Developing Audiophile Wondering Where to Go

[superuser2]

Okay... but I may be interested in getting the $400-$500 recording setup before the $800 synth one. (Reason is really, really, really expensive for me at $500 for something I'm not absolutely sure I'd love. I tried the trial but I don't have a keyboard now so I can't use it at all.)

So to record an electric guitar I just need to put the SM57 in front of the amp? And for vocals I can do the same but a Rode NT1a is a better idea?

Would I be able to at least start out with that setup in GarageBand or would it require I buy Logic?

 

[Sesshi]

To record a guitar to start with, all you need is Garageband and a 3.5mm converter for your guitar cable to feed into the Line input on your Mac - GB does basic guitar amp modelling.

 

[tremendous]

So to record an electric guitar I just need to put the SM57 in front of the amp? And for vocals I can do the same but a Rode NT1a is a better idea?

honestly, if you have questions like this, do some reading. read, read, read. i cannot stress this enough. You're very young - you have a lot of time to amass big piles of junk and equipment - but in 10 years time that gear will mean nothing if you've not backed it up with knowledge. i'm not saying you have to STUDY, but you want to get a grounding. seriously - stop posting on here, do some research and don't even THINK about buying anything for a few months.

 

[firestarter]

To record a guitar to start with, all you need is Garageband and a 3.5mm converter for your guitar cable to feed into the Line input on your Mac - GB does basic guitar amp modelling.

The mac audio input is really poorly specced for electric guitar use. On a single coil especially you end up with a noisy thin sound.

Even a cheap USB interface should give better results.

 

[Sesshi]

The mac audio input is really poorly specced for electric guitar use. On a single coil especially you end up with a noisy thin sound.

Even a cheap USB interface should give better results.

*sigh*

It's "free". It works. He's a beginner. He can buy an interface if it sucks enough that he feels the need to move up. I very much doubt he's gonna be a Clapton the moment he picks up the guitar.

 

[sabocat]

Re tremendous: I'm sort of trying to figure that out. I have an interest in sound engineering; I want to know what I can do with it, and what kind of gear is necessary to do it.

A couple scenarios I have come up with so far:

• Compose/create ambient/electronic music or drum beats: I would need synths, a DAW, and a keyboard or other hardware MIDI controller.

• Work for a student band: I would want to record (electric) guitars and vocals at reasonable quality, and would probably want a portable setup for concerts/performances. (We're 12-14 year olds, so in this case super-quality isn't everything.)

• Learn guitar and (eventually) record guitar/voice solos, or meet up with other people with the same sort of interest.

• Get a seriously cool hi-fi or headphone setup: headphones or loudspeakers, and amp, and a source (probably my MBP or iPod).

#1 - #3 would probably mean I'd have to get #4 .

So this sort of thing. Anything I missed? And would equipment would you recommend for each scenario? (Ideally both a cheaper and a higher-quality option.)

If I were in your shoes, I would get a decent hi-fi system and learn an instrument first. Listen, listen and listen. Start playing along with the cd's or records.

There's been a lot of talk about B&W speakers, etc. B&W's are great, but there are great speakers out there for much cheaper. I would consider the Epos loudspeakers. They're budget audiophile monitors, and will not cost an arm and a leg. There's also the Fatboy ipod docking system, with a small tube amp, and they have their own line of speakers too. Rotel is also a fine line of integrated amps, I would agree.

I was recently in the market for a pair of speakers, and auditioned the B&W bookshelf 805's and the floor standing 804's. I ended up getting a pair of Dali's. The 400's were on clearance for 3 grand, and sounded better than the B&W's, which retail now for $4,700. The Dali Helicon 300's also sounded better than the B&W 805's. Not that there was much difference. But given the price difference, well....The Epos speakers cost around $400.00 a pair.

You might also want to consider checking out audiokarma for info on purchasing used stereo equipment, and there is the audiogon website for purchasing used equipment.

 

[Killyp]

I'd say the opposite, although I always think speakers are a very personal choice!

Epos are now owned (and very heavily controlled) by Creek, and I know an ex-Epos employee who always said that Epos speakers used to be among the best, but since the takeover (which happened in the late 90s I believe, although possibly later) by Creek, they haven't been the same company at all.

B&W have to my ears, always produce a stunning pair of speakers. I've very rarely heard a pair of B&Ws which don't sound stunning, and never heard 'poor' speakers from them.

Apparently they have produce a few lemons in the past though, but I can't say I've heard them...