Please help me build a recording rig

[SmokeyJacks]

Hey guys. I'm new here (this is just my 2nd post).

I want to build a very basic, but quality, home recording studio.

Here is what I currently have:
Guitar, Amp, Pedals (whatever, all my guitar stuff), Macbook w/ garageband and audacity, Midi keyboard

Here is what I want to do:
I basically want to be able record my guitar parts, overdub them with other guitar parts, and record other instruments (nothing complicated like drums, just things that can be simply recorded with one dynamic or condenser mic) or add other instruments using the midi keyboard. I am not necessarily tied to using garageband or logic, but if its not a bad option I would like to use one of these because I have jampacks / a lot of preset instruments and sounds that I created already in garageband. Simply put, I want to be able to write and record and mix songs using a dynamic/condensor mic.

I assume i will need:
- a condenser mic
- a dynamic mic
- an audio interface
what else?

Thanks guys. I would really appreciate any suggestions or conversation related to this.

[SmokeyJacks]

Oh, I forgot...

I'd prefer not to spend more than $500.

I'm looking for mic and interface suggestions, as well as recording tips. thanks.

[SmokeyJacks]

I don't know anything really about amp modeling software, but I am also open to learning about it.

[Nelson89]

$500? hmmm, if you only plan on doing 1 track at a time, then maybe something like the Apogee One...and just use it with Garageband or upgrade to logic express if you feel the need. There's more than enough amp modelling stuff that actually comes with garageband, for your other sounds it would just be using a mic in front of your amp.

Here are a few questions though. Is it a regular macbook or a macbook pro? (this will tell us whether you need USB or Firewire interface)

What sort of instruments do you plan to record with the condenser? (mainly because this will probably determine whether to get a large diaphragm condenser or a small diaphragm condenser)

With the dynamic, look at something like the shure sm57 or the audix i5...you'll be able to use either on nearly everything...

[Amp360]

for a $500 budget I would stick to guitar rig.

[pickaguitar]

$500...not sure what to do then

$500 would buy you an apogee duet or Motu...but then that leaves cables, mics, headphones, treatment, etc

[SmokeyJacks]

I plan on doing vocals, maybe a few percussion instruments (tambourine, etc), piano maybe. nothing too complex outside of guitar. I'm sure I can find used mics to reduce the cost a bit. Unfortunately my macbook doesn't have a firewire connection, USB only.

[retro]

A reasonable rig like Motu's microbook-$250.00. SM57-$90.00. Rokits 5's- $300.00.

And you are already around $650.00. Without phones, cables, stand, condenser.

[SmokeyJacks]

Why exactly do i need monitors?

[SmokeyJacks]

can someone please explain why i necessarily need monitors just to record my guitar?

[retro]

Why exactly do i need monitors?

Maybe you don't if you have some already? Didn't see it mentioned in your posts so I assumed.....

If you don't, how would you mix?

For tracking phones are fine....hard to mix on them though....

[Nelson89]

when you mix you'll need monitors...i mean you could get the job done with headphones of course, but you won't hear anywhere near as much detail from headphones as you would from proper monitors

[SmokeyJacks]

gotcha.
yeah monitors are something i would add later, but don't need from the getgo.

[SmokeyJacks]

so can you guys recommend an affordable but quality interface?

[richt]

The Apogee One will probably be the highest quality, but only one input at a time ($249 street price).

If you are looking at 2 channel units, the Roland/Cakewalk UA-25EX would be a good one to investigate and gives you 24-bit/96kHz performance ($249 street price).

Good luck!

Richt

[bronco1891]

focusrite saffire line is AMAZING. i just got my focusrite saffire pro 40, and it sounds fantastic. the Pre's are super quiet, and they sound so good!! they also make smaller interfaces, i believe one of them is USB, and they have some smaller firewire ones, so check out their stuff. and also get some good headphones, check out the Sennheiser HD 280 pros, i own a pair and theyre really nice.