How would you spend $1500?

  • Thread starter Thread starter getuhgrip
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getuhgrip

getuhgrip

Bring Back Transfat!
You've got $1500 and you want to record your acoustic drums, vocals, guitar amp and acoustic. Bass and cheap Yamaha keyboard rounds out your arsenal of instruments in a one man operation.

On the recording end let's say all you've got is a 1000Mhz PC with CD burner, large fast HD and gobbs of memory and that's it.

Here's the challenge: Finish putting together a recording system with a measley fifteen hundred bucks. Impossible?
 
Not impossible, but way too general. There are so many options and so many various amounts of money that can be spent. You could probably start recording for $150 instead of $1500 if you had to. It depends on how many inputs/outputs you need, how many things you want to record at once, and tons of other stuff like does your voice sound great through an SM57. You could grab one of several multi I/O boxes for that computer, which if you get one without multitracking software, N-Track is cheap. Then have more than $1000 left for mics, preamps, cables, and monitors, etc. You aren't gonna have pro equipment with that budget, but you'd get some very decent sounding recordings for a home studio. You have the PC and the instruments already, which to me are the most expensive necessities for a computer recording setup. However, the real reason I'm posting is to wonder how your post is showing up in the future. The date on it is tomorrow to me...:)
 
2 - Marshall MXL-603's $150
1- Shure sm57 $80
1- AT ATM25 $140
1-Marshall MXLv67 $175
1- RNC Compressor $175
1- Delta Omni Studio $380
1-Hafler M5/TA110 monitor/amp package $300
1-Art Tube MP $100
 
Well, I know you're going to need to get some monitors. That is going to hit your pockets for at $300.00 (i.e. Event 20/20's). Don't forget about an amp to power the monitors.

You are going to have to get a multi-tracking program $400.00 to $800.00 (i.e. Sonar, Vegas Audio, Pro Tools, etc...).

And an editor (Sound Forge, for example)

You'll need to get a soundcard.

You'll also need to get some mics for you and your equipment.

So, you'll have to stretch out your money. :)

spin
 
I'd put that 1500 bucks towards either a Deering Calico banjo, or a Flatiron A Style mandolin.......
 
I couldn't love the mandolin with a passion it deserves and I'd be afraid of what I'd attract if I took up banjo in this part of the country. Ever see "Deliverance"? :D

I should have listed a Tube MP and an SM58 along with Ntrack in the "already have" list. I didn't list the MP or 58 cause I thought I had them sold. Gidge, you listed the MP in spite of the Omni's pres for vox? Would you use the extra money for a little more muscle on the amp/monitors?

Also, who's got the 603's by themselves? All I'm seeing is a combo pkged with an MXK2001 for $199.

Tubedude's a fan of high dollar gear. I was hoping to see what he'd do with a meager budget plan.
 
8th Street for sure has the 603's by themself for $79...they may be cheaper elsewhere.....

I listed the TubeMP because the Omni only has 2 preamps and if doing drums, a third preamp would be nice.....you could either do kick/snare/mono overhead or kick/stereo overhead(which I prefer).....also, you may like it more for vocals, or you may not...but regardless, its nice to have a different flavor....

Since you already have the sm58, Id ditch the 57 I listed and stepup the monitoring system...maybe a pair of Tannoy Proto J's (199/pr at zzsounds) with that Hafler amp I listed (199 at Musicians Friend)....might not be more muscle, but with nearfield monitoring you won't want levels that high, just clean....
 
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Save another $1000 and do yourself right, or buy 1 or 2 EXCELLENT things now and buy one or 2 later, and you'll be set.

If I was gonna spend $1500 right now this second, and never EVER see a MOTU 1296 in my future, I would buy a Delta 1010 $600 and you have 8 inputs for drums, and a Lucid ad9624 $600, which brings your total inputs up to 10 going S/pdif and you will get excellent sound on all your overdubs, and on kick and snare or overheads, whichever you prefer to use the Lucid on.

Myself, 3 months later I would buy a Lucid genx 6 clock to improve my Delta converters and to lock up the Lucid and the Delta, and a nice nice preamp, either something like a Langevin dual mono, or MAYBE a sytek, since you can get 4 pretty good pre's for $1000 with that. You're pretty set at that point, good solid foundation that'll last you a long time and sound like you will WISH the cheaper stuff would sound.
 
By the way, go find a Langevin dual mono and check out what it does to the sound of your SM58.
AH! I just saw that you had mentioned me already! awesome! ;) Well, there it is. It'll change daily. ;)
Truth be told, if it were possible, I'd get the Motu 1224 ($1100) over the Delta, but I wouldnt do that if it interrupted my getting the Lucid.
 
Gidge, I did some spec checking last night and figured out the limited pre's thing with the omni. And I agree with the multiple flavors capability; Omni/MP. I may try to squeeze a few more bones into at least 75 watts on the amp. Omni it is.....for now. ;)

Tube, that Motu is pretty enticing. And I am kinda concerned about limited inputs. I get caught up in this mode when planning anything where I say "Well, this is just a few more bucks here and hell, if I'm gonna do this, I might as well..."
I may have to pass on some of the nicer stuff initially, and upgrade as able. The Darla gave me a taste and made me realize I can do the music and arrangements. Now it's about getting to the next level, which for me is learning how to mix, add FX and develope some technique.
As a lot of you have done, I'll see where I need to step up performance and quality as I go.
Right now I'm just burnin' to lay some tracks! :cool:

I noticed neither of you tried to sqeeze a mixer into the works. I guess the software mixers are more than adaquate these days?

Thanks guys.
 
