Spending some $$$. Help?

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storm

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Going Digital Spending some $$$.

Going digital and need info on the gear needed. I have $2500 to spend right now and willing to spend more later. Want to start right away. Can buy the bells and whistles later. Goal is to record drums, vocals, bass, & guitars live, (does not have to record all instruments at the same time, but I like that option) and add keyboards (midi) as needed. Having a computer built currently for this endeavor. Here's what I have.
*GEAR*
3-Sm58's
2-Sm57's
Plenty of cables XLR, 1/4", Rca, etc...
EV/Tapco 10 channel powered stereo mixer
Carvin PA Speakers
*INSTRUMENTS*
7 piece drum kit
Various Guitars and amps
Bass guitar and amp
Casio CTK keyboard (MIDI IN & OUT) ATK Sound module


Need advice on sound cards, software, A/D converters, and near field monitors, and anything else I forgot. Help me spend my money.

Thanks in advance!
 
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There is so much info to share with you I don't know where to start. :)

You need to get a computer, that will hit you for at least a "G" ($1,000.00). Go to the Dell site, then go to their refurbished section. PIII, 1gig, 256ram, 133bus, (2) 20-30 gig hard drives, CDRW, etc...

http://www.dell.com

You need to get a soundcard, check out the Delta 1010 (8IN/8OUT).

http://www.midiman.net

You need programs and Plug-ins. Check out Vegas Audio 2.0 (tracking), Sound Forge 5.0 (editing), and maybe Acid 3.0 (sequencing and arranging).

http://www.sonicfoundry.com

or check out Sonar XL

http://www.cakewalk.com

Or go the Tascam route, you could get their discoutinued
TM-D1000 16 track board (8 analogue/8digital) $399, and get their digital soundcard to go with it (8 TDIF IN/OUT, 2 SPDIF IN/OUT, and 2 MIDI IN/OUT) $199.

http://www.tascam.com

spin
 
I'm just speaking of what I would buy, this is all subjective. From my angle, I want to buy something once and have it be useful and the best it can be for the remainder of my tracking days, and not be wishing I had something better in 3 months. My want is top quality sound more than price conscience. SO, decide if you want tip top or not. You'll get cheap once you start pricing stuff, everyone usually does, and settles in on cheaper stuff.
Assuming you already have the puter covered and its not included in the $2500...
Multiple input soundcard with s/pdif and wordclock, dont settle for less... if I plan to go 24/96 eventually, go for the Delta 1010 ($570)unless you can afford the Motu 1296.. If you plan to record 16 0r 24 bit only at up to 48khz, I'd get the Motu 1224. The Motu 1296 is easily the best of the 3.
Next.... with all of these soundcards EXCEPT the Motu 1296 I would buy a Lucid A/D converter (and still maybe eventually with the 1296). Use this for all your overdubs feedinginto S/pdif. It might not be as apparent at 1st, but layer tracks and it starts to show lotsa clarity in the sound. Its about $700.
Preamps... Langevin Dual mono as your workhorse ($1200), and find a console with decent pre's for the rest, for now. Or perhaps get a Presonus MP20 to go along with it. 4 pres will get you stereo overheads and kick and snare. Good start, good sound, feed the Langevin directly to the Lucid into S/pdif. Huge.
Another good mic or 2. I'm not as nutty about mics as I am pre's. Get an overhead pair (2 Studio projects C1's or something, and maybe a good kick mic.) The SP's will double as voxl mics, among other things. Use the Langevin and Lucid for every overdub, of course.
A Sansamp bass DI. Nuff said. Unless a Manley tube DI ($500) isnt too expensive, in which case I'd skip the Manley and get the Avalon U5, $560....
Whew... you broke yet? Ok lets keep going.
When you feel you have what you want, and want to improve the overall sound quality some, get a good system clock... Lucid Genx6, $500... sooner the better, really.
Get at least one, and I know it sucks to pay big moeny for a cable, but getcha at least one, pref 2, excellent mic cables, maybe a Monster Studio or a premade Mogami or Canare even.
Ahhh... monitors... it never ends... Pick wjatcha like there... most subjective thing of all, I'dsay.
Umm, ok, I'm tired of typing. That is a BOMB setup and you'll love it. Of course, its expensive.
Enjoy!
 
Another point.. IF you were to get the Presonus MP20, you might find that you like the intrument inputs on it enough to use as a bass DI, therefore saving you money on the Sansamp. Its a fairly decent class A mic pre, and there are some easy cheap mods to make it even better. Too bad the Langevin doesnt ahve direct ins.
Oh, you have a bass amp. If its a decent head, the direct out on it MIGHT suffice. Check it out.

Oh, and if I had 3 sm58's, I'd go find a beta57 and try to trade 2 of them on the Beta. I'd try, anyway.
 
Sorry Trebles, I'll answer your private mssgs as soon as I'm not stoned... might be awhile ;)
 
thats ok paul hehehe i know the feeling my old hobby hehehe :p

thanking you

Wayne
 
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