Rack gear

  • Thread starter Thread starter ericlingus
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ericlingus

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If i'm using a computer based DAW do you think I should buy some outboard gear or just use plug ins? I was thinking about buying a few rack mounted gear. What is the most important rack gear to buy? I'm thinking compressor/expander/limiter and EQ. Anything else?
 
plug ins. I have some outboard gear in my rack, DBX comp,Lexicon MPX and really never use them. Better off spending the money on nice preamps or mics or plugin bundle of some sort. IMO......what software you using?
 
be careful.....its an expensive addiction. soon you'll be paying money for rack gear that doesn't even DO anything to the sound.
 
FALKEN said:
be careful.....its an expensive addiction. soon you'll be paying money for rack gear that doesn't even DO anything to the sound.
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:D

...........................
 
ericlingus said:
If i'm using a computer based DAW do you think I should buy some outboard gear or just use plug ins? I was thinking about buying a few rack mounted gear. What is the most important rack gear to buy? I'm thinking compressor/expander/limiter and EQ. Anything else?
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Mic preamps. Mics. Good A/D D/A converters.

Spend your dough on decent mics and preamps and a good soundcard or outboard converter before wading into compressors and other outboard goodies.

Just my .02.
 
Buying gear just cause you think you need to is a good way to waste your money...I've done that and bought junky stuff for more than it was worth that I neeeever needed and now don't want. However, buying gear because you want to do to your sound what it does is a good thing. But if you've got money burning a hole in your pocket give me a shout and I'll sell you whatever you want! I've got some great swampland in Florida... (kidding)

Jacob
 
plugins are easier. i know, racks look cool (laughs). definatly get decent preamps and mic's. invest in quality only. get some really nice studio monitors if your dying to spend money. get 5 sm57's, the essential mic. or, if you want, you could send me some of your cash, and ill go shopping for you.....
 
FALKEN said:
be careful.....its an expensive addiction. soon you'll be paying money for rack gear that doesn't even DO anything to the sound.
Click to expand...

What? You mean to say that the purple-enamelled patchbay I paid top dollar for doesn't work as well as Autotune??? :D

Dags
 
I already have a SM57 and a presonus firebox. I'm using Cubase LE for my software. I'm thinking using just plug ins for mixdown and mastering and outboard gear for tracking.
 
u may as well EQ with plugins. I would get an outboard comp. and a preamp. maybe what you should get is like a channel strip like a focusrite or something.
 
what exactly is a channel strip. Also what is dual channel or multichannel? What's the advantage of having them? If it's dual channel does that mean you can use it for two different instruments?
 
"Big" consoles sometimes had a mic pre, eq, and compressor on each channel, so that's where "channel strip" came from. Its a box that has a pre, eq, and compressor in it. yes, "dual" would mean two and "multi" would mean more than 2.
 
Channel strip has effects and preamp in one unit, like the Toft atc - 2, pre amp, eq, and compressor all together. It is also dual or two channel and yes, you may record two tracks at the same time. The compressor can also be "stereo coupled" which means when one (usually the first) channel gets compressed, they both do.
Most frequently used for stereo recording of one instrument or overheads for drums but theoretically could be anything at all.
 
what EQ do you think I should get if I get one..parametric or graphic? graphic EQs seem a little too complex for me.
 
another question..if a compressor has an expander on it as well could I use both for tracking an instrument at the same time? Say i'm recording a guitar, could I have compression on it plus an expander?
 
I might go with the composer for a compressor. I get an expander,noise gate, and noise gate as well with it. I don't much money. What parametric EQ do you recommend. I was looking at a presonus 1/3 size rack mount one and a Behringer T1951 Tube Ultra-Q.
 
FALKEN said:
be careful.....its an expensive addiction. soon you'll be paying money for rack gear that doesn't even DO anything to the sound.
Click to expand...


I like gear that doesn't do anything to the sound.
 
Are racks completely useless?

Is building a rack completely useless if plug-ings are available?
 
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