Home Project Studio gear list...

[Johnny Blaze]

Ok so yeah, I've posted this in the Studio Building forum and we got off into some other discussion, lol. So I figured I would post it where it belongs. So this is a list of the stuff I'm getting for a little home project studio to record very simple stuff at first. Mostly acoustic guitars and vocals, a cello, two violins, keyboards/piano, and possibly some hand percussion (bongos, etc.). I'm not looking to do everybody live, mostly track one at a time. Especially since my mic list is very slim as I'm starting out. So anyway, here it is:

DigiDesign 002R
Neutrik TRS 48pt patch bay
Furman PL-Plus Series II p.conditioner
EarthWorks 1022 *OR* Avalon AD2022 (not sure yet, this is where you help)
FMR RNC, two of them
FunkLogic NCC-1701 rackmount for two RNCs
Focusrite OctoPre w/ADAT option
ProCo 50' 8 channel snake (2)
Mackie HR824a (2, of course)
PreSonus HP4 Headphone Amp
Neumann TLM103
Royer R-121 ribbon
various ProCo and home made XLR and TRS(1/4") cables
Hosa Fiber Optic cable
QuickLok MI RS513 14U Rolling Rack
Shure Popper Stopper

I think thats it except for the mic stands and stuff. I have them listed just not in the post. So this is the product of about 3 weeks of collaborating on here, the homerecordingconnection forum, and the Andy Sneap (very popular metal engineer in the UK) forum at ultimatemetal.com. I started off with less stuff, and less experimenting...as far as using stuff I never have that is. So anyway, .02 please. Mhmm.

JBlaze

[4-Man Takedown]

Looks very good. A lot can be done with that.

[Stefan Elmblad]

You'd be hard pressed to record without a recording medium.

[aroomstudios]

OK why are you talkin about getting 10 channels of mic pres when your only getting 2 mics? from what your talkin about you only need 1 or 2 mics at a time. the avalon 2022 is a good mic pre, you should also check out the Avalon 737, or the UA 6176, or Millennia Media STT-1 Origin. (micpre's are the most inportant chain, so dont buy junk)

Dump the tlm 103 that mics sucks get the TLM 170

and dump the FMR comps and get yourself a UERI 1176, or you could get the stereo version the 1178

also the octopre is a piece of junk compare to the avalon, I would just dump this one all together and just deal with 1 or 2 channels of very good pres. as you will most likely only be doing 1 or 2 track at a time

the royer 121 is a great mic buy this

also dont buy premade cable if you know how to solder get canare cable and neutrik plugs and make them yourself, they will be half the price and twice as good

and if youve got the money by a apogee converter like the psx 100 or simular

I would also recomend buying a de esser like an orban 536 or simular (you can get these on ebay for about $60)

So you chain for doing vocals would be as follows

Neumann TLM 170 to
Avalon 737 (or simular) to
Urei 1176LN to
De-Esser to
Apogee A/D Psx-100 (or simular) running via digital cable to the Digi 002

you could use the TLM 170 or the Royer 121 for any of the stuff you will be recording they are both great mics

This will hold up to any commercial recording done at a major studio

all your other stuff on the list looks good so go with that

also try and find this stuff used you will save a bunch of money

PS you will also need to get an eq to run the monitor on

If you do need more the 2 channels of mic pres theres a company called davisound that make 1,2, 4, and 8 channel pres simular to API and great river that are not too expencive. these would sound great on any strings or ac guitar, also any distant micing like drum over heads, and so on

[Johnny Blaze]

Originally Posted by Stefan Elmblad

You'd be hard pressed to record without a recording medium.

Huh? Can you re-iterate and explain some more?

JBlaze

[Johnny Blaze]

Also, I don't have JUST two mics on my list. I have like 8 other microphones that I have already bought. Shure SM57, Sennheiser e609, Sennheiser MD421 MKII, Rode NT2000...I wanted a couple of nice condensors on the list specifically for acoustic guitars, vocals, and cello/violin/upright bass recording.

[kragbax]

Originally Posted by Johnny Blaze

Huh? Can you re-iterate and explain some more?

JBlaze

Course I don't want to put words into any ones mouths, but it seems as if he's referring to the fact you've got a complete studio listed in your items to buy, but no mention of a recording medium (PC/Mac, HD24, etc.). You've got the Digidesign listed, so I'd presume you're recording to computer. So either you've got the computer already and didn't bother listing it, or you'll need to factor that purchase in as well (and add it to the list). Good luck!

