LeftyBassist.com

Hey all,

I'm looking for a low price recording setup. I will be recording bass (direct in probably or xlr3 from amp), piano (direct if keys or mic'ed otherwise), drums, and sax and am looking for a low priced but effective mixer and mic kit. Can anyone provide links, opinions, feedback. Thanks

Here's what I've found so far

Drum mic kit:

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/pr ... sku=430561
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/pr ... sku=271262

Sax mic will just be a plain old mic which I already have
Same for piano mic
Bass will be direct in

xlr3 cables : http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/ ... =product_A

Now the tough part...mixers. If i get the above things, I don't really want to spend more than 120 for a mixer, If i didnt' need those, I wouldn't mind spending 250
carvin 16ch powered w/ usb for 250$ http://www.carvinguitars.com/products/s ... roduct=S16
Behringer 12ch w/ no usb (would have to get external converter) http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/pr ... sku=631236
8ch alesis w/ usb for 150 http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/pr ... 86142#used

My personal experience tells me to avoid Behringer at all costs. Every piece of gear I have ever bought from them crapp$d out. OTOH, some folks have gotten lucky and their Behringer products are still working fine.
I'm not in Love with the Alesis products either. And I know squat about that Carvin board, but if i had to pick one of those 3, the Carvin would win.

One thing i will say tho is that the quality of the mic pre has just as much - if not more -to do with your end result than mic choice. A killer mic pre will even make a plain ol' SM57 stand up and bark.

I have owned a recording studio since 1990 and got to buy all kind of junk that did not do what I wanted them to do because I was badly advised and uninformed. I now try to have the least possible amount of gear but only some reliable and good quality gear.

Here is my recommendation to get started with the best quality/price home studio
Tascam US 1641 $299 - don't need a mixer -8 mic preamps are enough to record a drum or even the whole band live - comes with Cubase LE which is way enough to do what you want
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Tascam-US1641-USB-2.0-Audio-MIDI-Computer-Interface?sku=245002
Two used SM57 + One good used do-it-all condenser mic (Audio Technica 4033/4040 or Shure SM27) = total around $400
Cables = $100
DI Box - $30
M-Audio BX5 (powered monitors you don't need an amp) - $199
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/MAudio-Studiophile-BX5A-Deluxe-Limited-Edition?sku=H63290

Total around $1000 but you could get under buy hunting for bargains and used items.
Good luck!

Thanks for those links

I may just go with the Carvin, as my friend (the one that ones the 4 channel mixer) has a good many mics which are very nice, condenser mics, etc. So if i get this mixer, I would be able to put off buying mics for as long as I know him.

We just recorded with this shoddy setup using the 4 channel mixer and it sounds GOOD for what we used. We just used a single mic for the drum and it mixed perfectly.

yup, you don't have to spend a fortune to get good results. Some of my best home recording was done with Sm57's Sm58's and a Tascam 4 track cassette portastudio.

The main appeal for the Carvin to me is the fact that it can power moniters and act as both live mixing / recording purposes.

On a side note, my quartet (who just recorded our first 2 demos) just got offered a 300-400$ first gig in our college student union. NOT BAD?!?

I just ordered the Carvin mixer as I saw it was the best value for a 16 ch mixer at 260$. Plus, I trust Carvin products, etcetc

i just got the S16 today and i'm already freaking pissed at Carvin. The thing is giving me hiss even without anything plugged in or levels turned up.

edit:

It turns out that Windows was amping the signal, i just had to set it to 1 to get it exactly how the mixer is sending it, without it being maxed up 100 fold.

All in all, its a pretty nice mixer. very crisp tone. I don't like that it doesn't track individually, but I heard I can buy an interface for that?