UPGRADING MY STUDIO

  • Thread starter Thread starter DADDY P
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DADDY P

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I am relatively new at recording. I began in 1997. I am a licensed electrician in Ohio. I own(vs1680,kurzweil k2500xs,alesis monitor twos,quadraverb,akg, and sennheiser mics,a computer w/gina soundcard and breakout box,cakewalk professional 6 or 7, the 1 effects card for the 1680. I have been told by many that I have what I need to take my music where I want. My goals: I want to start my own publishing/production company to create and exploit my original music and that of others. Can any who have experience at this level suggest further item for the studio to enhance creativity, and better sounds, those that are more up to date. I've visited a studio in Detroit, that would do consultation with me, but of course that costs. I am ok on the 1680,and I do almost all of my music out of the kurzweil. No samples, no drum machine. I intend on purchasing an mpc2000xl soon. I do not have a sound booth yet, but it is coming. But as far as equipment useful in the genres of R&B, pop, some smooth jazz,and a little hip-hop,I'd like some suggestions. I am not as efficient as I'd like to be using my computer equipment. Please help!!! Thanks.
 
Hey Daddy P i got an MPC 2000 im selling if you want to save some money its not the xl but it has 32 meg ram already=about $70.00 ,8 analog output , two-channel digital I/O board = about $249.00
* Multi-effects processor board=about $370.00 check it out here http://www.akaipro.com/products/MPC2000.html

i dont see much difrence in the 2 except time stretch,and resample (witch i never do and i have a EMU4XT that does it all just about) I Spent $2000.00
so if your interested lay down a few lines and we can talk about it.
O And sorry i cant help you out man im in the middle of trying to put together a recording rig my self and im clueles of what i should get. = )
 
Yeah DADDY P, you've got just about everything you need to start a pre-production studio (for this type of music).

You will need to get a MPC 2000, 2000XL, 3000, or an ASR-X PRO.

If I were you I would upgrade to CAKEWALK 9, and good get a mixing good board (there are numerous boards to choose from).

Also, you might want to get a new or faster computer (PIII, 833MHZ, 256RAM, 133BUS) with (at least) a 7200rpm HARD DRIVE.

Let us know the spec.s on your computer.

Peace........SPIN :)

P.S. Oh yeah, also, a CD REWRITER, a DAT, and an OUT BOARD UNIT (I'm sure somebody has some suggestions) that can help warm up and bring a fuller sound to your music.
 
Just a side note, if you plan on upgrading, if I were you I'd go with an AMD Thunderbird CPU and an Abit KT7 motherboard. The Thunderbird has been benchmarked as fast or faster than an equally clocked Intel and they run half the price. You can get 800Mhz for like $130.
 
Daddy P, if you are looking for clients, a nice-
sounding tracking room wont hurt.

A couple of higher end reverb boxes might help,
like lexicon, etc. ( i have a quadraverb too,
and I still like it).

Maybe something like the Alesis Masterlink could
help making a Killer CD.

What you have already, however, is pretty
cool, especially the K2500, so you should
be able to make a pretty viable product now.
David
 
I really appreciate everyone's input. I will be sure to take note!! As far as the computer that I am using now, it is primarily just for home use. I want to definitely buy another exclusively for my studio. I really don't know very much about the inner workings of computers, so I appreciate your advice. Any other input on purchasing another computer and hardware/software would be appreciated. I really like this forum!! It is really proving to help me. I have had my equipment since the summer of 1998, and I really had to just go it alone, since I really couldn't reach people for tech support and advice. But now I have a wealth of experience right in front of me!!! Thanks again to everyone who has responded to my posts.
 
Whasup! Daddy P

If you go the Macintosh route, then you might want to also look at getting Pro Tools. And if you don't have the $'s for Pro tools you can purchase the DIGIDESIGN 001 (IT'S LIKE MINI Pro Tools). :)

I will find out some more info for you today, then post you back.

SPIN
 
What's up Daddy P.

Sorry, it took so long for me to get back to you. :)

Ok, I went to the Pro Tools website. They have a FREE downloadable version Of ProTools (for PC and MAC users).

go check it out @ http://www.digidesign.com

If you play around with ProToolsFree and enjoy the program, then you can purchase the Digidesign 001 for about $799.99.

Or you can purchase the full blown out ProTools, but it will hit you for BIG BUCKS! :(

I'll holla at cha soon....

SPIN
 
Hey Spin, I was wondering? You said that it may be a good idea to purchase a good mixer. Now seeing that there is a mixer built into the 1680, were you speaking about buying an additional one, to be used with the 1680's? Could you give me a little more input? Thanks.
 
I might be wrong, but I don't think that you would want to use the 1680 as the mixer.

The 1680 only has 4 INS.

It would also be difficult to adjust your EQ setings, because you only have one knob per channel (HIGHS, MIDS, LOWS, ETC).

Do you see what I am saying?

The 1680 is good as a recorder, but not good as a mixer.

