Reddit reviews PYLE-PRO Pyle 7-Piece Wired Dynamic Kit-Kick Bass, Tom/Snare & Cymbals Microphone Set-for Drums, Vocal, Other Instrument-Complete with Thread Clip, Inserts, Mics Holder & Case-PDKM7

The first thing you'll need is an audio interface. If you definitely want to do 7 channel recording for the drums, then you'll need an interface with at least that many input channels. I just got a Focusrite Saffire 18i8, which has 8 input channels out of the box. Be aware when shopping for interfaces, they often advertise the maximum possible inputs, which isnt always the number that you get with just the interface itself. The 18i8, for example, is advertised as 18 input channels, but that's only achievable if you buy an another piece of equipment that will transmit extra channels on a digital ADAT connection. There are reasonably priced 7 piece drum mic kits (like this ) that will have all the mic's & most hardware you'd need for the drums. If you don't have any other mics though, you'd probably be better off buying a smaller drum mic kit, maybe a 5 piece, and buying a pair of quality general use mics, like Shure SM57s which you can use for vocals, mic'ing guitar cabs, etc. Keep in mind that you'll also need pre-amps for all the mic's too. Usually interfaces have pre-amps built-in, but not necessarily for all channels. The 18i8, for example only has preamps on 4 channels, so when I use it for recording drums, I need to use the preamps on my mixers for the 4 other channels. Bass can usually be recorded with either DI out from the amp (which most offer) or you can buy an external DI box, which will allow you to take the direct signal, and apply any effects you want in GarageBand. Guitar can be recorded directly if you have a multi-effects board, but usually sounds better if you can put a mic in front of your cabinet and record it live. This can be tough, because you have to deal with outside noises or your family complaining, but it is usually worth the effort.

Haha, yep that's me! Really into Melee, and I'm studying Audio at OU.



SO there's a whole lot you can do with a $1.5-2k budget. Most of my recommendations are going to focus on microphones, but if you're not trying to do that much recording, you can discard that advice and spend more budget on keys and synthesizers—however, making your own samples and working with them can be pretty cool, fun, and very professional-sounding. I'm speaking from already deep into this rabbit hole, so note my bias. BUT! For that budget you can basically get a near-professional quality mini-studio's worth of gear, if you so choose.

In my opinion, if you're just starting out, Piracy can save you a lot of cash that you can better put towards your gear. If your budget is ~1.5k, I would say pirate Logic Pro if you have a Mac machine, or Ableton/Adobe Audition if you have a Windows machine (PM me if you'd like ;) ). You don't really need all of NI Komplete when you're starting out, especially if you get Logic Pro, because they have a LOT of built in instruments. Also, NI packages can be piratable too. This is all assuming, of course that you're comfortable with pirating software, I understand if you're not, but it can save some cash, and you don't really need a license until you start making real good stuff that you plan on selling/making a business out of.

As far as gear is concerned, if you're serious about recording you might outgrow your Scarlett pretty fast, since it only has 2 mic preamps. You might want to consider a TASCAM 16x08 or a Focusrite Scarlett 18i20. These will let you handle 8 microphones at the same time, which means you can also get a mic kit for your drums. This will get you the absolute best sound out of your drums (provided you learn to use them properly, of course). Learning how to mic drums is a really cool process and there's a lot of room for really making it your own and experimenting with different techniques.

As far as drum mics go, you have cheapest quality at Pyle Pro Mic Kit, Medium Quality at CAD Audio Mic Kit, High Quality at AKG Mic Kit, and professional quality with an Audix DP7 Mic Kit. Even with these, you're still going to want something versatile too.

If you want to also sample some stuff IRL or record other instruments, then get one or two good Dynamic Mics to handle Vocals, Guitar cabs, or wind instruments. You're spot on with the Shure SM57, that thing is a swiss army knife of a microphone and is nearly indestructible. You probably can't go wrong with a matching pair, but you could also go for a SM57 and a Sennheiser e609 to cover all your bases, as the e609 will probably sound better on a guitar cab if you're looking to record guitars.

Okay, now MIDI! The Akai Pro MPK Mini II is a good bet and will definitely do all that you need it to, but if you find yourself needing more keys, there are some good midi controllers out there for just about the same price, for example an M-Audio Controller. It doesn't have as many programmable knobs, but that shouldn't matter unless you're using it to control a software synthesizer, and you need to utilize cutoff, attack, resonance, etc. on the fly. If you're really set on electronic music, then the Akai may be right up your alley, since these knobs will give you more control over your tone.

