Very new! Need advice!!

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CollegeDJ

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Registered: Jan 2005
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Posts: 88
Recording Newbie!

Hey, everyone. I'd like to start making a small studio in my home. I have 2.0 ghz Compaq pentium 4, 526 ram. I went to guitar center today, and they said I needed the Following


Software- Calkwake Circa 100.00
4 Input box (delta 44)- 150.00
Behringer 4track mixer- 78.00

Wanted to know if that set up would work, also said that I needed to know how fast my harddrive was, 7200 rpms, how do I check that? Any other cheaper solutions?
He would cut me a very good deal beacuse i'm friends with the guy, like 270 bucks.

So some advice would be nice!

Thanks.
 
Cakewalk? *barf*

Well, I guess it's a matter of taste. :) And therefore, you should not spend $100 on Cakewalk, but instead, you should try out a couple fo softwares first:

Cakewalk has trials: http://www.cakewalk.com/download/default.asp#windows
And so does Tracktion 2: http://www.mackie.com/products/tracktion2/splash.html
And Ableton Live: http://www.ableton.com/index.php?main=downloads
And n-track: http://www.fasoft.com/
And protools: http://www.digidesign.com/ptfree/

N-track is popular amongst beginners because it's so cheap ($75). But the market is getting tougher, and there is more cheap software out there, like the cheaper versions of Cakewalk. (Note that there are MANY MANY versions of Cakewalk, from $40 to $400 all with different feature sets).

Tracktion is a relatively new player on the market, and I like it because it's very easy to use. It's $149 at Zzounds, and that's supposed to include stupid amounts of plugins and stuff.

Protools is the pro industry standard, but most likely it's kinda expensive unless you are OK with the limited free version.

I use Ableton Live, because of it's powerful looping support. But it's kinda expensive.

Lastly, you need to know that many sound cards are bundled with limited versions of software, that can be upgraded cheaply. I for example finally decided on Ableton Live when my Delta 1010LT came with version 2 of Live, which I could upgrade to version 4 for 270 euros, instead of the normal 450.


So, download a couple of demo programs until you find some softwares you like, and then use your friend to get a good deal on the Delta 44 + Behringer mixer + THAT software.
 
Ableton Live?????
*Barf*
Well, I guess it's a matter of some people having NO taste.
 
At least Ableton Live makes sense, looks pretty and kicks ass. ;)
 
regebro said:
Cakewalk? *barf*

Well, I guess it's a matter of taste. :) And therefore, you should not spend $100 on Cakewalk, but instead, you should try out a couple fo softwares first:
Click to expand...
While I would disagree with the first sentiment :mad: ;) :D as I am a very happy SONAR user, I would 100% agree with the advice given to try out different software before you buy. As you can see from this thread, it definitely is a matter of taste, and you will find people very spiritedly arguing in favor of or against all sorts of different software. Check out as many as you can - even if not downloading demos, at least go to the sites and look at the features list and screenshots - and see what suits you best.

:)
-Jeff
 
regebro said:
At least Ableton Live makes sense, looks pretty and kicks ass. ;)
Click to expand...

As compared to?


Sheesh.

I woudl agree with GuttaDaj, try whatyever you can out before you buy, cause for each software package, there's a moron who feels compelled to dis other packages. it just goes with the territory as there are no regulations as to minimum IQ requirements for posting in these forums.

The bottom line is the best package for you is that which allows to get the job done with the best fit for the way you work.
 
What everyone else has said is good info, but at the total dollar amounts you are mentioning is about as down-to-basics as you can get. The only way to save money might be to buy an "all-in'one" recording package (essentially digital versions of the cassette 4-tracks (which also had a great deal of variation in quality). I bought the Fostex MR8, which is great for putting in a few tracks of music for practice, but quickly leads to needing (well wanting, I suppose) to buy somehting with decent pre amps (the Behringer mixer is exactly what i bought for that, and general opinion there seems to be it does nothing for the quality of the recording), replace it entirely for better sample rates, 24 bit recording.... well it starts to snowball from there.

if you want real advice, take a few hours and read through tons of posts here and delve into each of the areas you are oging tobe dealing with- mics, computer recording, mixing, recording techniques-- well you can read the forum topics, and/or supply lots more info:
What are you trying to record - a band, yourself, etc? Do you need the capability of using 4 or more mics on a drumset, along with vocals, bass guitar or are you going the drum machine (or sans drums) and then adding tracks one at a time by yourself. If you are going the Micing route, do you have the mic, cables, pre amps?

