$30 Behringer Ultravoice XM8500
$80 PROAR C414 (the same manufacturer as Bai Fei Li, but with a different name). This is the 24 mm capsule, and I have the 34. It should be a little better for acoustic guitar. And $43 Thomann t.bone SC400
C414 & SC400
SM7B
The Shure SM7b is one of the most popular mics for both podcasting, and heavy (screaming) vocals. If you grab one, you'll probably need a Cloud Lifter to boost the gain.
SM57
The all time classic for guitar cabs in the Shure SM57. They have a punchy midrange which fits well with the guitar frequencies you usually want to emphasize in the mix. I've used a thousand of these, although I don't have one at the moment.
Aston Spirit
I hear good things about the Aston Spirit, in terms of a decent condenser mic for all-around use.
Plug-Ins & Scripts
Available In ReaPack: ReaPack Home Page
- All Tukan Plug-ins available via ReaPack (free, REAPER-only).
- Sai'ke Spectral Analyzer
- MLP Align Takes
- MKSlicer
Other Plug-in Manufacturers
MStereoScope available as part of the Meda free bundle.
Audio Interfaces
My VSX and Evo4 on a table
Audient makes a nice range of entry-level interfaces. I'm currently using the EVO-4, which I'm happy with. I was considering the ID4, as well.
One crucial thing about interfaces is the number of inputs. I only record one thing at a time. At most, I need two inputs for a stereo pair of Mics. If you want to record more things at once, get an interface with more inputs. Audient's line of interfaces has you covered.
I used a Focusrite Scarlett, 2i2 for years. As with almost all entry level interfaces, it had clean preamps/converters in it. It works.
Headphones & Monitors
Slate VSX
If you're recording at home, untreated rooms are a bear to work in. It's expensive to properly treat a room, and it requires a lot of knowledge to do it. If you want to go down that road, I commend you.
And then you'll need some pretty top-line monitors for your nicely treated room.
As for me, I can't. I live in rented condos most of the time. I can't exactly install something n the ceiling or walls. The best current solution for this is Slate VSX. It's a combination of headphones and virtual room modeling. The upshot is, you get to mix in good sounding rooms' with nice monitors.
I use the Essentials version at the moment. It's enough for me -- a couple sets of medium and large monitors in different rooms, a small mono speaker, and an SUV. That's more than I ever had in a real studio :-).
Slate VSX In My FX: Monitoring Chain
Presonus Eris 3.5
Maybe you'll think I'm crazy, but I mixed on a pair of cheap computer speakers for a couple of years. When I moved up to the Eris 3.5 studio monitors, it made a world of difference.
Switching back and forth between these and the Slate VSX headphones, I can get my mixes to translate.
Virtual Instruments
XLN Audio Addictive Drums 2
I've been using Addictive Drums for quite a few years, and I have it dialed in. If you're looking for free, try Stephen Slate drums -- they have a free version available.
Slate SSD 5
I've tried the SSD kits out and they sound pretty darn good.
Prominy Rockbass
I have an earlier version of SR5 Rockbass and it sounds really good. There are some bass virtual instruments that have free models, but I haven't checked them out much as I'm thinking of buying a bass, instead 🙂
