Getting Started

[Reallusion]

Im putting together a home recording set up and I wanted to know what exactly I'd need....whether i should go with pc recording or a console(had my eye on the roland vs2480).Also wondered what additional gear id need..maybe monitors..and if so.would i need a mixer..or woud they connect directly from the recording device..all that type stuff.I have the instruments..including a synthesizer workstation with sequencer.I was thinking about programing drums using acid. I want a proffessional sound...but staying under $4000 if possible for the recorder itself..not including any additional equipment.I wanted to go 24 tracks.Dont want to waste money..any help would be really appreciated.

 

[Seanmorse79]

Do some searches in this forum. There are a zillion options that you need to research to see what's best for you, and there are a zillion posts that can give you the info you need.

 

[lyonhard]

Didn't I see this question in a previous Thread??

Pls. don't open more than one thread for a single question, and when you do keep the info consistant...


Lyon

 

[DavidK]

. I want a proffessional sound...but staying under $4000 if possible for the recorder itself.

You want a pro sound? Hire a pro.

I saw your other nearly identical thread too. You are not going to get a pro sound just by owning cool gear, you have to know how to use it. Stick around here for a few months and just read every thread you can, you will think differently.

I recommend getting a Shure SM-57 and a tape deck. If you can put something good on it, go for the fancy stuff, but dont go blowing $4000 on stuff that you have no clue how to use: It is really hard to sell used gear. Welcome to the forum.

 

[Seanmorse79]

Re: Re: Getting Started

If you can put something good on it, go for the fancy stuff, but dont go blowing $4000 on stuff that you have no clue how to use: It is really hard to sell used gear. Welcome to the forum. [/B]

...that's the spirit

 

[Reallusion]

the posts werent identical..this one mentioned the 2480 as to maybe get a review,which the roland section of this site didnt have..and included a price range as to maybe get a suggestion in that range..i dont think your anus was meant to be an extra input for your cable and various other accessories(to all that it applies to)

 

[DavidK]

..i dont think your anus was meant to be an extra input for your cable and various other accessories(to all that it applies to)

Dude, the Anus around here is you. We are trying to help you, my friend, but you have your mind already made up, so go out and buy the Roland 2480, and buy the mixer that you dont need and stick it next to the Roland.

The Roland has a mixer. You dont need one.

You will get more help here if you dont insult people.

People here are very nice. You have attacked us, not a wise way to enter a forum.

We have some pro's here. You might learn something from us.

Welcome to the Forum we are trying to help you, so back off, and: welcome to the forum!

 

[Reallusion]

man..i was on the defensive..just scroll up.I got insulted originally by someone that thought i hadnt searched enough..even though i had searched and was posting in a newbie area...but no..my mind isnt made up..im very open..and very humble to those that know what theyre talking about.I was only insulting those that it applied to.I do appreciate those that actually try to help.I had it narrowed down between the all inone roland 16 track and the less expensive 24 track pc set up ..includes mixer and all..both are roland.

 

[Seanmorse79]

No insult intended, yo - didn't mean it to come off that way. But I have, myself, posted gobs of replies for folks whose situations were very similar to yours, and I've seen gobs of others I didn't even get into.

...just to show I'm trying to be a good sport, here's my 2 cents:

whether i should go with pc recording or a console(had my eye on the roland vs2480).

PC = much, much more flexibility all the way around, but more initial setup headaches. However, if you're interested more in portability, the VS2480 is a great unit (I've clocked quite a few hours on a friend's VS1680).

Also wondered what additional gear id need..maybe monitors..and if so.would i need a mixer..or woud they connect directly from the recording device

Monitors - yup. Depends on your price range. I've heard lots of good stuff about the new M-Audio monitors, and they're priced to move. But the most important thing is, whatever monitors you get, to make sure and GET TO KNOW YOUR MONITORS. Listen to gobs of commercial CD's with them and get your ears used to them. IMO, it's much better to know your monitors than to use awesome ones your ears aren't familiar with. I've heard people swear by Radio Shack Optimus 7's

I was thinking about programing drums using acid.

Cool. Good program if you're going the loop route. I prefer a real drum machine (I swear by the Zoom 234), but that's just my opinion. There are things you can do with acid that you can't do with a drum machine - it all depends on what you're recording.

I want a proffessional sound

...easier said than done. Like DavidK said, there's a lot to be learned and you won't end up with a professional sound overnite. It's a craft (and I'm far from being a master), but I know how much I've learned and I know how much I have yet to learn. Expect your first tries with a new system to be flops. Learn from mistakes and ask questions - that's what we're here for.