It sounds like you are considering same route i did a year or two ago, with the most basic versions of just about everything to get your feet wet and learn your way around. From all I have seen here and my personal experience, if you decide to up the quality and flexibility you will be replacing everything in your list fairly soon, which might not be a bad thing (it will give you the chance to figure out the direction you want to go while still being able to work now). In the meantime, you will still be able to learn the recording process with that equipment, but I would say that it would be tough to get anything that sounds "pro" without more experience. The consensus seems to be experience > gear, but when considering gear you should get the best stuff you can afford or you will be looking to upgrade later.

Daav
 
well.. personal tastes are different.. no point of arguing about that here...
fe. I love Tracktion... some people think it sucks..
 
Hey thank you all very much, i really appreciate the advice, i am completely new to these boards, i'm a long timer Harmony-central.com guy but nobody helped me out with the recording section. Anyway, i've been told Behringer sucks, in ways of what i'd like to record, well the drums mic'd with 4 mics. Then lay that down on one track, then record for example, vocals/guitar, on another, then bass and keys, would I be able to do that with this setup? I'm actually an audio major, first year so i'm green. I've use protools in the studio. What i'm really worried about, will my computer be able to handle this kind of load?

I have a compaq 2.0 ghz, 526 ram, i don't know the RPM speed of my harddrive, i was told 7200 to be ideal anything lower I should ditch the idea entirely.

Thanks!!
 
Also, i heard aboiut recording packages? Any in the price range of 300?
 
CollegeDJ said:
Also, i heard aboiut recording packages? Any in the price range of 300?
Click to expand...
The fostex MR8 is about hte only thing i have any experience with, as mentioned above. Great tool for entry level use, probabaly a challenge to get really great quality recording out of (I say probabaly because i can't say that i have the skills to really get the most out of the equipement i have).
The new MR8 HD sounds like it is a real step up:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_id/133877

Overall though, if you want scalability, the PC is probabaly the way to go. It seems that is the progression i see amny here going to:
Console-> big investment in the chain (mics, pre's, etc) -> then the jump to PC recording

your computer will probably be fine, but you haven't given a ton of specs. You will likely want to go to 1 or even 2 GB of RAM though. if you aren't sure of the RPMs of your HD, you would probably have to pop open the case with a flashlight to find out, it is probably labeled in there somewhere. HD is a cheap upgrdade though.

Daav
 
Oh- one last comment on the console type recorders, the cheaper ones tend to be 16 bit/44.1 khz sample rate. This is the area that analog-loving types point out that digital is weak in. It will affect the signal that gets written by the recorder (adversly).

I'd like someone more knowledgable to back this up if it is true, but for your $$, you will get better A/D->D/A rates from the PC interface approach.

Daav.
 
regebro said:
everything else, IMO.

do you have a problem with that?
Click to expand...
Well, you're entitled to your opinion, even if you have no taste.

*barf*
 
Thanks Daav, i think i'll go with the PC recording though. is that setup i mentioned enough for what i want to do?
 
CollegeDJ said:
I have a compaq 2.0 ghz, 526 ram, i don't know the RPM speed of my harddrive, i was told 7200 to be ideal anything lower I should ditch the idea entirely.

Thanks!!
Click to expand...

Its easy to find out info about your harddrive without opening the case.
Just go into your device manager (right click MY COMPUTER and hit PROPERTIES...then the DEVICES tab and click the DEVICE MANAGER button) and under DISK DRIVES it will tell you your model number.
Just type that model number into your favorite search engine and you should find out all the info you need.
 
CollegeDJ said:
Anyway, i've been told Behringer sucks
Click to expand...
Sure, but theu are dead cheap, and they don't suck THAT bad. They are good enough to start with.
the drums mic'd with 4 mics. [...] would I be able to do that with this setup?
Click to expand...
If you get a behringer with 4 preamps, yup.

What i'm really worried about, will my computer be able to handle this kind of load?
Click to expand...
No problems.

I have a compaq 2.0 ghz, 526 ram, i don't know the RPM speed of my harddrive, i was told 7200 to be ideal anything lower I should ditch the idea entirely.
Click to expand...
Pfah. Humbug. It'll be fine. And most drives today are 7200 anyway.
 
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