The Newest of Noobs

[JRDillGC]

Watch it your getting close to spamming here.

haha no, no spam here, just stickin' up for my place of employment. I do feel that this thread has been a bit hijacked though....

 

[diggy_dude]

haha no, no spam here, just stickin' up for my place of employment.

Nothing wrong with being loyal to the hand that feeds you, son.

I do feel that this thread has been a bit hijacked though....

Get used to it. It's what we do here.

 

[JRDillGC]

Haha it's all in good fun so no harm no foul. Thanks for the helpful tips so far though. Hopefully I can get this "studio" stuff up and running within the next month!

 

[diggy_dude]

You'll be up and running in a day. Connect the interface and control surface to your USB ports and install the DAW software. Ableton Live has pretty good interactive tutorials built in. I don't know about any of the others.

 

[JRDillGC]

I get Ableton Live 8 Suite for really cheap so I'll be starting with that. Can't wait!

 

[benherron.rrr]

Ok,

Ill be nice and go on topic:

For your needs. . . I would say a good place to start would be. . .

DAW:

If you want something that costs very little go for: reaper.
Your on a Mac, so you could go with logic, the few times I have used it, it has served me well.
Or you could go and buy a Pro Tools system.

There are so many workstations out there its best to try them out if you can and pick the one you like the look of the most

Interface:

For what your needing Id look at somthing with a couple of mic inputs like from companies like:

Focusrite
Presonus
M-audo
Avid.

Or if you want something with a little room to grow.

take alook at the new Mbox Pro
or
M-audio fast track pro

Mics:

I would get a nice dynamic like a shure SM 57 which will help you alot recording guitar.

And

An ok condencer, for your vocals.

Control surface.

Have a look at MIDI keyboards, There are 100s out there, some just have keys, others have sliders, knobs, drumpads and whatever else you can think of. take a look round and see what will meet your needs for the best price.

last but by no means least.

Monitors.

Im not saying go out and spend a shed load on some nice Genelecs. Since your new, one monitor aint going to sound too differently to another.

Start simple. there is not point going and spending shed loads on equipment that you dont really know how to work your way around yet.

 

[diggy_dude]

Start simple. there is not point going and spending shed loads on equipment that you dont really know how to work your way around yet.

Excellent point. My starter rig has the minimum complexity needed to gain experience with all the techniques I'm exposed to.

 

[JRDillGC]

Thanks for the help! For monitors I will be going with a pair of KRK Rokit Power 6's. We have some leftover special editions in red so I can get them at a solid price. As far as control goes I will be picking up an Akai MPK49 OR 61. I think interface is the big issue I have. I want to eventually have a nice rack set up, but I'm not sure I want to spend that kind of cash just yet.

 

[diggy_dude]

I want to eventually have a nice rack set up, but I'm not sure I want to spend that kind of cash just yet.

Ebay is a good place to shop for cheap rack gear. A lot of the current stuff goes for close to full retail on Ebay though, so don't bother with that. The best deals are on vintage gear. If you're one of those types who doesn't appreciate the color and charm of vintage analog, you're better off going with plug-ins.

 

[JRDillGC]

I'm all about vintage, but I want to make sure I'm going to be committed to this hobby first haha.

 

[diggy_dude]

I'm all about vintage, but I want to make sure I'm going to be committed to this hobby first haha.

I understand there are some pretty convincing plug-in emulations of popular vintage devices as well.

 

[JRDillGC]

Yeah that's exactly what I was told from our sales manager, who I fully trust. He was Pete Townsend's engineer for quite some time.

 

[c7sus]

Thanks for the help! For monitors I will be going with a pair of KRK Rokit Power 6's. We have some leftover special editions in red so I can get them at a solid price. As far as control goes I will be picking up an Akai MPK49 OR 61. I think interface is the big issue I have. I want to eventually have a nice rack set up, but I'm not sure I want to spend that kind of cash just yet.

I couldn't resist busting on you. GC should send me a Les Paul every year on my birthday for all the dough I have dropped in there over the years.

Get the 61-key Akai. The split-able keyboard is worth it. I bought the 49 because I wanted something more compact but wish I had sprung for the 61 now. I'm using mine to control soft synths in Sonar and a Moog Taurus 3 bass.

For interface, get at least 4-in and 4-out. Lynx2A is a great piece of hardware with super stable drivers. A used Aurora8 would do quite nicely in anybody's home studio.