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Who needs a mixer if you have good pre's? The mixers WE can afford are all but worthless, really... may as well get good preamps. They do have an SSL 9000 at Music Go Round for $800, though.
Limited inputs? The Motu has more inputs than the Omni does, doesnt it? I'm not gonna bother checking, the Omni just doesnt interest me.
If you just need a few pre's, check out the Presonus MP20, and if you're interested I'll tell you where to get a free upgrade for it. Make sure you at least get the Delta 1010, 8 inputs will serve you well, and you can grow into a Lucid later, and expand pretty easily by just adding preamps as you need them.
 
I was refering to the Omni's limited I/O. But actualy, do I need more than 6? That's all I anticipate using for drums.

This brings up another area where I keep hitting a wall. When we say that we have 6 or 8 I/O, but only have 2 pres, is this where we get involved with outboard pres? Let's use the mic's listed above as an example. They all require a power source, right?

I didn't see how many pre's the Delta 1010 has. But let's say it has two. I want to use six mic's on drums so my answer is what...2 blue tubes or similar?

Clocks and the relationship between I/O and preamps are still hazy areas for me.

BTW - I saw a Studio 32 at MGR for $600. Overkill for me, but I thought I'd pass that on.
 
Ok lets see... no preamps in Delta 1010 at all.. you gotta have outboard. To me that is a benefit. Maybe not to you.
Relationship between pre's and clock... none.
Relationship between I/O and clock... huge. Too huge for me to explain. Might find some enlightenment at digido.com. In fact, I'm sure you'll learn something there.
The thing with the Delta 1010... say you want to mic up kick snare and overheads. You need 4 preamps. Getcha four good preamps and you are covered. 2 months later, you decide you need to mic up all the toms and toss in a room mic, too. Suddenly you need more inputs. The Delta (or Motu) is ready, you don;t need another card or an upgrade. All you need to do is buy the pre's that you need. Room to grow on, money well spent.
Or you can get an Allen & Heath Wizard board and use the direct outs from the preamps ( and decent EQ too, far better than Mackie) and have full access to all 8 inputs of the Delta immediatly, and can accomplish most anything you want that way.
 
since the Delta 1010 has no preamps, in order to use all 8 inputs, youll have to get 8 preamps.....

the Omni has the 2 preamps plus more.....it has more inputs than the Delta 44 & 66 because the Omni has an "additional 8 ins to mixer section with record busing".....

it has channel inserts for effects...dedicated monitor and record outs....2 headphone outs....awesome alternative to small mixer/soundcard combo with 2 freat preamps to boot....

Im sure tubedude means well...Id like to see a $$$ breakdown from him showing the gear he listed that will do everything you need and include everything you want....I could go on and on recommending the mack-daddy gear all day long, but to get everything you want for $1500, Ive put together a great list that will give you awesome sound....

BTW, do a search of Tim Browns post....im pretty sure he mics with 3 mics and he definitely knows what hes doing....4 would be great for you...with the 603's going thru the omni pres for overheads and the ATM25 going thru the ART on kick....for now you can use the sm57 going thru a guitar amp if u have one and you gotta have a snare mic.....
 
Gidge, Tube is kind of a gear "purist". I won't say gear "snob" cause he lives too close! :D
His contention is to buy less components at a time of a higher quality than to invest in a whole rig comprised of lesser quality components. That's a smart move and I agree.
However, I don't know when I'll get to blow my next wad, and I'm as impatient at 40 as I was at 16!

You both present a viable list that I'm sticking real close to. Yours I can afford now. His I'll have to upgrade to as I go. This is also about learning right now. That means I want as many of the SOP items as I can get (amp, monitors, comp, pres, different mics) to get a "big picture" idea of how it all works together. Make sense?

Bottom line is I'm itching to get some stuff recorded and I'm going to have to compromise a little. A spent three grand since September assembling instruments; Les Paul, Jackson DK3, 12 string, Bass, Mapex ProM's, 2 Marshall amps, ect., ka ching, ka ching! My poor little angel is freakin' out cause it was just last year that I discovered Ebay and started grabbing all this old analog stereo equipment I gave away in school 20 years ago.

Anyway, Tube's suggestions are all over my Christmas list. Yours is on my order sheet.

Thanks very much to both of you. Now, let's go have a beer!:D
 
I'd buy 1500 pezzutos worth of Sylvester Zinfandel Vino.

MmmmmmmmmmGood.

Green Hornet
 
Buying used gear can stretch that 1500.00 alot further but get new mikes.

pair of superlux small dia condencers 100.00
sp c-1 175.00 (lowest price Ive seen posted and Its what I paid)
sm57 69.00 (music go round) new for bass drumm
m-audio audiophile 150.00 (mars)
presonus blue tube 150.00 (musicians friend)
phonic dfx 256 (digital reverb) 80.00 (mars)
cakewalk pro 9 150.00 (musicians friend) KC clearence center.
j-station 150.00 mars


with the 500.00 left over you can buy a real synth (something without speakers on it):cool:
 
where have you seen a c1 for 175usd ? and arethey still at that price from where you got yours from ?
 
If you really want some good pres and can't spend too huge, either check out a used Sytek with 2 channels modded for about $600 (4 channels total!). Steve Albini and others refer to it as "Great Rivers little brother".
Or a Grace Design 101... very clean and transparent, which is very important when doing lots of overdubs so you dont get accumulations of one pres sonic character overcoming your mix.
Get a really good, clean, open pre 1st (great River, but lotsa money there) and then start worrying about colered pres and thicker stuff like the Meek or a Vintech.
Did I say Meek? Eeek! ;)
Put a Sytek and/or a Grace on your CHristmas list as well as a Lucid AD. Not too expensive, and you'll get much closer to pro quality sound.
Gidges idea is also good, just not for me. Plus, since he disagrees with me, I'm gonna kick his ass at the next home reccers meeting. You better be ready, asshole! I'm gonna getcha! ;)
Peace,
Paul
 
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