Aside from that, if you have these tools you can do nearly anything. Check out YouTube tutorials, learn how to use a sampler, learn what the different knobs on a synth do, and get some basic production background and get started! Experimenting in a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) is really fun, so I think the best thing you can do when you're starting of is mess around and see what you can do. Best of luck, let me know if you have any questions.

These have proven quite serviceable.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003FW0IHA?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

I'm not under any illusion that they're terribly high quality, but they get you in the game and you can replace with better mics as you go.

Also, if you're going to record you're going to need some way to get the music from the mics into your computer, either a digital interface or a mixer with a digital out. If you're only recording (not going to play live) then you probably want the interface, though I know next to nothing about them. Lots of info on YouTube.

(if you get the mic pack above make sure whatever you get has phantom power so you can use the condenser mics).

Hah, yep. It'll be worth it though. Something I forgot to mention: If a review ever says "But the overheads don't work!" it means that whoever wrote that review doesn't know how to use phantom power.

Also, I just ran across this. It's damn cheap right now and, from the reviews, is not a bad deal. that'll make it significantly less expensive than the other individual mics and you get mics for all of your different surfaces. Now, these are lower quality than the mics above, but they will definitely get the job done. Again research is key.

Links to gear posted above:

Behringer X18 Air rack mount mixer: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/XR18

Drum mics: http://www.amazon.com/Pyle-Pro-PDKM7-Microphone-Mounting-Accesories/dp/B003FW0IHA

GLS Audio Mics (I also recommend their XLR cables): http://www.speakerrepair.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=genem&Category_Code=microphones

EV powered speakers: http://www.zzounds.com/item--ELVELX112?siid=99167&gclid=CIHX2a-XqMQCFdccgQoda5EAxw

Mic stands: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/on-stage-stands-mic-stand-package

This could get expensive, just warning you haha.

First you'll need mics. Now, you can either buy these all seperate, or get a drum mic pack, which is what I did when I first got into recording, and still use quite a bit.

Here's a link to a really cheap drum mic pack that sounds pretty good for what it costs.
http://www.amazon.com/Pyle-Pro-PDKM7-Microphone-Mounting-Accesories/dp/B003FW0IHA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388658490&sr=8-1&keywords=pyle+pro+drum+mic

Now, the mics go into an audio interface via XLR cables. The mics go into the inputs of an interface which in turn give you seperate tracks on your daw that can mix individually.

The interface I use is the Tascam US-1800. I would recommend it, but honestly I would get a Focusrite interface instead.
http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Interface-Microphone-Preamplifiers/dp/B00AZLA9VY/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1388658715&sr=8-10&keywords=focusrite

Now you'll need a DAW on your computer so you can mix everything. Audacity is free but it kinda sucks, so I would get Reaper or something. It has a free trial that never ends. I have Logic Pro 9 and love it (even more so than Logic Pro X).

Then research monitors and headphones so you can mix with them. I would recommend Yamaha HS-8's for monitors and Audio Technica m50s for headphones, I have them and love them to death.

Signal Flow:
Drums -> Mics -> Cables -> Inputs on Interface -> DAW -- Mixdown on Monitors or headphones

But please, please listen carefully to me on this: you can buy like the most expensive gear in the world and it won't do any good at all if you suck at mixing. So PLEASE do yourself a favor and IMMERSE yourself in online articles about drum mixing, mixing in general, and audio in general. research everything heavily, It will pay off I swear.

I looked up audiotechnica. It's a bit too pricey so I got a sm57 instead. As for drum mics, I found a little package for 7 piece drum microphones for $200.

https://www.amazon.ca/Pyle-Pro-Pdkm7-7-Piece-Drum-Mic/dp/B003FW0IHA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481920363&sr=8-1&keywords=Drum+microphones

Just in case you have experience, would this be worth the price?

I totally plan on getting drum mics over the summer when I start working.

Would you say a mic set like this would suffice as a first set of mics? They sounded reasonable on youtube demos and reviews. Should I invest in slightly higher-quality mics, or would these be good enough for basic recording?

Also, is there a difference in sound/quality between EQ-ing on an audio interface vs. EQ-ing on computer software such as Audacity?

If you are looking for some cheap but effective mics I would recommend the PDKM7. I have this set and it works but is not suitable for studio recordings obviously.

I agree with what /u/isaacpercival said if you want some higher quality stuff. The AT2020s are awesome.

Attempting to build a system that will allow us to have in ear monitors for when we go live, as well as in our "studio", however I'm not sure if this will work together or not and I don't want to invest in something that won't work, or is garbage.

