Reddit Reddit reviews Shure SM57-LC Cardioid Dynamic Microphone - Black

We found 58 Reddit comments about Shure SM57-LC Cardioid Dynamic Microphone - Black. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.

Computer Accessories & Peripherals
Electronics
Computers & Accessories
Shure SM57-LC Cardioid Dynamic Microphone - Black
Contoured frequency response is clean, instrumental reproduction and rich vocal pickupProfessional-quality reproduction for drum, precussion, and instrument amplifier mikingUniform cardioid pickup pattern isolates the main source while reducing background noiseExtremely durable under heaviest useFrequency response 40 to 15,000 HzConnectivity: Wired
Check price on Amazon

58 Reddit comments about Shure SM57-LC Cardioid Dynamic Microphone - Black:

u/chimpanzeeland · 8 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

So assuming that all normal PC components are included (PC, display, keyboard, mouse), as well as monitors or headphones, this is what I'd do:

DAW: Cakewalk by Bandlab [FREE]

  • Having a DAW should really be the first thing you look at. I don't use Cakewalk personally but I've tried it and for the price, it's unbeatable.

    Interface: BEHRINGER UMC22[$59]

  • A very affordable interface with the very good MIDAS preamp. Great value for all of your initial interface needs.

    Mic: Audio-Technica AT2020 [$99]

  • Again, a very affordable, but decent, mic. As it's a large diaphragm condenser, it's extremely versatile and will sound great on everything from guitar to vocals.

    MIDI Controller: Alesis VMini [$49]

  • For the budget, you'd only need a basic midi controller and Alesis is a tried and true brand in this price segment.

    VSTs/Plugins:
    I'd try to get by using as many free VSTs, as well as what's included in Cakewalk. Here's a list of decent free stuff that'd get you started:

    Guitar amp sims: LePuo free collection [FREE]

  • LePou is really the gold standard of free guitar plugins. With a bit of tweaking, they sound great. I'd definitely pair them with the TSE Audio TS-808 tubescreamer (also free).

    Drum sim: MT Power Drum Kit [FREE]

  • A Steven Slate-style drum VST with good samples and a decent groove editor. For the price, you can't go wrong.

    Other plugins:

  • For synths, effects and other plugins, VST4FREE is your friend. They have a great selection of free stuff.

    Assuming your PC is relatively recent and has enough horsepower to run a production suite, and you have monitors/headphones that are fine for mixing, this would be a great place to start out. Also, even after buying extras like cables, mic stands, pop filters etc, I'd say you have about $200-250 left for whatever genre specific stuff you'd want - whether it be a used guitar, a second mic (such as the Shure SM57 [$95]) or a second hand hardware synthesizer, for instance.
u/proxpi · 7 pointsr/audioengineering

I'm going to assume you're talking about electric guitar, and you want to record on to your computer.

We'll go with the simplest/cheapest way (Note, you won't want to run an electric guitar directly into a computer, it'll generally sound like crap)

First off, you'll need a microphone. The Shure SM57 is an industry standard for recording many things, from guitar cabs to snare drums, and more. It's only $100, too! There's a knockoff of that mic, for half the price, that's supposed to be just as good (some people even prefer the sound), the GLS-57. Both of these mics are "dynamic" mics, and either of these mics will work.

You'll need to get a mic stand to place the mic in the proper position on the amp, which is a separate lesson in and of itself.

Next, you need a way to get the mic signal into your computer. The quickest, cheapest, but least featured way to do so would be something like the Blue Icicle. You would plug it into your computer, plug an XLR cable into it, and plug the mic into that cable.

For software, the most basic, and free software is Audacity. It really is pretty basic, but you can plug your stuff in, hit record, and it'll record. If you want something more powerful, check out Reaper. It's really good, and pretty cheap (and has a more or less unlimited trial period if you're that kind of person). It is somewhat complex though, and it'll take a decent amount of time to get comfortable with. If you have a Mac, Garage Band is just peachy.

inally, the last important part is hearing what you're recording. At the low-end, you're probably better off with headphones. I recommend either the Sennheiser HD280s or the less expensive Sony MDR-V6s (mostly identical to their professional MDR-7506s). If you want to get some actual monitors, check out the Behringer MS16s.

Unsurprisingly, you can spend a hell of a lot more money on any of these things. Feel free to ask any questions!

Bonus advice! If you want to record an acoustic guitar, instead of the SM57, you'd want to get a small diaphragm condenser (SDC) mic, like the MXL 603S.

u/Licknuts · 7 pointsr/Guitar

Go play at open mics. This is great for networking with other musicians/bands.

You could also get a cheap recording setup, record band demos, and email those to venues. My old band recorded on a laptop from an SM57 going into a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 and we edited/mixed/arranged/exported all the audio through Audacity (free). That's it. Excluding the laptop and mic cables, all this costs around $250 Hell, there's even cheaper alternatives available if you're super strapped for cash.

As for actually finding venues that exist near you, try going to Indie on the move and type in your area and it'll give you all the venues that exist within however big a radius you put.

Hopefully this helps!

u/TheElectricWarehouse · 6 pointsr/FL_Studio
  • Audio Technica (High-Tier)
  • Shure SM57 (Mid-Tier)
  • Blue Snowball (Low-Tier)

    Personally, I'd go with the Shure SM57. It's a recording standard for pretty much anything.

    In terms of editing, Audacity is one of the best pieces of software for simple editing and adding effects.
u/thepensivepoet · 6 pointsr/Guitar

Ableton is a great DAW and is my preferred software choice for recording/editing.

You can use the TASCAM to capture your performances and transferring those .wav files into Ableton for editing but you'll have a much better experience recording directly into your computer.

You can go a few different routes here. You can pick up an audio interface that accepts an XLR connection for a proper microphone like a Presonus Audiobox and an SM57 which will allow you to capture as good a single channel signal as you can really get outside of a big recording studio.

OR you can go with something cheaper like a Blue Snowball USB microphone. These things actually sound surprisingly good and have multiple settings for directional and omni modes for different situations.

Once you have a way of capturing audio directly into Ableton you can start building up your songs layer by layer. Experiment with things like EQ and compression/delay/etc to make your guitar tracks sound nicer. There are built in patched in Ableton for EQ like "Acoustic Guitar" or "Electric Guitar" and just dragging one of those onto your channel will be a great place to start.

That's a skill in and of itself but you have to start somewhere so start experimenting.

When starting out applying EQ to tracks I'd start this way :

  • Solo the track so you're only listening to the single layer

  • Create a single EQ filter with a high Q value so it creates a really sharp and thin "peak" and drag it upwards so it's amplifying a very narrow band of frequencies quite a bit.

  • Drag that "peak" left and right while the audio is playing and listen for something that jumps out at you as unpleasant. Now drag the peak DOWN to bring those frequencies down in the mix to remove whatever harshness you discovered. Bring down the Q value to make that trough a bit wider and smoother.

