Recording Music?

SniperGuy

So me and my friend started a little band. We rather like how it's headed, and most people seem to tell us the same thing. As such, we'd like to get a bit of some higher quality recordings. He's got a bunch of studio mics and stuff from his dad as handmedowns, but we have no INPUTS for them. I've got a Macbook Pro, and a desktop with a SB Audgy X-fi Platinum, but the mics he has have weird inputs. This thing: http://www.guitarcenter.com/shop/product/buy_maudio_delta_1010_lt_pci_digital_audio_system?full_sku=101596344 appears to have the necessary converter in order to plug in those mics, but paying 200 bucks for it seems sorta ridiculous. Is getting one of those adapters into my sound card a good plan?

Also, for post processing and playing with the audio, e.g. cleaning it up making it sound more professional, etc, is there a tutorial someone could point me to for what to do? I know next to nothing about audio editing. Before we make too much more, we'd kinda like to have an idea of how to make it sound more professional than two guys and a crappy mic.

DeathPrawn

Microphones generally use XLR connections, which are unamplified. So before running it into your computer, you need a preamp. The simplest way to do this is with a computer recording interface, kinda like the one you linked to. They sell cheaper USB or Firewire ones, though, so I wouldn't spend that much money. I can't remember off the top of my head, but I'm pretty sure for $100-$150 you can get a USB guy that takes in 1-2 XLR and 1-2 1/4" inputs.

The Cheese

What instruments are you trying to record, exactly? What do you already have?

If you're trying to record electric guitars, do you have amps? Exactly what microphones do you have?

SniperGuy

Guitars and vocals, so one of those nifty USB things would be cool. Guitarcenter.com has several. Drums too, though I understand that's a good deal harder. And we're getting a bass fairly soon as well.

And my friend says the mics we have are
Two Shure Beta 52, two Beta 57 several Beta 58's
And About six or so Shure SM57s

edit: And yeah, we have guitar amps.
(myspace.com/thebrannicks) if you care.

The Cheese

The SM57 are great for recording guitars and other instruments. The 58s are more suited to vocals, although you can use either. They're really good mics.

They'll also be good for recording the bass. I don't know much about recording drums, but I'm sure that what you have will do well.

One thing I might suggest, once you're set up with an input, would be to set up a couple microphones in front of your amp or acoustic guitar at various different places and then figure out what placements work for you and maybe mix a couple together.

Spackle

Does anyone have any suggestions for a preamp for the SM57? I'm definitely sure that's the MIC to use but I have no idea what would be good to go between the MIC and the computer.

Also, to add the Cheese's post. If you can, multiple MICs through a mixer can be great for good consistent sound recording. I had the chance to play around in a semi-professional studio and we had access to MIC placement and the mixer. Was definitely not a cheap set up though...

SniperGuy

I see several USB interface things. Any in particular that come recommended?

SniperGuy

Am I reading this right in that it has a built in mic preamp?
http://www.lexiconpro.com/ProductIndex.aspx?ProductID=6

MikeMan

If you want to get into sound editing with any sort of seriousness, either get Cubase or get Pro Tools. You won't regret it.

Pro Tools comes with a functional little input box (the Mbox) which serves its purpose admirably.

Edit: the Mbox comes with a 48v pre, which is fine for amateur recording.

Musiqua

I'd say get a cheap Behringer-mixer to connect to your Audigy card for the time being. Or that Lexicon box, although I would be a bit wary using USB instead of Firewire. Firewire is designed mainly for video and audio editing, while USB isn't, so the transfer rate can fluctuate more with USB than with Firewire, which can limit the usage. You'll probably be fine with it, though.

And using Pro Tools or Cubase from the start? Too expensive and complicated, I would say. Start off with downloading Audacity and start messing with it to get a feel for what things do. Don't buy expensive software and get discouraged when you don't understand what all the buttons do.