Rate my setup

[s0ze]

ok, here it goes,

-Mac ibook, 1gig ram, and OSX tiger
-Logic Pro7 and all its software extras
-1 Presonus FIREBOX
-2 Presonus TUBEPre (for extra inputs when needed)
-1 Presonus COMP16
-1 Presonus EQ3B
-1 Presonus HP4
(all nicely arranged in a Maxrac)
-a couple of Shure SM57 for bass/guitar/vox (right now the drum tracks are done via samples)
-a pair M-Audio Studiophile DX4 monitors
-and my axes

as far as I can see its a pretty complete setup, but Im a newb at this so what do I know?

Any suggestions/comments on improving my setup are welcome and greatly appreciated

and I know this equipment isn't studio status but all Im looking for is a basic setup so I can track a decent sounding demo

 

[iratecaller666]

lol

Hey what about Presonus underwear?

You forgot the Presonus underwear.

So now the mystery of who hijacked the Presonus truck has been solved!!!

hehehe. Got yourself a nice setup there.

For a home recer dude, I give ya a 7/10.

Why so low? .. well the gear alone won't make a killer home studio.

If you would have listed 'vocal booth' .. then i'd be drooling .. and would have given a 8.

Do you have protection for that gear? .. like a Power Conditioner. Those are cheap, will ensure that the gear is fed with the perfect voltage. Protect your investment. (and get 10/10 .. yes protecting what you have is more important than the vocal booth... much cheaper too.)

Then the big monster of a question, is, electrically, how noisy is your studio?

What is the noise floor readout at the computer after your signal has routed through all that gear.

In some conditions, the power conditioner can lead to less noise.

So throw in some power conditionning and a vocal booth, then figure out 'noisy' your input signals are into your ibook.

Then you shall get a 10 , home-recer-dude.



Tristan

 

[LemonTree]

I spent thousands on gear over the years before I spent a few hundred on room treatment to actualy hear the benefit of what I'd spent my money on.

You didn't list a lava lamp, it's not a real studio without a lava lamp

My gear list is in the studio link at the bottom

 

[s0ze]

Hey what about Presonus underwear?

You forgot the Presonus underwear.

So now the mystery of who hijacked the Presonus truck has been solved!!!

hehehe. Got yourself a nice setup there.

For a home recer dude, I give ya a 7/10.

Why so low? .. well the gear alone won't make a killer home studio.

If you would have listed 'vocal booth' .. then i'd be drooling .. and would have given a 8.

Do you have protection for that gear? .. like a Power Conditioner. Those are cheap, will ensure that the gear is fed with the perfect voltage. Protect your investment. (and get 10/10 .. yes protecting what you have is more important than the vocal booth... much cheaper too.)

Then the big monster of a question, is, electrically, how noisy is your studio?

What is the noise floor readout at the computer after your signal has routed through all that gear.

In some conditions, the power conditioner can lead to less noise.

So throw in some power conditionning and a vocal booth, then figure out 'noisy' your input signals are into your ibook.

Then you shall get a 10 , home-recer-dude.



Tristan

nice suggestion on the power conditioner, that one completely slipped my mind.
as for the noise read out, im sorry to say I haven't tested it yet. Most of the equipment was sent away for via ebay. Ive recieved everything but the audio interface (which I expect within the next few day) and as soon as its all set up Ill let you know.

theres a small 10'x10' room in my house that I intend to use for recording, wood floors and I scored a rather large piece of plexi glass from a pool job I helped on. I cut it and placed it in the corner of the room, and used a mattress as a door creating a small room for vocals.


oh and yes I have 3 lava lamps

 

[Cloneboy Studio]

I'd say you need more:

1.) PLUGINS
2.) More and better microphones
3.) Way better monitors
4.) What no room treatment? Get some Auralex.

Then maybe you'll be happening.

 

[DavidK]

I will give you a 7.5/10, thats a nice rig.

You didnt mention a keyboard; I always have to have one around for general musicianship skills. A nice set of headphones and better monitors, one real nice mic for vox and you are grooving.

and I know this equipment isn't studio status but all Im looking for is a basic setup so I can track a decent sounding demo

You can make a great demo tomorrow with what you already have, good luck

 

[metalhead28]

Sounds like a decent setup. You could surely make some good recordings if you know how to use it all. The most obvious thing to me that could use improvement would be your microphones. A couple of 57's are nice to have but are pretty limiting if that's all you have. Maybe pick up a LD Condenser. And room treatment would be nice as well. This stuff was already mentioned, but I just thought I would give my opinion as well. Enjoy your recording!

 

[DavidK]

For comparision, here's my setup, which I rate a 6.5/10

SONAR3 producer, lots of plugins and additional software
M-audio firewire solo audio interface
midisport midi interface
Yamaha MG10 mixer
Tannoy monitors PB8II
AKG headphones
Johnson J-Station
Roland/Alesis synths
Shure Sm57, Avlex c-133 mics
Some serious bigtime violins

All I need is one quality mic and I have an excellent lil project studio.

My tracking room/living rooms SUCKS, so there is no charade of needing treatment, I either move or live with its crappiness. I compensate with Waves reverb, and I am literally trying to arrange my music based on the limitations of the room. I also do a lot of midi, and the J-station and the firewire card are connected by Spdif.

 

[seismetr0n]

i agree with everyone..

better mics, room treatment, better monitors... (definately a UPS)

i know everyone seems to like the sm57 as a 'workhorse' mic... but i just dont plain like it ....

maybe a pair of SDC's and 1 LDC ? it depends on what youll be recording... (even mxl's arent so bad)...

its a good start though...
gl

 

[s0ze]

thanks for all the input, As i said im just looking to basically "get the point across"
awhile back my band was offered a 2 cycle deal right when we were on the verge of breaking up (major drug probs with the bass player), which eventually happened and the deal fell through. the capitol rep left me a card and asked me to give him a call when "I got my shit together"
Now that I have the more talented half of the band on my side and a fresh bass player/vox I hope to get my contract back.

thank you guys once again

 

[sdelsolray]

ok, here it goes,

-Mac ibook, 1gig ram, and OSX tiger
-Logic Pro7 and all its software extras
-1 Presonus FIREBOX
-2 Presonus TUBEPre (for extra inputs when needed)
-1 Presonus COMP16
-1 Presonus EQ3B
-1 Presonus HP4
(all nicely arranged in a Maxrac)
-a couple of Shure SM57 for bass/guitar/vox (right now the drum tracks are done via samples)
-a pair M-Audio Studiophile DX4 monitors
-and my axes

as far as I can see its a pretty complete setup, but Im a newb at this so what do I know?

Any suggestions/comments on improving my setup are welcome and greatly appreciated

and I know this equipment isn't studio status but all Im looking for is a basic setup so I can track a decent sounding demo

It really depnds on what you'll be recording, but I'd suggst some mics. The rest of the gear is fine. You'll know once you grow out of it, if ever. Room treatment too. That's important.