built analog home studio and could use some gear advice

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Hoss

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Hi guys. I'm new. I recently built a home studio out of a 26' x'30 pole barn. 12' x 12' control room, 13' x 18' jam room, and a big beer drinking room (gets alot of use) which all turned out great. The problem is I don't know a rats ass about recording. Thats why I'm hear.
I have an old Fostex A-8LR 1/4" 8-track in excellent condition and the matching board Model 350. I'm having a great time learning how to use it and getting some surprisingly cool sounds for being clueless. I've played in local/original bands about 15 years so I have access to seasoned musicians and good gear (my band rehearses there.) I also have 2-58's, 2-57's an old yammaha cardiod dynamic, and a bunch of samson s-11's (Got tired of drunk guys knocking over my good mikes at gigs.)
I am interested in a compressor, patch bay, line conditioner (I have dirty electric), a pair of condensers for overheads, and an effects rack that would work well with my set up. I've spent an ass load on building this thing so I want the biggest bang for the buck. My wife is getting pissed about the $$. You try humping a les paul. No fun.
I've been looking at some of the Behringer stuff (composer pro) at Musician's Friend. Is it as junky as some of guys say. How about oktava mics or Akg-1000's. From my experience (playing out) it's more the ear than the gear, but I sure as hell don't want to waste money on a piece of crap. This is a learning experience for me so I am sure I'll be ugrading when cash flow allows. Thanks
 
Octava mics are fine. And an SM57 for the guitars. Behringers patch bays work fine for me. You also need an FMRAudio Really Nice Compressor.

That should keep you going for quite a while.
 
A good set of monitors and an amp will be needed too.

Try a Lexicon for effects and a couple of small diaphram condensors for overheads.

I would cut down on the alcoholic endevours until after the session. That could save you some equipment money right there by not having to replace gear.

I wouldn't recommend it while tracking and mixing. Your ears do strange things when under the influence.
 
I really have no problem humping a Les Paul. My crank seems to fit nicely in the 1/4" jack.:eek:
The Octava's are great as overheads. The AKG-C1000's aren't as good in that roll but are very nice as tom tom mics. Sennheiser is spot on with his device advice. The Lexicons are dandy reverbs. You might as well surrender to the dark side. Once you start buying gear, there is NO end. You'll always need more, more, MORE, MORE. HA HA HA HA HA, er, excuse me.
 
I'd grab a Really Nice Compressor from FMR audio, you can read about them all over these forums. Really great and flexible little device and I'm getting one in a few weeks for my ongoing studio-building project. Also, the Studio Projects microphones are great bang for the buck. I'm picking up a B3 sometime before Christmas. I second the Lexicon - a Vortex might be a decent and cheap choice for multi-effects when starting out in a home studio. Though I am not too familiar with multi-fx units so I'm mainly just throwing that out :-)

I bought a pair of Tannoy PBM 6.5 monitors on eBay for $115 plus shipping and you can get a used Hafler or Alesis power amp for around $150. So careful shopping there will take care of your monitor situation without laying out too much cash. Then just listen like crazy to your favorite and most familiar recordings and try to learn your monitors. I'd mixed on the PBM series monitors several times, so it was easy enough for me to buy them without auditioning them.


www.fmraudio.com
www.studioprojectsusa.com


also, what kind of mixer do you have?

hope this is helpful - at this point, much if my advice is more from plans for my own studio than from experience.

andrew
 
Thanks guys. I do have monitors. M-audio - I think they are sp-8's. They have built in power amps. They seem cool but I have no reference to compare them too except for the garage sale speacials (home speakers) I was using. $240 a pair for the monitors.

As for the mixing board morte, It's a fostex 350. 8 channel 4 buss. -10 line. All 1/4" and RCA unbalanced. No phantom. 2 band both sweepable eq. I have to use those xlr to 1/4" addapters which sucks (for the mic inputs). But it does have cool needle VU meters. I've noticed that the meters run a bit hotter on the board than they do on the deck. +6 on the board will be 3 or 4 on the deck. Common? Signal loss?

About those Okatava's - do any of them run off batteries? As I said no phantom.

I've been mixing down to an old cassette deck or a tascam cassette 4-track. One of these days I'll hook the thing up to my computer and just burn CD's. Or maybe buy something else. Who knows. Thanks again. Hoss
 
you can grab an inexpensive mic pre for the oktavas - your best bet under $200 would be the vtb-1 from Studio Projects, and if you can spend $500, there are some nice options such as the FMR Really Nice Preamp and the Grace 101. This would give you phantom power and improve the signal considerably. you then plug into the board using a 1/4" and you'll have phantom (and no need for adapters). Or you could start out with a phantom box for maybe $30 or so.

dunno bout the levels yet, my deck hasnt arrived so I haven't had a chance to experiment. all my past experience is with digital tape machines and some hard disk recording so this is mostly new to me too!

ar
 
My wife is getting pissed about the $$. You try humping a les paul. No fun.
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Hmmmm. I guess you haven't been endoctrinated yet. The number one rule in home recording is called the "significant other ratio" Its 2/1. For every dollar you spend on the studio, you must spend $2 on the significant other. Otherwise the Les Paul "rule" becomes defacto.:D The next most important rule. Is the "having fun" clause. If you don't adhere the "significant other" rule, then the "haveing fun" clause defaults to the "shall have testicals removed clause":D
fitz
 
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These are straight-up useful comments guys! Keep it up!!! And Rick is out-right hilarious! Funny, but sadly true at the same time!

By the way Rick, give me a call or email when you have the time as I haven't heard back from you since my last email. I know you're just busy though. Have thought about calling you myself to emphasize what I last emaile, but I haven't thus far...
 
I'll keep the "significant other ratio" in mind. I've found that the "Your the best" clause works well too if used in conjunction with the helpless puppy look. This is an art in itself, however, and not to be used by amatuers at schmoozing. I'm sure your right about the vice advice. My mics do take a beating when used live with the band. It's just part of playin' the bar scene I guess. Thats why I bought some cheapo's. The samson's work well in that role. Very durable. Rock on Hoss.
 
Hey hoss, you sounded like a kindred spirit in trying to get it going so I thought I throw in my 2 cents.In no particular order....
Take the ol'lady to a big city hotel once in awhile,share your dreams,rock the house,etc.That'll get her involved in what it takes.$$$$
Clean and demagnetize !!!
The Behringer stuff is cool, the 4 channel headphone monitor mixer is perfect if your working with other players.
My worst habit is not marking,dating the tape boxes.
It's all about the drums.If you can find a good small mixer and
one or two really good mics for kick and snare to go along with what you have,send that signal to one or two tracks on the
recording mixer.If you can get 4 or 6 drum tracks balanced good
and only use 2 tracks on the mains you'll be halfway to hitsville.
Don't worry about the brand names to much,just get some of the
unglamourus tools that lay the foundation of rock.
Couple good mics,aural expander,decent reverb unit for making
a bigger sound[ not lost in a tin can sound].Guitar,bass is easy.
Get a line6 pod or a good direct box.gotta go..good luck bro!
 
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