If I wanted..

[emomusician]

If I wanted to record...

One track at a time.. music being an acoustic guitar, sequenced drums, bass guitar, and some keys and synth, and of course vocals...

what kind of small setup can I get that will give me the ability to create the most professional sound. I'm trying to get my name out in the acoustic/indie scene.. but almost everyone I have heard thats getting anywhere has professional recording even if they aren't signed.. but still... you have to start somewhere.

I have a nice desktop and laptop.. so would like to use my laptop since i could take it wherever.. but either is fine.

I currently already have:
M-audio Delta 66
MXL 990
Art Tube MP Pro preamp
Yamaha MG10/2 mixer
Mesa Boogie Dual Rec (if i ever want to do electric guitar)

What else should I add..

[Monkey Allen]

I dunno, what's your recording software? Is that what you're asking?

Reaper?

[gAngsTa]

Dont you need a DAW?

[ssscientist]

Originally Posted by emomusician

I have a nice desktop and laptop.. so would like to use my laptop since i could take it wherever.. but either is fine.

A desktop is always preferable to a laptop, but let's assume you're going to use your laptop.

You will need three things - an interface, software and monitor speakers.

This would make a good laptop interface --- LINK.

This is a link to Reaper which Mr. Allen mentions above --- LINK.

And these are the speakers I use. Not the cheapest nor the most expensive, but just about right for my needs at home --- LINK.

All together you are looking at about a $500 investment in your creativity.


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[emomusician]

Oh. sorry.. forgot to mention.

I have Adobe Audition.

if I am gonna use my desktop.. looks like what I have is fine? right?

Maybe invest in some nice monitors.

[Monkey Allen]

Yeah, good monitors would be pretty sweet

[ssscientist]

Originally Posted by emomusician

if I am gonna use my desktop.. looks like what I have is fine? right? Maybe invest in some nice monitors.

The Delta 66 card is ancient and lacks midi --- but then so does Adobe Audition. The Tascam interface and Reaper will give let you bring more metaphorical guns out and relieve the pressure of, for example, micing a drum kit when ever you want to use drums on a song.

What you have is workable, but with a relatively small investment it could be much better.


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[emomusician]

I was under the impression that USB wasn't all that hot for recording.

[ssscientist]

Originally Posted by emomusician

I was under the impression that USB wasn't all that hot for recording.

Who ever gave you that impression was wrong.

I have an external USB 2.0 160 gig hard drive which has been trouble-free, and my second computer interface was the older brother of the Tascam I linked in my post. I never had a bit of trouble with that either, and still use it when I take my laptop out for a recording job.

Laptops, both PC and Mac, have scrawny little half sized firewire ports. I tried an adapter and before the show even got started a stage hand bumped and broke it.

USB gets a bad rap --- maybe because the name is not as cool to say as 'firewire' --- but in reality is faster than firewire in bursts and there's a school of thought that says it's the bursts that matter in the audio world...


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[emomusician]

what about that older tascam u mentioned?

whats different about it than the newer one?

[deadleafecho]

A price range would be really helpful. What do you not like about your recordings now?
Regardless, you need to buy some actual monitors if you dont have them. Id do that and save for one really nice pre 8)

[ssscientist]

Originally Posted by emomusician

what about that older tascam u mentioned? whats different about it than the newer one?

The newer one has no insert jacks for the line inputs and it's in a slightly different box.

Other than that they're the same unit.


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