Beginning my career as a musician, help wanted!

[Nasty_Nate]

Hello everybody good to post here again! I am a vocalist who makes his own music, and I believe that I have what it takes to make it in the music industry. I'd done hours of research and believe I'm finally ready to place an order.

Here's what I believe I"m going to purchase tonight, so if there are any last minute suggestions please make them or send me on my way. Before I order I need to make sure all this equipment is compatible, what kind of cables I'm going to be needing, or if I've left anything out. I would greatly appreciate the help.

Full Version Cubase 5
Rodes NT1A Mic
2x Mackie MR5 monitors
Loaded Firewire Desktop Computer
Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 audio interface

I have a Yamaha PSR-E413 as a Midi device.

Does this seem like an adequate beginner's setup that will start me up strong?

Quite a hefty price tag, but I've made my decision and want to begin my career. I know I can do it. I have a lot to learn though. With this setup I'll be able record my vocals, create the backing music, add in my guitar/other instruments, and hear it all come out beautifully. I am skeptical that Cubase may not have the preset sound bank I'm looking for, but I will find out soon enough if I need to purchase sample software. I'm sure $500 Cubase has the sounds I need to start up strong.

Any more comments/suggestions before I dive deep? Cables I'll need would be appreciated.

 

[Supercreep]

Hello everybody good to post here again! I am a vocalist who makes his own music, and I believe that I have what it takes to make it in the music industry. I'd done hours of research and believe I'm finally ready to place an order.

Here's what I believe I"m going to purchase tonight, so if there are any last minute suggestions please make them or send me on my way. Before I order I need to make sure all this equipment is compatible, what kind of cables I'm going to be needing, or if I've left anything out. I would greatly appreciate the help.

Full Version Cubase 5
Rodes NT1A Mic
2x Mackie MR5 monitors
Loaded Firewire Desktop Computer
Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 audio interface

I have a Yamaha PSR-E413 as a Midi device.

Does this seem like an adequate beginner's setup that will start me up strong?

Quite a hefty price tag, but I've made my decision and want to begin my career. I know I can do it. I have a lot to learn though. With this setup I'll be able record my vocals, create the backing music, add in my guitar/other instruments, and hear it all come out beautifully. I am skeptical that Cubase may not have the preset sound bank I'm looking for, but I will find out soon enough if I need to purchase sample software. I'm sure $500 Cubase has the sounds I need to start up strong.

Any more comments/suggestions before I dive deep? Cables I'll need would be appreciated.

You've done "hours" of "research", and you're ready to launch your music career, eh?

Let's just stipulate that you may have a few more hours to go yet.

Don't be discouraged, but with the gear you mention, you're likely going to be putting together limited demos and not fully fleshed-out commercial releases.

Unless you have experience with the NT1A and like it for your voice, I recommend you try a nice dynamic mic like the EV RE-20 or the Shure SM-7.

You'll need instrument cables, at least one mic cable, and a firewire cable (if the box you're getting doesn't already come with one).

Welcome aboard, and keep up the enthusiasm!

-SC

 

[dementedchord]

the sound set that's encluded is pretty good... basicly the motif set...

 

[Nasty_Nate]

You've done "hours" of "research", and you're ready to launch your music career, eh?

Let's just stipulate that you may have a few more hours to go yet.

Don't be discouraged, but with the gear you mention, you're likely going to be putting together limited demos and not fully fleshed-out commercial releases.

Unless you have experience with the NT1A and like it for your voice, I recommend you try a nice dynamic mic like the EV RE-20 or the Shure SM-7.

You'll need instrument cables, at least one mic cable, and a firewire cable (if the box you're getting doesn't already come with one).

Welcome aboard, and keep up the enthusiasm!

-SC

With this setup I would not be able to net near commercial quality? I hope you're not totally serious, because that is discouraging!

I want to make a full CD with this setup with excellent sound quality, why wouldn't it be possible?

Thank you both for the replies!

 

[dintymoore]

I always buy used when I can, if I didn't I wouldn't be able to afford pro gear.

I'd go as cheap (shoot for free or rock bottom) as I could on everything so I could spend the most I could on a mic, then start replacing the rest with pro gear, starting at the speakers, then pre, then a good compressor and computer.

You don't need a fantastic computer at all, you do need as much RAM as you can get because that and the disk drive speed do matter.

