My Small Studio Setup!

[SPZ]

Custom Build Computer:
* Cooler Master Neon L.E.D. Fan TLF-S12 - Id 2923 € 7,33
* Antec NeoHE 550PEC - Voeding ( intern ) Id 4761 € 70,64
* Thermaltake Hardcano 12 SE, Zwart, blauwId 11803 € 43,72
* Microsoft Habu Laser Gaming Mouse - MuisId 13605 € 51,75
* Antec TriCool - Ventilatorhuis - 120 mmId 14415 € 12,74
* Conceptronic Lounge'n'LISTEN 2.1 SpeakerId 17868 € 35,88
* Samsung SpinPoint F1 Desktop Class HD103Id 35626 € 88,12
* Scythe Floppy - Card Reader Combo,ZwartId 43139 € 29,19
* Logitech G15 Keyboard - Toetsenbord - USId 57768 € 79,60
* OCZ Enhanced Bandwidth Platinum Dual ChaId 68758 €135,90
* ASUS EN9800GT HYBRIDPOWER/HTDI - GrafiscId 88827 €132,86
* Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium w/SId 89327 €102,49
* BenQ E2200HD - Vlak scherm - TFT - 22" -Id 94634 €184,65
* Processor - 1 x Intel Core i7 920 / 2.66Id 97107 €267,15
* MSI X58 Platinum - Moederbord - ATX - iXId 97117 €247,31
* Cooler Master Dual-sided Mouse Pad- MuiId 176649 € 13,23
* ASUS DRW 20B1ST - Schijfstation - DVD±RId 191142 x2 € 46,34
* Thermaltake Soprano VB1000BWS - MidtowerId 193711 € 77,02
Total about $2200
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Audio Gear:
* M-Audio Axiom 61 Keyboard MIDI Controller $239.95
* Behringer XENYX 1204 FX $179.95
* Yamaha HS80M Active Studio Monitor (120 Watts, 1x8 in.)x2 $349.95
* Emu 1212M PCI 24-Bit/192kHz Balanced Interface $139.95
Total about $1260
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Total + Total = $3460

I have $4000 / 3000euro to spend.
With the money left I'll buy my bureau workstation and necessary cables.

Is this a good set up?!
What about the midi-keyboard?
What about the monitors?
What about the mixers?
What about the soundcard?

If there are any tips what I could to better or so, just tell them. I can use any help!
Thanks,
SPZ

 

[SPZ]

Wow, nobody?

 

[tojo]

i see you forgot to type in what software you will be using and how much that will cost... unless your pirating it, which will get you a great response from this forum.

in my opnion i would ditch the pc and get a mac, that's all ther is to it. remember :

in my opinion

then you don't have to worry about anything really, and it comes with the new garageband, and eventually you could get logic (i got logic express! it's amazing!)

are you not getting any mics? or do you already have some?

 

[Chili]

Is this a good set up?!

SPZ

To do what?

-The EMU 1212 will allow you to record only 2 channels of audio at a time.
- No mention of mics.
- Instruments?
- Midi controller, but no mention of sound module or VSTi's.
- No mention of room treatment.

Peace.

 

[Jeff_D]

Where to start....

I've been recording on a home built PC that cost me about $500 to build- that I built 3 or 4 years ago. I have no problem recording 12-14 simultaneous inputs and mixing up 30 tracks (I could probably do more, but I havent needed to (yet). And to the guy about the mac=

Like Chili said, the Emu will only get 2 simultaneous tracks into your computer at a time. If thats all you need great. Even so, I'd check out the MAudio Audiophile 2496 or the Echo Mia. I wont buy anything by Emu / Creative.

I'd give some more thought on what exactly you want to be able to record, then pick your soundcard / interface, mixer (if you really need one), monitors, etc.

If you want to give more detail, I'm sure you'll get plenty of opinions here.


Oh yeah, Reaper rulz for recording software.

 

[Seafroggys]

Wow, you wasted a lot of money on computer components. I didn't even pay $500 for mine and I get great results (granted I had a leftover monitor and some RAM was given to me, but still). A G15 keyboard? Vista? Fancy LED fans? Seriously?

 

[SPZ]

"-The EMU 1212 will allow you to record only 2 channels of audio at a time."
Well I don't know what u mean with that..
Do you mean I cannot record more than 2 mics at once?
Or MIC + Midi record and that's it?
Or am I wrong..?

