If you could start all over again....

[fruney]

.... what would you change about your current setup and why?

For example, start over with PC DAW instead of Standalone? and the reasons why. Or, keep your setup because you're satisfied with it, and why?

I know this might be boring but... I think it might be a good way to help me investigate my next upgrade.

Thanks.

 

[tmix]

I have thought about this some, but I go in circles.

I think if I had it over to do and actually had more cash (most of my decisions were bang-for-buck oriented), I think I would still use my computer, but buy an Alesis HD-24 for a front end and use it for the converters while in the studio. I'd use the light pipe cards to comunicate with it just like a regular sound card, but it would also give me the option to take just the hd-24 out for location recording, to which I could then dump the tracks into my computer. It would also give me the option if I ever DID want to mix outside the box I'd have plenty of sends.

My thoughts anyway. It would force me then to buy thousands of dollars of other support equipment so then I'd be in the dog house again (and again).

Tom

 

[Track Rat]

Except for a few more high end mics and preamps, I'm pretty happy with my set up (which is built around an Alesis HD24).

 

[lpdeluxe]

I don't know that I could have done better...maybe bought a higher quality headphone amp. But I'm another bang for the buck guy. I put my studio together with sale items and closeouts, and I have a digital mixer, a tube preamp and some great mics. What is lacking is not gear but enlightenment.

 

[Dom Franco]

MORE SPACE!

I would have made the studio, control room, drum room and isolation booth all larger. When recording a full band with drums guitars keyboards bass etc it gets really crowded!

"Give me land, lot's of land neath the starry skies above- Don't fence me in!

DOM

 

[tmix]

Dom,
I'm with you there.
I hope to add space by building a 30ft by 40 ft building by years end.

Track Rat, Do you use a computer withyou HD 24 or mix through a board. If you do interface with a computer. What set up are you using?

I don't mean to highjack the thread, so any answers you want to pump directly to me, do so.

here: tom@tmixstudio.com

Thanks,

Tom

 

[Track Rat]

Tom, I mix through an analog console but I do transfer my raw tracks into a computer through a MOTU 2408 mkII for editing (Cakewalk Pro Audio 9) then back to the HD24 to mix through the console.

 

[tmix]

Thanks!
If I did not have a VIA chipset MOBO I'd get a MOTU set up as well. Ah well... maybe next computer.

Tom

 

[Track Rat]

I used to have a computer with the Via chip set. It wouldn't play nice with ANY of the soundcards (Pulsar, ADAT Conect, Yamaha DSP Factory, Gina, etc) I tried to install in it. I got the P III Coppermine and never looked back since.

 

[Middleman]

I would have concentrated on the sound of my room more. I spent an inordinate amount of time making bad mixes with excessive EQ when a few acoustic tiles and bass traps for around $500 solved a lot of problems. This made my mixes more transferable. Tuning the room is generally the last thing people do in a home studio but it should be the first.

Regarding changing my current setup I would like to get 2 of the Lynx A cards for 8 in 8 out top notch ADDA. I also want a Great River preamp as I have to rent it for $30 a day now and after using it I want one.

Some more mics, always more mikes and pres. The rest of my gear has produced some excellent mixes so here is the list.

PC P4 2.26, 1GB RAM, 3 HDs, System, Audio, Video
Sonar Producer
UAD-1
Soundcraft 8 channel mixer
M-Audio SP5B monitors with SP8S Subwoofer
Audiophile 24/96 - Good but have outgrown this.
The Rack: 24 channel patchbay, TC Electronics M1, Antares ATR-1 hardware, DBX 160x, RNC, DMP3 preamp, Focusrite Voicemaster Pro, JV1080.
The mics: Neumann TLM103, Rode NTK, Marshall V67G, 990, 2- Oktava MC012, Shure SM57.

When I want something better I rent it. Hope this helps.

 

[mikeh]

I started in analog domain - so I still use an analog mixer and analog outboard effects (2 large racks) - even though I record to a computer.