Can someone let me know if this will do what I expect, and won't suck? :)

Currently I have a 4 channel mixer plugged into some PA speakers and a Scarlett 2i2 to plug things into my PC.

What that really means is, I have two mics plugged into the PA speakers as well as going to the Scarlett with the rest of everything going through amps and just the drums themselves.

We are a 4 piece band with drums, guitar, bass, and vocals.

Currently with our setup, we can record everything through a mic I have setup in the practice space but it's less than ideal to set levels and actually have any sort of decent sound.

If we want to record things separately then I can just plug whatever we want to record (aside from drums) into the Scarlett and call it good.

However we'd like to have everything go through a central source, and be able to hear that central source play back to us through some IEMs while we play. We would also all like to have our own mixes, and have the mixes be stereo

I'd love suggestions/feedback on my proposed setup and would like to know if what I'm thinking of would even be feasible.

The proposed setup - Cables aren't necessarily a specific brand but the length/type:

1x Behringer XR18 Mixer

1x P16-M

4x Galaxy Audio AS-1100

1x Pyle Pro Drum Mic Kit or some other simple drum mic kit

1x Kick Drum Mic Stand

2x Overhead Mic Stand

6x Short(ish) XLR Cables

2x XLR to 1/4 Cables

How I'm seeing everything plug together is:
Into XR18

• Vocal mics
  
• Guitar amp output
  
• Bass amp output
  
• Drum mic kit
  
  Out of XR18
  
  
• Channels 1-2 -> Galaxy Audio
  
• Channels 3-4 -> Galaxy Audio
  
• Channels 5-6 -> Galaxy Audio
  
• Main L/R -> PA Speakers
  
• Ethernet Port -> P16-M -> Galaxy Audio
  
• USB Port -> PC -> Recording
  
  To me this seems like it SHOULD all work, but I'd like some other opinions on if it will work as I expect or not, or if I need/don't need components.
  
  Is anyone able to see anything that just looks inherintely BAD with the list of components I'm wanting to get? I know the wireless systems aren't great, but we don't want to spend a ton of money (at least right now) on some quality systems.
  
  For now this will all be free-standing but eventually I hope to build a case to house everything. Will all of the above be able to fit inside a case, or will I face any issues?
  
  What are some good cable brands I should go for or avoid?

I think you're talking about this Pyle pack maybe? Definitely a no-no. Like we mentioned, if you're paying $100 for a decent mid/high end microphone, there's no reason you'd pay $100-200 for seven of them. Their frequencies, their durability, their sound reproduction, everything about cheaper microphones (particularly "sets" like this) are awful.

I haven't tried the Pyle series (that I mentioned above in that link) personally, but from what I've read, if you're trying to get anything more than a half-decent sound, you want LESS but BETTER mics, not MORE but WORSE mics. Quality >>>> Quantity in this instance.

Heck, I've gotten a fantastic sounding kit with a Shure SM57 and an AKG 120. Single AKG 120 as overhead, Shure SM57 (as it's the only other mic I had at the time) on kick drum, a few feet away. A light bit of EQ, some compression. It was quite good. If you'd like, I can send you the video in a private message. (It's linked to my main YouTube account)

Comparatively, these $100-200 7piece combos are like USB Rock Band/Singstar microphones but with XLR/Audio Interface capability (pre-amped). Not worth the money at all. They're marketed towards beginner players who absolutely must get something. At that price you're better getting a ZOOM H2/H3/whatever the current one is. $200, built in stereo audio recorder, some shoot HD video as well.

Is this a good mic set? http://www.amazon.com/Pyle-Pro-PDKM7-Microphone-Mounting-Accesories/dp/B003FW0IHA Am I right to assume the big one is the kick mic? If so I also would need a snare mic, got any recommendations for one?

I'd recommend working your way up to 7 mics. If you try to buy all seven at once, you'll end up getting cheap ones, and it'll sound worse than buying four good ones. Monoprice has a decent matched pair of condensors for $100. For the snare, you can go with an SM57. They're $100 new, but you can get them more cheaply used, and they last forever. I have the same ones I used in highschool, and they still work just as well as the day I got them. You can use it on your guitar cab, as well (or just buy two for live tracking). I also use a Beta 52 for the kick drum. That runs for a bit under $200.

As for stands, if you're not using them live, Guitar Centre sells a 10 pack for about $90. They aren't perfect, but they'll work.

So, for good equipment, you're looking at almost $600 in mics alone. You can get cheaper kits, but the sound quality won't be as good and they'll break more easily. You get what you pay for.

