Need some serious studio equipment help!

[tmillerband]

Hey everyone,

Thanks for taking a look at this! I need some advice/help on what to pick up if I want to set up a somewhat professional little recording studio in my room. I do not know a lot about recording equipment but know the basics and have been around the music scene for awhile.

Now, the type of recording I want to do would mostly be just making some beats and laying down some vocal tracks.

Here is what I have so far...

Macbook Pro 17'' with Logic Pro 9
PC with Reason 4
M-Audio KeyStudio 49i USB MIDI Controller

And thats it.

So that is a start, but of course there is a lot more that I need.

I am looking to get some quality but at the lowest price possible. I want to have some sort of professional sound too.

So when I comes to recording vocals for something like rap, what would be the best mic for me?

What would be a good cheap mixer?

What is a good yet inexpensive beat machine/drum machine for making some solid beats?

Do I need some sort of audio interface to have the mic go through?

What is the best program for making beats? (I do have Reason and Logic right now)

Is there anything else I need?



Anyways, those are some of the questions I have and would love any input or information you guys have. Thanks so much for the help!!!

Taylor

 

[kcearl]

not to rain on your parade but professional and cheap dont really go together, and not when it comes to little experience as well...

your DAWs are fine, though Reason 4 runs on a mac so its probably best to have everything on the one computer as that way you can run Reason within logic on rewire


Yes you will need an audio interface, they can start at as little as lees than $100 up into the thousands...whats your budget

An audio interface with a couple of mic inputs will cover anything a mixer will, so unless you plan on recording more than two things at a time, or dont have the need to have instruments plugged in all the time forget about a mixer

You will also need monitors if you really want to mix well as headphones are best for tracking, you will get by with them but nearfields will get you there quicker...again whats your budget?


A mic is a difficult one as they each suit different voices, again theres a budget to think about, but I know I like the results from a MXL V67g, its around $100 yet sounds much better quality than many more expensive ones, budget for a pop screen, a stand and some decent cables too...get to a store that has mics and try them out


Id first suggest, and no one likes reading I know, this

http://www.tweakheadz.com/guide.htm

it will give you the foundation of all home studio knowledge


but before you start remember between you and a "professional" sound is equipment, room treatment, technique, and a whole load of experience...luckily most of its really enjoyable if you have a little patience


welcome aboard