    Do that 3 or 4 times on a channel and you'll have something that sounds a bit nicer. If you do too much it'll sound hollow and empty so make subtle adjustments as much as possible. Don't dump that "bad frequency" all the way to the bottom, just bring it down a little bit so it doesn't jump out at you.

    You won't be creating drastically new tones this way, just polishing them so they sound nicer.

    Having a good pair of headphones or even some inexpensive studio monitors will also be extremely helpful so you can accurately hear what you're producing.

    Use the built-in metronome and record with headphones (so the click doesn't get picked up by the microphone) to keep things tight.

    Once you've finished your audio and it's how you like it THEN film your video and just play along with the click. Don't use any audio from the video recording and just pair the two back up in editing.
u/skujaster · 6 pointsr/singing

Sure! I have a Scarlett 2i4 audio interface, although you could probably do the same with the Scarlett 2i2, Scarlett Solo, or most other audio interfaces. I then set the direct monitor to "mono", and turn the knob all the way to "input". Then I just plug in my mic (SM57), plug in my headphones (ATH-M50x), adjust the gain on the mic input and adjust the headphone output, and since it isn't being processed by the computer, its a virtually 0ms latency direct audio.

u/niclake13 · 5 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

Good monitors are huge. Headphone sound is fine, but you want to mix using unbiased reference monitors so you know what things are going to sound like. Then you make sure it sounds good through headphones, in the car, etc. Even something like these will make a huge difference. If you've got some extra coin, go for something better. I found a pair of Mackie HR842 monitors on eBay for $250 (the old ones, not the new mk2 model). They're amazing.

You don't need more inputs than what you're actually using. If you're trying for a cheap home studio, your Apogee will work just fine. Just switch cables/inputs when you're recording something new.

But anyway. Here we go. What I would buy (of note, these are all Amazon affiliate links):

Mics:

  • Shure SM58 - $100 (for vocals)

  • Shure SM57 - $100 (for guitars/vocals)

  • Sennheiser e609 - $100 (for guitars, so you can double-mic)

  • 20' mic cable - $7.50 (2 for $15)

    Monitors:

  • M-Audio Studiophile AV 30 - $85

  • Auralex MoPAD monitor pads - $44

  • OnStage SMS6000 monitor stands - $100 (if your desk isn't large enough)

    Bass:

  • Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI - $200

    I've been out of the "assorted percussion" game for a while, so you'll have to use your best judgement for that.

    All that I've listed is $744 off of Amazon. You can DEFINITELY find cheap used mics and the Bass DI. Look for Gear Talk: Classifieds on Facebook, for example. This is all stuff that you can use today to get your home studio off the ground and functional. You also have $256 to spend on other stuff that you might need (percussion, surdo, etc.)

    Logic and Pro Tools are built from the ground up to be recording suites. Ableton, while certainly being a live-sound-first option, works just fine. Nothing wrong with getting your feet wet using Ableton, and switching over to a bigger/better suite later. I recorded my first EP using GarageBand before making the transition myself.

    Start with the basics. Start with what you NEED to record, not what you want. While what you already have is basic and not feature packed, it works and will get you in the game. (Related: stay away from plugins until you know how to really mix well with the basic compressor and EQ your recording suite comes with.)

    Hope that helps!
u/maestro2005 · 5 pointsr/audioengineering

To add on: MSRPs in the music/audio world are 100% fake. Take the SM57 that we all know is 100 bucks: Notice how every single website has the price jacked up so it looks like you're getting a deal.

Make sure you know what the real prices are.

u/Leisure_Muffin · 5 pointsr/homerecordingstudio
u/Goron_Elder · 4 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

What I would get in that range:
Reaper - $60.
Focusrite 2i2, Mic, Cable and headphones bundle - $240
then either a
Blue Spark - $170
or a pair of KRK Rokit monitors - $265
or an SM 57 - $92
and a cheaper set of monitors. - $135

So,
Reaper + Bundle + Spark = $470
Reaper + Bundle + KRK Rokit = $565
Reaper + Bundle + SM57 + Other monitors = $527.

Note that you don't need to buy reaper immediately, and can buy it later if you like it or switch to a more expensive DAW if you don't like it.

My monitor recommendations are very uninformed, but they're to give an idea of price range.

u/Aezalius · 4 pointsr/Twitch

A Samson Q2U is a good option since you mentioned breathing and keyboard noise. It's dynamic as well as both XLR and USB, so you've got both upgrade paths in the future.

If you're set on a condenser mic then the AT2020 is a great choice. I'm using one with a Behringer Q802USB mixer, but you can get a cheaper UMC22 or UM2 which will sound just as good.

edit: If you want to go with XLR and Dynamic, then I highly reccomend the Shure SM57-lc as it sounds absolutely amazing, and there is a ripoff version of it which sounds almost identical called the pdmic78 for $20, but some people say it's not as durable as the sm57 (you can run over that thing with a bus and it still works).

u/Kraasker · 3 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

First of all, when it comes to microphones, stay the heck away from anything that says usb (not talking aboust interfaces, they work well through usb. I'm just speaking about microphones in a strict sense).

And yeah, it's the Shure sm57.

Last, there's is not a wireless version of the sm57, at least not a popular one. Maybe you found this "https://www.amazon.com/Shure-SM57-LC-Cardioid-Dynamic-Microphone/dp/B0000AQRST", but it says without cable, not wireless, so it doesn't include the xlr cable but it's not wireless.

u/PowderedWigMachine · 3 pointsr/buildastudio

Pro Tools definitely isn't necessary if you're getting Logic Pro, but if it fits your budget at the end, go for it.

For Headphones, Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro, or Sennheiser HD280 Pro if you want to allocate more of the budget to other gear.

Assuming you're not going to doing large sessions, the Steinberg UR44 interface should meet your needs and is very budget-friendly.

The Shure SM57 is a must-have for any studio, great for electric guitar but can be used for just about anything. The SM58 should also definitely be considered.

You'll also probably want something like the Audio-Technica 2035 for recording vocals (or other instruments), and a couple of other mics that I'm sure other people will recommend.

The Yamaha HS8 is a great monitor that you'll find widely used in studios all over the world, and won't break the bank. This package also includes stands and cables.

edit I know it wasn't asked for, but price out what it costs to have someone come and tune a piano in your area. If it's reasonable, take a look on Craigslist, you can often find used upright pianos in great shape for free, being given away by people who are moving and don't play enough to justify the effort of moving it.

EDIT BACKUP DRIVES! Unless the people there have their own way of backing up the things they record, or even if they do, get a couple of hard drives and back things up often, just in case any tragedies should happen.

---

That's all I got off the top of my head, I'll come back and edit this post later if anything else comes to mind, hopefully this is a good starting out point for you.

u/iansteele · 3 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

So when recording vocals and guitar at the same time, like you'd like to do, the debate on what to do is really about how much control you want over editing in the end process.

- If you don't care about control on the individual levels of guitar and vocals AND want to record in one take with both instruments, all you need is one mic, XLR, Mic stand, headphones, and an interface to get the signal into your computer.

