Some Questions on Various Stuff (Previously done)

[ant_182]

Right, I know these questions have probably been asked before, so don't get all grouchy! Anyway I just found out my Metrophones (yes overpriced but I got them cheap!) have snapped somehow! So I NEED some new headphones that offer great isolation and you can pop you're Mp3/4 into and drum along. I am after some studio headphones, that are comfy and offer a great sound from them. The metrophones made my drums sound like they were in the studio! So that was cool. My budget is around £100, I'd prefer links to the UK :) Thanks

Secondly, PC Speakers? I'm getting a new PC after Xmas and need some speakers that can handle the volume and bass etc, suitable for recording and hearing it back! Probably with a sub woofer.

Thirdly, microphones. I was thinking of getting a sure mic pack (they're about £400 I think) and they include all the pieces I need, snare, bass, 2 toms and 2 over heads. I can post a link if needed. Also a "desk" for recording and some answers!... Is it right that I get mics into a desk, which plugs into the PC and I run that through some software? And again, what mixing desk (if this method is right) and software is suitable and affordable

I forgot what else I wanted to ask, but I'll post that later when I remember,

Thanks for any help :)

Ant

[DrumIntoTheNight]

Right, I know these questions have probably been asked before, so don't get all grouchy! Anyway I just found out my Metrophones (yes overpriced but I got them cheap!) have snapped somehow! So I NEED some new headphones that offer great isolation and you can pop you're Mp3/4 into and drum along. I am after some studio headphones, that are comfy and offer a great sound from them. The metrophones made my drums sound like they were in the studio! So that was cool. My budget is around £100, I'd prefer links to the UK :) Thanks

Extreme Isolation EX-29. Everyone else here will point you towards the Vic Firth isolation 'phones, but the EX-29s have a flatter frequency response and an extra 6dB of isolation. Doesn't sound like much, but it's a logarithmic scale.

Secondly, PC Speakers? I'm getting a new PC after Xmas and need some speakers that can handle the volume and bass etc, suitable for recording and hearing it back! Probably with a sub woofer.

PC speakers with good bass =/= speakers for recording. If you're serious about recording, you want to spend probably at least £300-500 on monitors with a flat frequency response. Headphones aren't any good either. Also, you shouldn't really playback a mix at high volumes anyway - always mix at low volume.

Thirdly, microphones. I was thinking of getting a sure mic pack (they're about £400 I think) and they include all the pieces I need, snare, bass, 2 toms and 2 over heads. I can post a link if needed. Also a "desk" for recording and some answers!... Is it right that I get mics into a desk, which plugs into the PC and I run that through some software? And again, what mixing desk (if this method is right) and software is suitable and affordable

You're probably better off buying mics piece by piece over time, because you get what you pay for.

Budget for the mixer and interface? You can pay anything from £50 for a single channel interface, to hundreds of thousands for a 64 channel mixer.

You've got a couple of choices with a mixer -firewire to PC, or ADAT Lightpipe to PCI slot. ADAT is faster, but that's a non-issue if you're only recording 10 channels or so. Your mixer is going to need preamps too, or you'll have to buy them as outboards.

As far as software goes, choose whichever you like best. There's not a huge amount to choose between the leading brands (Sonar, Live, Cubase etc), IMO.

If you're seriously looking into doing recording, be prepared to spend thousands.

[ant_182]

Thanks loads for the responce and helpfulness!

Firstly, yeh I don't want the Vic Firth ones I want ones with real good isolation. I'll look into those :) Yeh, I'm planning on landing the PC right after xmas, then through the year build up other things, Speakers, monitor, recording gear. what does =/= mean? I meant I'd be playing myself music really loud! Previous speakers "break" and then rattle when I play after lol. But, I'm willing to get decent ones for it all! (expensive process!)

I was thinking of around £500 for a mixer, firewire has been suggested a few times. www.gak.co.uk has some that I've looked at. I'd need atleast 8 channels/inputs lol. I will be prepared to spend loads of money, but I'm just starting out so building it up is ok with me :)

Cheers, anymore info? Got msn?

[fishbulb]

Firepod/Firestudio are great firewire interfaces. I can almost guarantee you'll end up buying one of those.