In all seriousness, welcome to the board.

 

[Reallusion]

Thanks,seanmorse...sincerely.Im thinking about starting small..maybe an akai 16 track..but then i saw a roland computer set up..24 tracks..outboard mixer..card..for less money..its all pretty overwhelming.You know the package i mean?Its called the studio pack

 

[Reallusion]

oh and about drums..i wasnt planning on using preplayed drum samples..i was talking about pasting one hits..building the drum tracks from scratch

 

[Porter]

Hey Reallusion,

A couple of things... if you are looking at creating drum patterns by using preplayed drum samples and 'pasting one hits', you might want to look at a MIDI option/Drum Machine. I have a Alesis SR-16 Drum Machine (which is a very comon drum machine and has been around for ages) which I run via MIDI programming on my computer. You can set the SR-16 up to send it's output to 4 separate output's, allowing you to record it as though you were miking a real drum kit (ie 1 Mic on the Kick, another mic on the Snare and I use 2 outputs which i set up as though it's an overhead Mic, picking up Cymbals, Tom's and Hi-Hat).

As for the 2480, I currently have a VS840EX. My latest recording has 14 + tracks. On a 840 i have to do a lot of 'bouncing' (re-recording a number of tracks down to either a single or a setero track) as it's a '8-track', but only realy has 6 tracks because 4 channels make up 2 'stereo pairs'.

I'm looking at the 2480 down the track when I take my recording and mixing more seriously (and can make my recordgs sound good on the 840) allowing me to record full bands 'live' so that the groove is picked up in the recordings and I'll have a better idea about recording and mixing. I'm always learning and recording is like life.. you will always be learning.

The Roland is a 24 track machine, however I believe that it can only record 16 tracks at the one time.. It takes a while to learn, however you will learn in time.. It's a long and rewarding process.

Hope this helps,

Porter


BTW also check out www.vsplanet.com It's only talks about Roland, however it's another wealth of information.

 

[Mastermindzz]

Your going to have a lot more expandabilty with the computer:

For starts

Soundcards-Look into the Delta line, they have a good reputation with their products and driver support

Mixer-Mackie

Monitors-You will have to test them yourself and see which on you like the best, too many to choose from

Multitracker- same as monitors, many companies offer demos, but maybe look into N Track (cheap) or Cubase SX, Sonar XL, these are some of the most used products on the site, hope that helped...

Good Luck

Mastermindzz

 

[Seanmorse79]

Reallusion,

I have seen the Roland Studio Pack. In fact, I was considering it myself before I decided on the C-Port. It would be nice to have a hands-on mixer to work with instead of mousing it, but there was something that turned me off about it. I want to say it was because you can only record 2 or 4 tracks at a time, but I'm not positive.

Mastermindzz has the idea with his post. Go with Delta (M-Audio), Mackie, monitors of your choice, and Cubase or Sonar and you've got a good solid flexible setup (as long as you've got a good solid PC).

 

[Reallusion]

would I need a pc solely for recording..the only application i really use this one for is AOL

 

[Sennheiser]

I've heard people swear by Radio Shack Optimus 7's

I've heard that too.

I use a pair of Pro LX-7's. These have to be the flattest home speakers I've ever heard. They add very little color to the sound.

My mixes turn out great on them as long as they are positioned correctly and I'm sitting where I'm supposed to be.

Six years ago they retailed for $279 each. Of course everything at RadioShack is 20% higher than everyone else.

I waited until they were discontinued and picked up four of them for $50 each NIB.

The other poster is correct however. What ever monitors you use
get used to them. Listen to them alot. Crawl in bed with them if you have to. Just get to know them.

 

[tf5_bassist]

I've heard that too.

I use a pair of Pro LX-7's. These have to be the flattest home speakers I've ever heard. They add very little color to the sound.

My mixes turn out great on them as long as they are positioned correctly and I'm sitting where I'm supposed to be.

Six years ago they retailed for $279 each. Of course everything at RadioShack is 20% higher than everyone else.

I waited until they were discontinued and picked up four of them for $50 each NIB.

YES! I found the catalog # for those LX7s! (Those are the same as the "Optimus 7s" that you were referring to, right?) Anyways... If anyone's curious, the catalog # for the LX7s is 40-4063.

I know what I'm looking for tomorrow at work. hehehehe...