Getting started with Rack Gear - suggestions?

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jonobacon

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Hi all,

OK this is the situation...and I ask for your wise words.

Right I have a setup as follows:

Athlon PC running Cubase VST/32
Studiomaster 16 / 8 / 2 desk
Mesa/Boogie Triaxis/Simulclass 2:90
Soundblaster Live

Right, I want to start building up some rack gear to help get the best out of my setup - I want to create better recordings and I wasnt sure where to begin - do I start with a compresser, limiter, effects or other gear?

I suspect a compresser is a good start, but I really have no idea. Incidentally - I dont have a huge wad of cash for this so I am gonna be buying off Ebay, but suggestions for gear would be appreiciated.

Also - I am going to be mainly recording metal. :D

Cheers,

Jono
 
Here's my call, others may vary. In order of suggestion.

Limiter (Used DBX 160, 160x, 160xt) $200
TC Electronics M300 or used MX-1 ($200)
Compressor (Get the RNC) $179
Dedicated preamps {If the Studiomaster sounds bad then put these at the top of the list) DMP3 $(179), RNP($499), Grace 101($549)}
 
How about a new soundcard? That'll probably help you out more then some reverb or compression.
 
A 160 for $200? Where do I sign-up?!

Jono, let us know how you commonly use your setup... What I mean is do you often track any more than a 2-4 or so tracks at a time? Do you mix in Cubase? What I can tell from the gear you listed, you don't record more than 2 tracks at once and you mix in Cubase.

What mics do you own?
 
At the moment I don't record more than one mic at a time, but I bought the desk so could record drums if needed - and although I do have a drum kit and play drums, I cant really set them up at home due to the neighbours.

Currently I use the desk as a means of pluging the signel in (either mic or DI guitar), add EQ and then send it to the PC via the subgroup out.

I am currently mixing using cubase, although this is not ideal as I would like to get a Delta 1010 or suchlike so I can send each track back to the desk and mix on the desk where it is more comfortable and I have the EQ.

As for mics I have a Sennheiser vocal mic (sorry cant remember the model number) and I have a set of Audio Technica drum mics.

Cheers,

Jono
 
could you tell me who has the grace 101 for $549. thanks.
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A 160 for $200? Where do I sign-up?!
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EBAY Boys. I just got a dbx 160x for $205. I just saw a Grace 101 go for $549.

justwantyou2kno's suggestion is right on. I missed the Soundblaster card. I would upgrade that one first.
 
Grace 101..549.00 is what I paid also for them..I think that if you look around that should be the going price



Don
 
Middleman said:
EBAY Boys. I just got a dbx 160x for $205.
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There's a huge difference between a 160 and a 160x though. You won't find a 160 for $205.

I'd say go with Middleman's suggestions, but reverse thier order and skip the limiter. Oh, and consider a new soundcard.
 
Middleman said:
Here are 2 units at around $350 apeice.
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Well, the current bid for two is $350 a peice, but the reserve isn't met and there are over three days left. Even though there are no pictures, I'll bet this pair goes for well over $1,000.

Here's a dbx 160 fixer upper for under $200!!!
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OK, I stand corrected. You might be able to find a non-functioning one with unspecified problems for under $200.

In any event, I don't think a dbx160 is typically a wise next purchase for someone who's only recording gear is a soundblaster and a studiomaster desk.
 
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I say upgrade the soundcard first... At least an M-Audio... If not an RME or something... Someone else would be better at suggesting a better soundcard than me...

The first outboard compressor he buys should really be an RNC... Next compressor after that, a 160X would be cool!

As for the 160, I REALLY would like a pair of those guy... Since a pair of 1176LN reissues or an LA-2A reissue won't be coming any time soon... Don't have a dime though! But if my pair of Telefunken U373as don't do the job I'm hoping they do, guess what I'll be replacing them!!!

As for the dead 160 on eBay, that bastard better get up there! Otherwise, it's tempting!!! I'm betting it'll get up there though!
 
I stand by the limiter as an early purchase. Best way to get really good transparent vocals. Most people abuse a compressor the first 6 months they own one.

Overall though, the soundcard first is the best suggestion. You will see the most results by the shortest expense route.

Jslator, why do you say there is a huge difference between the 160 and 160x, xt? I was over at recording.org and several people felt there was not that much difference in the results. Would be interested to hear your thoughts on that one.
 
Recording Engineer said:
As for the 160, I REALLY would like a pair of those guy...
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I think there's a 162 on E-Bay right now (i.e. a two-channel 160).
 
With what you have already, my next step would be a soundcard.
 
Middleman said:
I stand by the limiter as an early purchase. Best way to get really good transparent vocals.
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I can't agree with you there. The best way to get transparent vocals is with a more basic signal chain. Used in moderation, a 160 can be tres, tres cool on vocals, but "transparent" isn't a word I'd use to describe it.

Jslator, why do you say there is a huge difference between the 160 and 160x, xt? I was over at recording.org and several people felt there was not that much difference in the results.
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I dunno the technical differences, but they sound very different to me. The 160 is a great unit. It's not great on everything all the time, but it's often perfect. The 161, 162 and 165's are nice too. I haven't tried the "blue" series stuff, but it's supposed to be quite good as well. I've never heard a single-rackspace dbx compressor/limiter that's worked for me though.
 
I've never heard a single-rackspace dbx compressor/limiter that's worked for me though.
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I would agree with that.

I am using the 160x for limiting only, the RNC for compression effects.
 
The 160X and 160XT are what you buy when you want the classic dbx sound and can't afford the 160 (or a 162 for stereo) or 165, or the high-priced current Blue 160. They give you a sound that definitly says "dbx" better than any current dbx (other than the Blue Series), but the 160, 165, and Blue 160 bring you into the real-world of dbx! It's a night and day, ovbious difference!

I don't remember the differences between the 160X and 160XT off the top of my head, but it seems people prefer the 160X over the 160XT. If I remember correctly, it was because supposidly the 160X still has an input transformer and the 160XT doesn't, but my 160X doesn't have a transformer! Then there's talk about whether your 160X says it was made in USA or Taiwan. USA is supposidly better or supposidly means it has an input transformer or not, but if I recall correctly, that doesn't hold true either.
 
There were also some 160x versions made in Japan to confuse things even more. I have read some threads that indicate the 160x and 160 are fairly similar in sound.

I have not spent alot of time in the dbx world but it seems they offer a fairly good sound when you can't afford a Drawmer 1960.
 
Right...it seems that a soundcard is the next best step. A few questions though:

- If I get a Delta 1010, do I then hook each channel uip to a seperate channel on the mixer - I.e - 8 ins go 1 - 8 and the 8 outs go 9 - 16.

- Does that mean I can use my desk for final mixing instead of the cubase faders?

Also - what exactly *is* the compression sound? I know what a compresser does...but I dont understand what it should sound like!!

Cheers,

Jono
 
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