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starsxandxslits

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if you guys were to compile a list of outboard effects thast are critical to getting started, which ones and what brands of affordable gear will suffice?
 
As far as effects in general, a compressor, eq, and reverb are probably the most essential.

Whether they are outboard or computer resident (software) is largely a matter of budget and convenience. I personally have a little of both; a harware based compresssor and reverb unit, but I also have plenty of software based compressors and reverbs. All my eq is software based.

As stated above, tell us your budget, then tell us about your workflow. Are you mixer based? Are you using a computer at all? How many pieces will you record at once?
 
my buget is limited. i will be building a computer and using a decent interface and more than likely run cubase. i'm going to do a fair combination of just trqacking by myself, and recording groups containing keys, 2 guit, bass, and a fully mic'd kit. i'm a drummer so i get all the mics. heh. i know the huge debate about hard/soft mixing and i personally think i'd like to use a hardware mixer just for the cheap pres. but i'm still pretty green, and could use any input you guys have.
 
Ah. Didnt read the question properly...my knowlage of outboard effects is severly limited, but for my uses the free plug-ins you can get on the net and those that come with cubase suit my needs well enough. I'd say that unless your starting a pro studio, then it'll be the same for you...most people cant tell the difference, they'll just say something like 'cool, i like the spacey echo you've got on that' no matter if your reverb was free or 2k.
 
I would say, invest in good/fair/decent preamps, mics and monitors before you start worrying about outboard effects, use plugins for effects, I have cheapo effect boxes, that I NEVER use, mainly because their sound idn't that good, and also because plugins just suits my workflow better, it's so easy to just throw in a plug and tweak it till it sounds the way you want it.

OH! almost forgot, a outboard compressor like a RNC or something could come in handy in the recording chain from time to time..

but for eq, reverb etc, I say go the plugin way, at least until you have a good recording chain..

check out the SIR plugin for reverb with reverb impulses from noisevault.com, Blockfish for compressors Floorfish for your drum gate, both from digitalfishphones, check out the kjaerhus classic plugins etc. they are all FREE and sound ok, at least compare to cheapo effect boxes..
 
drpfeffer said:
I would say, invest in good/fair/decent preamps, mics and monitors before you start worrying about outboard effects, use plugins for effects, I have cheapo effect boxes, that I NEVER use, mainly because their sound idn't that good, and also because plugins just suits my workflow better, it's so easy to just throw in a plug and tweak it till it sounds the way you want it.

OH! almost forgot, a outboard compressor like a RNC or something could come in handy in the recording chain from time to time..

but for eq, reverb etc, I say go the plugin way, at least until you have a good recording chain..

check out the SIR plugin for reverb with reverb impulses from noisevault.com, Blockfish for compressors Floorfish for your drum gate, both from digitalfishphones, check out the kjaerhus classic plugins etc. they are all FREE and sound ok, at least compare to cheapo effect boxes..

Sound advice. The digitalfishphones stuff is really good. They also make a free de-esser called the spitfish that's quite good. Definitely invest in the recording and monitoring chain first before visiting the bells and whistles department.

-RD
 
if my homestudio would burn down i'd get these new things first thing in the morning:

a pair of Dbx 163x compressors (around $50 a piece)
an Ashley cl52 (dual channel, around $100)
if you only need one: Dbx 160 (vox, drums, bass,...around $200)
§(all prices are Ebay prices)
the dbx compressors have an instrument input so you can use them for bass recordings, i dig them on drums (especially kick and snare) but they're also co ol to run an entire drummix trough,
the ashley is just a nice cheap stereo/dual channel unit for if you want to run drumcomputers, keys or whatever trough it;..

for reverb, the lexicon alex, got mine for $80 and works real nice, its simple, cheap and has a decent sound to start with
(the free soft SIR reverb is indeed a nice plug, go get it!!)

about mics, always make sure you got a good working sennheiser md421,
i find that you can do alot more with that mic than with an sm57
 
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