Suggestions on my Setup

[chrisp200]

I have a M-Audio Audiophile 2496 PCI Digital Audio Card

What I still need to get:
My computer...http://electronics.smartbargains.co...t&deptid=2&catid=72&prodid=2090245983&aid=127 $250.00
2 Shure SM57 $150.00
1 Behringer ECM8000 Microphone $50.00
1 Nady CM 90 Cardioid Condenser Mic $50.00
1 Audix Fusion 15 Mic $60.00
1 Sennheiser E609 Silver Dynamic Guitar Mic $120.00
Yamaha MG10/2 Stereo Mixer $100.00
Cheap keyboard $100 Any Suggestions?
M-Audio DMP3 2-Channel Mic Pre/Direct Box $150

$1100... Any suggestion on my plan... I have about 1500 to spend but I am going to need the last 400 for a flat screen monitor....I think I have a pretty good start but if I dont then put me in my place. Thankyou

 

[jonnyc]

The pc you've picked is going to be a massive problem. The specs on it are from like '97 and I don't think will come anywhere close to cutting it. I mean man the problems are numerous, first off I've heard windows2000 is a horrible os for daw's, second you only hae 128mb of ram and 512 is pretty much the bare minimum, third you have a 20gb hard drive youl'l fill that up in a month, lastly its an 866 pentium 3. I hate to burst you're bubble on what you may think is a good deal but this computer is pure shit. Even the bare bones HP's and Dell blow this thing away. The only reason I'm so harsh on this is that thing will end up being a 250 dollar waste and you'll realize that quickly. Spend a few hundred more and get something with at very least an 80gb hd which is pretty much standard these days, get at least a pentium 4 somewhere in the 2.0 or higher range and get at least 512 or quality ram. That would be a decent starter daw.

Just to add to this I went to monarchcomputers and built a pc for you. pentium 4 2.8 ghz processor, 160gb hd, 512mb of ram with a 17" flat panel lcd for about $750, you gave yourself 400 for a monitor so total you were going to spend 650, for 100 more you'll have a really good starter daw.

http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merc..._Code=80318&Category_Code=proteavaluedesktops

 

[wx3]

I have a M-Audio Audiophile 2496 PCI Digital Audio Card

Alright that's a great place to start.

What I still need to get:
My computer...http://electronics.smartbargains.co...t&deptid=2&catid=72&prodid=2090245983&aid=127 $250.00

That computer is looking a little bare bones for what you may want to do. It will work, but you will be limiting yourself alot. Most people around here would recomend at least 512mb ram, and a pentium 4. Also, if your going to be recording at high sample rates (high quailty) then your 20 gig hard drive is going to be looking a little bit full alot quicker then you would expect.


2 Shure SM57 $150.00 --- Great mic.. another fine decision.

1 Behringer ECM8000 Microphone $50.00
1 Nady CM 90 Cardioid Condenser Mic $50.00
1 Audix Fusion 15 Mic $60.00

Take the $160 from these microphones and invest them into one high quailty microphone.

1 Sennheiser E609 Silver Dynamic Guitar Mic $120.00 --- You've got 2 SM57's.. great for recording guitar. I think this is unnessicary.

Yamaha MG10/2 Stereo Mixer $100.00 -- 4 mic pre's with 2 out puts... this would work with the audiophile as it has only 2 inputs, but you might be better off looking for some decent pre amps.

Cheap keyboard $100 Any Suggestions? - If the keyboard is just to control midi on your comp then go with M Audio http://www.geartree.com/Shop/Control/Product/fp/vpid/1172401/vpcsid/0/SFV/29865/tcat/0. If you need an actual keyboard with sounds and all try ebay for that price.

M-Audio DMP3 2-Channel Mic Pre/Direct Box $150 -- never tried this but people around here seem to like them. Maybe get two of them instead of the mixer?

It will be nice if you have one decent large diaphram condensor. These are great for vocals and for alot of instruments as well. I have a studio projects B1 and it's not bad for the price.