-Krag

[Johnny Blaze]

Actually yeah that is what I figured after I had posted about it, lol. Wanted to make sure but anyway, yes. I have a Mac and a PC. My PC is:

Pentium 4 3.4gHz w/800mHz FSB
2gb RAM
Seagate 80gb 7,200rpm internal
Western Digital 250gb 10,000rpm external (firewire400)

And I also have a PowerBook G4 1.8 gHz G4 with 700 something ram and I also have another WD 250gb external drive for it.

I plan on getting a PowerMac G5 with dual 2.0 processors and like 4gb of ram, but that will be later on when I decide to mess with drums and such. Mhmm.

JBlaze

[Stefan Elmblad]

Originally Posted by kragbax

Course I don't want to put words into any ones mouths, but it seems as if he's referring to the fact you've got a complete studio listed in your items to buy, but no mention of a recording medium (PC/Mac, HD24, etc.). You've got the Digidesign listed, so I'd presume you're recording to computer. So either you've got the computer already and didn't bother listing it, or you'll need to factor that purchase in as well (and add it to the list). Good luck!

-Krag

That was exactly what I meant. Even though I assumed he just forgot to put on the list.

[MX3282]

Nice equipment for a home-studio. How much is this all gonna cost? did you get a quote on all this stuff yet?

if you did, let me know too.

I gotta get rid of my Behringer mixer and my Aardvark pro Q10 for something alot more reliable and clean. But hey, I was just starting out too.

I think someone in here once said something to the effect of: "You gotta know what bad sounding equipment sounds like in order to know what good sounding equipment sounds like"...or something like that.

Oh well, I'd still like to upgrade my whole system.

[SonicAlbert]

That's a pretty good list. I agree with the poster about dropping the TLM103 and the octopre for something better. Also, it seems to me you need a matched pair of mics for stereo work. You mention recording piano, for example. Matched pairs also work well as room mics.

aroomstudios concept about putting together a first rate recording chain is very valid in my opinion, and is an approach I've taken myself, although not with the exact gear he's mentioned. If you avoid everything but only the best gear for your front end, you'll be able to get far better results than with some of the gear you are considering.

[MX3282]

If you avoid everything but only the best gear for your front end, you'll be able to get far better results than with some of the gear you are considering.

Now there's a quote that alot of beginners should try and remember.
Unfortunately I can't afford the best gear.

[SonicAlbert]

Originally Posted by MX3282

I think someone in here once said something to the effect of: "You gotta know what bad sounding equipment sounds like in order to know what good sounding equipment sounds like"...or something like that.

That might have been me, except what I said was basically that "you need to know what good sounding equipment sounds like in order to know the difference between that and budget gear".

As far as not being able to afford the best gear, some of it is really not as far off in price as you might think. It's more of a mentality than anything, and the ability to be a little patient when it comes to saving money or waiting for a really great deal.

The original poster in this thread pretty much has the idea right, except he sort of fell off the quality wagon just a few items, which have been discussed. Replacing those items with better ones really isn't that much more money.

I posted recently in another thread my theory of how to figure the true cost of gear, so I won't repost that here. Suffice it to say that better gear (more expensive gear) can actually cost the same or less in the long run than cheaper gear.

[ez_willis]

Originally Posted by Johnny Blaze

My PC is:

Western Digital 250gb 10,000rpm external (firewire400) JBlaze

I didn't know they had made such an animal yet, is this as quiet as the 36g Raptor, and have you got a link for this drive, I'd like to check it out?

[Johnny Blaze]

Well, it's just a normal WD 250gb drive, I just bought an enclosure for it that has two USB 2.0 ports and two FireWire400 ports on the back. Really quiet actually. Sits right on my desktop, since it is usually in transit with me and my laptop.

I think you guys are right about having the OctoPre, I don't really need it at first, so that will open up another $1k or so for me.

As far as the "qoute" goes, I have a $13k budget basically. And I think the total so far is like $10k or so, I don't want to go OVER the 10k really, but if I have to, then whatever.

I think I'm going to get a Pendulum Audio MDP-1 2 channel mic pre, a matched pair of Josephson C42 small diaphragm fet condensors, and maybe a Soundelux U195. Sound good? I think the FMR compressors will be fine for what I'm doing. Once I go upgrade for drums and stuff, then I'll look at some nicer ones. Comments?

JBlaze

[Jburn34]

I think that I would go with the Avalon. You would be suprised how much better any microphone will sound through the Avalon. It's got a very clear open sound, but you can turn down the output trim all the way and crank the input a little more to get a little bigger sound. You might also want to check on the new Presonus high end pre (the ADL 1600)...I've never heard that one but some guys have been doing some shoot-outs and it's faired very well against the Avalon and some Neve's.

