Need Help setting up studio

[Chaddrake]

I have been saving up money all summer so I can hook up a little studio. I have been researching as much as I can, but am still not too sure what i should get.

My computer is about 3 years old. It is a PC with Windows XP

it has:

Pentium 4 processor
512MB Ram
Creative SB Live! series (This is the sound card i guess, right?)
Firewire and USB ports

I got a version of Acid Pro on there, but I hear there are better programs

I got a lot of pre-made beats/beat components on an external hard drive too.

I also got Sony MDR-7506 headphones and a Casio WK-1630 Keyboard with MIDI outlets

So in researching I have come up with a list of things I need:

1. A Mic

I have figured out that I need a Condensor Mic for recording vocals
(I am planning to use it for mainly rap and some singing)

I hear Rodes are good. I have also heard Studio Projects are good. I am looking to spend 400 or less, preferably no more than 300

2. Pop Filter

Not too may options here I'm guessing.

3. An Adjustable Desk Mic stand

Same deal

this is where I start getting a litlle confused. I don't know if I need all this stuff or what combination of these i items i need.

4. Audio Interface

I was told by some guy at guitar center to get one of these with firewire connections

5. Mixer

This takes the place of a pre-amp right.

6. Pre-Amp

shouldn't need one if I am right

7. Studio Monitors

The guitar center guy told me I should get these, But I think I can do without them for a while and use the headphones right?

8. Portable Digital Studio

If I get one of these, it can take the place of some stuff right?

9. MIDI

I need some way to get the midi from the keyboard to the computer.

Basically I am pretty new to all this and not up on everthing technically.

I hear I might have to get a new computer as well. So I will take advice on anything that i might need to get.

All I want to do is be able to import MIDI from my keyboard into my computer so I can use them with the high hat/kicks components. I would also like to insert my vocals into the tracks on my computer. (also guitar and bass eventually) And Then I want to put together the tracks and render high quality tracks and put them on cds.

I am trying hard to learn and am dead set on doing this. I am asking for any and all tangible help that yall can give me.

Thanks

 

[Winding Road]

The Pre-Amp is to give power for your condensor microphone so you would be able to record it's input into the computer. If you didn't have a pre-amp for the type of mic that you were talking about getting, you wouldn't be able to record through mic.

You should get a mic stand because you want to keep your mic stationary while recording.

You can make a homemade pop filter by your self. Get some panty hose, make a loop with a wire coat hanger and insert the panty hose into the loop. Adjust the hanger whatever distance you want the pop filter to be from your mic. If you got one from the store it could cost you around 15-20. Why get that when you can make your own for a few dollars?

I'm looking at this recording book that I have here, and the SoundBlaster is listed as the recommended sound card to use.

The mixer is basically your effects table. You can either just mix through one of the recording softwares, or you can get an analog mixer, which would cost you a hell of a lot more.

There are better programs than Acid Pro. Try cool edit pro or Soundforge.

As long as you have windows xp and you have a good soundcard, I don't think your computer would effect you.

 

[sowpunk]

Pentium 4 processor
512MB Ram
Creative SB Live! series (This is the sound card i guess, right?)
Firewire and USB ports

Should be fine. Firewire is what you're after really. The SB Live! is actually more of a gaming sound card as opposed to production. This shouldn't matter tooo much I wouldn't think.

I got a version of Acid Pro on there, but I hear there are better programs

I got a lot of pre-made beats/beat components on an external hard drive too.

I myself don't do much electronic and premade stuff but if you've got Acid and a few beats they could never hurt Might be worth doing the beats and some effects tracks etc in Acid and then exporting the audio and doing the vocals in something like Cubase.

I also got Sony MDR-7506 headphones and a Casio WK-1630 Keyboard with MIDI outlets

The 7506's should be good enough for monitoring. If you're on a budget that is. You could always spend 400$ on a pair of amazing headphones but I wouldn't bother at this point in time.

