I Am Just Starting A Home Studio...need Help

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jlbmusic

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I have finally decided to purchase a Mac in the near future. What would be the best computer to purchase and much many megs and what software. I am limited with funds, but I want the best sound. Please help, anyone out there.
 
jlbmusic

I dont know much about Mac computers but it cant be much different than a PC, a Mac G4 at 500MHz Pentium III or better is a very nice set-up, one of my friends is running one in his home studio, I recommend at least 192 Meg of RAM ( best to have more if its in the budget) depending on what type of recording software used, Sound Forge's Sonic Foundry or Cubass is a good beginner program.

Make sure you purchase a good sound card, spend at least $250.00, a Delta Audiophile 24/96 would be a good card in that price range. And also make sure your hard drive is at least 7200 RPM, And it is also better to have a seperate dedicated audio drive ( so you can run more tracks) and last but not least, make sure you purchase a nice pair of studio monitors, a good start would be Event's PS5 (under $500.00). Also I would recommend the purchase of nice mixer with some good mic pre's.


That should get you a nice DAW!!!!

Hope this helps you out!!

Carter
 
Thanks Carter...one more question though

What mixer should I purchase....should I purchase a mackie...they seem to be very good. I really appreciate you writing me back... THanks alot...the info really helped.
 
jlbmusic,

You dont have to go out and spend that big money for a Mackie mixer yet, ( unless your getting a good deal on what you want) Thier a alot of companys that sell good mixers with good sound quality and good mic pre's, Beheringer makes some good equipement for the man who is on a budget ( about $200.00 for a 16 track mixer with 4 mic pre's), then you can spend that extra money on all the cables you are going to need. Remember the more money you spend you will get better quailty.


Carter
 
One more......

Oh, okay...cool I had been reading up on Beheringer and it seemed like it was cool to start with. Now, what I want to know is...that with this computer system, I will definitely need a mixer or would this be a recording console. That is where I get confused. Do you think that a 16 track will be enough to start with. As a musician I hear so much and I want to be able to spread out my instruments as much as possible. So, what cha think Carter? Are you a producer or musician and do you have your own studio. Again, thanks so much for your input....:)

Tina (jlbmusic)
 
Re: One more......

jlbmusic said:
Oh, okay...cool I had been reading up on Beheringer and it seemed like it was cool to start with.
Tina (jlbmusic)
Click to expand...

You haven't been reading that at this site, that's for sure... you may want to do a search here on the keywords Behringer AND mixer, you'll get A LOT of info...

And yes - I certainly would spend the "big money" on the Mackie over the Behringer.... you can spend a bit more now and get good gear and or you can waste money having to buy gear over again later to replace the crap that you buy now....

Bruce
 
Hmmm... sorry...

...reading that back sounded way harsh - which was not my intention....

:)

Bruce
 
Okay Bruce....that was a little harsh :)

But I appreciate your comment. I take my musicianship seriously so I am just feeling for what to do for my next journey into the music business. I have keyboards that cost a pretty penny. So, I am on the same wavelength that you are talking about as far as get good equipment. BUt, I guess my only frustration is that money is tight, which is common when you are a musician and rely on that income. But, anyway that is another story. But, thanks again for your advice. Now, answer this question, which Mackie should or would you recommend.

Tina (jlbmusic)
 
Well, let's dig deeper, what exactly do you plan on recording, and how many different instruments/vocals do you need to handle at the same time?

If the number is small you could easily get by with a 1402 VLZ or even a 1202VLZ if the number of instruments is 4 or less... next up you're looking at 1642VLZ... the pres are pretty much the same in all these models...

Bruce
 
Okay I have an answer.......

Now the instruments that I will be recording is the basics that is drums, piano, sythn strings and so on...now as far as vocals maybe a small group like 6 people....i just want to be able to control everything....

Tina
 
A bit more...

Live instruments? All at once??? or simply overdubbing?

Bruce
 
Ummmmm....

Live instruments, maybe sometime, but most of the time I will doing synth stuff off the O1WPro. Vocals will be live and maybe if I dont like the drum patch I will get a friend to play drums.

Tina
 
Well, the 1402, will give you 6 pres, plus line inputs for synths, etc...

The bigger question is how many inputs your soundcard will be able to accommodate at one time, and then how many direct outs or busses the mixer will give you....

If I were you, I'd make a decision on the computer and sound card first, then that will help determine your need of a mixer, or simply maybe additional external mic pres...

Bruce
 
Re: Re: One more......

Originally posted by Blue Bear Sound

And yes - I certainly would spend the "big money" on the Mackie over the Behringer.... you can spend a bit more now and get good gear and or you can waste money having to buy gear over again later to replace the crap that you buy now....


