#rockingdodars

[apollostowel]

[rockingdodars]

This is version has everything removed but two tracks, the uke strum, and the uke picking. The strum track was done with a Kanile'a K1 dlx superconcert w/ D'addario T2 strings - using an Apogee Jam connected to an iPad, with Ampkit+ acoustic setup. The picking track was done with a Koaloha pikake concert w/ Living Water strings - using an Apogee Mic connected to an iPad, recorded into Garage Band, with a touch of added reverb. No other EQ. During the pauses, imagine there's a drum part. ;)

For Christmas, I got an Apogee Mic and the required accessory kit, and so far, not regretting going with that over the finally released Blue Spark Digital. Sure, the Spark has a dedicated headphone-out, but it also has a worse 16-bit internal DAC, and no way to connect it to a mic stand. FAIL, Blue. FAIL. The Apogee Mic OTOH has a 24-bit DAC. Yes the latency claimed by Apogee would be an issue, if I monitored through headphones, which I don't. My headphones are Audio Technica ep700s. They're purpose built to be open monitors. I can hear myself and the playback just fine. I don't listen so loud that bleed-through is an issue.

The Apogee Mic is basically so good, that I'm not feeling a need for much in the way of EQ and such. I guess if I'd gotten the Spark, I'd feel the same.. but having to have a shock mount internationally shipped just to connect it to the mic stand would hugely suck.

In this demo, the mic is positioned about 10 inches away from the lower bout of the uke.

[apollostowel]

How I spent my day...

[rockingdodars]

Adding better equipment

My last post here was about recording the vocal track....so much has happened since then, where to start?

Okay, firstly. I'm typing this from bed on my laptop because on Thursday I collapsed and then again on Friday and fractured my pelvis in the fall...let's just say it's really painful and leave it at that.

The rest...

More after the jump

I ended up doing eight vocal tracks for Kim and none of them sounded right or good enough for the final edit.  It was obvious to us all that I needed a decent mic to record. The problem is we're doing all of this on a shoestring budget as none of us the money to splurge.

So, since Kim is the one that is good at knowing what we need, she started to research and found what I needed from Thomann.de, which included a decent mic, headphones, pop filter and many other things that I had no idea would be needed! Thank goodness for the internet and sites that allow you to bundle it all together.

So, it's time for me to find the money - thinking my Dad will be buying me an early Christmas/birthday present in the form of this bundle, a Technica (Audio Technica ;) - Kim) AT2020 microphone, cables, mic stand, a T-bone MS80 (MS180, but it doesn't matter - Kim) pop filter and Behringer Xenyx 302 USB which will power it all. Obviously, until I have these and am able to set them all up, the vocal track won't happen.

The good thing is we're in no rush and with ten other songs ready to work on, it won't delay us any. I can add the vocal track when I have the things I need, now to convince my Dad (and bank!) I really need this stuff...

I'll keep you updated with how they work out (oh, and how my pelvis is doing too!)

Joey