Gear quality for newbies

[Kevin Deschwazi]

Ok so I got a decent spec PC with cubase SE and the following gear:

Delta 1010LT soundcard
Tapco 6306 mixer
Event 2020 monitors
TL Audio 5050 preamp/compressor
DMP3 dual mic preamp
MXL V67G mic
pair of MXL 603's mics
Shure SM57 and 58's (which I rarely use for recording)

For processing I use the bundled stuff with cubase and a couple of freeware plug ins, SIR reverb etc.

I've been recording for about a year (about 2 months with this set up) and I'm starting to get some ok results considering the gear at my disposal and my ability.

Should I stick with what I've got for a few years while I develop my skills or is it worth buying better quality gear now?

Just as an example, is it pointless (or even counter productive ) for someone with limited experience of using compression and eq to buy a UAD-1 card?

 

[EddieRay]

I think you could keep pretty busy with the stuff you have now and learn quite a bit along the way. Meanwhile, just keep your eyes out for sweet deals on better equipment or stuff that could make life easier.

 

[Track Rat]

New toys are always fun but with what you have you should be able to get quite a bit of mileage.

 

[mikeh]

Only you know how satisfied you are with your current results and what you hope to achieve going forward.

It sounds like you have what you need to get decent results. Perhaps you should continue to learn all you can now - which will then help you decide later what gear you really need.

Many of us on this site are confirmed gear sluts - and I can only speak for myself, but I've upgraded various gear even though I didn't need to and in many cases it did not add significantly to my end result (it simply gave me more specs to learn and yet another learning curve). I admit on occasion, I bought simply to buy (you can always find someway to justify a purchase).

In some if not many cases, if I would have delayed a purchase a little longer, I would have learned that I didn't need the upgrade - or perhaps that I needed something better or different than I bought. Looking back, I bought a lot of gear I didn't need or no longer use (in some cases I barely or never used).

 

[Kevin Deschwazi]

I want to waste my money on new toys and i thought i could rely on you guys to justify my purchases

just kidding, thanks for responses fella's

I guess gaining the experience in order to find out exactly what I really need is pretty sensible.

 

[tommy2toes]

I went into the Music Shop today to look at some more gear. and I got this sense before reading this thread that alot of people are just addicted to gear. It was busy in the shop and everyone was buying things on credit.

I am not really into buyng things on credit as I prefer to have my money work for me rather then instant gratifcation work against me in the long run.

They were all audio equipment JUNKIES tho.

 

[BJW]

I would agree to stick with what you've got for a while. I've got a similar set-up (just not as many inputs). I've got a delta44 (like the 1010, just 4 ins) and the dmp3. I have a pair of 603s's, and a studio projects C1 for vox. I use a 57 for electric guitar.

If you click here http://www.acidplanet.com/artist.asp?songs=261004&T=3503 and listen to "Something Better" you can hear what I can currently get out of it. I'm sure it can sound better - I'm probably the limiting factor - not my gear. My philosophy is that whenever I decide that I can't possibly make my music sound better with what I've got, then I'll research and find what gear and improve my sound and repeat the cycle.

Do you have any of your recordings on the web so we can hear them? I'd like to hear what you can get out of your gear. Maybe we can share pointers and learn a bit from each other.

 

[Kevin Deschwazi]

I would agree to stick with what you've got for a while. I've got a similar set-up (just not as many inputs). I've got a delta44 (like the 1010, just 4 ins) and the dmp3. I have a pair of 603s's, and a studio projects C1 for vox. I use a 57 for electric guitar.

If you click here http://www.acidplanet.com/artist.asp?songs=261004&T=3503 and listen to "Something Better" you can hear what I can currently get out of it. I'm sure it can sound better - I'm probably the limiting factor - not my gear. My philosophy is that whenever I decide that I can't possibly make my music sound better with what I've got, then I'll research and find what gear and improve my sound and repeat the cycle.

Do you have any of your recordings on the web so we can hear them? I'd like to hear what you can get out of your gear. Maybe we can share pointers and learn a bit from each other.

Some nice sounding stuff BJW.

I have some stuff up on soundclick (url in my sig) but it was recorded a while ago on a Zoom all in one recorder which I had before deciding to go the DAW route. In fact some of that stuff is recorded elsewhere by other people anyway.

Tears on the side of you, Bracken, Bravado and Ones I fear the most were recorded by me but like I say it wasn't with my current setup and I like to think I know a bit more now than I did then.

I think your philosophy on equipment upgrade is sound and I think I'll do the same.

Always happy to compare notes but i think I'm likely to learn more from you than you are from me.

Thanks again all for responses

EDIT: OK I put a recently recorded track up on my soundclick page- Anitclockwise