Hi,
Sorry for novice question. I am new to Logic and would like to get some advice on the best microphone to buy as well as Midi Controller (I believe I need this to record my Bass guitar into Logic as well as External Mic...unless I am mistaken)
I have been making lots of music (mainly just sequencing, loops, etc) but I would like to start recording my own Bass and possibly mess with vocal tracks.
Can anyone point me in the right direction?
Thanks.
Do you have an Audio Interface ? If you have one, buy a good condenser microphone. I have a Audio Technica AT2035 (230$). For your Midi controller you should buy one who has a USB connector (easy to use). I have a M-audio oxygen 25 and it work beautifully ! You can also buy on Ebay, the prices are very good !
I do not have an audio interface yet. Can you recommend a decent one?
So if I understand correctly, I first will need an Audio Interface, which would allow me to hook up a condenser mic and a Midi controller. I see that the Midi controller are also keyboards. Would my Bass guitar then hook into the midi controller?
Sorry again for these newb questions.
I Would recommand you a basic audio interface USB like mine M-Audio fastrack (150$), it has 1 XLR input for a microphone and one 1/4 Input for your Bass, and one input for headphones.
A midi controller allows you to play software instruments, or to control the mixer windows in logic. You don't really need a midi controller if you dont play a lot of software instruments !!
A simple solution is the Heil USBQ inline USB mic preamp (with EQ) and a good NON-condenser microphone. Just saw Joe Walsh perform out here in Riverside, CA a couple months ago - thirty mics on stage, not a single condenser anywhere. My mini-review of the voice recording capabilities of the USBQ at http://tinyurl.com/HEIL-USBQ ...
A Non-condenser microphone is better on stage, but in a home recording studio I think its better to have a condenser microphone !
>> ... but in a home recording studio I think its better to have a condenser microphone !
I just happen to think differently. I want rear rejection from a home voice recording mic. I do not want the sound of a computer fan coming on or my setting down my iced tea glass on my desk or anything else OTHER than what I am speaking directly into the mic.
Clint Bradford
I just found this one on Amazon as part of some Avid Recording setup...for only 59.99! After talking to one of my friends that is musician, he agreed that this and a good mic is all I need. He said that since I am using Logic, I could just run some drum and synth loops to play and sing along with as I work through my songs instead of using a midi. Do you know if there are any issues with hooking this device up and using headphones in conjuction? Meaning, if I was running some loops in logic for drums, would I still be able to hear myself playing and or singing in my headphones using this device?
And with regards to a mic, I know that there are mics that can help with pitch correction. Any advice on these?
If you are recording audio (bass guitar, vocals), then you must have an audio interface to allow the signal to be converted from audio into data for your Mac. I typically advise the Scarlett 2i2 or Echo Audiofire 4 interfaces for people looking for cheap, high quality, low input interfaces. Either one will work well for you.
In terms of a MIDI controller - you only need this is you want to be playing your synth parts and drum parts on a keyboard. If you simply pencil them in the piano roll right now or use the computer keyboard and it works fine for you, then don't waste money on a MIDI controller. However, if you want to play complex piano parts or enjoy the feeling of piano keys, then by all means pick up a good MIDI controller. You can find them easily on sites like Zzounds.com or Musiciansfriend.com. You won't need a separate interface if you buy one that has a USB output.
You will need a pair of headphones for recording through a microphone. This is to stop the microphone from picking up the sounds coming from your speakers.
In terms of a microphone...you'll be hard pressed to find a definitive answer on one "great" microphone, because there isn't really one - especially in the budget (under $300) range. However, there's a great article about some of the best microphones at each price level here:
You should be able to find the microphone you're looking for at that site. In terms of pitch correction, you'll want to stick with Logic Pro's pitch corrector or buy Antares' Auto Tune Evo, or pick up Melodyne software to work on pitch correction. You don't want it to be automatic, because the software often messes up and you don't want to ruin a good take because of it.
Good luck!
A mic being condenser or dynamic doesn't dictate it's rear rejection. It's polar patterns have a much greater say in rear rejection.
For example, the Sennheiser MD42 and the Shure SM63 are both dynamics but they are also both omni so these two mics would pick up far more of your environment than, say, a Neumann U89 on cardioid. Yes, condensers tend to be more sensitive but you have to look at the pickup patterns available on the mic for it to suit your needs.
If you have a condenser on cardioid and it's picking up a lot of sound from behind it, it's probably hearing the reflections in a room that's not treated properly because, as I said, the capsules are pretty sensitive.
A lot of people think that hyper-cardioid is better for rear rejection than cardioid, but it's not. Hyper cardioid picks up from directly behind the mic far more than cardioid which has virtually no rear pickup in it's polar pattern but a wider side pickup pattern than hyper-cardiod.
Not disagreeing with your choices of mic my friend, each to their own. But dynamic verses condenser for rejection purposes is not a valid argument and could be misleading for a newbie.
Buying Advice - Microphone, Midi Controller
