Studio reassemble after move

[svcta]

Good day, all. I recently moved and look at this as an opportunity to sort of reassemble my gear. I would like to once-and-for-all (so to speak) get everything connected in the best way possible because I have never really felt like I was utilizing my gear to its fullest.

I feel like I don't know the best way to incorporate gear in to my signal chain. Maybe the community can help me determine the best way to set all of this up. Here is a quick and dirty rundown of my gear:

Golden Age Project PRE-73 Mic Pre
G.A.P. COMP-54 compressor
ART TPS II Mic Pre
DBX 266XL compressor
Behringer Ultragraph Pro
Presonus Firestudio Project

This runs in to a DAW PC that I built to my own spec, running Cubase in Windows 7.

One of my main hangups is that I don't know how to exist both in and out of the DAW concept. That is to say,should I run my signal through the ourboard gear and in to Cubase (via the firestudio) and then rely on plugins in Cubase to handle any other effect? I feel like this is the way of the future, but I'm kind of old school and love the tactility of actual knobs.

I know that there must be more than one way to skin this cat. I would love any insight that anyone could offer. Thanks in advance!

Cliff

 

[svcta]

Here is a snap of my setup ..just because. Just got it moved in to its new basement.

 

[Seidy]

I would not use compressors and the behri (in fact I would sell it) when recording, but would insert it later when mixing. Cubase has a neat system for inserting outboard gear, take a look at this link (or google "external fx with cubase"):
08 External Effects - YouTube

 

[jhbrandt]

Cliff,

If you are USED to using a console and like working with outboard, do that. BUT, you must be aware that the cost skyrockets. Mixing and working ITB (In The Box) keeps everything digital until it hits the converters for monitoring or for mix-down playback. Each time you go through the process of D/A conversion and back, you lose a little. And this loss is dependent on the quality of your converters. Usually when one has an Analog system and digital recorder, they have invested $100k +. Keeping with ITB and plug-ins, you can get the cost down to under $5k. Big difference.
Anyway, you should post a drawing of your room/basement in 3D and let us help you place treatment for your mixing & tracking. An untreated room is just about the worst piece of gear you will have in a home studio.

Cheers,
John

 

[TimOBrien]

Yup, forget the outboard compressors and go straight from the pre's into the computer and use plugins.

Once you commit efx to a track you are stuck with the results; using plugins you can change your mind if the result doesn't sit in the mix.

 

[svcta]

Thanks for the insights so far, everyone! I understand the concept of losing something every time the signal is converted or processed by anything. I guess I'm trying to sort out the best way to get signal in to the machine. I definitely seems that keeping things ITB is a worth endeavor once you're in there. I have a friend who is a talented engineer and gets beautiful recordings in his own studio. He swears by a good mic pre/compressor and high dollar mics. It seems like these things are his 'silver bullets' when we talk about recording.

I guess the emerging fact of the times is that the pres built in to the interface (like my firestudio) are good enough to get you in to the box and you can add whatever color you desire in there after the fact with a virtually untouched signal. So, does this mean that I should skip all the headache and just run straight in to the Firestudio and directly to Cubase?

I guess I can get honest and say that it feels like its just too simple!