OK, so I am building a setup in my home studio, which would allow me to record mainly percussive acoustic instruments like shakers, glockenspiel, and various types of ethnic or homemade instruments, in a live situation. Since I already use two condensers for vocals in the same setup and also play electric guitars "in the box", I want this mic to minimally pick up on all of these.

Dear all,

This is my first post. Thank you all so much for an invaluable resource! I have read the rules, searched for a similar post but nothing was quite like I was looking for so here it is!

I'm looking for something to record acoustic instruments and probably act as a drum mic occasionally. Acoustic instruments are by far the more important use for me. Guitar and Violin mostly. Thanks!

My other mics are a RODE NT1A and an SM58.

I am about to buy a pair of active speakers for our rehearsal studio (18 square metres), mainly for voice and acoustic instruments to come out. (We also have drums, electric bass, sometimes guitar or keyboards but we still don't know if it would be better for all the instruments to come out of the PA speakers). I made a little research and found:

Aloha,

I did a search but came up with nada.

I'm looking for software that will recreate the sounds of acoustic instruments reasonably well. What I'm after is something where there was a microphone, a player, and a studio involved in creating it. I'd want it to include electric bass for sure.

The same idea for drums would be great.

Any recommendations?

I'm recording Banjo and Mandolin. Anyone here got experience recording these instruments? I'm not happy with the sound I get from my existing mics (AKG 3000C and an SM57). The space I'm recording in doesn't have a particularly nice sound, so I think I'm looking for something fairly directional. And it will have to be under 200 US$/ 160 GB£.

Thanks, Jim.