SPIN
 
Hey Spin. I checked the back of the 1680, and I believe that even in the reading, it says that there is an (I'm not 100% certain) 8-16 channel mixer on board. I am not doubting u, just looking for clarity. Now if and when I purchase a new(good) mixer, should I totally discontinue using the 1680's. In effect, only use it's track function. At first glance, it would seem to me that I wasted money purchasing an all in one unit, if I don't use the mixer. You are correct in saying that there is not much on an eq, on the 1680. So now, if I buy a new mixer, are u saying to run all of my equipment, and instruments, through it, and use the 1680 only for laying down the tracks. Again I am not doubting you, just trying to get a clear picture, so that when I go out and buy these items, I have a good idea of how to proceed. So could u give me a basic hook-up of the equipment in the manner that u would suggest, and then maybe I will be able to better understand exactly how and why the additional mixer would help. Take it from creating the music, to tracking and so forth. Thanks again for all the help.

DADDY P
 
Daddy P

What's up, sorry it took me so long to respond to you.

I used to have a Roland VS 1680.

But, I sold it once i started using this computer-based programs.

Now, I'm not saying that you should sell yours.

It just didn't make sense to me.

Why spend all of this money on just a hard-disk recorder with a small dot matrix user interface, 2.0 gig hard drive, two (2) f/x cards @ $300.00 ea., a $500.00 CD Burner, and a small number of inputs (4) or (6).

1680
$3,000.00
f/x
$600.00
cd-burner
$500.00

When, I could get a ...

new computer (Pentium III or IV, 133 bus, 900mhz, 30 or 40 gig hard drive, 256 ram)
$900.00

internal cd burner
$100.00

internal dvd
$200.00

21" monitor (video screen)
$250.00

sound card/interface (8INS/8OUTS)
$800.00

16 channel mixer
$900.00

Also, you would have an unlimited amount of tracks.

All of that for for the price (if not cheaper than the price) of the VS1680/1880.

$4,100.00 vs $3,100.00.

Now, I am going to try to answer your initial question.

The 1680 is an Hard-Disk Recorder, not a mixing board.

(However, you can mix-down the music you have recorded onto the 1680).

Theoretically, you would hook up your various pieces of equipment to a seperate channel (MPC 2000, Kurzweil 2500, Mic 1, Mic 2, etc). (You would also split the sounds coming out of your MPC (I think that has 8 OUTS)

Once you have seperated your sounds you can "tweak" (EQ) them properly.

Yes, you can track everything to your 1680 (4 tracks at a time), then EQ them.

Or you can hook everything up to the mixing board and track it all at once. (It looks like you need at least 10 to 14 tracks).

:)

Now, I'm sure that some of the veteran/professional engineers/producers will have some added and better information to post to you on this thread. :)

Peace.. SPIN

P.S. I'll check back in about 3 hours. I am going to Nordstroms to pick me up an Armani suit for New Years Eve (I have 3 parties to DJ).
 
Hey Spin, thanks for the reply. I bought my 1680 i8n 1998, and at that time I had really never touched a computer, let alone work with any type of musical equipment. I did have a small 4 track tape recorder that I purchased in 1997, but the digital world was completely new to me. After getting into the recording environment at home, and getting the new equipment(kurzweil, 1680) I started realizing that others were using more computer equipment for recording. Everything that I read, was pumping computer software for recording. I wasn't really sure what to do, and I am still not!! But now that I do have a little experience using the computer, it makes sense now for me to expand my horizons. Late 98 after hearing so much about computer software, I bought a Gina soundcard and cakewalk professional seven. I have had a hard time trying to sync the computer software with the 1680.(Mainly the cakewalk software) Knowing that you had a 1680 is a good thing. I definitely want to upgrade my studio, and I have been toiling with making the decision to go directly with computer vs using the 1680. Because I am trying to get a business in music off the ground, I want to definitely be using the best equipment for it's right purpose, within my budget. It is a little frustrating seeing that I would feel like I wasted my money in purchasing the 1680. I noticed early on after buying the 1680 that computer software was less expensive in many respects, compared to the hard disk recorders. I guess I got caught up in the hype. I tried to read alot so that I would get the best equipement. Even in this forum I almost always hear of those using computer software opposed to hard disk recording. Even in your post, it seemed like there was alot more hard disk space available from the computer software. So I am not opposed to starting over and building my home studio from scratch. Continue on with your posts and advice, and I'll look forward to hearing what u and others have to say. Thanks in advance

Daddy P
 
What's up Daddy P.

Yeah, I know how you feel.

There are so many directions you could go when it comes to computer-based recording.

What kind of interface, soundcard, hard drive, reference monitors, computer platform, etc... should I use or buy.

It can be very confusing.

When I started home recording in 96', I was making the switch from being a DJ to becoming a producer.

Now, all I was doing (back then) was making edited mixtapes and learning how to use my MPC. (I had a Tascam 424 MK III).

I didn't know about computer-based music production.

I out grew the Tascam (and it is very hard to do super clean edits with a tape-based recorder).

So, I purchased the VS 1680.

After I was mastered the use of the 1680, my friend showed me what he was using at his home studio.

He showed me Cakewalk, Acid, Sound Forge, Rebirth, etc.

You could see the waveforms for editing, he had unlimited tracks, unlimited recording time, etc.

After I saw what he was using I said "Damn! I've got to get this sh*%! :D"

I didn't sell the 1680 yet, because I would use it with Cakewalk.

But, after a while there was no need for it (1680), because I could do everything the 1680 could with my computer (plus with the computer it was easier).

So, I sold the VS1680. :)

The good thing for you, me, and anybody else viewing this BBS is that before you make any more purchases you can research/ask questions to make sure you are making the correct decision.

:)

PEACE...
SPIN
 
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