$4569.77 Shopping List...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Uladine
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Uladine

Uladine

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I'm not sure if this is the best forum to put this post in, but I couldn't find a better one, so here we go...

I sent a check to a musical supply catalog to order a Roland VS-2480 and a couple mics. The check is for the amount of $4,569.77. After they kept delaying the the VS-2480, I decided I'd be better off with a less expensive recorder and more expensive odds and ends (better mics, etc.) So Anyway I cancelled the order and now I have $4,569.77 in credit for that store. So now the question is what route to go to get the right equipment to make high quality HOME recordings. I stress the word home in home recordings because I know that with the experience I have and with my budget I won't get pro quality (yet).

At first I am going to use this gear to record a new demo for my band. But later on after I gain experience I want to be able to record other bands, So I'll probably need a mixer with at least 8 mic channels. I also kind of have my mind set on a Roland VS-1880. As for the rest of the gear, Thats what this post is for. I'd like some advice.

Here is the list of things I was thinking of getting.


A Roland VS-1880 18-track recorder : $1,979.95

2 Audio Technica ATM-31A Microphones: $259.90
(to be used as drum overheads)

A Roland VS-CDRII CD Burner: $499.99
(to master recordings straight off the vs-1880)

A Behringer MX2642A Eurorack Mixer: $399.99
(I know it's not a mackie, but it looks like a pretty good 16 channel 4 bus mixer for the price.)

A Case for the VS-1880: $169.95

A Roland VS8f2 Dual Stereo Effects card: $299.97

A Pair of Event 20/20 Monitors: $299.97

A Hosa 1/4" to 1/4" 8 channel recording snake: $29
(More than enough cables to connect the mixer to the recorder)

A Behringer Multicom Pro Quad Compressor/Limiter: $149.95

2 Hosa dual 1/4 to 1/4 cables: $17.00
(To Connect the compressor to other gear)

A Roland 4MB Smart Media Card $49
(For my Roland JX-305 Keyboard)

A Sure SM-57: $79.95
(Shouldn't every studio have at least one?)

Roland DP6 Sustain Pedal: $26.95
(Also for my Keyboard)

A Behringer B2 Studio mic w/ shockmount and case: $269.97
(I know its probably not the best vocal mic out there but I can upgrade later.)

That is just a list of things that I thought would be useful if not necessary. Are there any of the items above that I shouldn't get? Or are there any things that are essential that I'm leaving out? Any advice on how I should use my store credit would be very useful. It took me a long time to save all this money and I don't want to get something I'll be sorry for purchasing a year from now.
 
Ummmm You could do a little better than that for that money. Like the 1880. You could get 2 adat lxs for that, or the adathd when it's released or, killer software and sound card good mixer and some cool mics! What do you prefer?
 
The 20/20 monitors you are considering aren't powered, and you'll need an amplifier for them. (unless you have one already) There are some other Events that are powered, the PS-6, PS-8, and the 20/20bas.

I would go with a different mic than the Behringer. They don't have much of a track record for mics yet, and you might have enough money to buy something from a strong, reputable company. Because you want a mic for vocals, I would buy a large diaphram condenser mic from either Audio Technica, Rode, AKG, or Shure. I would just use your SM-57 until you had enough money to buy a good one. They are a long-term investment and you need to get a good one for vocal work. That's just my 2 cents.

What do you need the mixer for ?
 
if you record vocals, you will never regret dropping cash for a GOOD mic.

A good mic/pre combo is probably the most important thing in the studio.

I also think you can get better with your money than the roland fx cards .especially if you get used.
 
I was gonna say... dude, drop some of the extras and get more mics! I mean, just ONE SM57? I'd get 2-4 of them if I were you.

Isaiah
 
you can do A LOT better then that. no offense, but you should take a look around. that in my opinion is a waste of money. and it all depends on what you are recording. but that sounds like a shoddy rig.
 