1. A Mic

I have figured out that I need a Condensor Mic for recording vocals
(I am planning to use it for mainly rap and some singing)

I hear Rodes are good. I have also heard Studio Projects are good. I am looking to spend 400 or less, preferably no more than 300

Rode vocal mic's have a very good rep. Don't forget you'll need phantom power and pre-amps. I'd just buy a mixing desk as this will take care of both

4. Audio Interface

I was told by some guy at guitar center to get one of these with firewire connections

The outputs on your mixer go into the inputs of the audio interface. The firewire outputs on the interface go into the firewire port on your computer. This allows total control of your mix. Basically you can assign Chan 1 of your mixer to Track 1 in Cubase via the Interface. Some mixers have firewire support but I think they may be a bit expensive and redundant for your application. Unless you plan on recording more than one instrument or vocal source at a time I wouldn't bother with this

5. Mixer

This takes the place of a pre-amp right.

Most mixers have pre-amps built in. If you're just doing rap etc you should only need a mixer that supports phantom power with a couple of preamps. You'll plug the stereo outputs (either Line or USB) of the mixer into your computer and it will mix down to one track. The difference between this and firewire is that firewire will not mix down the tracks to a single source.

6. Pre-Amp

shouldn't need one if I am right

Built into the amp

7. Studio Monitors

The guitar center guy told me I should get these, But I think I can do without them for a while and use the headphones right?

I'd go with the headphones for a while. Invest the money on a higher grade mic

 

[danny.guitar]

Your computer should work fine, but you should upgrade your soundcard. Don't use a SoundBlaster. They will work, but they are not meant for recording. Get an M-Audio 24/96, or a Delta 1010 to start with.

Mic: That really depends on your voice, but you are right that a condenser mic will best suit your needs, more specifically, an LDC (Large Diaphragm Condenser). Best bet is searching for "Best mic for rap" on this forum, there are probably a million threads.

Pop filter: Some mics come with these, if not, I'd suggest buying one to suit the mic.

Adjustable desk mic stand: Just get a decent adjustable mic stand.

Audio interface: Take your pick. Firewire, USB 2.0, Preamp, Mixer, etc. If you are just recording vocals, or one to 2 tracks at the same time, then you won't need a mixer. You're better off getting a dedicated preamp. I'm not sure which ones are best for vocals, but there are a lot to choose from. M-Audio Audio Buddy, DMP3, Presnous FireBox Interface (Firewire), etc.

Mixer: As I said before, you don't need one if you're just recording vocals.

Pre-amp: Get a dedicated preamp for your mic, like I said, M-Audio Audio Buddy, DMP3, etc. are all good entry-level preamps, but you might want to save a little longer for something a step-up from that so you won't want to upgrade again in the near future. I'm not sure which preamp best suits vocals, but ask around.

Studio monitors: Some sort of monitors are needed, wether they just be desktop speakers, or high quality studio monitors. Don't mix with headphones. Headphones are good for tracking, so you can listen while you record. When it comes to mixing, you need a stereo field. Mixes made on headphones will not sound right when you listen to them on speakers.

Portable digital studio: If you're using a computer, you don't need one.

MIDI: Goto the MIDI forum and ask around. You'll need a MIDI controller/keyboard. I've never used one so I don't know.

 

[dalley]

I need some way to get the midi from the keyboard to the computer.

Your Soundblaster Live card would be able to handle this ... the joystick port also doubles as a Midi port. Depending on the age of the card, you might have the daughter card that has the MIDI connectors on it. The MIDI out of the keyboard connects to the MIDI in on the SBlive card

 

[Chaddrake]

I couldn't find a midi connection on my computer.

 

[dalley]

I couldn't find a midi connection on my computer.

you should have a game port on your sound card where you plug in your joystick or gamepad, etc. There are cables available that connect to that port AND have MIDI in/out connections.

something like this

 

[danny.guitar]

Why is everyone telling him to use the soundblaster? Get a card meant for recording.

I used a soundblaster for awhile and thought the results were pretty good compared to what people said about it. Then I upgraded and noticed a huge difference.

The EMU 1212M card has firewire for a FireWire interface, plus a MIDI In/Out jack. Everything you need all in one card.

The M-Audio 24/96 also has MIDI for half the price, but it's not quite as good as the EMU, it's still a great card and would do everything you need it to.

The M-Audio Delta 1010 LT has everything you need for $200.

Look through these cards first to see which one would best suit your needs before deciding.

I would suggest the M-Audio 24/96 since it is the cheapest, it's good quality, and has everything you need.

 

[dalley]

Why is everyone telling him to use the soundblaster? Get a card meant for recording.

Agreed. My comment about the SBlive was for MIDI and had nothing to do with digital audio ...