In this situation, you need A. and Interface that is cheap but not a POS because it really affects the sound of your recording. Behringer makes a cheap interface for 1 Input (microphone) and actually has a decent Preamp in it. B, you need a microphone and cable (XLR, Balanced) to capture the sound and send it to the interface. This area people could talk forever about, but for just getting the job done and a decent sound, AT2020 Condenser (Currently On Sale) is a great option for capturing both your voice and guitar. any XLR will do $10 or something like that.

- If you wanted to track the guitar and vocals separately, one at a time, the only change I would make is the microphone. Shure SM57 would do great for vocals and guitar individually. There have been many singles and albums in the rock, acoustic, and folk category recorded on these mics alone with fantastic results.

​

- If recording the guitar and the vocals at the SAME TIME is the route you want, it's definitely possible. 2 Input interface, Two mics, Two XLR's, Two Mic stands, headphones.

- a change in interface is needed from the first behringer to this one because they have the same sound only difference is the amount of inputs for ~$50 more. Next would be buying two microphones, both options listed above are probably going to be the cheapest you'll find with a decent sound. You can find packages like this on guitar center and other audio retailers, but the mics come with a lot of bad frequencies in my opinion, but hard to argue $99 for two microphones. get the cables, plug everything up and record enable two live tracks in you preferred DAW.

​

As far as the computer goes, Ableton hands out free versions of its "lite" program, and I believe you can record in that version. That would be the best route in my opinion for DAW, Reaper is a good option, I'd stay away from fruity loops if you are mainly just going to be recording audio.

Most of these solutions will put you under or around $250 so I hope this helps, if you have more questions let me know.

u/EdwardMowinckel · 3 pointsr/formula1

So after smoking a fat J I thought of some options for you. You could get something like a Shure SM35-XLR, and pair it with a Shure X2U, but that's a $250 jumping off point.

You could also go for a boom arm that mounts to your desk, and an SM57. Look at that, they even sell a pack with the X2U! Don't forget to snag an XLR cable. Still, about $250 though. Also, buy a decent boom arm. Like, one that's at least a dollar per inch. Don't pay $12 for a 30" boom arm. All the fastenings are going to suck shit through bricks and that thing will start sagging due to it's own weight. You could be an ultra dork like me, buy a cheap one, then go to Home Depot, spend four dollars on new springs and rubber bushings and fastenings, then make it actually decent, but that's up to you.

If you commit to a boom arm with the SM57 and X2U, measure everything first. Measure the distance from the boom arm mount, to where you'd want the microphone to be. From there, measure the length of the cable you'll need. You'll wanna snake the cable through or around the boom arm, then secure the XLR cable along a lip, or the side of your desk.

To measure this distance, figure out the boom arm you're gonna buy, take it's total distance, let's 31", add about 4" to it, so 35". Go to where you'll want to mount the boom arm, and tape a string down. Start treating that string like you're wiring that cable. When you get to where you'll be plugging it into the X2U, cut it, measure back to where it was taped down, and that's about how long you'll want your cable to be. If you're going to get this clutter on your desk, make sure it's organized. Easy to set up, easy to put away, and out of the way. If you don't do that, you'll be reluctant to use it.

u/JoshuaGr33n · 3 pointsr/screaming

Shure mics are the way to go. Shure SM57 is an affordable and great way to start recording screams. In terms of other stuff, a mixer, a good program (i.e. Pro Tools) A pop filter sometimes is good but I often find it's better without one. When recording make sure to stand maybe 6-12 inches from the mic. It always kinda depends on how loud you are but generally if you're doing false chords it won't be all that loud so you can stand closer.

u/DVNODivine · 3 pointsr/makinghiphop

I don't know what the major opinion on this is, but if you're willing to stretch to $100, a Shure SM57 used to do me a LOT of good. It's really solid quality, and it's what the president of the US uses to make his speeches.

u/MookieFish · 2 pointsr/Songwriters

As far as mics go I have an AT2035 large diaphragm condenser mic which does the job on vocals and acoustic guitars, and I sprung for an SM57 which I guess is a very widely used dynamic mic for amps or other loud things. I recorded some harmonica the other day with it and it turned out excellent. Well as excellent as it can be in a horrible room like mine.
You might be able to find a cheaper condenser than that if you're on a tighter budget. It's my first, so I honestly can't offer any other advice lol

While not 100% necessary for songwriting, acoustic treatment and a good set of flat-response monitors or studio headphones will most certainly help you hear what you're actually creating.

u/Joe_Paquin · 2 pointsr/audioengineering

Here’s my personal recommendations:

For an interface, this is the best bang for the buck on the market right now (again, in my opinion), especially if you’re just starting out :
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00QHURLHM/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1520813639&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=umc404hd&dpPl=1&dpID=41q-puettzL&ref=plSrch

For a mic(s), it really depends on how extensive (and what) you’re going to be recording, and specifically if you plan on recording real drums or not. I’d recommend just getting one or two mics to start with, and getting more slowly over time, because if you use sampled drums in the beginning (which is a reality for many small home studio owners), you can do quite a lot of work with 2 mics. I’d recommend the following:

Any large diaphragm condenser in this price range will get the job done, but here’s what I use:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00D6RMFG6/ref=mp_s_a_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1520814113&sr=8-14&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=condenser+microphone

An SM57 is a standard in many studios, and is also versatile and good to have around:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0000AQRST/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1520814292&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=sm57&dpPl=1&dpID=31KR2%2BJ86GL&ref=plSrch

Now, for a monitoring situation (a.k.a. How you’re gonna actually listen to what you’re recording and mixing), it’s not the smartest idea to invest in monitors (which will eat up a substantial amount of your budget) without investing in treatment for the acoustics of your room. You could easily spend $500 on these two things alone, so I’d recommend just getting a pair of decent headphones for starting out. I know mixing on headphones is a whole can of worms on its own, but while you’re learning, it’s really not gonna make a difference, as long as you have something better than apple Earbuds (not that they aren’t useful). Just get something where you can really understand the sound of it, and reference on a lot of different systems, especially your car. (Disclaimer, I wouldn’t recommend spending more than $100 on headphones, and try to look for something with a relatively flat response, instead of something with cranked bass and hi end, so you can hear as accurately as possible)

As far as DAWs go, I know how appealing it is to buy the same program that people at the top of the industry might be using, but the truth is that most DAWs nowadays can essentially do the same thing. If you only take one of my recommendations, let it be REAPER. You can use a fully functionally demo for as long as you want, and chances, it’ll do everything you need, especially while you’re starting out. Hell, I know professionals that swear by it, and for good reason; it’s insanely flexible and useful, and for the price point (basically free, but if you end up sticking with it, you really should buy a license, it’s only like $60), you just can’t go wrong.
http://reaper.fm

Edit: Unless you’re gonna be mixing 50 track songs right out of the gate, your MacBook will probably be just fine for the time being

Hope all of this helps, good luck!

u/cdargis · 2 pointsr/Guitar

Have you thought about micing your amp? I much prefer this method over using "line outputs". You can pick up an SM57 and an audio interface for a decent price off Amazon. This way you can setup your computer to play audio through the interface (and into headphones) when recording.


