Total noob here, have many questions

[highgravity]

Thanks to all who can answer any of these questions, its greatly appreciated.
Aight lets start it off.

1.) Currently I have a PreSonus FireBox Audio Interface, from what I understand, there is a built in Mic Preamp in this piece of equipment, but how much better would vocals (rap) sound if I purchased a real Mic Preamp around/under $300 to use with the Audio interface I already have??

2.) If you suggest that I get a Mic Preamp to use with my Audio Interface, which Mic Pre would you reccomend, for around/under $300?

3.) I was planning on just getting a semi-cheap microphone just to see how things went, then eventually buying something nice. Anyways, for a decent semi-cheap microphone, what do yall think about a 'Shure SM57'? Any others you would reccomend for around that price??

4.) What software do you reccomend me recording vocals into?? Currently the Software that I use for making my music in is FL Studio, but I would assume there is another software out there that is better for recording vocals in. BTW, I have a Dell laptop, which eleminates some software right off the bat.


I'm sure I'll have more questions in the coming hours/days.
I also understand that these questions may sound redundent around this forum but if you could help me out at all and point me in the right direction that would be awesome.

Thanks to everyone who can steer me in the right direction.

pce


EDIT:
Before you all get on my case, I know that you get what you pay for, and I am fully aware that with a Firebox and Low-end Micpre I am not gonna get professional sound.
Understand that I am a teenager working for minimum wage at a part time job while im in school.
Just trying to get started on this hobby that I love very much.
pce again

[CPhoenix]

If you are a noob... I would recommend working w/ the equipment you already have in the PreSonus FireBox. It doesn't require an upgrade to sound good... you should be able to get some good recordings out of that. To upgrade the preamp and get a noticeable difference in quality... i would imagine you'd need $100-$200 added to your budget. But you should have good enough quality out of your current interface.

People say that the mic you referenced is a good mic and that many great recordings have been cut off of it. If you're doing Hip-Hop or rock vocals.. that should suffice. Dynamic mics are more than capable of giving you the sound you want. Personally I prefer condensor mics, b/c they seem to give a "cleaner" sound. But... it's all based on the engineer's skill and the artist's performance.

In regards to a DAW... that's honestly all up to personal preference. They are all capable of the same things... it's just a matter of workflow. If I were you.. i would be concerned moreso about what plugins you're using to mix your songs and make them sound good. You can search these forums for great free plugins that you use (yes.. their free and many professional engineers use them... u don't always need to spend money to get a better sound.) FL is capable of recording vocals... but I'd rather use Cubase or Sonar. They are built moreso for vocals, and you can just link your FL Studio to it as a VST. They also have great stock plugins... and the workflow is geared towards audio editing. Also take a look at Reaper. I haven't used it personally, but hear it's a great DAW for a fraction of the price of Cubase.

[krushing]

1.) Currently I have a PreSonus FireBox Audio Interface, from what I understand, there is a built in Mic Preamp in this piece of equipment, but how much better would vocals (rap) sound if I purchased a real Mic Preamp around/under $300 to use with the Audio interface I already have??

2.) If you suggest that I get a Mic Preamp to use with my Audio Interface, which Mic Pre would you reccomend, for around/under $300?

There aren't many interfaces roughly under the ~$500 mark that are worth anything, and those that are aren't going to be *significantly* better than those found in decent interfaces (the Firebox counts as decent here). So I don't see much point spending the money.

3.) I was planning on just getting a semi-cheap microphone just to see how things went, then eventually buying something nice. Anyways, for a decent semi-cheap microphone, what do yall think about a 'Shure SM57'? Any others you would reccomend for around that price??

The SM57 is a studio staple - everybody should have one (and every real studio has many), because eventually, you'll probably record a lot of things with it. It (or the 58 which is essentially the same thing with an integral windshield on) can be a very good vocal mic as well, but I'm not sure if you want it as your sole vocal mic - depends on what kind of vocals you're doing.

4.) What software do you reccomend me recording vocals into?? Currently the Software that I use for making my music in is FL Studio, but I would assume there is another software out there that is better for recording vocals in. BTW, I have a Dell laptop, which eleminates some software right off the bat.

