help !!! i need advice on studio equippement !!!

[heavylee]

hi, i'm new to homerecording and i would need some advice on how to set up my mini studio.
so far i only have my laptop loaded with cubase5 and my tascam us 122mkll, and some logitech computer speakers.
my sound is horrible.what am i missing?? a mixer ?? better speakers ?? the only good sound i get is through my headphones !!!
i would like to get some decent moniters in the future,will i still need a mixer ??? all help will be appreciated.

 

[Chili]

I'm gonna help you out here in a way you probably won't appreciate....

i'm new to homerecording

my sound is horrible.what am i missing??

Experience mostly and knowledge.

The best way to learn is to start reading. Then read some more. Learn as much as you can and apply it to your recordings. Browsing and searching through these forums is a good place to start. There are lots of people who come here asking the very same questions and they all get answers.

Listen to the submissions in the MP3 clinic and the comments and critiques given. Some great recording/mixing tips come out the MP3 Clinic.

In the Newbs section is a stickie with a list of resources for people starting out.

You probably don't need a mixer if you're using Cubase. Most people don't.

 

[JimmyS1969]

Chili is correct. Experience and knowledge is what will tell you for yourself what you need. None of us got great sounding recordings right off.

Keep on recording, reading, recording, trying new methods that you learned from reading, recording......

 

[c7sus]

You don't need a mixer. Use the mixer in Cubase.

You do need some decent monitors.

 

[heavylee]

i thought that it was only my speakers,cause i have been messing around with my recordings...but i still have a lot to learn. i'm gonna look into the forums that were suggested. thanks guys. cheers !!!!

 

[Chili]

Speakers are definitely part of the equation. So is the room your listening in. The room and the speakers interact and that is what you are actually listening to. Your room will determine how your mixes will sound across all the different listening systems; headphones, car, living room stereo, radio, etc... read up on acoustic treatment. It's not the same thing as sound isolation and it is the biggest bang for the buck for improving your mixes.

Welcome to the site.

 

[gcolbert]

and some logitech computer speakers.
my sound is horrible..

Patch the RCA outputs on your 122mkII to a good stereo. Give up on trying to monitor your sound using the computer sound card with computer speakers. If you have a good home stereo you will be really pleased with the sound quality that you get out of the Tascam's outputs.

Glen

 

[Pinky]

Another vote for decent headphones and monitors (computer speakers don't cut it, I speak from experience). My old mixes sound poor on my new equipment. Someday I'll need to remix the best tracks.

Another second on trolling the MP3 clinic. Lots of times you'll see songs go from crap to m'kay in the course of a week and a few revisions. It will give you an idea of what to listen for in your own recordings, namely things to avoid (most common issue - sibilance, learn how to avoid it!). In your own involvement in the clinic, you'll hear things in other people's mixes you like and can ask them what they did to accomplish it, in order to emulate it in your own productions. I've gained a lot of clever and simple tricks over the years just paying attention to the process other people take in their own submissions.

Above all else - it takes time. If you want to learn how to mix in 3 days or less, forget it. Expect to be spending numerous hours on each song. Even with my process somewhat refined I still spend a few hours minimum.