As far as the delay in Audacity, you can set up "Latency correction" in "Edit -> Preferences -> Audio I/O".

u/spewtoon · 2 pointsr/Guitar

plug something like this into this and then run it via USB to your computer. any mic and interface will do, but those 2 happen to be pretty basic and easy to handle. as for software, i recommend Reaper as you can use it for free for awhile and pay once you've decided it's worth it (which it will be, so make sure at some point you throw 'em the cost).

point mic at amp speaker, select track on Reaper and press record. rock out like the glorious rock god you are, and then press stop. File menu>render (i think, can't remember right now)>pick format and save.

very, very rough walkthrough!

u/Lat3nt · 2 pointsr/audiophile

Get a M-Audio Mobile Pre and 2 Samson C02 small diaphragm condensers. I have this set up, and it sounds pretty damn good for the price. If you find you really like recording stuff, Tascam makes great interfaces with many more inputs. Shure SM57 is another great dynamic mic and built like a tank. If you want large diaphragm condensers, The Studio Projects B1 and AT-2020 are both great.

u/ThatSoundGuyChris · 2 pointsr/leagueoflegends

Okay this is going to be a long post, so here goes.

​

If you really want to get into sound design, youre going to need a few essentials. A DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), an audio interface, a handheld recorder, and a microphone.




DAWs

As far as a DAW goes, there's a few alternatives you can go with. I personally use Avid Pro Tools for near everything I do, but also mess around with Reaper. I've found that most studios will use one of these two. Most DAWs will have a pretty steep learning curve, so be ready for that.

Pro Tools First is the free version of Pro Tools. It has a lot of limitations, but for starting out it should be fine. If you want less limitations it costs big money, but I'm sure you can find a crack or two as long as you don't use it commercially.

Reaper is starting to grow on me lately. You can customize it to your needs, and the full version is only $60. You can also just deal with a popup everytime you open the program for ten seconds and use it for free. I mainly prefer Pro Tools over this because the video engine in Pro Tools is much better. But for batch editing multiple sound files, Reaper is muuuuuch better.

​

Audio Interface

This basically takes over as an intermediary between high quality audio and your computer. You can plug a microphone right into it to record sound straight to your computer. You can do this with a USB microphone as well, but the quality is a million times better with one of these.
I would recommend either the Behringer UMC22 or the more advanced Focusrite Scarlett Solo. Both will do the trick, I just prefer the mic pres on the Focusrite a bit more.


Handheld Recorder
Handheld recorders allow you to record anything you want to without having to deal with any cables. They should be compact but durable.

The Tascam DR-40 is a great intro recorder. It was the first recorder I got 5 years ago, and it still holds up. I've dropped this thing so many times and it still powers through.
Another favorite is the Zoom H4N. This was a favorite among most of my classmates as it was the one my school supplied, but I didn't feel like going through the checkout process all the time so I saved up and got the Tascam. It has a newer version, the Zoom H6, which is pretty slick, but comes at a higher price point. It also comes with some interchangeable microphone capsules so you can get different types of recordings. I'll cover more of this later.
I'll leave off with the recorder I have now, the Sony PCM-M10. This thing is a godsend. It's discontinued due to a newer version coming out, but you can find this guy on eBay for around $300-400. It's smaller than a phone, and the sound quality is amazing. If you have the money to shell out for this guy, definitely go for it. Every sound designer inn the industry I know swears by it.


Microphone

So the first thing you need to know is that there's a load of different microphone types. Its a lot to cover, so I'm just going to link you to this article that will cover the basics of what you need to know. Basically I would recommend different microphones for different things, all depending on what you're trying to capture.
A good all-around microphone is the Shure SM57/Shure SM58. They're essentially both the same microphone. But these things will LAST. Like,people have run over them with trucks and they sound fine. Definitely a good starting point

For vocal recordings, I would recommend the Rode NT1A. This mic is a great starting point for capturing voice, and is durable to boot.

For capturing foley/field recording, I would go with the Rode NTG2. Its a shotgun mic with great quality for the price, and never let me down in all the years Ive been using it. I won its successor, the NTG3, in the Riot Creative Contest a few years back, but still use the NTG2 from time to time when I need to.


Some Extra Stuff


Theres a lot of cool, free plugins out there. I've used both Blue Cat's and Melda's plugins, and they all get the job done with a bit of tweaking.

As far as building up a sound library goes, I would recommend recording literally everything you can around you and playing with those sounds with plugins as a good starting point for building up a library. There's a few resources out there that give out free SFX every once in a while, GDC has had a bundle go up for 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. You can also check out the BBC Sound Effects Library. Be careful about getting libraries and bundles though, as they add up quick. I have to go through my sound library soon, and I probably have around 500,00+ files but only really need a few thousand.

For all your sounds, you're going to want a file manager. A great and free one is Mutant. You just add the directory where you downloaded your sounds to, let it load them in, and voila. You can search easily for what you need.


Hopefully, all this was somewhat helpful to you, or to anyone else reading this who's interested in sound design!

u/Pyroraptor · 2 pointsr/Twitch

>Im worried that being that the AT2020 is a cardioid mic

I think you mean that the AT2020 being a condenser mic not a cardioid mic. The AT2020 is both a cardioid and a condenser mic, but the "cardioid" refers to the polar pattern and "condenser" refers to the type of transducer. You definitely want to get a cardioid or hypercardioid microphone.

Condenser microphones are much more sensitive than dynamic microphones. That means that they pick up your voice from further away but also pick up more background noise. Condenser microphones also general will record a more accurate respresentation of the sound input (they sound better). Generally you want a condenser mic about 6-8" from your mouth pointed directly at you (or slightly off-axis) and directly away from any background noise.

Dynamic microphones are less sensitive so they don't pick up as much background noise but they also generally need to be closer to the sound source. They also don't have as good audio quality for lower end microphones. Generally you would want a dynamic mic 3-4" from your mouth pointed directly at you (or slightly off-axis) and directly away from any background noise.

If you have $300 to spend on an interface and microphone then I suggest spending more of it on the interface and less on the mic and then upgrading the mic in the future if needed. That is because some of the lower priced interfaces will introduce noise into your system. There are two main styles of interface. There's the tube amp style (think Scarlett 2i2 or Presonus audiobox 2x2) and there are mixing boards (think Behringer Xenyx or Yamaha MG10XU). For your price range the tube amps will give you better sound but you won't be able to adjust it as much hardware-side. The mixing boards will give you much more control over your audio but with slightly reduced quality. since you are streaming I highly recommend going the mixing board route, but that is up to you. Personally I love my Mackie ProFX8V2 ($200) but the Yamaha MG10XU ($200) is basically made for streamers. I like my Mackie because it has audio inputs which allows you to easily add hardware effects (EQ, compressors, gates, etc). The Yamaha has a very simple built-in compressor that you might find useful.

