My studio purchase

[Bisson820]

Hey guys... if you would, please give me your opinions on what should change/be replaced... or if im setting myself up pretty well for the budget im on.

For any recommendations please keep around the same price as what i've already listed... my budget aint very flexible .

Computer - 21.5 iMac (12 GB) - $1470

Software - Logic Pro 9 - $500

Interface - Presonus Firestudio 2626 - $600

Vocal Mic - Shure KSM44 - $800

Instrument Mics - Shure SM 57's and Shure SM 94's

Drum Mics - 4 Shure SM 57's - $100 each

Kick Mic - Shure Beta 52a - $190

Overheads - 2 Shure SM 94's - $200 each

DI Boxes (i feel weak here) - 3 Behringer GI100 Ultra G - $50 each

Preamp - Presonus tubePRE - $130

Headphone amp - Presonus HP4 - $130

Headphones - nothin yet

Monitors - KRK Rockit Powered 6 G2 - $200 each

Total: $4970

Thanks for the input!!!

 

[Racherik]

Sound and room treatment?

Racherik

 

[Yonce N Mild]

If you're on a budget I'd lose the mac and logic and go with a PC and reaper. Spending $800 on a PC and $60 on reaper will save you over a grand. You could use some of that on room treatment. I haven't heard particularly good things about the presonus tube pre. The preamps in your interface will be as good or better than the tube pre. Also you what's with all the shure mics? You might want to mix it up a little bit although none of those mics you selected are bad. Also buying mics used can save you a ton of money. Watch craigslist for used 57s sometimes you can get em for as little as $40. Use the money you save buying used to pick up a nice preamp or two.

What are you going to be recording?

 

[Bisson820]

thank you both!

Room treatment is under a seperate budget. im well aware tahts the starting ground of a good sound.. this is just my gear budget.

as far as going PC goes, i have nothinga gainst PC but im acustomed and alraedy familiar and trained on Logic and want to stick with it, and i'd prefer the mac. i know its ignorant but its what i want for my computer and software goes.

the preamp was on reserve for me, that if i decided that the preamps on the firestudio werent cuttin it for vocals then i'd try that.

and the going all Shure was a coincidence really... its not like im only partial to that brand (even tho i do like shure a lot).

what would you recommend me switching out?

And i will be recording an aray of things. Mostly my projects but in time and experience i wouldnt be against bringing in some people to record for a low budget demo.

edit - im very against buying used mics.

 

[bstarstudios]

id say scratch the tubepre and spend about 20-30$ more and get the studip projects vtb-1. i own both an love the vtb-1 a lot more, much warmer sounding.

 

[Yonce N Mild]

as far as going PC goes, i have nothinga gainst PC but im acustomed and alraedy familiar and trained on Logic and want to stick with it, and i'd prefer the mac. i know its ignorant but its what i want for my computer and software goes.

I understand that comfort level is important, you just have to decide if it's $1000 worth of important.

edit - im very against buying used mics.

Any particular reason why? I have had pretty good luck buying used mics.
I picked up one of these sets for $180 on craigslist.

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Shure-PG-6Piece-Drum-Microphone-Package?sku=270298

what would you recommend me switching out?

Nothing really, I'm not much of a mic expert anyway. Just seemed strange to me.

 

[Steenamaroo]

I understand that comfort level is important, you just have to decide if it's $1000 worth of important.



Any particular reason why? I have had pretty good luck buying used mics.
I picked up one of these sets for $180 on craigslist.

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Shure-PG-6Piece-Drum-Microphone-Package?sku=270298


Nothing really, I'm not much of a mic expert anyway. Just seemed strange to me.

+1..

if i was on a budget, "mac" and "new mics" wouldn't be in my vocabulary.

 

[moresound]

If your worried about your thoughts about Berhringer DIs they are OK but they are active and require Phantom power.
If I were you I would go with Radial passive DIs.... you'll be much happier.

 

[Bisson820]

i have bought used mics in the past and wasnt very pleased and im a skeptic of used gear.

and steen... im on my own budget... being on "a budget" can be completely different.... my budget is what i've represted, give or take a couple hundred probably if its totally worth it.

i'm not looking to debate mac vs pc or new vs used. however i appreciate the input yonce!

as far as the radial DI's... can you explain please?

 

[Steenamaroo]

if you would, please give me your opinions on what should change/be replaced...

that's just my opinion on what should be changed or replaced..but hey, each to their own right?

my personal experience is that i wish i'd spent more on good mics at the start, and less on the computer.

but hey, we all get to the same place in the end.. so best of luck...

if you can afford it, imacs are fackuckin lovely

 

[Yonce N Mild]

my personal experience is that i wish i'd spent more on good mics at the start, and less on the computer.

