Brand New to Home Recording: What to buy to get started for $2,000 or less?

[buzzard bass]

Any advice on gear for live sound would be great, would be fun to get into it. As you say Doug it's easy to spend money you don't need to. I have no idea what I'm going to do with the Fostex MR16 I got a few months ago. I assumed it would do a lot of things it can't do. Wish I'd checked here first.

Good move, I may just pick your brains regarding PA gear.

 

[buzzard bass]

Double posted automatically for some reason, I think my mouse is biting the dust.

 

[dmdjesq]

buzzard: I have been out of the game for about 7 years, I am happy to share any knowledge I have on live PA but ou should keep in mind that it may be outmoded info at his point.

 

[buzzard bass]

Many thanks san, don't want to derail you thread though.

 

[Armistice]

No-one's mentioned the lava lamp yet.... waiting....

 

[moresound]

Right How could I forget!!! Lava Lamp is a must.

 

[c7sus]

Try Reaper before you spring for Pro Tools or any other DAW. May be the best $50 you spend out of the entire setup.

Your laptop got firewire??? Second the at least 4-ins and 4-outs. Like others said, you can get preamp/interface combos or discrete hardware components. At least a couple channels of something decent-to-nice for preamps. You might check out Craigslist for recording hardware. Seriously. There are killer deals out there on all kinds of gear. Folks try it and can't figure it out, or they need the bread. Either way, there is lot's of stuff available second-hand these days and if you can live with buying used you can save a lot of $$$.

What to avoid while building....... that's a big field there!

Don't cut your thumb off with a Skilsaw. That's #1 for sure.

Be sure and check out John Sayers website before you even think about driving a nail. Bass traps and slot resonators are your friends. Knauf Soundboard and Rockwool good--- pink stuff bad. Eggcartons and foam bad too.

 

[moresound]

You should put that in your profile.
Syracuse .... Is that where the EGG is? I've gone in there plenty of times to do shows while on the road.

To answer my own question the EGG is in Albany ..... I remembered that this morning ..... what a cool venue.

 

[dmdjesq]

Yeah I wondered about the EGG as I had not heard of it.

C7sus-I am so new to this I wouldn't even know if my laptop is firewire capable

Doug

PS Thanks to all for replies.

 

[buzzard bass]

Unless it's really old, it's prolly firewire capable. Also consider USB2. Keep your options open mate, the new gear is so cheap you really can indulger yourself. Also so much better than what we had 20 years ago.

 

[buzzard bass]

Right How could I forget!!! Lava Lamp is a must.

I may have to get one of those, I did just get a toy of Bagpuss, he's going in there, along with Cthulhu, Basil Brush, ALF, the birds, told you, novelty stuffed toys is going to be a theme.

 

[moresound]

I may have to get one of those, I did just get a toy of Bagpuss, he's going in there, along with Cthulhu, Basil Brush, ALF, the birds, told you, novelty stuffed toys is going to be a theme.

Your making my spidey senses tingle.

 

[buzzard bass]

Can't take this stuff too seriously, or you'll go crazy. And never dis Bagpuss.