Rebuilding my rudimentary studio

[mithra6]

I had just started building up my studio when Hurricane Katrina decided to flood my house.

So.... I getting new stuff. So far I have a Delta66 card with the Omni I/O and some M-Audio 5 inch monitors (these are what survived basically).

I play pretty much everything and I am not expecting to sound like Abby Road, but I also want to have the best I can afford. Here is my question:

I am thinking of getting the Line6 Toneport as a starter. I used the POD previously and liked it, so I figured for the money this would serve as an okay preamp and add a little character. My complaint with my previous setup was that everything sounded a bit dead.

In addition I was thinking of adding another rack unit to add some overall dynamics. I've hear the tube/solid-state arguements. I was thinking of adding this rack unit AFTER the TonePort. So for instance adding some kind of "tubeness" after the TonePort, to my thinking, would help.

So first all am I way off? I was thinking maybe an inexpensive (under $250ish) unit. A compressor? A pre-amp? My first thought is a compressor.

Any ideas?

 

[jkokura]

rather than get the toneport, I'd get an RNP. Nothing I've seen in that Toneport thingy makes me excited. You don't see people mention them a lot because most engineers know that 'pre-amp' modeling isn't worth it.

If you want a rack combo that'll help you get what you're looking for I suggest an RNP and RNC combo...you can get them racked together so you've got it all in one box...

Just my suggestion, I'm not telling you what to do...think about it.

Jacob

 

[fuzzyhair]

rather than get the toneport, I'd get an RNP. Nothing I've seen in that Toneport thingy makes me excited. You don't see people mention them a lot because most engineers know that 'pre-amp' modeling isn't worth it.

If you want a rack combo that'll help you get what you're looking for I suggest an RNP and RNC combo...you can get them racked together so you've got it all in one box...

Just my suggestion, I'm not telling you what to do...think about it.

Jacob

whats an RNP?

 

[scrubs]

whats an RNP?

The Really Nice Preamp from FMR Audio. http://www.humbuckermusic.com/fmraudrnreal.html

you would still need a microphone and amplifier for guitar, imo.

 

[mithra6]

I'm getting those too. I just didn't mention it. The amp I'm not entirely sure what I want yet because I want to hear them. For the mic I'm getting an SM-57. I figured I can't go wrong there.

 

[jkokura]

I'm getting those too. I just didn't mention it. The amp I'm not entirely sure what I want yet because I want to hear them. For the mic I'm getting an SM-57. I figured I can't go wrong there.

Not that you can't do it, but most people talk about a Pre-amp by saying pre, and an Amp would refer to a guitar amp...Do you mean Pre or Amp?

Yes, a 57 will do you very well, seeing as I would wager that EVERY studio out there has at least one...or wants one in the least!

The Pod is good, and if you're getting the Toneport thing for your electric guitar than it would be a great asset if you're not looking for a lot of effort for ok payback. Learning to properly mic an amp takes time and effort, but it pays off if you do - but if you're just wanting to lay down tracks and not do a full album than the benifit of the Toneport over the Pod is the Software that comes with it. I'd get a POD pro over it cause I'd want to use it as a Pre for a Tube power amp as well as the studio - but that's me... the Toneport's amp software makes it really versatile, and you can use it as a mic pre for some experimenting as well...all in all an alright thing... but only for guitar in my opinion

Jacob