I wish I'd spent more money and time on room treatment and monitors. If I was starting over that would be my first step not the finishing touch.

 

[Steenamaroo]

actually,that's a fair point! good call..

the only reason i haven't done anything in terms of treatment is cos i'm working out of a garage that still has to function as a garage

but one day i'll spent stupid amounts of money on making a room or two sound good lol.

 

[Yonce N Mild]

i'm not looking to debate mac vs pc or new vs used. however i appreciate the input yonce!

No problem dude, I totally understand. I'm a PC tech by trade so obviously I'm a PC guy and I've been buying and selling on ebay and craigslist for the better part of a decade so I'm pretty comfortable with the ins and outs of buying used gear. If that route isn't for you that's cool, to each his own.


I would do a little more research on the mics and see if you can't get a little variety in there. Here's a thought too what about this kit?

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Shure-Drum-Mic-Kit?sku=270263

That would give you 3 57s and a Beta 52a for $400 add another 57 for $100 and you just saved $90.

Or try this pack http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Shure-PG-6Piece-Drum-Microphone-Package?sku=270298

That's the one I use and I'm pretty pleased with it. The kick mic could be a little better though. You could always get a beta 52a or an audix D6 and use the kick mic that comes with the pack on your low floor tom.

Maybe check out the Senhiser E906 or 609 for micing guitar cabs even though you'll probably want a 57 or two as well it's nice to have some variety.

 

[Yonce N Mild]

the only reason i haven't done anything in terms of treatment is cos i'm working out of a garage that still has to function as a garage

but one day i'll spent stupid amounts of money on making a room or two sound good lol.

I hear that. Up until recently I was working in a spare bedroom that doubled as an office. Not much I could do with it. Last year my brother bought a house with a 20 x 30 basement rec room. I moved all my treatment and gear over there and I'm loving the results I'm getting in a nice big well treated room. I actually deliberately try to capture some room sound when I track now instead of avoiding it at all costs.

I will add that you don't even need to spend stupid amounts of money. We made all our panels from scratch with rigid fiberglass and burlap. Easily under $500.

 

[moresound]

as far as the radial DI's... can you explain please?

Well you can google them up and read about them.
You don't have to get the expensive ones.
You can get the Pro di passive (no phantom required) for under $90.

 

[Steenamaroo]

I will add that you don't even need to spend stupid amounts of money. We made all our panels from scratch with rigid fiberglass and burlap. Easily under $500.

yeh,i'm lookin forward to that! i like buildin stuff


i think i've been really lucky with this garage, cos, by the book it's a bad room, but i track drums in here and they sound great,

plus, i'm always striving to make my mixes sound better, but i've never had problems because of the room (that i know of)


i guess it's one of those things tho, like you say. you set up properly somewhere and go WOW! this is what i've been missing!

 

[moresound]

yeh,i'm lookin forward to that! i like buildin stuff


i think i've been really lucky with this garage, cos, by the book it's a bad room, but i track drums in here and they sound great,

plus, i'm always striving to make my mixes sound better, but i've never had problems because of the room (that i know of)


i guess it's one of those things tho, like you say. you set up properly somewhere and go WOW! this is what i've been missing!

Hey maroo ....how are you?
I've had some pretty good luck with 2nd hand office dividers that I picked up real cheap at a surplus office store.
They practically gave them away! I use them as go-betweens and to help with poor acoustics of some rooms in the studio.

 

[Steenamaroo]

i'm pretty good thanks!
my car (that i'm sellin) just passed the vehicle test, so i'm pretty chuffed

goin well with you?

we used to use those dividers in college for separation in live group recordings.. they did the job
i'd look into that kind of thing, but i'm movin to a student flat in england in 3 or 4 weeks.
it'll be all work and no play for steenamaroo me thinks

 

[moresound]

i'm pretty good thanks!
my car (that i'm sellin) just passed the vehicle test, so i'm pretty chuffed

goin well with you?

we used to use those dividers in college for separation in live group recordings.. they did the job
i'd look into that kind of thing, but i'm movin to a student flat in england in 3 or 4 weeks.
it'll be all work and no play for steenamaroo me thinks

Dam ..........................we better party now then Maroo

 

[Bristol Posse]

Well you can google them up and read about them.
You don't have to get the expensive ones.
You can get the Pro di passive (no phantom required) for under $90.

+1 for Radial DIs, I love mine assuming you truly need DI at all
Most interfaces can take a Hi Z intrument in straight from the instrument.
If you are looking at long cable runs or running an instrument through a Mic pre that is looking for a Low impedence, balanced XLR input then fair enough.
Radial Pro Passive DI is a great little box