The room has tile floors, but has enough furniture in it to dampen it some. I recorded one of our band practices by sticking up the Rode NT1a and the MXL 603S in an X/Y pattern to capture a balance just to help me memorize the arrangements and I think it sounds pretty good. I had been recording in a large closet and then in our bedroom, but was plagued by strange flutter echoes with the lower ceilings. The kitchen is actually the best place to sit with my acoustic and just enjoy how it sounds. It has 12' ceilings and some strange angles in it, not too many parallel surfaces. I recorded in there once, but forgot to turn the fridge back on..... whoops....
OK,in spite of everyone's wisdom and recommendations, I got a pair of the KRK RP5 monitors today at GC for $255 total. I know, I know, should have saved up at least $600...... When I lose money selling these to upgrade to something better, you can all say "I told you so!" I hear weaknesses in them, but they absolutely blow away the micro Roland MA-8 speakers and the cheap headphones I was using. At least now I can actually hear the differences when I play back my A/B tests of the SM57 vs. the NT1a on my vocal and my Pbass with and without Sansamp. And more important, when I compare my mixes to CDs by Gillian Welch, Steely Dan, Todd Runtgren, etc., I can at least objectively hear that at this point, the weakest link is my lack of recording experience. Now I get to work on mic placement..... At least the Pbass through the Sansamp sounds great and the Martin recorded with the MXL603S sounds pretty good too.
I guess I'll read some books about acoustics and look at DIY bass traps and a vocal booth and I'll look at getting some better cables too. The RNC is still on my list. Building this home studio is like the Johnny Cash "one piece at a time" Cadillac, but its getting there. I'm not aiming to be a professional; it's more than a hobby..... more like an obsession or an addiction, but since I gave up drugs and drinking, I have to spend money and obsess on something..... I sure do love tinkering around with this stuff. Definitely more fun than my day job!
Thanks again for all your suggestions,
Go ahead and let me have it for getting the KRKs....
bilco