Is my thinking correct?

[D K]

Hello All,

Just thinking out loud here and want to get some feedback - My current system consist of a P4 3gig w/ 1.5 gig of Ram - 200 gig audio drive -80 gig back up drive - Tascam 1884, Yorkville YSM1(the originals) running Sonar 4PE,etc,etc,...

I am about to spend about 2k on the studio - Here is what I am thinking:

The audio interfeace is adequate - i would like to build a new computer but I think the smart money is here

1) Room Treatrment - I am no do-it-yourself guy - Tried to do a mock build of traps - No - Think I will just work with Glen at GIK on these - $625.00 - will get me 6 bass traps and aborption for a cloud

2) Upgrade the monitors - This looks like it will be the Dyn BM5 - $1000.00

This is a big chunk of Two thousand dollars but all the information I read seems to point to these two areas as the biggest areas to improve and take my mixes to the next level. What is left over I will save up and try to get a RNP to go with my RNC which would give me at least two "money" pres.

Is my thinking correct here?

 

[giraffe]

sounds good to me (improve room, monitors, pre.... very solid logic), but i'd try the diy thing one more time first.

i have about 4X that much absorption for a little better than 1/2 that price.

 

[JohnMoxey]

Hey

I guess it depends on what you consider to be a problem area for your studio. Room treatments are always useful, be it acoustic treatment or sound proofing, although it must be said it is a lot cheaper if you buy materials and DIY. Solving hot frequency problems, especially at the low frequency end, can be difficult without tuned bass traps - which are pretty straight forward to build, but if it's not a problem...

Improving your monitors can make a big difference, although if you think your existing monitors are up to the job then I wouldn't bother. To be honest, in the output chain your output amp can almost color the sound as much as the monitor choice and of course the fabled monitor placement.

One of the problems with not doing it yourself (and of course learning and appreciating improvements), and not hiring a consultant, is that you can effectively stumble around for ages without fixing the biggest problems. Unless of course you really know what you're doing.

Hope this rambling helps!

Cheers

john

 

[D K]

Thanks for the replies Gents -

The traps are the only thing that bugs me - I tried this weekend to build myself and got so frustrated I just quit!!

It seems that the cost of building them myself with wood, Rockwool/703 and fabric would be between $30-45 per trap. With Glenn his traps are $59.00 per trap + shipping - It's the shipping that kills as everybody knows but at least I get a plan specific to the room and traps that are built correctly and will do what they are supposed to do. I just don't want to spend that kind of money on Monitors and spend the time to build traps and end up more frustrated and then on top of that with traps that don't perform

I don't know - maybe I "wimped' out too early? Just dont want to make a mistake here as this is probaly one of the only times I will ever get to drop this kind of money at one time - I need to do this right and spend wisely!

 

[In Tune Audio]

Your idea of monitors and acoustics is your best choice.

Having a better computer is always nice, but that won't affect sound quality. That and your system is plenty strong to work with Sonar (unless you get into a lot of virtual instruments)

 

[Dogbreath]

Sounds like the best choice to me. Good call.