Starting up a rack.

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SoloistShaun

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I have already started buying a rack i've got a bbe 482 sonic maximizer, and a dod sr866 gated limiter/compressor. What else would be good to have EQ?....ect
100_6231.jpg
 
i think Behringer would fit nice next to that bbe maximizer :D
 
i think you should shut up...

anyway, whats this rack for? live use? drums?
need more detail. i dont recommend buying rack mounted outboard gear for the sake of building a rack.
 
Dude, don't buy stuff just to buy stuff. Only buy what you need. Although it is hard to resist GAS. :D

An EQ is good to have, if you're getting this for recording, definitely get a parametric, as opposed to a graphic. IMO, parametric is much better suited to recording than a graphic.

You may want to look into getting a rackmount power strip, so that you can turn everything on and off from one place, and then you only have to plug in one thing (powerwise) if you move it. Plus you can make the power cable runs much neater.

You are going to need mic preamps of some sort, too.

Check out this site www.tweakheadz.com/guide. Its a great beginner's site on recording.
 
vintagetobes said:
i think you should shut up...

A little harsh statement dont you think? :rolleyes:

Anyway ,Shaun i advise you to save your money and buy a decent gear,basicaly was my point in my first post although it smelled like i just got out the cave.
 
To the shaunmeister............

SoloistShaun said:
I have already started buying a rack i've got a bbe 482 sonic maximizer, and a dod sr866 gated limiter/compressor. What else would be good to have EQ?....ect
100_6231.jpg

1) What are you recording or plan to record?
2) What are you recording to ie computer based DAW, Table-top DAW, etc?
3) Budget?
4) Mics you currently own?
5) The list goes on...

In my primary homestudio rack I have a power conditioner ($50), a balanced patchbay($50), solid state mic/instrument preamp ($300), a dual channel effects unit $200), a 2 channel tube mic/instrument preamp ($400), a 2 channel tube compressor ($250), and a headphone amplifier $100).
http://mysite.verizon.net/homestudioguy/id11.html(Scroll down to see rack)
BG/HSG

PS GO STEELERS!!! WOO WOO!!! :D
 
Its a little bit of live and recording.. But mostly live I am planing on getting a eq but dont know a quality inexpensive one though.
 
mixing console

What type of mixing console are you using?
BG/HSG
 
Live what? What are you going to be running through your gear? Guitar? Vocals? Ukelele? Djembes and digeridoos? Or is this going to go on the master outputs of the PA?
 
My guitar is usually always going through it. And this is probably stupid but does it matter about what order you chain gear together in or does it always sound the same?
 
it does matter yeh. for example, compressing a guitar then adding reverb. or adding reverb then compressing this 'reverbed' sound. Try different paths out though, might find some interesting ones you like.
 
Now I see the Johnson J-Station.............

OK.
I now see the Johnson J-Station in your photo from your first post.
(I used to own a J-Station and loved it!)
My suggestion would be to run the J-Station on its own without all of the other stuff and then focus on creating a multi-purpose rack for PA and recording.
Are your running the J-Station into a PA system or a guitar amplifier?
Since you say you want to do live and recording, you might want to consider a small multi-purpose board/console like a Mackie 1604 or 1642.
Can you provide a list of all your current equipment?
Amps, Microphones, PA Equipment, Recording devices (or computer and recording software if that is how you plan to record)?
BG/HSG
 
vintagetobes said:
i think you should shut up...

.

Who are YOU to tell people to shut up!? :mad:


Yo Shaun, your basic rack should include dynamic processors (compressors, Eq's), signal processors (efx units) and a capable & clean preamp.

How much are willing to spend?
 
Just got new stuff

I love the j-station too but it's getting old and crappy so I am looking at a digitech dsp 21 pro to replace it. Our bass player has a DOD 1642 XLR II mixer that we use to record our stuff. I have to ask about the mics and such. Ok here's the list

1. Carvin X100b Head
2. Carvin 4X12 Cab
3. DOD gated/limiter/compressor
4. BBE 482 sonic maximizer
5. Digitech gsp 21 pro processor
6. DOD 1642 Mixer
7. J-Station
8. Currently searching for somthing better than cakewalk 2.

I know its all noobish stuff.
 
Who are YOU to tell people to shut up!? :mad:

Just because i don't have a lifetime number of posts to my name doesn't mean i can't tell someone to shut it when they are not helping...
 
Quality/inerxpensive EQ doesn't exist.

Yes. Order of FX matters.

Think about it.

If you're putting pedals in front of a guitar won't phasing an echoed signal sound different than echoing the phased signal???
 
Yea well I was looking at Rane equipment or Rocktron and i think when the money is coming thats what im going for.
 
OK. Bottom feeding rack material and assuming you actually need this stuff:

For inexpensive, but usable EQ, you might look for a pair of DBX 242s. Probably the best units from the Project 1 series and designed by Robert Orban if I remember correctly. Used, they go for @$120 each or so (they are discontinued so used is all there is). Moddable. Very nice cheap EQs. An alternate would be the discontinued Symetrix SX201. They run about $65 each on e-bay and are half rack units. Both use wall wart power supplies so make sure you get the right power supply with them or you will need to track one down (easily available but a pain).

For compression, the RNC is a great usable compressor for cheap. IMHO there isn't anything close for near the same money. It is a stereo unit, but not a dual mono unit. I also like the Aphex Compellor if you want very, very transparent compression (not the box to use if you want compression as an effect). Other usable compressors for cheap are the Symetrix SX206 (multi-dynamics processor) and SX208 (stereo compressor). Discontinued but you can find them for @60-70 each on e-bay. I think these are pretty usable and musical boxes. Built like tanks. The Symetrix 501 compressor is also very usable. I have one that I use primarily for bass. About $125 used. Get the one with the toggle power switch.

For reverb and some other effects, the Kurzweil Rumour/Mangler are really, really good. I think the Rumour is easily the best reverb box for under $500. The converters in these boxes are surprisingly good too and can be used on their own. I have a Rumour and a Lexicon MPX 500 and use the Rumour most of the time unless I want an identifiable Lexicon sound.

Other intersting, cheap and usable boxes for effects include the Effectron II and III (for lo-fi digital delay) and the Peavey AMR Tube Sweetener to add some tube roundness to your signal (same heritage as the Peavey VMP-2 tube pre and VC/L-2 compressor - which is to say they are not your typical Peavey boxes -- much better made). The Peavey Valverb is also nice if you want some real tube reverb although it is not the quietest box as it was designed for live guitar use.

As always YMMV, but I have found these all to be very usable and they are relatively inexpensive.
 
Thank you I will check those dbx's out. Anyone have an opinion on the Digitech DSP 21 PRO?
 
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