[DrumIntoTheNight]

incognito_6@msn.com

[Aaron]

Honestly, if you skip the isos and go for proper studio cans you can use them to mix. I use AKG K66s for mixing and mastering, and as they're physically solid, they filter noise enough to take some of the impact from cymbals [which I think is the main noise source you want to avoid exposure to] from a'hurtin' your ears. If your tracking your drums only, and not a "live" band, then you don't need to hit as hard as you practice as well.

The big choices for interfaces for drummers are the Firepod/Firestudio and the Motu 8Pre. I like the Motu better personally, and have heard of better personal experiences. Depends on need and budget though. You can buy an 8-track mixer that has phantom power and a USB audio interface [Edirol UA-1EX] for $200 in total and get the same results with patience.

[DrumIntoTheNight]

MOTU's gear is pretty solid, I run the 828. Depends if you want an all in one interface and mixer, or to buy them seperately.

[Harrow]

I don't recommend those extreme iso headphones. They are overpriced and have crappy sound quality. Instead get yourself a pair of Senheiser HD-280's. They have the same if not MORE isolation and pretty damn good sound quality so you should be able to use them for mixing. They are some of the most comfortable headphones ever, I wear them for hours on end with no fatigue at all. Trust me you will regret it if you go with vic firth or extreme iso.

[Aaron]

People forget that isolation is just putting a barrier between you and the sound source, it's not that fancy a process. The more sturdy the headphones, the more isolation. My suggestion [as I said] is to find good audio quality headphones, that are bigger. The alternative is good quality buds, under ear muffs.

[DrumIntoTheNight]

I don't recommend those extreme iso headphones. They are overpriced and have crappy sound quality. Instead get yourself a pair of Senheiser HD-280's. They have the same if not MORE isolation and pretty damn good sound quality so you should be able to use them for mixing. They are some of the most comfortable headphones ever, I wear them for hours on end with no fatigue at all. Trust me you will regret it if you go with vic firth or extreme iso.

At any rate, the sound quality may not appear to be amazing, but that's because they have a flat frequency response. Trust me, they're crystal clear, and it's not like it even matters when you're going to be playing in such high volume environments. I've never seen a negative review regarding the Extreme Isolation 'phones.

Secondly, you can find the EX-29s for less than the Sennheisers if you're prepared to shop around. Last time I checked, Absolute Music Solutions were selling them for £50.

And, again, you should never use headphones for mixing. The psychoacoustics involved mean bass is always poorly represented, as <50Hz is more felt than heard.

[ant_182]

Well, I've seen the EX-29's on Thomman for roughly 50 quid. I'm willing to pay £100 or so on headphones, I just need some that really offer great isolation and a good sound from them. I can get different headphones for mixing :)

[ant_182]

Sorry to bump! I think I'll be getting the Senheiser HD-280's then, unless someone has a good reason not too? Or an even better alternative. I'll be looking and probably buying tonight. I could even see if I can pick up some more metrophones if I can get them cheaper than normal

[iamjoe2]

Firepod/Firestudio are great firewire interfaces. I can almost guarantee you'll end up buying one of those.

these are good OR you could get

http://www.tascam.com/products/us-1641.html

ive got one and it works great for recording my ****. plus its cheaper.

[dairyairman]

And, again, you should never use headphones for mixing. The psychoacoustics involved mean bass is always poorly represented, as <50Hz is more felt than heard.

i'll second that! headphones also exaggerate the stereo separation effect, making the mix sound a lot different than it would through speakers. you need studio monitor speakers, which have a flat frequency response.

[We_Love_Lime]

I just use like really iPod earplugs, and put my iso headphones over them...
I don't know how well those work like
...mathematically
But they cost 30 USD at the most, and they work rather well for me.

[DrumIntoTheNight]

I'm not saying you're wrong Harrow; more and more people are coming over to the idea of headphone monitoring for project studios, but the general consensus is that once you're done, you need to check the mix on several different speaker systems (computer, car, hi-fi etc) to check your mix is correct. Personally, I'd rather mix using pro monitors.

Headphones are still frowned upon in professional studios, however.