[Atratr]

Hello,
i didn`t want to ask in my other thread about mixing. I am going to buy an audio interface (focusrite probably) and would look for a non expensive mic for home recording.
I have a dry booth so capturing the room is not relevant at this point. I think i would look for a condenser mic. What are my options?

 

[Pete Thomas]

Hello,
i didn`t want to ask in my other thread about mixing. I am going to buy an audio interface (focusrite probably) and would look for a non expensive mic for home recording.
I have a dry booth so capturing the room is not relevant at this point. I think i would look for a condenser mic. What are my options?

I often recommend a Blue Yeti.

But what is your budget?

 

[Atratr]

I just have the Blue Yeti, but as i plan to record also other instruments as well as sax i am thinking in the end an update is worth. Also looking for quality in sax sound. Budget, maybe 200 maximum.

 

[Pete Thomas]

I just have the Blue Yeti, but as i plan to record also other instruments as well as sax i am thinking in the end an update is worth. Also looking for quality in sax sound. Budget, maybe 200 maximum.

I'd stick with the blue yeti then, they are great asa good all rounder for the price. What exactly are you finding it lacks that some other cheap mic might give you?

Spend any money on something more important like room treatment or monitoring.

 

[BrianMitchellBrody]

I can also recommend a RODE NT2. They are a very versatile recording microphone that is perfect for catching almost any instrument for that warm analog sound.

 

[Atratr]

I'd stick with the blue yeti then, they are great asa good all rounder for the price. What exactly are you finding it lacks that some other cheap mic might give you?

Spend any money on something more important like room treatment or monitoring.

Just thinking of getting the best recording quality without breaking the bank. I can spend about 350, so 150 goes for the interface and 200 for a mic. Would it make a difference?
I also understand that i could just wait and learn with what i have, if that is what you suggest Pete.

 

[jman1977]

Just thinking of getting the best recording quality without breaking the bank. I can spend about 350, so 150 goes for the interface and 200 for a mic. Would it make a difference?
I also understand that i could just wait and learn with what i have, if that is what you suggest Pete.

I think what Pete is saying is that a $200 mic would not represent nearly as much improvement from your current set-up as would spending that same $200 on a good pair of monitors and/or some acoustic treatment (although I think you originally mentioned in the other thread that you had a booth). You'd have to go up to around $400 at least (then you'd be looking at mics like the Sennheiser MD441 (used) and the EV RE20 (can get new for that price), either of which would be real improvements over what you have now) for there to be a real improvement and even then if your room and/or monitors suck it still wouldn't make as much difference that you have a better mic. If your booth is good/serviceable, you'd be better served getting good monitors before upgrading your mic.

Focusrite makes great interfaces (in that price range you'd also want to consider Steinberg).

 

[Atratr]

Ummm, yes, i understand. I have a Beta Shure clip-on mic also. Then would be worth to just get the audio interface and compare the clip-on and the Blue yeti signals? And then get some monitors. So for the mic, yes, i can wait and get a real good one in the future. Monitors connect to the interface, so i would need to buy it, right?
And, Blue Yeti vs Shure Beta 98 H/C. What do you think?

 

[milachica]

I build recording studios for a living, and I suspect your booth might be the biggest 'problem'. Not that I know what it looks like, but generally the recording space is the weakest link. My advice would be not to buy a new mic. Try to achieve the best results with the mics you already have, with the help of the info in your other topic and the internet.
I bet there will be not much of an audible difference between your current setup and the best money can buy, when used in your with your current recording/mixing skills.

Getting a good interface is a good idea. The closer you can get to your mic, the better you can get rid of reflections on your recording. So recording with your clip-on might actually get you some decent results. Can this Blue Yeti connect to an interface?

 

[Atratr]

I build recording studios for a living, and I suspect your booth might be the biggest 'problem'. Not that I know what it looks like, but generally the recording space is the weakest link. My advice would be not to buy a new mic. Try to achieve the best results with the mics you already have, with the help of the info in your other topic and the internet.
I bet there will be not much of an audible difference between your current setup and the best money can buy, when used in your with your current recording/mixing skills.

Getting a good interface is a good idea. The closer you can get to your mic, the better you can get rid of reflections on your recording. So recording with your clip-on might actually get you some decent results. Can this Blue Yeti connect to an interface?

The Blue Yeti is an usb mic, so goes direct to the macbook. Mic gain down to zero, i can´t hear any reflection on the recordings i have made. The booth is very dry, although there could be potential unwanting rebounded sounds from all the things i have inside, including some mirrors. I would clean and rethink the space, but here it is now(pictures below), not the best day to show it but...

 

[Atratr]

 

[Atratr]

Sorry for the mess. That´s my place. I will try to record something now

 

[Atratr]

View attachment Sound test.mp3

 

[Llareggub]

View attachment 259590 View attachment 259592 View attachment 259594

Looks very nice place, it seems you have done your homework : ) well done.
Did you design, build it yourself?
Where are the speakers/monitors ?

 

[milachica]

Thanks for the photos.
I can see you did some serious effort to treat the room acoustically, that's nice. Those 'diffsorbers' (foam with plywood) are nice for the overall livelyness of the room, but may still give some early reflections. It may sound dry, but the proximity of all the surfaces may still be heard on the recordings. It's just something that's close to impossible to get rid of during mixing. I'm not saying this is your problem, it's just a common thing.

What the distance from the bell of your horn to the mic when you record?

And if you dare, share a snippet of an untreated solo recording Which you already did while I was typing. Sounds very usefull to me! Mixing skills are what you need to invest in!

 

[Atratr]

I bought the booth like it is like 7 years ago for home practicing. I didn´t use the wood panels until recently. Here´s a picture of the sax and mic positioning

 

[Atratr]

Sorry for the duplicate photos, but i noticed that the forum software turns them so i take two and then post and then is a mess....Sorry.
I would like to clean and take out innecesary things but not sure where i could put the speakers(or monitors in the future), not too much desktop space.

 

[Llareggub]

Sorry for the duplicate photos, but i noticed that the forum software turns them so i take two and then post and then is a mess....Sorry.
I would like to clean and take out innecesary things but not sure where i could put the speakers(or monitors in the future), not too much desktop space.

You can use wall brackets.
Symmetry of the listening axis to walls axis is very important.
The walls on your left and right have to be treated with the same materials too.But i guess you know all that.

 

[jman1977]

When you install your monitors you need to treat the first reflection points (walls, ceiling), and not necessarily the entire walls to your left and right. The most straightforward way to identify where the first reflection points are is the “mirror trick.” Just Google “acoustic mirror trick” to get details.

Obviously you would want the monitors at ear level.

 

[JohnMarkPainter]

The mic right in front of your wall has a huge effect on tone.
Do you have a mic stand where you can experiment with setting it up off to the side?

Most of my work is self-recording and I deal with every day
I am away from the wall but even facing my computer screen changes things drastically (sometimes good).
Most of the time, I set up with my mics to the side at an angle where I can still see my computer screen while recording.

Mics:
Full disclosure,..I am an SE Electronics endordoser. I really really like their stuff. I have a mix of their low end (V7 dynamic for instance) up to their Neve Signature mics.
They are worth a look.
Their 2200 large condenser is quite good, but then you’ll be picking up lots of room ambience.
I haven’t tried their lower end ribbon mics but have been using the Vr2 for a long time.