If I am right .. I don't have a problem with that. I just record 1 audio at a time. 1 midi at a time..
---
I don't want MAC because I also wanna play games and stuff.
I use FLStudio for making the beats.. soon I'll switch over to Cubase where I'mma bout to record vocals and make my beats.
---
"A G15 keyboard? Vista? Fancy LED fans? Seriously?"
Yes, seriously
---
I've got one mic at home wich what I gonna record vocals with.

 

[Jeff_D]

"-The EMU 1212 will allow you to record only 2 channels of audio at a time."
Well I don't know what u mean with that..
Do you mean I cannot record more than 2 mics at once?
Or MIC + Midi record and that's it?
Or am I wrong..?

The idea behind "multi track" recording is to record multiple sources (i.e. a snare drum, kick drum, each tom, and some overheads, a guitar a bass and maybe some vocals for instance) into separate tracks on your computer.

If your soundcard only has 2 inputs (strereo) you'd have to mix everything BEFORE you record it; which means you cant adjust levels on individual tracks after you've recorded them

If you want to record yourself singing and playing a guitar at the same time, 2 simultaneous inputs is probably fine. If you want to record your whole band at once, 8 channels OR more would probably be in order.

Sounds like you need to shop around and see whats available.

Like I said before, if you can tell us what it is that you want to record, we can make suggestions for what you need.

 

[SPZ]

I wanna record just vocals with one mic and not bandrecording.
I wanna be able to record what I play on my midikeyboard.
I wanna be able to record my guitar/bass.
I'm fine with recording at maximum 2 audio signals a time, I don't need more.

 

[Jeff_D]

I wanna record just vocals with one mic and not bandrecording.
I wanna be able to record what I play on my midikeyboard.
I wanna be able to record my guitar/bass.
I'm fine with recording at maximum 2 audio signals a time, I don't need more.

Cool. Then a 2 channel or stereo soundcard should be fine. I personally refuse to buy anything made by Creative / Emu. Look at the MAdio 2496 or the Echo Mia. I dont know anything about midi, but the majority of soundcards come with midi capabilities. I couldnt tell ya anything about the midi controller.

I'd keep shopping for your mixer too. (Technically, you could do this without a mixer; get a 2 channel pre-amp like the DMP3. But, its nice to have a mixer so you can control your monitor volume.) I'd check this out. http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Soundcraft-COMPACT-4-Mixer?sku=630925
Soundcraft makes nice stuff (I'm assuming even at this low price point- they make big consoles). It doesnt have the junk that you dont need- like onboard effects. But it looks like it has some VERY practical routing options that you dont get with mixers 3 times its size.

As for monitors, the Yamahas that you listed are about $350 EACH. $700 will get you a nice set of active (powered) monitors. Event has always made a respectable monitor. Mackie too.

That pretty much just leaves mics and cables. You're gonna have to shop around for mics, but for vocals most people seem to use large diaphram condenser mics. You said you were gonna record guitar too, so if you want to mic it you'll need a mic- but if your amp or pedal (or whatever you play through of you play an electric) you could go direct out into the mixer and into the soundcard. If you play an acoustic or an electric and you have a nice amp, you'll want to mic it.

Oh yeah, and software to run everything. Check out Reaper for that. I think they actually have a free version, but even teh personal "pay" version is only $50 (dont tell em, but its probably worth 4 times that at least ).

Hope that helps. Ask questions if you got em.

 

[Chili]

"If I am right .. I don't have a problem with that. I just record 1 audio at a time. 1 midi at a time..

---
I've got one mic at home wich what I gonna record vocals with.

Don't get confused between audio and midi, they are two completely different things. Do a little more searching, that subject has been hashed to death. With either the M-Audio or the Emu, you can have two audio channels and as many midi as you want (within reason).

The midi keyboard controller is just that, a controller, it won't generate any sounds or audio for you. You will need something that can take the midi data it generates and create the instrument tracks you want. In software they are called VSTi's. If you want to do it through hardware you would need a sound module. VSTi's work inside your DAW and they range in price from free to thousands.

I wouldn't be put off by EMU. People will comment that they are crap because they are owned by Creative. But EMU was its own company for a long time and manufactured decent products. I don't think that changed since being bought by Creative. I have the EMU 0404 and it sounds just fine. Plus the EMU has a built-in effects dsp which can come in handy when trying to add effects in realtime, like reverb on a monitor buss during tracking. I don't think the M-Audio can do that.

peace.