in to your computer. There are other ways, they are just all more expensive.

So recording with a MIDI keyboard (that's what I want to get) is done directly in DAW then? That's one less worry, then

[Todd Simpson]

these days yeah They are called "controllers" as it's just a midi keyboard that uses the computer for all of it's sounds. You can get wads of free sounds and sound banks. You can get a 49 key midi controller for $63 from thomann
https://m.thomannmusic.com/alesis_q49.htm?o...arch=1573513923

here is the free version of SAMPLE TANK which will get you started with keyboard sounds

https://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/sampletankcs/

So recording with a MIDI keyboard (that's what I want to get) is done directly in DAW then? That's one less worry, then

This post has been edited by Todd Simpson: Nov 12 2019, 12:15 AM

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[Adam]

these days yeah They are called "controllers" as it's just a midi keyboard that uses the computer for all of it's sounds. You can get wads of free sounds and sound banks. You can get a 49 key midi controller for $63 from thomann
https://m.thomannmusic.com/alesis_q49.htm?o...arch=1573513923

here is the free version of SAMPLE TANK which will get you started with keyboard sounds

https://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/sampletankcs/

Can these controllers be set up for different octaves of the same sound? I will most likely get a 49 keys version, so I'd record bit by bit and put the pieces together.

[Todd Simpson]

Sure there is usually a button on the controller for octave up and octave down.

Can these controllers be set up for different octaves of the same sound? I will most likely get a 49 keys version, so I'd record bit by bit and put the pieces together.

[Adam]

Sure there is usually a button on the controller for octave up and octave down.

That solves the problem, thank you

I have one last question: is it possible to record bass guitar with Scarlett unit?

[Todd Simpson]

Sure!!

That solves the problem, thank you

I have one last question: is it possible to record bass guitar with Scarlett unit?