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chrisp200

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I was wondeing what my best/cheapest option would be to getting started recording with Pro Tools or some other computer program. I would like to record drums, guitars, bass, and vocals. I am looking to spend about $700 right now to get started working with programs on accustic guitars and vocals. But I want to set myself up for about 6 months down the road when I will want to record drums. Can anyone tell me the best way to go. I currently own a marshall guitar half stack, and a mesa boggie. So not including the computer I $700 to spend on a litttle setup. thanks

Chris
 
Here I go again:

If you have to ask what you need, you aren't ready for it yet.

A good litmus test for any would-be audio engineer of ANY level is the ability to choose your own gear and know WHY you chose it over other similar gear.

Until you can answer that question my advice is to save your cash and define your needs, your budget (already done), and what is out there to achieve your recording goals.

By the way, 700 bucks and Pro-Tools is NOT a great way to go. Pro-Tools is okay if you have big money, but anything less than a Digi002 system isn't that great due to small track count permitted in the software. To get any real power you have to shell out for a Pro-Tools HD system or an older Mix system.

Look at other options like Steinberg Cubase which are cheaper and more powerful for the money, and won't limit you as much as a low end Pro-Tools system.
 
chrisp200 said:
I was wondeing what my best/cheapest option would be to getting started recording with Pro Tools or some other computer program. I would like to record drums, guitars, bass, and vocals. I am looking to spend about $700 right now to get started working with programs on accustic guitars and vocals. But I want to set myself up for about 6 months down the road when I will want to record drums. Can anyone tell me the best way to go. I currently own a marshall guitar half stack, and a mesa boggie. So not including the computer I $700 to spend on a litttle setup. thanks

Chris

You are going to need more than $700. But if you are going to record drums on a budget you will probably want to start with an inexpensive/decent mixer like a Mackie or Soundcraft ($350-$500)--or maybe even...gulp...a Behringer.

Good budget mics include the Shure SM57 dynamic ($80) and the Studio Projects B1 condenser ($80). Two each of these will take you a long way.

You will need a monitoring system--another $300 minimum.

Soundcard--$100-$200 (M-Audio Audiophile or Delta44).

Recording software--$50. I think Cakewalk has a basic product this cheap.

Mic cables and stands--another $100+
 
The problem with recording is that the knicknack essentials like cabling can really dent a 700 dollar budget. God help you when it comes to microphones, it can get ugly fast.
 
You need more cash.... Heres ONE of the ways you can get it.


Acquire sunglasses, hat and a weapon of your preference. Be careful when selecting your weapon your gonna want something that can be easily concealed.

Once you have these items in your possession wait until Friday Evening (payday for most folks and they will most likely have cashed there checks). Put on a light colored shirt then put a dark colored shirt on over that. DO NOT FORGET TO DO THIS IT IS VERY IMPORTANT IN AIDING YOU IN YOUR "GETAWAY"!

Choose a target... preferably someone older in age or female. Tail them... remember to walk calmy and not draw attention to yourself (walk with your hands in your pockets with your head down and slouch a little this will make you appear shorter than you really are). When you reach a point where you think you can make a quick escape (think alley, right outside an apartment complex or anywhere you can quickly get into a crowd of people after you have acquired your "target").

After you have done your deed run quickly away while ditching the sunglasses hat and the dark colored outshirt. Once you are far enough away take a rest stand up straight then proceed calmly into a group of people the more the better malls & nightclubs are great.

Why did you need to go through all that? Well just in case the person you robbed tries to ID you the first thing they normally remember are if you were wearing sunglasses a hat and what color shirt you had on (if they remember more than that you where too slow robbing them). Switch these three item out, by the time the poor old lady gets a hold of the police they will be looking for someone matching another description. Go home count your money if its not enough repeat.





If you follow this advice too many times you are more than likely to get caught.

Better yet don't try this at all... Be Honest :D
 
just to make the decision even harder, some entry level gear is near useless. I've got a cheap mixer (< $200) that I keep finding uses for, but looking back I would have preferred to put that money against a decent pre. The same goes for monitors. My Edirol desktops are better than computer speakers, but they were a mistake to buy, I should have just saved my cash towards someting better..
I'd say start with soething along the lines of n-tracks for software and see if you can swing a decent signal chain somehow.
Start up gear is cool and all, and may be a neccessarry evil, but I'd trade all my soso gear for one piece of decent equiment if I could.
 
chris - you can get started recording with a cad gxl mic and a yamaha mg mixer and a decent sound card. if you want lots of multitrack software functionality try powertracks demo from pgmusic.com.
49 bucks for 48 track recording. i use it and love it.
read the heyheymymy thread ...youll find it interesting about using powertracks. you wont do better without spending big money.
search under my name for lots of recording tips posted in past year.
peace.
ps - make sure you have a decent recent powerfull 1.3ghz plus pc to run modern recording software on.
 
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