I would also consider changing the octapre for a Presonus Digimax LT. It will be a little less and in my opinion is as good or better of an option. I have been pleasantly suprised with mine. I also think you'll be very happy with the digi002r.

Also, the tlm103 is decent, but you could probably do better for the money.

[Johnny Blaze]

Ok new list. I'm not even getting a channel strip for now since I only need like two mics at once on anything. Once I get into drums then I will worry about more...but I think the 8 that the 002 has will be enough, easily for what I'm going to be doing mainly at first. Here it is:

PowerMac G5 dual 2.0 $2,499.00
Lifetime Memory 1GB DDR400 SDRAM (2) $ 679.94
Universal Audio UAD-1 Project Pak $ 399.97
DigiDesign 002R $1,199.97
MOTU Digital Performer 4.5 $ 499.97
Mackie Control Universal $ 999.97
Mackie HR824a (2) $1,399.88
ProCo MT8XFXM50 50' 8 ch. snake $ 159.97
Josephson C42 matched pair $ 950.00
Soundelux U195 $1,095.00
Pendulum Audio MDP-1 Preamp $2,495.00
Shure PS-6 Popper Stopper $ 26.19
QuikLok MI A-213 mini-boom $ 34.97
QuikLok MI A206BK boom (2) $ 97.94
QuickLok MI RS513 14U Rolling Rack $ 135.97
Furman AR-1215 AC regulator $ 389.97
FMR RNC (2) w/FL NCC-1701 $ 390.00
Neutrik NYS-SPP-L 48pt patch bay $ 94.97
Ace Products APC-12S 10pack (2) $ 49.94
QuikLok MI BS300 Speaker Stand (2) $ 109.94
PreSonus HP4 Headphone Amp 4 ch. $ 99.97
____________

Total $13,808.53

Minus the XLR and TRS cables for everything else which I will make myself, so the last $200 in the budget will go to that. Everything including a Mac, and a controller. I know alllllll about the Avalon mic pres. I help out at a pro studio and all they use are TLM103's with Avalon vt737 mic pre's. Perfect combo. But I've heard sound clips of stuff that is pretty much what I will be doing using the PA MDP-1 and the Josephson and Soundelux mics. So I have actually HEARD the results. No biggie though. Eventually I will have a TLM103, or 127, an Avalon vt737-sp, U87, etc. I will have a very nice collection of mics and pres. But again, keyword is *eventually*. Right now this is what I need. Mhmm.

JBlaze

[Johnny Blaze]

Wow, I just looked at your site (namesake) and I reallllllly love your place man. Very nice. It looks like a high school auditorium converted into a studio, haha. That is really cool though. Nice gear also. Need anybody to come help? :P I will move there to work. Seriously.

JBlaze

[Jburn34]

Hey man,

The new list looks good.

I wish those pics were my studio. It was actually a mobile recording that was done in a recital hall at the local college. It is really sweet in there...I've done a few things there and that rooms sounds great.

I wish that room was in my studio!

[Freudian Slip]

Some will hate me for this but.... I would swap out the presounus headphone amp for the Behringer Powerplay 4700. The reason is this. It has bass and treble controls on each output. This means you don't have to have matching headphones and it's only $10.00 more. If you vomit at the thought of behringer, Samson makes what appears to be the exact same amp.

It's the only behringer thing I have but it could just not be beat for the price & features.

Anybody want the sticker that came with it


F.S.

[Jburn34]

I agree that the Behringer headphone amp is good. It's also the only piece of Behringer gear that I own (I've owned others and not been pleased). But the headphone amp is worth having.

[Freudian Slip]

Hey Jburn, Just got to say love the name namesake recording. I was checking out the site and all the sudden it hit me.... Nice word play
You came that close to naming it after you didn't ya



F.S.

[Johnny Blaze]

Well, I think for right now the HP4 will work fine, as in it doesn't matter at this point about much more than a volume control for everybody. With the musicians that I work with, and will be working with, bass and treble controls won't matter, they are really good about just "dealing" with it. They care more about being able to record their stuff than how comfortable their time in some headphones are.

JBlaze

[Johnny Blaze]

However, after looking at the unit, I beleive it would come in handy. Also the fact that I can put it IN the rack instead on top or on the desk is a plus for me as well. Thanks guys.

JBlaze

[HangDawg]

Nobody has asked yet so I guess I will. Where will you be recording? Are your room/rooms treated so you can track and mix in them and hear what you are doing. If not, you better set back a few more thousand dollars. All that nice equipment will be useless if you don't.