Turning my basement into a mini studio...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Pearl SMX
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look at the presonous firepod, it has 8 inputs with preamps, so you wont need an external mixer, just plug mic's instruments in and record :)
 
The firepod is a very good option, and i forgot about it, $520 b-stock here . Also you could guitars straigh into the alesis jack inserts(im not sure if this would be worse than micing tho)
 
Hmm 520 is a bit much. Anything cheaper? We also need to buy drum mics (dunno which ones im getting. People say good and bad things about all that i mention) and dunno about bass or guitar mics either. Plus cables, stands, and software, so we went to spend as little as possible, but still get good results when we make a cd.
 
Pearl SMX said:
Hmm 520 is a bit much. Anything cheaper? We also need to buy drum mics (dunno which ones im getting. People say good and bad things about all that i mention) and dunno about bass or guitar mics either. Plus cables, stands, and software, so we went to spend as little as possible, but still get good results when we make a cd.
Well the firepod is your best solution for 8 mic inputs. You could get cheaper, solutions, BUT(and it's a bit but, lol) you wont be able to record each track separately onto the computer, and that's a pain in the arsse really. Suggest the drum mics i mentioned and you should get good responses, lol(with the studio projects B1 mention that you will be using one for vocals too). sm57 for guitar, beta 58 for bass, or just plug straight from effects pedal to firepod, or alesis. The alesis and firepod both come with Cubase LE software. I think this probably will be the cheapest, with such good results, that you will get. I'll repeat, it is probably best to record separately, drums, then bass, then/and guitar, then vocals. Will save you money also.
 
Another option would be to get the Behringer ADA8000 here for $216, and an ADAT interface like this for $150(couldn't find one with single ADAT I/O for cheaper, but this means you can upgrade with another ADA8000 or other ADAT device). This is a good cheaper option, although behringers preamps are not meant to be great, but they should do the job(I'm planning on getting 2 behringer digital mixers for my studio).
 
So equipment list suggested:

Behringer ADA8000 = $216
ADAT interface = $150
2x Studio Projects B1 = $190
2x sm57 = $148
2x beta 58 = $200
8x cables = $41.76+p&p
8x stands = $127.68(estimate)
acoustic treament(bass traps) = $50?(not sure)

Total = $1125(estimate)
 
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you don't need one. A mixer is good because you get many mic preamps for not much money, and it is good if you have one with direct outputs, or don't mind mixing down to stereo before you get it onto pc(difficult). All you need to do though is get it onto the computer, and mix in the box(on the computer). Ohh just realised, the behringer and ADAT interface doesn't come with software, so add that to the total.
 
Argh. So what about like all the buttons and controls on the mixer that wont be on the behringer?
 
The buttons and controls don't do much. Half are aux pots, which just control the sends, and the others are equalizers, hi mid and lo, which you can control much better with the software. There really isn't much, if anything, else.
 
Another thing i suggested to my friend, when i suggested this setup to him, is that if you want hands on feel(feel of a mixer)get a behringer bcf 2000 control surface, here for $185. You certainly don't need it, but it helps a lot, lets you have a hands on feel instead of using a mouse(which is annoying)but i wouldn't recommend getting it unless you can afford it.
 
Well since we already have a price over then what we wanted, I doubt we can get it.
 
Try second hand. How much are you willing to spend, and I'll try and find the best thing, in my opinion, for you.
 
Well like, of course as little as possible. Im splitting it with my band mates, so that will help. Well I asked my guitarist and he says $1,000 - $1,200. Thats pretty good. Of course with that money, I want to buy the equitment that is easiest to use, and will make a good quality cd.
 
Well what i mentioned is within that budget, and i think it will be easy to use, and give good results. I have read the the presonus firepod has amazing preamps for the price, so that would probably be better, and it comes with free software. Check out ebay and you might find things cheaper.
 
Don't think so. Quick search on ebay has revealed this $100 + $6 p&p for studio projects B1+stand and shockmount, id suject getting 2, for overheads and vocals. If you do vocals separate(recommended)
 
No we dont have vocals yet. Right now its just drums, guitar, and bass. Hows the software that comes with it? Is it any good?
 
Cubase LE, it has 48 tracks of audio. Amazing considering some expensive one come with less. It's pretty good, never tried it, but have used other Cubase products, and I'm sure it'll do the job(probs really good job, as good as any other). Most recording software is the same, with a few minor exceptions, ie 5.1 surround, and other things you wont need.
 
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