If you want to go the audio interface route then I highly suggest the Steinberg UR242 ($170) or the Presonus Audiobox 44VSL ($200). These will give you the best sound for your money. I have tried every one of these interfaces and mixing boards and these 4 are my favorite. The Scarlett gave me huge problems and has also given all of my content creator friends issues.

Now for microphones. You mentioned that you wanted the SM7b but did not want to price tag. The SM7b is basically an upgraded version of the SM58 ($100) and SM57 ($100). The SM58 is geared slightly more towards vocals while the SM57 is geared slightly more towards insturments, however they are very similar. These microphones are nearly indestructible, are the go-to microphones for live stage performances, and the SM57 is what President Obama used for every one of his speeches. It has This cover on it. I highly recommend either microphone and they will pair well with your $200 interface and sits right in your $300 budget.

If you have any questions please let me know, I would be happy to help.

u/FalseProof · 2 pointsr/letsplay

Off the top of my head:

Dynamics

Shure SM58 (go for the one without on/off switch)

Shure SM57 (ONLY DO THIS IF YOU KNOW MIC PLACEMENT AND HAVE A POP FILTER OR WIND SCREEN; SM58 is better for voice but SM57's are a bit cheaper)

Shure SM7B

Electrovoice RE27

Sennheiser MD421

Sennheiser MD441

Condensers

Audio-Technica AT2020

Audio-Technica AT4050

Audio-Technica AT4040

Everything else is $500+. This is mostly a low-end choice selection to buying XLR microphones.

u/brasticstack · 2 pointsr/drums

Almost all professional microphones will handle louder SPLs than you'll create. When it comes to recording, your issues will have much more to do where the signal levels are set on your recording signal chain than whether the mic can handle it. To ensure good results, set the levels when you're playing the loudest that you expect to play (then give it a touch more headroom because you'll get a little louder when actually performing.)

As far as mics, you'll find many threads on this reddit. You can't go wrong with SM57s on snare and toms. Kick drum mics are kind of a holy war- needless to say any of the popular ones will handle your loudest playing. I personally dig AT4050s for overheads (and toms!) but there are plenty of cheaper large diaphragm condensers that will do a fine job.

tl;dr: Any of the common drum mic choices will handle your dynamics, both the loud and the quiet. Your recording gear will also, but only if you set the levels properly.

u/PoohBear-in-The100AW · 2 pointsr/GWABackstage

I use Shure SM57 running through a Forcusrite Scarlet 2i4 2nd Gen. My oldest technique was using Voice Record Pro 7 on my iPhone, and strategically recording in certain rooms, or setups. Afterwards, I edited in Audacity, but I've since moved over to Reaper.

Some mistakes I made along the way (and extra):

  • Smartphones are perfectly acceptable and money conscious way too record. The catch is you'll need to be good at editing to get the sound quality your probably looking for.

  • I researched a ton, before I bought, and when I finally had the money to purchase it, I still didn't feel comfortable (there's a reason why). Even if you think you're done, research it more. Be absolutely 100% with no maybes, while also being realistic.

  • What I was paranoid about what the Scarlett 2i4 having some sort of issue of being quiet/compatibility issues, or the mic would break easy. Well it turns out neither of those are true. That is unless you pair them together and then everything seems true. The SM57/58 don't work well with the Scarlett 2i4 without a preamp to run between the DAI and microphone, such as a Cloudlifter CL-1 or CL-2.

  • Know what your mics do, and what they excel at. Seriously, know your microphones well.

  • Don't cheap out on a stand; buy something of quality. You don't want to drop a $500 condenser mic, because you wanted to save $20 on a stand.

    My wishlist is annoyingly long, so I'll refrain from posting it.

    E: I'm not sure if many will see this, but it's still worth posting. I did a walk through of my house using my iPhone 6+ and Voice Record Pro 7, showing off how different rooms sound, as well an unedited recording can be (you should always edit). Blanket monster is your friend.
u/IShotTheSky · 2 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

I'd go with this:

1.) Yamaha HS80Ms ~$500

2.) Shure SM57 ~$100

3.) Gauge ECM87 ~$150

4.) Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 ~$150

5.) ART Tube MP ~$40

Then I'd probably use the remainder to get odds and ends like stands and cables, etc. But with that, you should be able to make some killer stuff. Industry standard dynamic mic, high-value U87 clone condenser, really nice entry level interface, decent tube pre, and the crowning jewel being those HS80s. You'll be able to record your guitars and bass and mix all your tracks easily with this set up.

u/throwaway4trees · 2 pointsr/makinghiphop

definitely the best mic for the price http://www.amazon.com/Shure-SM57-LC-Cardioid-Dynamic-Microphone/dp/B0000AQRST
you've heard this microphone in some way on every studio album made in the past decade, probably. plus you can use it as a hammer.

u/ohmahgawd · 2 pointsr/Guitar

I use the following items:

  1. Reaper DAW
  2. M-Audio MobilePre 2 interface
  3. Shure SM57

    Reaper is an affordable, robust solution for recording audio. It is more than enough for the average home recording enthusiast. Aside from that, you will want to get an audio interface of some kind. The MobilePre that I have is very basic, but good enough for my purposes. Finally, a solid mic like the SM57 will serve you well in a multitude of recording scenarios.
u/ChelatedMonoxide · 2 pointsr/recording

Yes, there are recorders that can record multiple tracks. Like the Tascam DR-40 has XLR inputs. I'm not necessarily endorsing the Tascam. I have the DR-05 and find it acceptable quality. Something like the Zoom H4N has XLR connectors built in, so you could record a mic into those and use the built in condenser mics to record your guitar.

You left out some relevant information: Budget, can your guitar be plugged in or will you mic it? Do you have a pretty sound free workspace?

I think budget is the most important part here. I interpret 'nothing flashy' as being a cheap as it can get without being poor quality.

I'm gonna link to listings on Amazon because it's easiest, but B&H or if you live near a Guitar Center might be a better place to buy.

A possible setup:

  • ART Dual USB Preamp - $80 - This will allow you to plug in one mic and your guitar and output the track to your computer via USB. Depending on the software, I believe you can have the tracks separate for editing, but they would separate into left and right channels that you'd then combine into a stereo track after editing.


  • Shure SM58 - $100 - A dynamic vocal mic that will play well in a not so perfect recording space. Check out Regina Spektor using one during a concert. This mic is so popular I would make sure to only get it from a reputable dealer i.e. not used on ebay, because there are fakes floating around.

    If you need/want to mic your guitar then consider the SM-57. It is nearly identical to the SM58. Here is a guy demonstrating using one to record his guitar.

  • If $100 is insanely out of your budget, then consider the Behringer XM8500 - $20 - Not as high quality as the SM58, but still a decent sound. Here is a guy comparing the SM57 to the XM8500 and is using just one mic for voice and guitar, without using a preamp, so keep that in mind when comparing the audio (I hear some noise in the audio, probably noise from the line to the camera, which I presume has some sort of automatic gain happening).