Quality-wise, they're all exactly the same: it's all in the recording chain, the front-end. The software just takes in the data it's being passed...so FL will record it exactly the same as Pro Tools or Cubase or the Windows Sound Recorder would. But as for the convenience of editing vocal takes...that's another issue, but it's obviously also more broadly about the overall workflow than just vocals. If you're comfortable with FL, no need to change.

[MadTiger3000]

"If you max out your results with what you already have, when you upgrade your equipment, it will make an even more impressive change in your sound."--MadTiger 2:11

[highgravity]

Thanks to both of the replys I got.
Appreciate it alot.

1 question though to Cphoenix if you check back on this thread-

If I were you.. i would be concerned moreso about what plugins you're using to mix your songs and make them sound good. You can search these forums for great free plugins that you use (yes.. their free and many professional engineers use them...

Excuse me for not understanding what you are talking about here, as i probably should have done a little more research before making this blind post, but what do you mean when you say-
"you should be concerned with what plug-ins you use to mix your songs"

I am sorry but I have no idea what this means haha.
What would the plug-ins be used for?
my knowledge of 'mixing/mastering' literally only goes as far as turning the vocals up or down so they flow over the beat well.

any more tips or hints or links to other websites where I can gain more knowledge would be awesome.

pce

[Foggy]

A plug in is a piece of software that is the virtual version of a hardware unit .
In other words you can get different reverbs , delays , compressors , even the dreaded autotune , then "plug" these into your DAW and use their functions from with the DAW application .

[highgravity]

A plug in is a piece of software that is the virtual version of a hardware unit .
In other words you can get different reverbs , delays , compressors , even the dreaded autotune , then "plug" these into your DAW and use their functions from with the DAW application .

lol ya i probably wont be using the auto tune haha.

I'm still a little confused though.
Are reverbs, delays and compressors used often in mastering songs??

Whats wrong with just keeping the vocals how they were recorded?
Then maybe dubbing over some parts, and record some other stuff in the background and stuff?


Once again, excuse me if im way out of the loop.

[Foggy]

Effects are part of the pallet that you use to paint the picture .
Think how a rock track would sound without the distortion on the guitar .
Reverb and delay are used to create the soundstage .
In other words , they create the space that the song is within .

There's nothing wrong with have the vocals dry (no effect) if it is correct for the song .

Experiment with some effects and hear for yourself how they sound and how that change in sound they introduce can be used creatively for your needs .

[flak]

"If you max out your results with what you already have, when you upgrade your equipment, it will make an even more impressive change in your sound."--MadTiger 2:11

I like your quote, I've been doing it my whole life

[lc_cne]

haha. I remeber being in the same position I recommend this site to alot of Noobs tweakheadz.com check out the guide. It will tell you everything you need to know from start to finish (For real that site is the biggest gift I have ever recieved). When I got my equipment I already knew what to do with it. And your interface should be able to get you good sound quality on it's own. Practice mixing read articles post forum topics just like this one. If you want to know something ask. Google is a Know it All best friend. After mixing for a while you will get better and you will know when it is time to make that upgrade. And when you make that upgrade, Your mind is going to be BLOWN by your sound quality. Its the person behind the equipment and then the equipment itself that makes a recording what it is. Know what you are doing before you buy something else

I would not recommend ONE preamp under 600 dollars besides the FMR-RNP or the Grace 101 both run about 450to499 but they ARE worth it and would be a GREAT purchase. FMR-RNP has been know to give people the quality of some 1000 dollar preamps. Google it.

The Shure ksm27 is a good mic imo because I have one and I pretty much know what I am doing. But I want to expand my mic collection (something everyone serious should be doing.) I have heard that the RODE NT1A and the rode series condensers are good. haha>>neumann condersors ar very good check them out if you want to make yourself mad (lol the price isn't though). Also check out Audio Technicas. AKG's are nice too. SM57 is a good mic to start with. You can acheive great recordings with one. I myself like condesers better.

Take KRushings advice the DAW doesn't determine what sound quality you have. They all record the same ish. Some DAWs have more features but I get better recordings using Sony Acid Pro then people using ProTools and Cubase. I have Protools Cubase and Cakewalk and just ain't comfortable with anything but Acid Pro. I do wanna learn ProTools just for the fact that most Big Studio's use it to mix and that makes every thing easier if you want to send something to get mixed. (That way you don't have to track out the songs yourself).