Flat screen monitor.. nice but unnessicary. Invest your money in the computer.

Well that was my two cents... feel free to correct me any one.

 

[wx3]

One thing I forgot. You didn't mention what software you want to use. Also it would help if you mentioned the style of music you are going to be recording. Right now I'm using Cubase LE because if came for free with my firepod. I'm starting to really like the interface and the simplicity of it. In the past I have used Sonar 2.0 xl, a more full featured package and that was sweet. I like the cubase interface better but Sonar XL was really feature packed.

 

[wx3]

Wow, I'm really bad at thinking of everything in just one post

The last thing I forgot(I think) is you will definately need a pair of studio monitors. Studio monitors are speakers that give a perfectly clean, flat sound. You NEED them to make a decent mix. I have a pair of KRK ROKIT 5 powered monitors and am very happy with them. They are powered so you don't need to buy an external amp.

 

[chrisp200]

Thankyou

Thankyou for helping me get started.

I will the Pentium 4 you built on Monarch Computer...any ideas where to get a good/cheap monitor

M-Audio Audiophile 2496
N-track software
$150 2 Shure SM57
$100 Keyboard http://www.geartree.com/Shop/Control/Product/fp/vpid/1172401/vpcsid/0/SFV/29865/tcat/0
$300 2 M-Audio DMP3 2-Channel Mic Pre/Direct Box
$100 Studio Projects B1 Mic
$620 Computer http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merc..._Code=80318&Category_Code=proteavaluedesktops

almost forgot... $250 wharfedale diamond pro monitors

Total= $1520


Will it sound even close to perfessional...or should I say does it even have the capability to sound close to respectful if I get good enough

 

[wx3]

It will have the potential to sound really good. It all depends on the skill of the engineer and the acoustic quailty of the room. Personnally, I don't have much of either, so I can't help you out too much with that .

Remember that the keyboard I showed you does not have any 'sounds' built into it. It is simply a method of writing midi on your computer. I've used one before at school tho, and I was very impressed.

 

[chrisp200]

Yes I know

Yeah I know that it doesnt have built in sound...Isint the one program called Samplitude or something? real good for sounds? Will is work with anything or just protools...ive only seen it with protools

 

[MONKEY!]

RNC compressor

 

[chrisp200]

Help

Thankyou for building me that PC. But I dont think it comes with a monitor? if it does then it doesnt say that anywhere.
isint 600$ kinda pricey for just a proccessor?
heres the link http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=80318

 

[gordone]

????

Uh, that's not just the processor! It's the case, PS, MOBO, Memory, Hard Drive, Optical Drive, CPU, possible some other stuff (I only glanced at it). $600 is a pretty good deal. Monitors are cheap anyway, you can pick up a used CRT for $30 at a Computer Show, and LCDs are now well under $200.

Thankyou for building me that PC. But I dont think it comes with a monitor? if it does then it doesnt say that anywhere.
isint 600$ kinda pricey for just a proccessor?
heres the link < snipped - Learn how to use tinyurl.com please! >

 

[LemonTree]

Excelent choice on the wharfedales as your first set of nearfields. You'll get a lot of mileage out of them.

 

[Kevin Deschwazi]

M-Audio Audiophile 2496

$300 2 M-Audio DMP3 2-Channel Mic Pre/Direct Box

That's a 2 x mono input card and you're budgeting for 4 x channels of preamps? Are you aware you will only be able to record two simultaneous mono sources (or one stereo) with that card?

With experience you should be able to achieve very respectable results with that set up. The only thing that you need to pay attention to other than the gear and your ability to use it is the rooms you record and mix in. If you record in a crappy sounding room you're recordings will sound crappy regardless of the quality of the gear, if you mix in an untreated room it's highly likely that your mixes won't translate well outside of the room and when played back through different systems.

Once you have your gear set up and working you might want to start thinking about that. The studio building forum here is very useful.

Good luck with it all anyway.