HELP! (pleeze?)..Need to purchase by 3/29

[digitalBUM]

So many things...so little time. Hello everyone. You all seem like a very nice, knowledgable, helpful bunch, so hre's my dilema...I need to choose and purchase my MIDI controller, my soundcard/interface and my reference monitors BY TOMORROW (WED 29th) @ 11am (PST). I just found out around 1.5 weeks ago about Guitar Ctr's 12-month, no-interest payment deal which expires at the end of this month, so I've been in a mad rush to swallow as much information as I can on home digital studio equipment and software, and FINALLY get my very own DAW studio together. Something I've been wanting to do for years now.
But I'm running out of time and I need your help to figure what would be the best equipment (within my budget) for my little homemade indoor 6'x6' plywood soundroom by the 29th so the acoustic-guy can come over and do an eval on the room so I can go back and get the proper sound treatment before the 31st. Whew! ok enough of the background. Here's what I (think) I need and what I have:


Hardware+Software Budget:
$4300.00 more or less (actually, around 4800.00, but need to leave $$ for extended warranty for hardware and acoustic treatment for soundroom)

For What:
Composing orchestral, new age symphonic, R&B, Rock/pop instrumental type music--and syncronizig those tracks to video for DVD documentary productions, as well as general music production. Looking for that "Hollywood" sound for the orchestral soundtracks.

WITH what:
WinXP (SP2) laptop, Dual-core (intel "centrino Core-Duo") 2Ghz OR Pentium 4 3.8GHz, 100GB SATA sys HD, external SATA 1-terabyte RAID box, 2GB memory...I haven't bought the notebook/system yet because I want to make sure to match the right computer to the right studio setup, so any suggections--even for changing the processor type, the OS or even (GASP!) going to mac. Setup needs to be cross-compatible with PC though.

Main DAW software:
Sonar 5 Producer Edition

VI/Sampling Software I Want (open to suggestions):
GigaStudio3 Orchestra, Vienna Symphonic Library (Opus 1), Kirk Hunter Concert Strings, EastWest Symphonic Choirs


You dead yet? ok...


Soundcard/interface requirements:
96KHz/24-bit, DAW control console (depends on what kind of softwr control the MIDI controller provides), firewire connection to computer, firewire/USB input for MIDI controller, zero/near-zero latency, balanced audio in (XLR mics for VO-work), allows unlimited polyphony, 32 or more tracks, Input for guitar, makers are serious about driver development/updates/cross-compatability with other software, ADAT input for mixer (unless it includes a console already--don't even know what in the hell I'd need one for anyway, but I figure I'll probably need it sooner or later).
These were the only firewire cards on Sonar's harware-compatability page....

Yamaha 01x
Tascam FW-1884
RME Fireface 800
Edirol/Roland ED FA-101
M-Audio FW410



MIDI Controller (the least I can spend on this the better, w/out sacrificing what I need):
Firewire (I GUESS, for shortest latency and to avoid USB driver/install problems??) or USB, no sounds, Aftertouch, Sustain, any other foot pedal input/feature for working with orchestrations, 88-key, weighted keys that aren't too heavy so I can sample organ/drums easily, light touch & smooth dynamic control, high touch-sensitivity, velocity-sensitive, pitch/mod wheels/ribbon, assignable controls/sliders/knobs for software control/mixing--unless already included on sound card interface--and generally ideal for very good control of orchestrations/symphonic VI's.

Monitors:
Near-field reference, bi-amp, sheilded, with flat sound, clear & precise mids and highs, not too bassy. I don't know if this makes a huge difference or not but they will be used primarily at low-moderate volumes, and the little 6x6 plywood sound control room they'll be placed in will be lined with decorative cloth (velvet-like?), with linoluem tacked onto the floor and Auralex Treatment foam wherever needed (probably will be getting the "roominator kit").


whew! So there it is. Any suggestions and general help/info (especially those posted by tomorrow AM!) would be very much appreciated!

thanx


tHe BuM

 

[Agent47]

Sorry, what was the question again?

 

[digitalBUM]

Sorry, what was the question again?

Just needed some help getting the right equipment (interface, MIDI controller, etc) for my studio by tomorrow. and that I have a preferred setup, but considering my lack of knowledge in this arena--even after 1 1/2 weeks of intensive online research--I am keeping my software and even computer-purchase as an open-ended thing in case folks have any suggestions for those things as well for the kind of stuff I want to produce.

 

[Agent47]

You say you are planning to spend $4300 on all this. That's rather a lot of money to spend so hastily. If I were you I'd spend longer than 1.5 weeks doing research. I'd also build up gradually, getting gear/software as I need it, rather than getting a huge list and hoping it all works together.

Don't get extended warranties - they are the biggest con in the World and should be avoided at all costs. Everything is guaranteed for X years. With an extended warranty, you often end up paying another 50% on top of the purchase price, and it's really not worth it. Also, electrical retailers are notorious for not coughing up when you claim.

You say about synchronizing to video - will you need a separate tape machine for this? If your clients are TV people, you'll need something like a digibeta or Beta SP machine, or a VHS and sync device. If you plan to do tapeless video work, make sure you can get your client's video off tape and into your computer - how will they be supplying it? You might be getting $200 for a 10 second TV ad, but have to pay $100 to a facility to transfer your client's digibeta to avi format. Something to consider.

I honestly can't see the point in getting a laptop for music/audio work, unless you plan to do a LOT of travelling with it (ie. visiting people to record). Generally soundcards and audio hardware is desktop-based, plus PC hardware in general is cheaper to upgrade.

Sonar 5 is probably good. I can only vouch for Cubase SX3.

You probably don't need so many orch libraries. One good one will suffice. I can't vouch for any of those, although my Roland 'Complete Orchestra' expansion card is awesome.

Yes, hardware console would be nice, but not essential. I get by ok without one. I'd probably spend my money on a good soundcard with breakout box. If you're recording VO you'll need some kind of mixer, simply for routing foldback, and of course, a decent pre-amp, either outboard or on the mixer itself.

MIDI keyboard controller - why firewire? Why not use...er...MIDI? It's utterly pointless using USB for a keyboard. Why use up a valuable USB port with a keyboard when you could use MIDI? Do you really need 88 keys? You could probably get by with 76 or even 61. For control knobs and stuff I'd probably recommend the CME range of keyboards.

Yes, you'll need monitors... Plenty of those around, so read some reviews.


My advice though, as you're going to be spending some serious money on all this, and you seem to be a newb, don't rush into it.

 

[altiris]

Guitar center is not the only place you can buy from you know. Also do you have an account with then already? If not how do you know you will qualify for their in store credit? You need to take a little more time especially if you are going to buy that many things at once. Don’t rush because of the promotion. Also why do want a note book? Do you need it because its portable? Id get a desktop since you can get more machine for the money. Portability will cost you in performance and upgradeability.