    This guy's video makes me wonder if just an SM57 with a decent preamp (i.e. one with clean gain) might be all you'd need... but that isn't ideal. You could go with two XM8500s, one for guitar and one for vocals ($40). Or one SM58 for vocals and one XM8500 for guitar($120). That all comes down to budget and preferences.

  • You'll need a mic stand, or two. The On-Stage MS7701B is a best seller on Amazon. I own one of these and it isn't going to impress anyone. I've never had it tip over or seem unsteady. If you extend the boom arm too far it can sometimes slowly droop over time (I may be guilty of not tightening it enough due to not wanting to strip the threads) It does the job of holding a mic in place. If you go with two mics, you could get two of them. You could also get a desk stand for the mic that is recording your guitar and find a suitable place to set it, but I think the boom arm of the MS7701B will be useful for keeping the stand out of your way.

  • And you will need cables. I recommend the cables from Monoprice, their Pro Audio series. It is not as user friendly to find the exact cables you'll need as a site like B&H, but I have had several of their cables and only had one die on me. All their cables have a lifetime warranty and the prices are shockingly low.

  • And a windscreen or pop filter for the mics is nice. There is a decent windscreen on Amazon for 3 bucks, sometimes 2 bucks.

    Potential Changes & other thoughts -

    A more expensive preamp - ART Tube Dual Mic Preamp With USB - $190- this has some compression and a limiter. It's debatable whether in this range it would be better to get a decent mixer, a preamp for your vocals, and let the preamp on the mixer handle the guitar, or if something like this would be better. Like a Behringer mixer - Q802USB ($80) + ART single channel Preamp for vocals ($40/$50) would be less money than the Dual USB preamp.

    Or maybe just the Q802USB would suffice for your needs. It has preamps already built in. They are not the best preamps in the world. I mean... after all I wrote above, the more I think about it the more I think you should try a Q802USB and see if the sound is what you're wanting.

    Headphones - Add in some headphones to monitor your audio. ATH-M40x ($100) would be my recommendation, but this is where a lot of personal preference comes into the mix, no pun intended.

    Different mics - Rode has some mics that compare the the Shure SM57/58 that might be better. And the options for mic are virtually limitless, when you consider not just the mics can vary, but the audio interfaces and processing options. I really think a dynamic mic will be most user friendly for a one off home recording.

    I hope I haven't confused more than I helped. I think the essentials are this: good mics, clean gain, easy to use. Whether you get the dual channel ART preamp or the Q802USB, either will be easy to use. I would bet the gain on the ART preamp is cleaner, meaning less background hiss at higher levels, than the Q802USB, but perhaps that is just an unreasonable bias. In either case, the mic is going to be important and where your budget plays a big role. The SM58 and SM57 are superb for vocals and recording guitar. A condenser might be better if the acoustics of your recording space allow for it, but I hope you saw from the video I linked of the guy recording his guitar with the SM57 that a great sound can be achieved with a $100 mic. If that is out of your budget, keep in mind the XM8500, but the sound is not as clear as the Shure mics it tries to emulate.
u/Its_Frosty · 2 pointsr/drums

Alright, game time lol. Sorry if i overwhelm you here, its a LOT to take in without knowing much in the first place.

First of all, a budget of under 1000 bucks is not going to mic all of these things at the same time, and pay for interfaces, and software (like ProTools, Logic, etc.) So i'm going to recommend mics that you can use for multiple things.

The most expensive of these things is actually the software... so if you were to somehow find a copy of it, maybe say from your friends who like to swap poop decks and walk the plank, then we're working with a much more reasonable goal here.

Basically the first thing you learn in the audio industry when it comes to recording instruments - if you dont know what to use, slap a Shure SM57 on it. It's essentially the go-to god microphone for everything. That "everything" includes your sons snare drum, and even micing up an acoustic guitar, or electric guitar's amp.

Now for that bass drum, and bass amp, you want a large diaphragm mic. This Shure Beta52 will do the trick quite nicely for both of those.

Ok there. We've got the software, snare, guitars, bass drum, and bass guitar out of the way. That leaves us with toms, overheads, and keyboard.

For toms, this is where i'm gonna save some money. The beautiful thing about drums is that even with a lower-end mic, you can get a great sound with some tuning beforehand, and EQing afterwards. For this reason, i'm gonna recommend some Shure PG56's. And be sure to get 3 of them for all 3 of your sons toms. The overheads will pick up his roto-toms up above the rack toms, dont worry about those. I've got'cha covered.

For the overheads, i'm gonna go ahead and recommend using a pair of MXL 603's(2 come in this package, so only order 1 on here if you go for it lol). Now i'm really fighting myself not to recommend a pair of Shure PG81's here, because Shure really does a great job at having a nice flat response, but the MXL 603's will do their job as being drum overheads, as well as micing some other things like being a room mic while recording vocals if you want that kind of sound. (PS: for recording these vocals, you can use whatever that mic in the picture is, or even use the SM57 from the snare drum. The only difference between that and an SM58 (which is the standard go-to for live vocals) is the wind screen. So stick a pair of pantyhose between the singer and the SM57 and it'll sound great. Like i said, its a magical microphone.)

Now all these mics dont do squat without an interface. And dont worry, i haven't forgotten about the keys. Seeing as how your son is using windows, which in turn means PC, then we want a USB interface with at least 8 channels for your drums. Also, when it comes to keys, they're almost always just recorded with a direct in, no micing involved. This Tascam US-1800 interface will take care of that. You can also record directly into this with all the guitars too, if you want to get a whole band recording at once, while you're using the mics for drums. As an added bonus with this interface, it comes with a copy of Cubase, which is some software for it all. Now, i strongly prefer Pro Tools over pretty much everything else (though i do use Ableton for running tracks live), if you're uncomfortable with talking to those pirate-like friends, or just an honest guy, Cubase will do the job you want it to for those home recordings.

Total cost comes out to about 950 bucks if i add it up all correctly. You're seriously awesome for doing all of this for your son. I would freak out so much if my dad got all this stuff for me. I've used all of the EXTENSIVELY (i'm talkin every weekend since was 14, and pretty much daily in the past 3 years) but i've never owned them. What a cool present :]

u/[deleted] · 2 pointsr/Guitar

To build off of Metal_Zomb1e's recommendations:

For instruments, a pair of Shure SM-57s works for me. Do a little Google research on how to mic your acoustic guitar with a pair of mics; then experiment to fine-tune.

Audio interface: This is where I think it is useful to think about your recording needs. I usually record everything separately so I don't need a lot of inputs, so this works for me. I think there are a number of these made on the cheap (Behringer?) and it might not be a good idea to go too cheap here.

So far I think I am roughly at $350, so not doing too bad. But you probably want a vocal mic too, so that adds another $100-150.

DAW? If you have never played with one before, try one of the freebies first (Audacity is nice) and try to find someone who has one of the unfree ones to play with it before you buy.

