Newb. Gear. Now!

[paine]

Hello everybody, I posted on these bbs earlier, choosing a narrower topic (firewire interface)... I got no fully satisfying answers, so I figured I just posted in the wrong disc in the first place. So I'm asking again, but adding a couple of questions.

So, here's what I want to do:
Be able to record a guitar, electric bass, voice and MIDI keyboard. No quality issues whatsoever. I really don't care about analog vs. digital or other "conceptual" debates. I'm convinced that I can't hear the difference (don't feel offended!) either way. I guess I'll leave what belongs to the pros, well, where it belongs.

Here's what I've got:
My PC:
-AMD 64 4000+
-Some average soundcard
-1024MB RAM (soon adding 2048)
-The Reason
-Reaper

plus, quite obviously, my guitar...

What I think I need:
-said interface (M-Audio FW 401?)
-MIDI keyb
-mic
-mixer
-drum machine
-some effects to play with?
-equalizer?

All of this not too expensive, I'm on a budget.

So, can you help a newb get started?

Thanks in advance,
paine

 

[Jederino]

Whats your budget? Do you want to record more than two instruments at a time? Looks like not . . .

Your computer is fast enough, although I would maybe bump your RAM up a gig, if you can. When mixing and adding effects, you can have limited resources.

Interface - Yep, thats good. I like M-audio, and you can upgrade to Pro Tools M-powered if you want later on.

Midi keyboard - Sure, there are a ton of different kinds. Basically, do you want controllers other than the keys? Do you care about 88 keys, or can you settle for 23?

Mic - Audio Technica always has great bundles, like the AT-2020. If your miking an amp, you should also get a dynamic mic, like the shure sm57. There is a free guitar amp simulation plugin that I saw somewhere that is pretty good, so you can always record your guitar direct, too.

Mixer - No. If your getting an interface, you don't need it. Put your money somewhere else, like a good mic.

Drum machine - Toontrack EZdrummer. nuff said.

Effects, Equalizer - Same as the mixer, don't need it yet. There is an abundance of free effects online, plus what comes with Cubase (bundled w/ FW410), that you should put your money somewhere else. Do all your mixing and effects "in the box", which means within your computer software.

All in all, look for everything on ebay. Obviously much cheaper that way, especially mic's, interface and the Toontrack EZdrummer would be great finds for someone on a budget.

The one thing to remember is quality hardware is top choice. I would pic a great mic over a nice multitrack studio any day. The m-audio interfaces come with clean preamps, so there's no coloration, yet they don't sound like crap. There just good, thats it, but definitely a start for someone in your shoes.

 

[paine]

Thanks for the reply, Jederino!

I don't really want to record more than two instruments at a time (maybe for some guitar + voice).

For the RAM, I've decided for a 512 + 512 + 1024 + 1024 = 3072MB setup. I think that's fine?

Interface: I'm not so sure about M-Audio right now... I've read an awful lot of negative reviews on this unit. BTW, my budget for the interface is a couple hundred bucks (say 400), not more. Anything you'd suggest?

I'll choose the 23 keys... I won't do anything more than playing some chords or maybe a bass part... And if anyone more "professional" will come over to record they'll have their own keyboard. Could you explain the controllers?

I guess I'll set fo the Audio Technica mic. Thanks for the suggestion!

Wouldn't it be better if I purchased a hardware drum machine?

Could you suggest a good set of effects/plugins and a good equalizer?
I guess I'll use Cubase to record, it seems to fit with most plugins - or is there something more userfriendly?!

Thanks again,
paine

 

[Chili]

Hey, I'm going to second Jederino's recommendation on EZDrummer. Way better than a drum machine, in my opinion.

I'll disagree with him on the mixer, though. I use a Phonic firewire mixer and I love it. It has built in effects so I can add a little reverb to my vocals while tracking, but no effects on the mixer get sent to the computer (which is a good thing, I think). There's also zero latency monitoring during tracking which is so nice. You can set your buffers to a comfortable value for your computer and not think about it.

I will agree with Jederino that if you get a different type of interface like he suggested, you won't need a mixer also.

I run a pentium 4 with 1gig and never had any problems. I think the highest track count I ever had was 16 with plugs on most tracks. (I keep my songs fairly simple, I guess).

Kjaerhaus has some decent plugs for free.

Have fun