Well Well Well, Bruce I cant understand why you are dogging out Behringer equipment, I noticed from your website that you have a few pieces including a Behringer Virtualizer
a Behringer DSP1000 exciter and
Behringer SNR2000 noise gates.
I understand Behringer does not carry that "famous Mackie" name but if you check out the specs on the "mackie" 1202-VLZ PRO, the Behringer MX 1604A is right up there with it..... and cost less. Dont think that Iam bashing Mackie equipment because they do make some nice stuff, and Im not bashing you either, I was just trying to help jlbmusic
get the most for his money and still get quality recordings......


Carter
Click to expand...
 
Yeah, and Bruces point is that the extra money for the Mackie is worth it. He is not bashing you. Not Behringer either.
 
Re: Re: Re: One more......

Carter said:

Well Well Well, Bruce I cant understand why you are dogging out Behringer equipment, I noticed from your website that you have a few pieces including a Behringer Virtualizer
a Behringer DSP1000 exciter and
Behringer SNR2000 noise gates.
I understand Behringer does not carry that "famous Mackie" name but if you check out the specs on the "mackie" 1202-VLZ PRO, the Behringer MX 1604A is right up there with it..... and cost less. Dont think that Iam bashing Mackie equipment because they do make some nice stuff, and Im not bashing you either, I was just trying to help jlbmusic
get the most for his money and still get quality recordings......
Carter
Click to expand...
Yes, I have a couple of pieces.... one of the units, the Exciter, was a throw-in with a big gear purchase - the only thing it's good for is the noise gate....... the Virtualizer, bought it cheap for the vocoder - have used it for a dirty plate snare.... the gate - yeah, I did buy that - it's a freakin' gate!!!

Stuff I acquire, I use when I can, but none of it is a first choice reach. Nor is it something I recommend others to purchase - quite the opposite actually... I'd recommend avoiding it - and come to think of it I did recommend just that!!!!!!!

Not to mention that none of the pieces are as important to sound quality as the mixer would be.... and Behringer AIN'T where mixers are at................................

Bruce
 
Dont get so upset

Bruce,

I didnt know you have cheerleaders for one thing and
you are getting off of the main subject that was in the the beginning of this thread, THE MAN IS ON A BUDGET, and yes I own a Mackie 1604-VLZ PRO that I picked up about a month ago, and I do like this piece of equipment. but you only can go as far as your money takes you!!!!!.... I bet YOU did not start off with that Mackie 24*8 did you?? I dont think so... but now that you have it you expect all newbies to spend that kind of cash... Think about what you are saying.. It is worth it if you can afford it, if you cant wait you buy something cheeper and save for a better piece of equipment at a later date.

Carter
 
Yeah, yeah...

...I know ALL about budgets... BUT... it makes more sense to spend a bit more NOW and get something that will last, than to save a tiny bit now and have to replace it all later!

I'm not upset at all -- I'm just trying to save people from "disappointment" when their "budget-gear" doesn't perform up to their expectations.... and actually, it saves us all from having to once again answer the question "I just bought a mic from Radio Shack, and I can't get a good sound... why???"

I went the budget route too way back when, but looking back, I wish I hadn't for a lot of things.... hindsight is 20/20.......

Cheers...
Bruce

PS... cheerleaders... Ha! You don't wanna see Regebro in a mini-skirt and cheerleader sweater, trust me!!!
;)

:D
 
Carter, musicians and engineers drink a lotta coffee. I don't think Bruce is getting upset, he's just animated :).

As for being on a budget, you should still consider the cost of replacing or repairing gear. The Beheringer mixers don't seem to have a very solid construction, at least from the numerous horror stories I've read around here. Also, "budget mixers" aren't much of a savings if you have to replace 'em 4 months down the road because they're making expensive keyboards lose their character. Better to spend the money once, up front.

jlb: Do you need a mixer right now? If you have a lot of signals to route at the same time, you might. But if you only need a couple of preamp channels for a few mics, you might look into getting a couple of dedicated preamps first. You're gonna get better preamps that way. The keyboards should be able to just run direct into whatever soundcard you get. I don't know how many modules you're dealing with, but if it's only a handful you could probably get by without a mixer for a bit.

[damn, you're quick Bruce! Ya got in before me]
 
Blue and Carter both have valid points, I think what it comes down to is this - Are you planning to do serious audio production with this setup or just exercise your Muse and have some fun with your recordings? If it just for hobby recordings you could probably live with the Behringer for a couple of years and upgrade later.
But if you plan on doing serious recordings for CD production or commercial reasons then I would go with the Mackie, It's more reliable and it sounds better. I consider a mixer to be a sizeable investment and my philosophy on those is to buy it right the first time, things like cheap gates and even cheap effects can always be kept around after you've upgraded and still come in handy from time to time, it's not the same for a board.
 
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