Total newbie request for assistance (Page 1 of 2)

Hey Zurf!

Firstly: the quickest and easiest solution is to get your portastudio to someone who can say "It's buggered/OK" - it would take too long backing and forthing!

Mixers can be and are both live and studio. I have a Soundcraft Studio mixer that I have done numerous gigs with.

As you want both I would look into some of these analogue mixers that offer USB or Firewire connection to record to a computer. I know Behringer do some great stuff at a competitive price point.

The Xnyx 2442 FX will do this job (it's younger bro', Xenyx 2222FX, has 8 mic ins, but it's always better to have at least 2 spare; if you can afford one with more inputs, better to get it as you will see 3 months - 1 year down the linw) It USBs to your computer making it a recording interface.

As to speakers - will they be installation only or will they go on the road with you? If they are of the PA ilk, it would be better to get some with a good top end rather than a low bass end as being enclosed in a (relatively) small space will mean you have to EQ all the bass out - why get it?

Also whether they are installation or PA, I would recommend Powered speakers (Amp built in) as these match amp to speaker and give much better quality - also less bulk to transport.

YES you can absolutely do all this on £1000. I wouldn't think of buying mixer or speakers that would need upgrading tho'.

Thanks both. 

Kajima, I think $1000 is about 667 pounds at the current exchange rate. 

- Zurf

Musicians friend also lists this item for the same price but the shipping is $69.95 added they offer a monthly finance payment plan for $70.00 a month but you need a musicians friend credit card approval (they said no to me because im retired )

I saw that kit on Musician's Friend, but I didn't see where it has a USB or Firewire output.  How did you know that mixer would interface with a computer?  Or would it require an go-between thingydoody for a few hundred more? 

Now let's talk microphones.  That kit comes with two microphones that look well suited for voice.  Given that this is mostly just for kicks, I figure that's fine.  To add two more mics, so that I could have a couple on voice and a couple on guitars or a guitar and upright bass or some such, is there anything in particular that I'd need?  Of course, if I ever decide to pull my harmonicas out of their Crown Royal bag and use them again, I'd want a green bullet.  But other than a green bullet, what would be appropriate? 

- Zurf

Zurf the mixer pictured has left and right rca "outs" you can plug a Y cord with 2 rca jacks it cost around $4.00 at radio shack you dont need a usb interface the rca Y chord with stereo 1/8"mini plug and rca jacks will work fine. Green bullet? if thats a harmonica a Honer blues harp will do the trick they cost around 30 bucks

Well that's looking pretty good then.  It's in budget, even including shipping, and will interfaces with a computer whenever I get around to buying a Mac. 

Green bullet: http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/pr … p;ZYXSEM=0

It's the thing that you can't see being held in the hands of harmonica players from the days when the Chicago Blues sound was just getting started to present.  It transcends genre and is used in blues, rock, country, and any other popular music style wherein harmonica is featured.

- Zurf

Check this out Zurf:

$55.55 including shipping!

From:

http://www.geocities.com/bottle_o_blues/index.html

when I went to grade school the school board was so poor we had to sit in the snow and use a slate with chalk

Thats s cool looking rig, I've been using a regular old glass for years which makes a great blues sound.

  Hey Zurf, a stage sound like a fun thing to have in your home, mmmmm  got me thinking bout a big room in my basement thats not bieng used.

  Badeye   

It seems like I been around that long where did I put that fig leaf?

My PC is old and heavily taxed just to run current basic software.  I can wait to record until I get a Mac.  It'll be a lot faster and I won't get frustrated and forget the whole thing. 

After asking around a bit, what I'm hearing is that the best thing would be to take a slow approach and build up over time with parts that will work together.  The initial suggestion is to get a powered mixer, a couple main speakers, speaker stands, mics, and mic stands, and make a go with that.  Later maybe add some monitors and/or a digital interface for output to a computer.  Get good quality components right along rather than settle for lesser quality just to get more features within an immediate budget.  That sounds sensible at least from one point of view.  What do y'all think of that? 

- Zurf

Very sensible if that's what you want.

I take it you will effectively want a PA to use on your stage and external gigs that will be added to to become a recording studio/rig.

That being the case, I would strongly urge you to NOT get a powered mixer for a number of reasons.

1: Powered mixers are designed exclusively for live use. Facilities for recording are limited to say the least and for live use you will quickly desire more. Recording facilities are usually limited to a Phono (hi fi connector) out if that.

2: If you are recording why have a buillt-in amp that you aren't using? You will be monitoring Mic signals via headphones and playing back over your studio monitors - the amp is redundant unless playing live/rehursing.

3: Half the money spent will be on the amplifier - you are getting one thing that does two jobs imperfectly (unless you spend more than you've mentioned) and what if one breaks? You will have a mixer that won't amplifie the signal or an amplifier that has nothing to amplify.

If you are going to build up quality seperstes as you go try this:

Same people, same place, $799 for some quality (give pro results, will last - durability and feature usage) kit. If not this rig, then I would go similar because:

1: Powered monitors give better performance price ratio. Amps matched to speakers matched to enclosure = quality sound.

2: When you're recording they will be switched off - less 'leccy bills!

3: If the Powered PA speakers or the mixer breaks you will still have half your rig working to beg, borrow or hire for the gig, etc!

4: Stand Alone Analogue mixers have features that may seem useless at first but if you want something that will last you 10 + years in feature useablity it's worth it. (The above mixer may look complicated but it breaks down into simple stages such that you WILL be able to use it out of the box.

5: I have a very good mixer amp and it serves me ONLY because I can use my big mixer for big jobs and send the outputs from that into the mixer amp. If I had the same money I would buy the rig in this post, pocket a helluva lot of change (£300 - £500) and know that I had (almost x10) the same sound quality as studio - you'd have both the same!

There are other Mixers (Mackie are possibly superior to Behringer because of their chassis strength, are virtually identical in features/performance and cost twice as much as Behringer!!!) just as there are other makers of powered PA speakers with varying quality and price points. I cannot urge you strongly enough to go this route.

The Mixer featured in this post has things like Direct Outs, Insert Points, Dual Swept Mid EQs, 6 Auxilliary Sends, 4 Group Buses, Talkback Mic Input, 80Hz High Pass Filters, 10Hz - 50KHz Frequency Response.

The mixer from the other rig I recommended is similarly spec'ed (not quite as comprehensive) but loads there and will mean you don't have to buy a soundcard, this one you'll have to - no USB out!
But If we're talking similar money for now, I'd go with the second.

I know that Zurf + 5 or 10 years will be so grateful for this advice!

Check your E-mail; I'll send you some recordings to see if I know what I'm on about!