Newbie Setup Comments

  • Thread starter Thread starter DisturbedStudio
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DisturbedStudio

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Hi all, thx in advance for any comments...

I am doing tons of research before shopping and I'd like you guys to comment on my setup...

Computer: Intel PIII 850, ASUS CUSL2-C, 512 DIMM RAM, cd burner, Soundblaster Platinum 5.1 and ATI Rage Fury graphics (games, dvd)... I know that I need a quality soundcard, and I'll get to that in a minute...
Mackie CFX12, Alesis M1 Actives, Cakewalk, Drag and Drop Drummer, Shure sm57 mic...

I'll be recording guitars and bass, use drum programs, and maybe some keys... My goal is satisfy my HOBBY needs... I don't plan on being Mr. Rock Star...

I've been doing alot of research on soundcards and I think I like the Omni Studio (delta 66, I/O) except for the lack of Midi (I can always take care of that after I get a keyboard with a midi interface).

I've been inspired by a friend who put a DAW together and I'm modeling my system after his, although he only uses a Soundblaster. He uses, and I want to use, Drag and Drop Drummer to build drum tracks in Cakewalk, play some bass over that, and then rip out some geetar over that and make cd's.

Is this possible with my setup? Are there any limitations to the Delta 66 I should know about? Anything else I should know? I plan to get the mixer in the future so I'm hoping the computer, mics, delta and monitors will get me by for now...

Thanks again...
 
....ok

Sounds perfect to me... I can't see anything wrong with it.
It will deffinitely let you do everything you want, especially for a hobbiest. I'd wait for a few more oppinions.
 
The only thing you haven't mentioned is what HDD you have. With the rest of the specs, I doubt that it won't suffice though. What speed is it (rpm) and how big is it?

Looks like you got yourself a killer setup.
 
i think the delta 66 with the omni is great for doing the unprofessional stuff i like to do.
 
You mentioned getting the mixer "in the future". The SM57 will need a preamp in order to work with your sound card. This would normally be supplied by the mixer. If you don't have the mixer in the near term, I don't see how you can use the mic.
 
dachay2tnr,

The OMNI Studio (Delta card + OMNI i/o box) contains a pair of mic preamps... So he's OK for now.

But, DisturbedStudio, in your list you have a mixer, don't you? (Mackie CFX12? or is that not a mixer?)

-Alchuck
 
Yeah, that was my thought. You already have a quality mixer with onboard efx & really nice preamps. you can then just get the delta 66 w/ breakout box instead of the Omni studio. You can most certainly get away with using your soundblaster card for midi & just purchase a decent midi controller in lieu of a keyboard with a midi interface which would probably be more expensive. This is pretty much my setup & it works very well for my rock & roll/midi needs.
 
More Specs, Q's

Hey Gang, thx for the posts...

I plan on getting 2 IBM Deskstart 75GXP, 40 gig, one for apps, the other for all music files... Ultra ATA/100, 7200 rpm. 2MB Data Buffer, 100 MB/sec transfer rate... I assume that Cakewalk and Drag and Drop Drummer will be installed on the C drive but all music files will be on D?

Like I said before, I'm doing all my research now and I plan to buy the computer at the beginning of September... By then, with 2nd generation boards and all, do you guys think a P4 would be the way to go?

Also, I'm concerned about the operating system... From what I've gathered from you people, 98 2nd edition is the way to go... By September, the 2nd releases of Windows Professional should be out... Maybe that will need a second look?

Back to the mixer... I can't buy everything at once, I couldn't sleep at night... I want to start slow with the minimum to get going so I plan on getting the mixer a couple months after the computer and Omni Studio... AlChuck was correct, the Studio comes with 2 mic preamps, so I should be able to get by... I want to learn as I go to find out what I really need... Maybe the CFX will be more than I need, who knows... That is the kind of thing I beat my head against the wall about...

Finally, can anybody compare the Delta 66 to the Gina or Darla?
 
The biggest difference feature-wise is that both the Echo cards have 2 ins and 8 outs... 8 outs is useful if you're going to output your tracks to a mixer and mix them down outside the computer...
 
AlChuck - I need you to look over my shoulder when I do my posts and correct me before I click submit. I didn't realize the Omni Studio had pre-amps.

I have no experience with that particular card, but I'm not a big fan of cards with built-in pre-amps in general. Particularly when you have plans to get a Mackie, which have pretty nice pre-amps in them. I vote with nattn, get the 66, or even the 1010. I have a Delta 1010 and a Mackie 1642VLZ (plus a few SM57's and SM58's) and I am quite happy with the sound I'm getting.

Take it for what it's worth... one man's opinion.

One other thing, disturbed one, I have never been sorry about overbuying. I have, though, been quite frequently sorry about underbuying. What's sonusman's line? Buy good once, buy cheap twice (or something like that). Good advice.
 
Re: More Specs, Q's

DisturbedStudio said:
I plan on getting 2 IBM Deskstart 75GXP, 40 gig, one for apps, the other for all music files... Ultra ATA/100, 7200 rpm. 2MB Data Buffer, 100 MB/sec transfer rate...
Click to expand...

Those are really nice drives but you don't need 40GB for OS and apps. Get a 20 GB for that, which will be more than enough, and spend the extra money on getting a 60 or 75GB disc for music.
 
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