The Next Step

[JuliánFernández]

HI Guys! I´m so excited putting my studio together... In a couple of weeks the construction starts... I´ll read a LOT about absorbers, bass traps, acoustics (thanks John Sayers! )and i have the final layout...
My epuiqment so far...
AMD CPU (running Sonar)
Presonus Firepod
Boss DR5
1 Shure SM57 -snare-
1 AKG D112 -bass drum-
2 RODE NT1 -OHs and vocals-
Line6 POD2 -guitar-
QuickShot Keyboard
UB802 (next to drums, to control my MD, Diskman and the DR5)
(the bass goes direct to firepod)
I have a custom guitar amp on the way, and besides the monitors (possibly Tannoys), i would like to know wich is the next step i need to make... Room treatment is done, i have nice instruments -and nice musicians-, so which´s the best investment i can do... I still have to decide if i´ll use C418s or SM57s for toms, but anyway... Help me choose the best rack to improve my sound...
Thanks!!!
(i´m a drummer -jazz, fussion oriented-, and i wanna record this kind of stuff... mostly jazz-rock and funk music)

[Warhead]

If you're recording jazz, I'd suggest socking the money on tom mics away as you more than likely won't need them. Dynamic players who mix themselves while tracking / jammin' don't typically need more than one or two overheads and a kick mic. You mention funk also, which is kick and snare driven and again doesn't exactly scream out the need for tom mics.

If you do go with tom mics, 57's will "do" but won't be anything great. I think Blue Bear uses those C418's, I personally use the E/V ND468 mics but it's all a matter of choice / preference.

I've found that having a good compressor can bring all of the drums to the surface and eliminate the need for tons of mics if your room sounds right and the drums are tuned and the player can play.

What do you find in this setup that you cannot perform a certain function with or without? You may not need to spend a dime.

War

[JuliánFernández]

Thanks War! In fact, you´re right about tom mics for jazz players... the thing is that i work with different people, and not only play jazz...
I thinks it´s very helpfull to have and studio to record drum tracks for songwriters or whatever... even sometime i wanna rent it for people putting togheter a band who needs a nice reheaseal eviroment... (not a pro studio, just a nice place with nice sound)
So, since i love jazz, but i also need to eat , i wanna improve my studio sound to use it in different projects...
I think that the Firepod is just right, and the mics, and the instruments... so, Which is the next step? Compressors? Preamps? Effects?
Thanks!