Just Starting Home Studio

[MP726]

Hi, I'm new to this board and am going to be setting up a home studio within the upcoming months. I'm just wondering what equipment I should get starting with of course the computer itself. I'm definitely looking for a Mac buy contemplating the iMac or jus go all out for the Mac Pro. For Software I'm leaning towards the standard Pro Tools LE. My budget is anywhere from $2000-$3000. Any advice or suggestions would be really helpful. Thanks a lot!

 

[Bulls Hit]

Decide what interface and software you're going to use first, then decide on your computer

 

[therage!]

Hi, I'm new to this board and am going to be setting up a home studio within the upcoming months. I'm just wondering what equipment I should get starting with of course the computer itself. I'm definitely looking for a Mac buy contemplating the iMac or jus go all out for the Mac Pro. For Software I'm leaning towards the standard Pro Tools LE. My budget is anywhere from $2000-$3000. Any advice or suggestions would be really helpful. Thanks a lot!

First thing first,

what do you want to record? Yourself? A band?

 

[dgatwood]

Hi, I'm new to this board and am going to be setting up a home studio within the upcoming months. I'm just wondering what equipment I should get starting with of course the computer itself. I'm definitely looking for a Mac buy contemplating the iMac or jus go all out for the Mac Pro. For Software I'm leaning towards the standard Pro Tools LE. My budget is anywhere from $2000-$3000. Any advice or suggestions would be really helpful. Thanks a lot!

PT LE definitely wouldn't be my first, second, third, or even fourth choice in DAWs on the Mac, but if you really want to....

I would strongly point you towards better software. For one thing, they lock you to their own hardware (which is generally inferior to other hardware at the same price point). That alone should be enough to outright reject it for a home studio. You're paying more for that setup than you would for something much better from other vendors. If you're running a commercial studio where your clients "expect" Pro Tools, then go for it. Otherwise, I wouldn't touch it with a ten meter pole.

Your best choices, IMHO, are Logic (Apple) and Digital Performer (MOTU). Of these, the only one I've used is Digital Performer, though I own a copy of Logic and hope to get it installed one of these weeks, time permitting. They are both solid pieces of software that perform well and don't try to lock you in (except insofar as that they are both Mac-specific, but both can export projects in AAF and OMF for importing into Pro Tools if you ever need to send your content to a studio for mastering, etc.).