About to purcahse recording gear, opinions/suggestions?

[Need.Of.A.Hero]

hey im not really sure what else one would need beside mics and a mixer (aside from cables and stands etc.), im going to run it right through my laptop. So ive decided so far on the shure drum package with 3 shure sm57 and a beta 52. One sm57 for the snare 2 overheads and the beta obviously for the kick. Now i need suggestions for a mixer id really prefer to keep cost as low as possible.

[SMX_Dizzy]

do you want a mixer or an interface w/ better preamps? what's your budget for the mixer/interface?

[Need.Of.A.Hero]

like 300 max, whats the differnce im really uneducated thanks for the help.

[AdolfZander]

I don't think SM57 will make for very nice overheads. Maybe look into some decent condensers. Here's some SDCs off the top of my head...

Okatava Mk-012 (matched set) - ~$375.00 (very nice warm sounding mics)
Rode NT5 (matched set) - ~399.00
Marshall MXL603 (matched set) - ~250.00? (apparently quite harsh on the cymbals)

Regarding the recording hardware, if you're going to a laptop something like a presonus firepod is your best bet, but if you are going to a tower based comp I would say not.

And no, built-in pres that come with an all-in-one type interface are not better than the pres you would find in a decent mixer.

decent individual pres > decent mixer pres > built-in sheister pres IMO

[drk-]

yeah adolf pretty much got it.. i think you would need a little over $800 to make it happen out of the choices that adolf presented the RODE NT5 would be your best bet 'cause they are killer for overheads.. i've tried some on the cymbals and they sound more silky and smooth than those MXL (They're cheaper yeah but..its a little too much)

of course its also up to in what way you want to record.. everything to 2 tracks L & R or do a more extensive multitracking for editing individual sounds and whathave you

[Tju85]

Maybee check out the Alesis IO 16 for an interface.

It was just released a few days ago.

[Need.Of.A.Hero]

thanks guys so let me get this straight? I dont need a mixer i can get an interface instead and mix the recordings directly off my laptop? If so thats what ill end up doing, and ill definatley look into the overhead options. Right now all i know is Sm57 for the snare, Beta 52 for the bass.

[SMX_Dizzy]

You can mix in whatever software you choose to use.