Another Starter Package!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[renton]

I've been reading alot about people starting stuff with a $400 budget...and i believe i've gathered a general concensus on some gear recommened to get the job done for a lower budget...however...i have about $1000 i want to spend

in comparison, I'd like to hear from the experienced where they would spread the cash to achieve a small PC computer studio

Useing Reason a lot, and recording in vocals, guitar, bass...no more then 2 tracks at once

All in ones:
1.Mbox
2.Digi 001

Soundcards:
1.Audiophile 24/96
2.Delta 66
3.Delta 44


Preamp:
1.DMP3
2.VBP1
3.Meek MQ3
4.RNP
5.Art Tube

so where would you put the cash...all in a digi, or spread it out with a sound card and pre...which ones? feel free to add anything for ideas on what to do with $1000!!!...thanks for any response...

 

[manning1]

real low starter

ech mia 150
2 samson c valve preamps and a behringer ultra mic gain 100 260
total 410 bucks. add powertracks multitrack for 29 bucks.
new total = 439 bucks
or REALLY LOW build your own mic pre's like i do for 10 to 20 bucks each. using low noise transistors like 2n5088/9 .
lots of schematics on the internet.
spend the rest of the thousand on some good microphones .

 

[renton]

interesting....thanks for the post, i'll look into that right now

 

[crazydoc]

Re: real low starter

or REALLY LOW build your own mic pre's like i do for 10 to 20 bucks each. using low noise transistors like 2n5088/9 .
lots of schematics on the internet.

I've noticed in your posts you frequently allude to these supercheap diy preamp schematics on the www - maybe you could post a few links?

Thanks

 

[manning1]

crazydoc

crazydoc just use google.com and search for transistor mic preamp schematics. there are loads on the net. the simplest is to use a transformer (gain for free) into a biased low noise transistor stage. then use a line mixer for added boost.
you can also search on low noise audio transistors, and google will lead you to lots of transistors in the 2n range and 2sa range.
you'll find thousands of links. you can also use low noise fets.
the common components in a preamp are transformers, transistors , fets and op amps as the building blocks.

 

[Polaris20]

Re: real low starter

ech mia 150
2 samson c valve preamps and a behringer ultra mic gain 100 260
total 410 bucks. add powertracks multitrack for 29 bucks.
new total = 439 bucks
or REALLY LOW build your own mic pre's like i do for 10 to 20 bucks each. using low noise transistors like 2n5088/9 .
lots of schematics on the internet.
spend the rest of the thousand on some good microphones .

You'd take a Behringer or Samson pre over an Mbox pre? Yikes.

I'd just get the MBox. Comes with PTLE, and lite versions of Reason, Live, and a couple other apps.

Add a compatible computer for $400, and you have a complete system for $800, sans mics and instruments.

 

[crazydoc]

Re: crazydoc

crazydoc just use google.com and search for transistor mic preamp schematics. there are loads on the net.

Right. I was interested in links to any you had personally built and used. It's easy to throw together a bunch of components - it's a lot harder to get a good, reliable performance from them.

 

[manning1]

crazydoc

in this months december issue of nuts and volts on page 25.
a new preamp design.
uses a low noise tlc2201 op amp. the advantage of this design is a simple 5 volt supply.hope someone finds it usefull out there. the way i would use this design is take the output into a compressor with an input volume control.
thus you dont need a pot on the preamp. maybe try just a touch of compression. should sound pretty good due to the low noise figure of the op amp.
just an idea to help someone out there. nice and cheap to build.
..........................
crazydoc if you go to epanorama.net look for the transistor designs on there. similar to what i use. i use whats called a common emittor npn transistor circuit , and i then use a line mixer for added gain. if you want to hear what it sounds like one of my songs on soundclick.com called "Hi tech Man" was at number one in the blues general section for the longest time. this song used it as did many others on there.
fyi in a common emitter transistor design one grounds the emitter, and uses a feedback resistor from collector to base.
then a cllector resistor to say a 9 volt battery completes it with a couple of capacitors on input and output there are lots of common emitter schematics on
the net. if i could upload a picture here i would. its configd for a gain of 30 to 50 , then i use a compressor or line mixer to adjust the gain to be compatible with the sound card.
hth and merry christmas.