Good luck!

u/Doctor__Krieger · 2 pointsr/Guitar
  1. Can't help you there buddy

  2. Shure SM57. This is pretty much the standard microphone for guitar recording, though bear in mind that you need an audio interface to be able to plug it into your computer.

  3. Only solution I can think of would be if your amp had a 3/4" direct input and you hooked the clarinet up to a mic.
u/pinballwizard16 · 1 pointr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

Thanks for that. So you think the SM57 will do justice for an acoustic/amp then? And I definitely will check out that book, but I've always been a hands on and try and fail type of learner. After this, I think I should be good to go, I just noticed right away that my guitar wasn't sounding like I wanted it to. I'm looking at one for 100 bucks.

I know I've been a pain in the ass, but I think this should do me right. I can't thank you enough for everything.

u/versiontwopointohman · 1 pointr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

I'm no pro, but for your first mic it's hard to go wrong with a Shure SM57.

u/Dash-o-Salt · 1 pointr/MLPLounge

This guy with the XLR-to-USB adapter (This allows you to connect the mic directly to your computer without needing to buy a full blown amplifier, which you don't need unless you need more control over the output). This mic and the SM58 are both great for vocals, but from what I read before ordering the SM57 is that it's better for all around recording, and I don't plan on recording just my voice all the time.

On the other hand, it does appear to be really good at doing that. :D

u/superembreeo · 1 pointr/WeAreTheMusicMakers
  • Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 is a good start. $150.
  • Audio Technica AT2020 $100ish
  • Ultimate Telescoping Boom Stand $35ish. Stay away from cheap stands, like "On Stage Sound."
  • Shure SM57 $100
  • Mogami 25' Cable $30 x 2 = $60

    Grand TOTAL - $445

    I know you don't NEED two microphones, but, judging by the variety of instruments your man plays, he'll want the options of a condenser AND a dynamic. The AT2020 and SM57, I feel, is a better bang for your buck than the single Blue Spark. That said, Nine Cats has been generous with good advice.

    Best of luck to you and your BF!
u/ingeniousclown · 1 pointr/letsplay

I wouldn't say big, but definitely noticeable to my ears over the MXL 770 condenser I was using. I think I sounded better with the condenser but the echo was apparent and coloring it, while my dynamic rarely picks up echo and people have said it's more crisp even though I think it has a relatively muddy quality.

I've stuck with it because echos suck, haha. I got a Shure SM57 (with an expensive foam topper), but a friend of mine (not into LPs, just a voice actor) uses a, AKG D5 which, in my opinion, sounds quite a bit cleaner. See if you can find a comparison video or demo them yourself at a music shop.

u/koobcam · 1 pointr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

Seeing as you are just starting out, I would not invest in that mic. Where it may sound alright recording vocals, a shure sm57 will sound just as good if not better (it is one of the most popular microphones on the market and has been for decades) then get yourself a simple interface. the m-audio fast track mk2 is a popular choice. All and all you would spend less than the Rode mic you planned on getting and the quality will be much better. Good luck.

u/amiriacentani · 1 pointr/ffxiv

It depends on what you want aim for in terms of quality. If you want a cheap but sufficient interface (what you plug instruments and mics into) then go for a line 6 ux1 or ux2.

http://www.amazon.com/Line-6-POD-Studio-UX1/dp/B001EKECAY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449798017&sr=8-1&keywords=line6+ux1

http://www.amazon.com/Line-6-POD-Studio-UX2/dp/B001EKECC2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1449798017&sr=8-2&keywords=line6+ux1

For a microphone, there's a bit more searching involved. I don't have experience with a huge variety of mics but the 2 that I know work really well are the Shure sm7b and the MXL 4000.

http://www.amazon.com/Shure-SM7B-Dynamic-Microphone-Cardioid/dp/B0002E4Z8M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449798231&sr=8-1&keywords=shure+sm7b

http://www.amazon.com/MXL-4000-Multi-Pattern-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B001REGEF8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449798319&sr=8-1&keywords=mxl+4000

The Shure SM57 is also pretty good but is usually used on instruments more so than vocals but that doesn't mean it can't get the job done well

http://www.amazon.com/Shure-SM57-LC-Cardioid-Dynamic-Microphone/dp/B0000AQRST/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449798383&sr=8-1&keywords=sm57.

If you want to hear the interface and the Shure sm7b in action, check out some of the stuff I've recorded before. Used to be into recording my old band a lot. I assure you it doesn't sound like it was recorded in a tin can: https://soundcloud.com/herpyderpypuddingpie/worldacousticmaster (and yes, i already know you love my soundcloud channel name) (oh and ignore the horrible acoustic guitar tone. this was before I figured out that recording them DI wasn't all that great of a solution)

u/Nine_Cats · 1 pointr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

Okay! You've got a pretty decent piano. If you like the sound on it, then buying a 2i2 and cables to connect it for analog audio would be great, or you could buy something like Synthogy (good piano samples pretty much start at $50, but I personally like Synthogy.) This would allow you to edit wrong notes, but might not sound as good if you like the yamaha's sound.

I would sell the Snowball, since it is really much better for podcasting than anything else. If you absolutely hate it, disregard my above suggestion for a Spark and look into other reputable brands of microphone.

You didn't say you wanted to record guitar, for that I would at a Shure SM57/58 to the list of things to buy.

So:
2i2 Interface - $150

Blue Spark - $170 new

Shure Sm57 - $100

The combination of the two mics could probably work well enough for the violin, so I would forget what I said about a piezo for now.

Now, you can either cheap out on cables or get good ones. Either way, this for $50 is a pretty good deal for 3 stands, and would give you 3 shitty cables. I have the same ones, and the fact that I'm telling you to buy three despite only telling you to get 2 mics says something about their quality.
But that's still way cheaper than any other set of 3 stands I've seen, and I actually like those stands.
Think of those cables as temporary or backup cables, wait for a deal on Mogami or other cables that are $20-30 each for the same length.




u/billsuspect · 1 pointr/ipadmusic

If you're willing to monitor product availability, I would order it from Sweetwater and use your GC for a mic. It's only $40 at Sweetwater.

It's complete for me because it has MIDI in/out, RCA out, and it charges your ipad while you use it. It's INCOMPLETE for a lot of people because it doesn't have XLR in. I overcome this by using a mixer in front of the StudioConnect.

Soooo... in a perfect world, you could construct the following chain:

u/Varzboi · 1 pointr/ThisIsOurMusic

Hey you need overall 3 things:

  1. Gear
  2. A room
  3. Software

    /

  4. Gear:

    -Audio Interface:

    You want a number of channels depending on the type of groups you wanna record and the size of the group. Example: 18 Channels (8 mics) v.s. 2 channels (2 mics)

    -Microphones:

    You want basic versatile microphones and specialized ones for the type of instruments you wanna record.