For bass, I just DI. You can buy a proper DI box or just plug into the interface. But, for $40, having a few DI boxes around comes in handy, especially if you want to record live. You can also mic the bass cab with something like the aforementioned Beta 52.

As I said before, you'll want an SM57 for the guitar cab. It gets the job done, and is pretty much the industry standard. You can spend more on fancier mics, but that money is best spent elsewhere.

As for vocals, you can buy a decent condenser mic from Monoprice, but to start off, just use the same 57 you've used for the guitar and drums, and just put a $14 pop filter on it.

Finally, you'll need an interface. If you really want to track seven drum mics, I'd go with a Tascam 1800 or a Focusrite 18i20. The latter is better quality, but also double the price.

Sadly, there is no good cheap method of doing things. But here in the digital age, things are a whole lot easier than going through to a 4-track cassette Portastudio when I was your age. If I was in your place, and had $1,000 to spend, I'd buy the following:

Tascam US-1800 ($250)
Two Behringer DI-100s ($80)
The Monoprice Small-Dia Matched Condensers ($100)
Shure Beta 52 ($200)
Two SM57s (or 58s) ($200)
The Guitar Centre 10 Mic Stand pack ($90)

And spend the rest on XLR and 1/4" cables from Monoprice.

After working on recording and mixing for a while, see if you want to expand your drum tracking, or if you want to invest in additional gear as needed. Nothing sucks more than blowing your budget, never using a certain thing, but having to do without something you discover you need.

And most importantly of all, have fun with it. It's a great experience.

You've got everything you need really; I've made demos with far less in the past.

The Macbook Pro is all good, no question. And, it almost certainly has a firewire port, so even better. If I remember correctly, an Mbox Mini is a 2 channel in/out, with one of your inputs also being a mic preamp. I'd upgrade that to a firewire interface, if you're serious about recording with this rig and plan to stick with this; student discounts on audio gear are awweeesssooooommmmeee, so take advantage if you can. I don't have any complaints about the new Mbox Pro, but I'm also a Pro Tools guy.

Being stuck with only 2 (I assume dynamic) mics and 1 condenser, you are definitely limited, but you may be able to get an okay sound out of using all three when recording your drums. Play around with different placement options; Use the condenser as a room mic, making sure to keep it a distance from the actual kit, the input low, etc. Try placing your two dynamic mics in different locations, as overheads, etc. Adjust the levels between the three, try panning one dynamic hard left and the other hard right, etc. Experiment, that's the name of the game. No matter what, it's simply not going to sound as well as it can with a decent number of mics in the usual locations, but you'll have drums that you can hear, which is enough to develop your songs and/or put out a low quality demo to show what you guys can come up with. If /when you do make the move to get a set of mics for the drums, there are packages out there that give you price options. For example, this is $100 http://www.amazon.com/Pyle-Pro-PDKM7-Microphone-Mounting-Accesories/dp/B003FW0IHA and this is $400 http://www.amazon.com/Shure-DMK57-52-Drum-Microphone-Kit/dp/B0002E51C6

Recording the bass amp direct out, all good there.

Recording the guitar, I'd use one (or both) of your dynamics to mic the cab, but you should definitely use the condenser for any acoustic guitar.

And yea, condenser for vocals, obviously all good there.

Also, do you know about http://tweakheadz.com/guide.htm

The guy's website isn't the greatest looking thing, but there's a ton of great info there. Check it out.


edit
And before I forget, since you are using a laptop, you want to invest in an external hard drive. Whenever you create a session in Audition or whatever DAW you are using, you want the session and all the audio files to reside on that external hard drive. This is important. I really only use firewire for these drives, as USB just doesn't cut it for me. At that, I really only use drives made by LaCie or Glyph, which can get expensive. You do have the option of buying an external hard drive case (one with firewire!), and then popping in a 7200 rpm drive, which can save you some cash. If you go that route, check out newegg.com for the case and the drive.

I go to a lot of concerts because I want to get into a career in live sound (or being a studio engineer for bands) when I finish college and I imagine if i wasn't single then I wouldn't be able to go to as many shows because i'd have other things to spend money on.

These microphones would be helpful for recording my drums and I imagine I could use a couple for vocals and whatnot also.

For drums, I just use this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003FW0IHA?pc_redir=1407309391&robot_redir=1

Nothing to write home about, but it will free up a ton of your budget. Most of the sound will be in your mixing, and with those I've gotten a few decent mixes (I am still learning, only getting better).

I was told from a buddy of mine, who owns a studio in Cambridge MA, "Your final product is 10% equipment, 90% talent"

Edit: that bot below me hooked up the lowest prices for you!