Author Topic: Newbie here...please help me out (Read 7577 times)

learning_towalk · « **on:** December 18, 2003, 02:14:35 PM »

Hey guys and gals...

I've been collecting live shows for 2 years now.
I'm an active member of Phishhook.com my sign in is Learning_towalk

well,I've finally decided to get started taping. 90% of the shows I hit are smaller venued shows such as clubs or small theatres...but I do hit the occasional Phish,Dead,Panic show at bigger venues and I hit some festivals in the summer(all that was just to give you an idea of what area I'll be taping at)

I'm trying to decide on a starting rig...Don't wanna sink a couple grand into a rig right now.

so here is what I'm looking at please tell me how this rig would sound and what else would I need???....

I could get this rig for around 600 bucks used and that's really the price range I'm lookin to stay around.

(2) Oktava MK012's
M-Audio USB mobie preamp
either a Nomad JB3 or Laptop

thanks a lot for the info

Nick in Edinboro · « **Reply #1 on:** December 18, 2003, 02:19:07 PM »

What retailer are you thinking of getting the Oktava's from?

How much does the M-Audio USB mobie preamp retail for? Another option in this area is the highly regarded Edirol UA-5. If your remotely handy with a soldering iron or have a friend who is you can modify it yourself and have a nice all in one box for cheap.

The JB3 is money though...

BTW, is that you with Al?

jpschust · « **Reply #2 on:** December 18, 2003, 02:19:38 PM »

lemme make a suggestion

rather than the usb pre why not go for the ua-5. its about 350 bucks and if you get it from oade brothers then you can send it back to them later to have them mod it. its a great all in one pre/ad at its price range and it has usb capability

J

pfife · « **Reply #3 on:** December 18, 2003, 02:21:17 PM »

A sturdy stand and good cables will add some money too... prolly around $100... don't forget remote power... that will add more money too...

Sucks... the expense keeps building with this obsession...

but its a great time.

Nick in Edinboro · « **Reply #4 on:** December 18, 2003, 02:22:03 PM »

+ T-bar, Shockmounts, Windscreens = another $100

nickgregory · « **Reply #5 on:** December 18, 2003, 02:22:04 PM »

also dont forget that for a stand, t bar, cables etc..there will be some more cost...anywhere from $100-$175 probably is a fair estimate

nickgregory · « **Reply #6 on:** December 18, 2003, 02:22:43 PM »

3 people with the same train of thought...damn we are all robots

Nick in Edinboro · « **Reply #7 on:** December 18, 2003, 02:26:51 PM »

Lisa: Almost done. Just lay still.
Linguo: Lie still.
Lisa: I knew that. Just testing.
Linguo: Sentence fragment.
Lisa: 'Sentence fragment' is also a sentence fragment.
Linguo: Must conserve battery power.

learning_towalk · « **Reply #8 on:** December 18, 2003, 02:26:56 PM »

first of all, yes that's me with Al at Bonnaroo this year.

I'd be getting the Oktavas new from a seller on Ebay(they are the real deal with the warranty papers and stuff though)

The mobile pre's go forr 150new from Musiciansfriend

also I already have access to a stand and tbar from one of my friends who got a new stand+tbar,etc

thanks for the help, keep it comin

pfife · « **Reply #9 on:** December 18, 2003, 02:35:44 PM »

Are the octava's a matched pair, and what capsules are you getting?

And if you are looking to stay below $600 or so, and you are getting a pre... you are prolly looking at a MD recorder instead of a NJB3...

NJB3 approx. $300 new... (for the 40gb model) - but you can get a refurb or a 20 gb model... that's about $200, I believe.

Pre- prolly be spending approx $300 there too...

and you havent figured the mic's into the equation yet.

learning_towalk · « **Reply #10 on:** December 18, 2003, 02:37:25 PM »

I'm not sure if they are a matched pair or not...they come with various capsuls

pfife · « **Reply #11 on:** December 18, 2003, 02:39:32 PM »

Quote from: learning_towalk on December 18, 2003, 02:37:25 PM

I'm not sure if they are a matched pair or not...they come with various capsuls

I have no personal experience w/ these mics, but from what I have read, it is pretty important to make sure they are a matched pair...

Maybe someone else can give better advice about that than I...

jpschust · « **Reply #12 on:** December 18, 2003, 02:40:45 PM »

why not just hand match em at guitar center for 100 bucks?

pfife · « **Reply #13 on:** December 18, 2003, 02:43:49 PM »

Quote from: jpschust on December 18, 2003, 02:40:45 PM

why not just hand match em at guitar center for 100 bucks?

I called my local GC, and they selling them for $100 each now, and not $100 a pair... I think that sale is over, unfortunately...

There was some questioning of the quality of those GC Octava's some time ago in the open forum, I believe...

learning_towalk · « **Reply #14 on:** December 18, 2003, 02:44:01 PM »

what is the differance between a matched pair and an unmatched pair???

