[jqp]

At least that is my intention - I have purchased some gear, and I can play the guitar, so here we go!

I would love input and advice - I lament the demise of the Home Recording Circle and Project Studio before I even got started. At least a lot of this info is archived (thanks JohnR).

Here is what I have

- multiple guitars - Acoustic Martin (needs an adjustment), Acoustic Doolin (with b-band which I have barely used), a Fender Squier (a little noisy in the electronic/mechanics), a couple of classical guitars

- a good PC with firewire

and my Christmas present to myself, at least my latest one 

-mics SM57, SM58,  cables

-ProFire 610

-ProTools M-Powered 8

- a little Fender 15G so I can play with my nephew at Christmas, and actually play my Squier again...

I have not even opened the Profire and Protools, so first, if anyone feels that is a big mistake, please speak now   

I chose the ProFire 610 because I don't want to create a semi-pro studio as a hobby (yet) but just record myself 90% of the time for fun ( and do some video mixing while I am at it) - willing to bring it back and get something else for a good reason, though. The portability with my laptop also looks very sweet.

I do not like USB and I do like Firewire, so the Profire 610 seemed like a good idea, plus it works with ProTools which seems to be a pretty significant standard.

Even though it has preamps, I am afraid I will need mic preamps, and possibly guitar pre-amps, and I am hoping I will not have top double my expenditure right away.

I know we have some members with experience and expertise - let me know what you think!

[enjoythemusic]

The SM57/58 and longtime standards and used a lot within the industry. As for protools, imho save money and download www.reaper.fm . 64-bit, works with virtually ALL plug-ins, comes with impressive plug-ins and an easy DL of MP3 codec and you are all set (if you actually care about MP3). Reaper handles a VAST amount of formats/types/sampling types/rates.

Used Reaper to make www.THTST.com btw.

[mark kovach]

Maybe times have changed but for the time I was in the recording business in NYC 1980-1997, a shure sm 57,58 was rarely used in high quality recordings.  They are dynamic mics with hi output and hi noise, and not very warm.  Ok for sound reinforcement and great for garage bands (LOW COST) but you need to get some better dynamic mics for snares, brass, electric guitar amplifier, and some good quality condenser mics for acoustic instruments and vocals.  Good mic pre's would be a waste of money on SM 58-57, especially with the lo noise hi dynamic range of pro tools.

[santacore]

Maybe times have changed but for the time I was in the recording business in NYC 1980-1997, a shure sm 57,58 was rarely used in high quality recordings. 

That's not necessarily true, it depends on the application. The SM57 is used a ton on snare and guitar cabinets. In fact, I would go as far as to say it's used more then any other mic for those applications. That said, it doesn't get much use for anything else. The SM58 is popular for live sound, but not too much else. I would probably return that one. On the cheap you might want to get a Rode NT1A. It's very versatile and extremely low noise. For the price I don't know of anything that sounds as good. On a budget it's great for vocals and acoustic guitar.

The interface looks fine and should serve your basic needs. You might want to look into the Presonus stuff too, just to compare before you crack the box. They offer some inexpensive and well thought of products for that price range.

I think Pro Tools is great, but I'm biased as I use it every day for work. There are plenty of other great softwares out there, but since you're on PC I don't have many suggestions beyond the obvious Cubase, Cakewalk, and Nuendo. The bottom like is it's really a personal choice.

Preamps are a whole other deal. Sure it would be great to have something high end and colored sounding, but it's going to cost you. For now, you should probably get the basics together.

That's my 2-cents. I hope it was some help.

[JackD201]

You'll really want a mic pre eventually. There's nothing like recording off your favorite guitar cabinet and you'll surely need at least one for your acoustic guitars. There are VST amp emulators around but there's nothing like the real thing. To me going through the DIs into emulation sounds flat and artificial. You can get away with it for backing work but not for a solo. For acoustic play there's a bevy of choices for large condensers on the market to consider.

Now to borrow famous advice from an AC sage in another thread.....don't "audiophile" it  At this stage buy second hand mics, heck horde!

[Mike Nomad]

Home recording? Another descends into madness

Good choice of FireWire over USB. While the SM57 is essential, the SM58 is a dud. UNLESS what you are really talking about is the Beta 58. That mic is as much of a workhorse for vocals as the SM57 is on instruments. The Beta 58 is also not bad on cabinets. A little more full than the 57, but, beware: The Beta 58 is an Omni...

I'd return ProTools. That is simply way too much gun for the hunt. There are many free/inexspensive software apps that will handle plugins (and it's the plugins you will increasingly rely on). Use the cost savings to offset the thing you will never have enough of: More mics. And like someone else pointed out, you need to be thinking about mic pre-amps.

[Quiet Earth]

Other than the mic pre suggestion I would spend 99 percent of my time getting the most out of what I already own. What you do with it is more important than what it's capable of.

Gear lust will keep you focussed on the limitations of gear and it will keep you from being creative with what you already have. I was more productive when I had the least amount of gear.

Keep the tape rolling and the internet turned off. Play music and have fun.

[jqp]

Thanks for the advice and ideas guys, and keep it coming...

My studio will be for me 90% of the time so I can only use 2 mics at a time probably? One for Vocals/Hamonica and one to mic my acoustic or my little Fender amp...I can keep adding more tracks as I want. Also I can do the same thing for additional musicians, add their tracks with the existing mix line in.

Sounds like keeping the SM57 and returning the SM58 for a better studio mic (condenser?) would be good advice. Not sure I would need a 3rd mic?

THe Pro Fire 610 has 'Octane' preamps - don't know enough to judge wether these will suffice for most off my needs?

Here are the spec of the ProFire 610  - http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/ProFire610.html

I will probably try some of the freeware editing tools before looking at the M Power 8.