    Example of basic mics: Shure sm-57 Dynamic Mic and AKG 414 Condenser Mic

    Those two have a fairly transparent frequency response and work for most scenarios but you also want mics that work better for certain instruments because of their coloration or diaphragm or polar pattern.

    -Monitoring:

    You need some headphones like the Audio Technical M50x which are transparent enough and good for the price although you could go a little further and look for Sennheiser HD or some of the expensive AKG stuff.

    -Accessories and cables

    You want good quality XLR cables, two direct boxes like this one and probably a direct box with pre amp like the Avalon U5 (great for sending bass via line, skipping the bass amp part, which can be great for live sessions). Both depend on the type of music you are gonna record of course (first example works for connecting stuff like a keyboard and the Avalon well for bass is great).

    You may want a monitor amplifier like Behringer Powerplay for distributing audio to the players or producers or audience via headphones monitors.

    Also check out EquipBoard to see what gear are other producers or studios using. They have a good database and is good reference.


  5. If you wanna do it like TinyDesk then you wanna have a nice room with good isolation and space for your musicians. Well, mostly for the sound. There are 2 ways of recording live sessions: Either you isolate most of the musicians or you use proper recording techniques and use your mics intelligently to get a good mix before your Mixing stage. You may wanna look for highly directional mics.

    You also wanna look on isolation techniques and architecture if you wanna have good natural reverberation or just have control over what the sound is doing, including annoying neighbors if that’s the case. Look for how to soundproof a room in the internet and try read a little about acoustics if you haven’t.

    You may wanna to set up 2 rooms: a live room and a control room. The live room would be where you record the musicians and have way more soundproofing and the control would just need to isolate enough and allow visual contact with the ppl in the live room. If you go for 2 rooms you may need to set up the ins and outs and pass cables through the wall in a snake cable like this Hosa or this bigger one . The purpose of having 2 rooms is partly because you wanna monitor with speakers not only headphones (as well as having more recording gear there but it only applies to bigger studios). Example Yamaha HS8 x2 or the KRK . Those are fairly priced options and you will get more value out of them if you are the one mixing the music as they can be better references than just headphones.

  6. For software you should consider Pro Tools as is the industry standard. I personally enjoy Logic Pro and there are a lot more options out there some of which are free. If you are not gonna go a lot into mixing and do the post production maybe Pro Tools Ultimate is a bit of an overkill but if you are looking to do the mix you may also wanna get some audio plugins. Look for Waves or Arturia plugins online (most of which is simulations of real hardware) which will give a “better” sound to your mixes if used well. It also depends a little on the genre or type of music you are producing.



    That’s it. I was very broad but I did mentioned some basic equipment you can start budgeting. If you need more details about the basics PM me and can help you a bit more, I’m no specialist on some stuff like exquisite mics but know about a bunch that are generally used. Are you in Vancouver by chance? I can help you in the actual physical setup if you are.

    Cheers.

    Edit: You probably want a powerful laptop or a desktop computer btw but I figure out you already have one.
u/Shake_Oh · 1 pointr/microphones

Budget? By play with your friends I assume you mean playing instruments or singing?


After a vocals mic?


Behringer XM8500 - $20


Shure SM58 - $100


E-V ND767A - $150


Shure Beta 58 - $160


After an instrument microphone?



Pyle-Pro PDMIC78 - $12


Audio-Technica PRO 63 - $50


Shure SM57 - $100

u/TheAlmightyFur · 1 pointr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

This tends to be street price for them (Musician's friend, Sweetwater, amazon are all listed at $99), but beware of buying from non-dealer sources as they're often counterfeited.

I've heard GLS makes a decent clone and while I can neither confirm or deny it's build or sound quality, it does seem to be getting good reviews.

u/Bouchnick · 1 pointr/audio

You should reduce your soundproofing budget and get a better audio interface and invest more in mics.
Your mixing talents, mics and interface is what will shape your sound the most.

You'll want to use more than 2 mics to mic your drum (if you want it to sound good), so a $175 or less interface with more than 2 inputs is out of the equation, and $250 for mics + XLRs is extremely low budget.

I'd say, forget about soundproofing for now and focus on mics and the interface.

Get an interface with at least 4 inputs, like this one (8 XLR inputs) or this one (4 XLR inputs).

Then pick a SM57 for your snare, a decent kick drum and a pair of overhead mics (actually used in Weezer recordings, amazing for the price).

Here's a Say it ain't so cover drum track I recorded in a shitty room with similar equipment.

u/SirSparrow · 1 pointr/Music

This is probably a question for /r/WeAreTheMusicMakers - They're usually pretty great for answering music production questions :)

That said, Logic, Reason or Pro Tools are your 'staple' DAWs - They are all equally powerful (for your intents and purposes), and Logic is the cheapest, so Logic is a good idea. You're also going to need a USB Audio Interface (I recommend the Scarlett 2i2 for small projects, or the Saffire Pro 40 if you plan on micing a drum kit) to get signal from mics/guitars into the computer. Look into getting some cheap-ish mics (AT2020 for acoustic guitar/vocals/overheads, and the SM57 and SM58 for whatever else, at least for starters).

There are oodles of great Youtube tutorials that will teach you how to use Logic, and eventually you'll want to invest in studio headphones and studio monitors (unless you already have them), which are built specifically to give you an objective sound to accurately mix.


I'm not an expert producer, but I do freelance stuff locally out of my home studio - My work for reference

Feel free to PM with questions, and you should definitely post in /r/WeAreTheMusicMakers! They'll probably have better answers than me, but I hope this helps.

u/kaeles · 1 pointr/MusicBattlestations

That mic is great, but you can get something like an SM57 much cheaper, if she's recording acoustic guitar.

If you want a pretty good vocal mic, that will also be cheapish you can get something like this.

Or just buy an sm58 which is a cheaper version of the other one you just showed, and is good for doing live stuff if you want to do that.

You can also get a 4x4 input thing so that she can multitrack into a daw, or just a smaller one if she's only ever going to record like 2 tracks at once.

I got something like this.

The SM57 and SM58 are pretty much standards in the music world.

That being said, IIRC the SM7b (the mic you're looking at) is what Micheal Jackson recorded a lot of his stuff on ( the bad album at least), so it's def pro level.

u/spikewolf · 1 pointr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

Here's what my setup looked like when I first got going. It was perfect to learn with...
Scarlett 2i2
Shure sm58 The mic is $99, but pay a few extra for the stand and cable.
Shure sm57 This is optional, but I had both. Remember the cable and stand. Honestly, if creative, you can make your own mic stand.
Sennheiser hd 280 as far as headphones, try not to get carried away with brands or prices. You can find plenty under $99. These I got on sale from GC for $79. Best bang for your buck imo. The main thing to look for in headphones are making sure they cup your ears.
Sony Music Studio Once again, I started MANY years ago when I picked up this DAW at a best buy. Don't spend too much brain power on which DAW to get. Some are WAY expensive, and some are "free". Look into Reaper too. Why I started out with Sony Acid was because they came with a quick reference loop library.

u/popeyetyty · 1 pointr/Trombone