If I could start over I would go the Pro Tools route with all software processing (this could eliminate many square feet of rack space in my control room.

 

[mikeh]

I started in analog domain - so I still use an analog mixer and analog outboard effects (2 large racks) - even though I record to a computer.

If I could start over I would go the Pro Tools route with all software processing (this could eliminate many square feet of rack space in my control room.

 

[reel buzzer]

I'm still using digidesign session 8 on an old mac quadra 40 mhz so there is nothing out there to upgrade this computer. Do all my recording and overdubs to the Otari 8 track reel to reel and mix to the digidesign. I don't have much to complain about the computer as long as I am only mixing to a stereo track, the 882 i/o is perfect compliment to the Mackie 2408 and Otari analog recorder.

I wouldn't do anything different with the amount of money available, but if I had the money then the number one difference maker would be an analog mixer with automation.

<a href="http://www.soundclick.com/bands/9/ragsclothesbottlesmusic.htm>Jerry Lockamy

 

[reel buzzer]

I'm still using digidesign session 8 on an old mac quadra 40 mhz so there is nothing out there to upgrade this computer. Do all my recording and overdubs to the Otari 8 track reel to reel and mix to the digidesign. I don't have much to complain about the computer as long as I am only mixing to a stereo track, the 882 i/o is perfect compliment to the Mackie 2408 and Otari analog recorder.

I wouldn't do anything different with the amount of money available, but if I had the money then the number one difference maker would be an analog mixer with automation.

<a href="http://www.soundclick.com/bands/9/ragsclothesbottlesmusic.htm">Jerry Lockamy

 

[distortedrumble]

at the point i am now....i dont think I would change anything...i've turned my bedroom into a small studio for my song ideas....as for turning the house into a studio.....well thats in the planing stages. as for starting somewhere....i dont know whether i want the mixer or build the computer. and even starting from scratch...i dont want pro tools. sonar should do the trick

 

[fruney]

Great, thanks ror all the responses so far.

I myself started in the analogue domain with a Fostex X28H 4 track. When I discovered bouncing I thought I was in Heaven (9 whole tracks!). I want something a little easier to work with and more consistent sound-wise. It looks like alot of you use computers. Its a good route but I would need a new computer to get started so $$$$ can be large.

Keep the posts coming I'm learning alot.

 

[dwillis45]

Excellent question, fruney!

In retrospect, I probably made the mistake of focusing sequentially on the recorder, mics, outboard gear, mixing/monitoring equipment, and the room. Next time around I guess I would do things backwards by starting with the room and monitoring. Once I got that right, I would most likely allocate a third or more of my budget to a good mixing board and then add equipment focusing on good preamps and A/D-D/A converters. The last issue I would worry about is the recorder. (IMHO people spend too much time agonizing over which recorder, which computer, which software package, etc. and not enough time on the basics.) I would also have the following motto stamped on my forehead: Spend more and buy once. Finally, I would not buy anything that could not be upgraded or fit into a more advanced setup.

 

[Phyl]

Tom, I mix through an analog console but I do transfer my raw tracks into a computer through a MOTU 2408 mkII for editing (Cakewalk Pro Audio 9) then back to the HD24 to mix through the console.

I'm interested in hearing more about Alesis HD24 (or other HD)setups.

When I visited BlueBear's studio he explained that he used a HD24 front end and transfered tracks to the computer for editing.

What is the advantage of using HD front end rather than recording directly to a computer? Is it the reliability of the HD? Is it the converters in the HD? Is it the swappable disks?

Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[Track Rat]

For me it's reliability formost and it's WAY easier and more intuitive way to go about the process. If you have paying customers sitting there watching you mouse thru stuff trying to set up a monitor mix so they can just do a quik punch in or something like that, you come to appriciate a dedicated recorder like an HD24.

 

[Phyl]

Thanks Track Rat.