 

[Seafroggys]

With this setup I would not be able to net near commercial quality? I hope you're not totally serious, because that is discouraging!

I want to make a full CD with this setup with excellent sound quality, why wouldn't it be possible?

Thank you both for the replies!

If $300 setups could produce professional results, there would be no need for multi thousand dollar studios.

 

[commanda]

Have you read this one?
Home Recording's Dirty Little secret.

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=256797

 

[Nasty_Nate]

If $300 setups could produce professional results, there would be no need for multi thousand dollar studios.

$300? That's what my audio interface for this rig costs. Lets be real here...

 

[Jeff_D]

The problem is less in the equipment and more in the process. There is a very high learning curve to this recording stuff. The stuff you mentioned looks like will get you started, and it won't sound like you recorded it on a boom box from 1985, but its far from top of the line. Someone with lots of experience may very well be able to take that setup and make something amazing with it, where someone with no experience could make a six figure studio sound bad.

My point is, you have to start somewhere, and with recording, it won't be at the top no matter how much you spend. Get your stuff and have fun and LEARN. if you want instant hits, hire a studio.

 

[TheChikenMaster]

With this setup I would not be able to net near commercial quality? I hope you're not totally serious, because that is discouraging!

I want to make a full CD with this setup with excellent sound quality, why wouldn't it be possible?

The truth is you can and maybe even with less than that.
Its not the equipment, its knowing your tools. How they work, what they are capable of. Developing your ear, you gotta mix too.
A nice big learning curve. It will take time. Ask anyone here their first recording prolly sounded like a train hit it.

But if you really think you will make it, why waste your time learning the ins and outs of recording? Hire a studio

 

[Supercreep]

With this setup I would not be able to net near commercial quality? I hope you're not totally serious, because that is discouraging!

I want to make a full CD with this setup with excellent sound quality, why wouldn't it be possible?

Thank you both for the replies!

..................roflmao

 

[Supercreep]

The truth is you can and maybe even with less than that.

.....................roflmao

 

[TheChikenMaster]

.....................roflmao

The best engineers can do amazing things with limited tools.

 

[TeyshaBlue]

If $300 setups could produce professional results, there would be no need for multi thousand dollar studios.

I've heard projects done on cassette porta's that smoke some "multi thousand dollar studios". It's between the ears, first, and what's in yer rack second.

There's plenty of lessons to be learned on inexpensive gear that just might be of some value. If you've ever worked with an actual console linked to something that's throwing tape around, you get a very strong grasp both kinetically and intellecutally of concepts such as signal flow logic and mixing basics.

 

[moresound]

I want to agree with supercreep on your choice of microphone and go with the Shure SM 7b a great mic for vocals for you may not like what how the rode works with your voice. The mic is the first piece in the line of recording and you don't want it to be your weakest link right off the bat.

 

[Supercreep]

The best engineers can do amazing things with limited tools.

I've heard projects done on cassette porta's that smoke some "multi thousand dollar studios". It's between the ears, first, and what's in yer rack second.

There's plenty of lessons to be learned on inexpensive gear that just might be of some value. If you've ever worked with an actual console linked to something that's throwing tape around, you get a very strong grasp both kinetically and intellecutally of concepts such as signal flow logic and mixing basics.

All this is true. However, the reason commercial studio owners and engineers spend thousands on really nice gear isn't because they are stupid.

 

[Lt. Bob]

I'm with moresound and supercreep on the mic. I don't think I'd want my only, general purpose mic to be the NT1a

 

[Zeppe]

I'll argue that in today's market the only thing that separates the pros from the project studios are the acoustics of the live rooms and control room. These are the biggest problems engineers face in project studios.

 

[Nakatira]

With this setup I would not be able to net near commercial quality? I hope you're not totally serious, because that is discouraging!

I want to make a full CD with this setup with excellent sound quality, why wouldn't it be possible?

Thank you both for the replies!

Psssst Newbie, if you click the link on the bottom of his posts, you'll be linked to his recordings.
You'll then see and hear he knows what he's talking about


Anyways good luck on your quest, You have lots of work reading in front of you.

 

[TeyshaBlue]

All this is true. However, the reason commercial studio owners and engineers spend thousands on really nice gear isn't because they are stupid.

Exactly. Higher end gear makes it considerably easier to get the results they're looking for. Much easier to use an accurate eq than a 9 band shelving unit. Most probably didn't start with everything they have now, however.