need equip. advice

[guitarfreak12]

I'm planning on building a rack system, now I am lost as to what would be the best types of stuff to get. It seems that everyone has at least a Compressor/gate, and an EQ maybe effects, but I'm not sure of what I should start buying. I don't need to know specific brands right now, I just need to get together a game plan of what to buy. I have a small studio with a PC and good equip. mic and so forth, and isolation booth. so I wouldn't need much, and most of the time I'll be recording vocals/guitar/ small percussion. and all of the processing I do with my software, usually, I jsut want to process it before the computer. Thanx

 

[c7sus]

A decent soundcard is a must. Next after that is a decent mic and preamp. Then monitors.

After you get that together you'll figure out that you need to treat your room.

Welcome to upgrade hell!

 

[guitarfreak12]

re-reply

Hey, I have al that soundcard etc. I've been recording for a couple of years, I just want pre-computer processing now. Because I usually do the processing in the comp.

 

[c7sus]

Again, I would go back to mics and preamps. Your signal chain is only as good as the worst component you're using. After that it becomes about treating your room to get rid of standing waves and flutter echo. When you track those artifacts there is just no way to get them out of a recording.

For compressors, check out the RNC for a quiet, clean sound.

For FX maybe a Lexicon MPX-1. Great reverbs and some other cool stuff as well. Does some EQ but I wouldn't buy it for that.

I'm a bit confused about "pre-computer processing". Are you saying you want to put this stuff in your signal chain while tracking? Or are you looking to record stuff dry and use outboard processing to get to the finished product?