Help/suggestions on basic setup welcome...

[BabyBottle]

Hello!

I'm very new to recording even though I have played guitar for some years...
I would like to build a computer home studio (based on my computer) where I can at least record 2 guitars and two mic simultainously...

My dream setup of course would be the Mackie 1640 + Blue BabyBottle + and an Es-335 among other things, but at the moment that's out of my budget...
So what do you recomend?

This is what I have today: (music hardware)

* Yamaha CPX-5
* Epiphone Casino
* Ibanez AW 15 LG (works nice - especially since I won it on a commercial
radiostation...
* Roland XP-10 Keyboard
* Peavey Special 212
* Zoom 505 (got that for free as well... )
* Harmonica
+ cables and some minor stuff...
I also have a voice - like it or not, it's the way I sound...LOL...


And my computer is a:

P4 2.0 Ghz
512 Gb Ram
120 + 80 Gb Harddrives
Turtle Beach Santa Cruz - (guess I might need to change this?)
nVida GeForce 4600 128 Mb
20" TFT-screen

I've already included Cubase SX3 (and eventually even FL Studio 5 in my budget...).

So, any suggestions on what I shall go for next??? Shall I aim for/what is best for me, to have preamps on a soundcard or in a mixer?

I need:
1. A microphone
2.What more?
3. ?
4. ?
5...

Yours
BabyBottle - Sweden

 

[NYMorningstar]

You should improve your soundchain from the source on to the final product. Keeping that in mind though, you should replace the weakest link if it's hauntingly obvious. Check out m-audio for a different soundcard and tryout some dedicated mic preamps before settling in with a mixer. Consider the usefullness of using the equipment live too.

 

[Kevin Deschwazi]

Welcome to the BBS babybottle. I won't go into too much detail because it's a huge area but maybe I can give you a few things to think about and you can go on from there.

The fact that you've mentioned the mackie board suggests that you'd like to be doing your mixing outside of the computer? It's one way of doing things but that route is a lot more expensive and a lot more complex to set up. If you're restrained by budget (like most of us are) I'd recommend that you do your mixing inside the box.

Your first consideration should be you recording and monitorinng spaces (possibly the same room?). I know it's boring but if you find out a little bit about acoustics and room treatment it'll give your recordings much more potential to sound good. Pro studios spend an absolute fortune on properly treated recording and monitoring spaces but there are things you can do with your home studio that will help and which aren't too pricey. The studio building forum here is great for info on this.

Then you need to think about monitoring. Plenty of info on the site if you do a search.

Next you'll need an interface which will get your analog signals into the computer. There are a few manufacturers which are worth a look but I'm a fan of the M Audio Delta range. If you're sure you'll only need 4 simultaneous inputs then the Delta 44 would probably be suitable. If you think you might need a few more inputs in the future then it'd probably be wise to go for the Delta 1010LT now. This will give you 8 analog inputs/outputs (plus digital and midi in/out). Like I said you might want to take a look at other manufacturers as well.

Cubase is a good choice but I personally use Cubase SE (a stripped down and MUCH cheaper version of SX). I don't find I'm wanting for any of the additional features in SX. If you decide you do want to upgrade to SL or SX the price of your existing version is deducted so you won't be paying any extra. If you're happy with SE you'll be saving a lot of money.

I personally like to use standalone preamps but I do have a small tapco (mackie) mixer which has a couple of extra pres should I need them. Unless you get a really good quality console standalone pres are generally better quality than the pres in the cheaper mixers. Of course there are some pretty crappy standalone pres out there too.

The range and types of mics and preamps available is vast so you really just need to do plenty of reading and get an idea of what other people are using, which models seem to be popular and which types would suit your needs. There's a heck of a lot of budget crap out there but there is also some decent gear which is very reasonably priced. It's also advisable to try things
out for yourself if you're able to.

Good luck with it all anyway.

Where are you in Sweden? I have a couple of friends living in Malmo.

 

[Monkey Allen]

It is hard to give exact answers to you. I am finding that it's hard to find conclusive answers. I am in the middle of setting up a recording computer myself. I think the only way to go is to do as much leg work as you can. But I will still offer you my advice:

I suggest affordable condenser mics for acoustic guitar. Dynamic mics like the shure sm57 or 58 for vocals or for micking amps.

Look into the M-Audio range of soundcards. Or look into the EMU range.

Some soundcards have preamps and phantom power, so you may not need an external preamp/phantom. But I do not know what the word on the street is about soundcard housed preamps/ phantoms.

Check to see if the soundcard has enough inputs for you. The more inputs the more expensive it is I think.

If you build it they will come...the others I mean. I am not really an expert, but I wanted to at least give you some help. Others will come.

 

[BabyBottle]

Malmoe? Well I live in Gotheburg... Did my final master thesis, 20 weeks, in Malmoe, (while studying)... Nice place!

 

[BabyBottle]

Thx! So would this be ok?

Thx!!

Just happened to end up here from google… and it looks like a REALLY GOOD forum!!!

Anyway… Well When it comes to sounds, recording and monitoring…. Well I don’t have that big flat so it will have to do…more or less the way it is anyway… even though I very well get what you’re aiming at…

I still believe I will go for the SX version despite the SL and SE versions of Cubase… but I think I will look around on the internet for the cheapest dealer, not necessarily in Sweden… An English speaking mailorder firm will do just as well…

Hmm… inputs, outputs, preamps… this is really the questions that I’m circling around in my mind all the time…
What is the best way to get the sound into the computer?

My Yamaha CPX-5 and my Casino both have mics and so micking up the Ibanez acoustic, well I shall not say that it won’t happen but it’s not likely…
I have looked at both the Delta 66 (eventually with + omni box), the 1010LT and similar solutions…
I’ve also looked into both the Yamaha MG and Mackies Onyx… range of mixers…
An outside mixer seems easier to control and easier to just connect another unit to (mic, guitar etc…) than to use internal mixers… and then there is the question of preamps…
I would at least be able to invite a friend over and record at least 2 guitars and two mic at the same time… so I might just go for something little more that that.. so that I won’t hit/fill the maximum inputs right away… that’s why I’ve looking into mixers… but as I said I don’t know if that is the best solution…

So from your responses, is it ok to say that a delta 44/66 (eventually including the Omni-box) might just be to little and that I therefore would be better of if I opt for an Yamaha MG 12/4 or 16/4 mixer and due to that a Delta 1010Lt to get enough ins to fit the mixer?

Then I need a fair microphone to that… (Yes I would like the Blue BabyBottle – hence my name…due to its sound AND its look… hehe…) but I believe there are quite a few quite good microphones to chose from like AKG, Shure etc…

I hope I’m not totally way of…

Ciao!
BabyBottle....

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By the way, any tips on where I can buy these things cheap? I noticed that sometimes a guitar in the UK for example can have a standard price on the streets that is close to half of that it is sold for in Sweden….

 

[BabyBottle]

right or wrong....

Just checking to see if someone could say if I'm way of or quite right in my last post on this thread....

Thx....