Wanna spend my money/build my studio...

[johnnypraze]

Im tired of the hassle. Using other peoples equipment, and being on their time has become too hectic.

I wanna purchase something of my own, so I have something in front of me that I can work with and begin to learn the trade. My ears are really starting to get in tune, and Ive played in various studios and with different equipment.

Im mainly going to be working on HipHop and R&B. Im looking for a straight vocal studio for now. (No production, sampling, instruments etc...)

Im budgeting around $1000.

Im gonna use my PC as the brain. (1.2 ghz. processor, 40GB HD, and 256MB of ram.) Im going to be upgrading my HD as well as my ram once I have my equipment in front of me.

I have CakewalkPRO 9 which will be my tracking/recording program for now.

So what are my main components Im gonna need for some nice sound. Best bang for my buck basically.

Im looking at the Audio Technica AT3035 (~$200) for my mic.

Im undecided on my sound card and pre-amp.

The Focusrite Platinum Penta caught my eye, but it is $400, and I wanted to stay around $200-$250 for a pre, unless itll make that much difference.

As for audio interfaces/sound cards, Im not sure which route to go, as far as Firewire and PCI. Is there that much of a difference, because firewire seems to be much more expensive...?

Ive heard good things about Echo and Delta sound cards, but not sure which models to check out.

Help steer me in the right direction...

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[Stealthtech]

I recommend a quality mixer or preamp.
Anticipate $300-$500 for a high quality studio mic.
Perhaps a Lynx card or RME... internal PCI cards will work best.

 

[AllOrNothinEnt]

Since you have $1,000, and have already put $200.00 for the mic, that leaves you $800.00 for a soundcard, pre, cables, headphones, monitors, etc.

I suggest this...

Aardvark 2496 $500.00

Audio Technica ATH-M40fs headphones $59.99 musiciansfriend.com

Behringer Truth, M-Audio BX5 etc monitors, $300.00

Sure thats a bit over, but you just wont be able to get everything for a grand bro.

 

[AllOrNothinEnt]

Or, you could go this route...

E-MU 1820 Recording System $399.99 (built in pre's, check musiciansfriend.com, looks like a nice ass soundcard)

Audio Technica AT3035 $199.99
Audio Technica ATH-M40fs $59.99

M-Audio BX5, Behringer Truth, Fostex pmo.5 $299.99 a pair

So that's $960.00, then you'll have to save a bit more for cables.


OR.....

M-Audio Audiophile 2496 $150.00
Roland MMP-2 $250.00
M-Audio BX5 $300.00
AT3035 $200.00

That's $900.00, and the Roland MMP-2 is a VERY nice pre for the money, it's a modeling pre.

 

[johnnypraze]

I didnt plan on getting everything for $1000. I didnt put headphones, stands, cables etc... into account. That has to be bought no matter what I get.

Im talkin Mic, Pre, Sound card, etc...

What else should I be thinking about...?

Im not lookin to go top of the line, but a pretty decent starter set-up. Thats why i considered the Audio Technica AT3035.

So takin that into consideration, I want to get the most out of the little I have...

 

[johnnypraze]

AllOrNothinEnt,

I like both suggestions. Thats basically the type of set-up I was lookin for.

As for the Roland MMP-2, I keep seeing this in the specs: "Models are optimized for AKG C3000B, plus four additional mics "

What exactly does that mean, "optimized"? Is that just advertisement...?

Oh, and as for monitors, Im just gonna use headphones and regular HT speakers at first. I plan on building my own monitors in the future...

So in reality I can actually stay around 600-700 for what I need. And thats perfect...

So now the big toss up is, which of the 2:

E-MU 1820 Recording System, or seperate card/Pre (ie: M-Audio Audiophile 2496 & Roland MMP-2)

Im leanin more towards seperate components like the M-Audio Audiophile 2496 & Roland MMP-2.

How do yall feel...?

 

[AllOrNothinEnt]

I cannot comment much on the E-Mu, because I don't own it as of yet, however I will be purchasing one within the next month.

I DO have an Echo Mona, and a Roland MMP-2 pre-amp, and I CAN say the pre-amp's on the Mona IMO are inferior to the Roland pre's.

When it says optimized, it means that they selected those mics, and used those mics when modeling.

I remember when the Roland first came out, and then slightly after was selling for $600.00, and then that was still a good deal, but at $250.00 it's very nice.