Nick in Edinboro · « **Reply #15 on:** December 18, 2003, 02:46:07 PM »

Oktava's QC is less then optimal and if you do not get a matched pair then the two mic's might be off in their response, meaning one might be hotter (louder) then the other, sound different or even contain completely different electronics inside their body.

A company called Sound Pro (www.soundpro.com, I think) hand matches them for a price, and I also believe a seller on eBay who claims to sell matched pairs does a decent job at atleast ensuring the caps are close (can't say for sure but someone here might know).

It can make a world of difference from remarks I've heard. Check out the archives or do a search on Oktava's for tons of info regarding this..

pfife · « **Reply #16 on:** December 18, 2003, 02:51:30 PM »

How much are they asking for the mics on ebay?

learning_towalk · « **Reply #17 on:** December 18, 2003, 03:03:36 PM »

150-200 a pair

jpschust · « **Reply #18 on:** December 18, 2003, 03:06:48 PM »

it all depends on the gc near you, yah there's been some questioning but if you hand match you can be sure your caps and mics work.

pfife · « **Reply #19 on:** December 18, 2003, 03:08:46 PM »

All thats been said, I would go the your local GC, cause even if they aren;t on sale, you are still getting them for the same price...

And, you can take them back within 30 days if you don't dig them...

And, you can match them.

I am assuming that this can be done by finding two with consecutive SN#, right?

jpschust · « **Reply #20 on:** December 18, 2003, 03:10:53 PM »

chances are you arent gonna find consec serials but close maybe. and i dont think gc allows returns on mics unless they are basically doa

learning_towalk · « **Reply #21 on:** December 18, 2003, 03:18:14 PM »

so are they good sounding mics??? I mean I know that they won't sound like Neumanns or Schoeps but how would they sound compared to AKG blueline series?

also the UA5...how cheap could I get one? and what exactly would it do?

greenone · « **Reply #22 on:** December 18, 2003, 03:23:14 PM »

Quote from: npsinboro on December 18, 2003, 02:46:07 PM

A company called Sound Pro (www.soundpro.com, I think) hand matches them for a price

That's The Sound Room (www.sound-room.com, also oktava.com) and they're unfortunately not taking online orders at the moment due to them moving offices and the passing of their sales manager... Taylor's a good guy to deal with but a matched pair with one set of capsules is $400+ which pretty much blows your budget...

pfife · « **Reply #23 on:** December 18, 2003, 03:23:15 PM »

Quote from: jpschust on December 18, 2003, 03:10:53 PM

chances are you arent gonna find consec serials but close maybe. and i dont think gc allows returns on mics unless they are basically doa

Hmm... I don't know for sure, but I thought they would basically take back almost anything (except prolly software...) - but, if you go there, just check first if this could be a possibility...

I did return a used Marshall power amp to my local GC... I would be suprised if they take returns on used items, but not new mics, but like I said, I don't know fo sho...

Peace.
~Pfife

Nick in Edinboro · « **Reply #24 on:** December 18, 2003, 03:26:46 PM »

learning_towalk....

I think this might help explain some things about taping in general.

http://www.moelinks.com/random/source/

To record shows you need:
mics > pre-amp w/phantom power > A/D converter > recording device

The UA-5 is a Pre-amp and A/D converter in one box.

learning_towalk · « **Reply #25 on:** December 18, 2003, 03:57:40 PM »

so from what I gather...I should go

Oktava Mics(matched if possible)>
Edirol UA5>
Nomad Jukebox 3

does it have to be a JB3 or would a Zen work???

also what all cables would I need to go from

Mics>
preamp/ad converter>
jb3>
computer

thanks!

Nick in Edinboro · « **Reply #26 on:** December 18, 2003, 04:00:20 PM »

pfife · « **Reply #27 on:** December 18, 2003, 05:14:52 PM »

JB3 only.

And, you need two xlr cables (for each mic) into the UA5; then, a cable that is a regular optical plug on one end, and an optical 1/8" miniplug on the other end.

You also need to make a power cable and purchase a battery pack. They were discussing this just yesterday in one of the other forums.

BCostigan · « **Reply #28 on:** December 18, 2003, 05:39:17 PM »

Is the m-audio USB pre powered via the USB connection or AC like everything else they make? If it's powered by the USB you will HAVE to record with the laptop. If it's only powered via AC then I'd scrap that idea all together. There are lots of options (IMHO) in the $600 range...just depends on what you want to spend your $$ on. If you have a laptop already then you, of course, have more to spend on mics/pre.

Do you already have a laptop???

Kevin · « **Reply #29 on:** December 18, 2003, 05:52:37 PM »

Quote from: learning_towalk on December 18, 2003, 03:18:14 PM

so are they good sounding mics??? I mean I know that they won't sound like Neumanns or Schoeps but how would they sound compared to AKG blueline series?

also the UA5...how cheap could I get one? and what exactly would it do?

cant compare them to the 480's

, they sound better than Neumanns and Schoeps

Kindguy · « **Reply #30 on:** December 18, 2003, 06:15:22 PM »

T+ kevin