If you're just gonna buy one mic, at least make it a Beta57, and not a regular sm57.
If I had that kinda cash up front, I would lose all chance of making the best decision and I'd order Paris or a used ProTools system :)
If you're stuck on hardware recorders, all is well, I guess, but I'd lean towards a DAW if I were you. For that kinda money, you can have a FAT daw, and an NT1000 and a good soundcard AND about 5 beta57s. Probably even a nice pre and some good coverters. Damn, thinking about it, you might even get some monitors and a Waves plug-in pack.
I know where I'd be going if I were you.
Peace,
Paul
 
VOXVENDOR hates computer recording and portastudios.... Get 2 refurbished Adat LX 20's..... I know their not as nice as xt's... but you won't hear a difference with your ears, and they are less than $1000 ea .... Buy 2 SM57s..($129.00 ea) 1 AT 4033 mic ($399.00) Yamaha NS-10m Monitors.. ($399.00) A Good multi Effects Unit like the Digitech Studio Quad... ($599) Aphex Compressor... ($349.00)... And a mackie, 16 input used VLZ series board ($1000)...... I know it all equals about $5500, but save up the little extra, and you got a semi-pro set-up.... Exept for having 3 ADATS and a 32/8 mackie Board, I do pro recording on a similar set up, and get compliments, that sometimes compare my stuff to big studio's as being better.... I don't care what anyone says... Stay away from the portastudio shit... I know it has 40000 different editing features and effects, but no matter what anyone says, it is not pro!!......This is my opinion, of the optimum set-up for your $$$$$$
 
ADAT LX?.. i think ive sen atleast 10 people here complain of cheap transport and build quality in those things. ive picked one up, and i bet i could twist it like a towel. get the XTs if anything. And if not get one of the standalone HD units. Or my new favourite is rackmounting a computer.
 
I agree with kristen. Adats are cool if you maintain them and blah. But used or referb. that's where I get sketchy. Plus you could get a pro tools le set up for that! Plus it's store credit. It has to be in stock at the store! Is it an online store where we could view options?
 
As a refurbed LX user, and having 2 friends with refurbed LXx's.... We have not experienced even 1 problem.... Everyone talks about the shitty transport.... once again.. works perfectly for us..... Mine gets daily use of over 1 hour (total) recording time, and about 4 hours, if you include the standby, and rewind operations... I realize it is a lesser machine than the xt, but new xt's are also $2200 as compared to $1000 for the refurbed lx's ... We are just not seeing any of these problems, or "towel twisting" that everyone warns us about......Im going into my 7th month with this machine, being used in the above frequency, and the friends, have also had theres for a good while. I drive a mercedes, and people told me to stay away from german cars when I was purchasing ... It couldn't be a better ride, and very little repairs or maintinence.... I guess you gotta do whats you think is best .... Joe
 
Go Computer

Hey Uladine

If you are a keyboard player and/or intend to use midi, what you suggested will not be of any use to you in that area. I was in the market for a home recording set up, and resisted the computer route because I did not want to fuss with computer components. After a year of research, I ended up with a mac G4 dual processor 500 Mhz, running Digital performer through a MOTU 2408 I/O Box, and bought the entire enchilada including CD burner, for less than $3800.

Software nowadays is extremely powerful and there's nothing you can do on the 1880 that you can't do on a computer. However, there are a lot of things you can do on a computer that you cannot do on a stand alone HD recorder. Editing, looping, scrubbing, you name it.

The only advantage of a stand alone HD recorder is portability. That's it. The advantages of a computer recorder are way too many to list. . . the least of which is upgrade ability. Check it out for yourself.

I can tell you. I have never regretted buying my set up.

Hope this helps

Albert
 
hi uladine,

I have a friend who recorded with a vs1680- then upgraded to an 1880, and is waiting for his 2480. His sound is very cool, except that his vocals are not awesome(rode nt1)

I let him use my c414 once, and now he wants to buy it desperately. Of course I am not selling my c414, because it is the most important thing to me.

What I am saying is get an awesome mic, and people will comment about vocal quality everytime. My other stuff is not great, but the vocal is nice, and its almost painful when I hear a killer mix, and it gets spoiled becasue someone decided to use an average mic on vox.

THe AKG c3000 is good, but you can do better, even at the same price range. Everybody I have talked to prefers the AT 4033 or the AT 4047(for vox) and now the new NT1000 and rode ntk are out and people seem to prefer them to even the 4047. ALl these mics cost less than 600, and coupled with a nice pre will be the best thing you can do for your music.

As vox vendor said, yamaha ns10ms tranlate very well. If you can pick em up for about $170, get them and use them as a second mixing tool. As the only monitors, they will not cut it, but they are unbeatable for checking how stuff translates.


peace
 
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