What do I need...???

[Janesaid2me]

So i got a decent lil home studio coming along here....just kind of hit a rut into what i definitely need next. So check out my list of what I have and throw some suggestions at me. Keep in mind im a grad student and dont have tons of cash so dont tell me to go buy a 3000 dollar preamp....

My "studio":
-Dell 2.8ghz P4, 512ram, 160gb & 70gb drives.
-Sonare 5 Producer Edition w/ every free decent plugin i could download.
-Ozone 3, only plugin ive purchased.
-MOTU 896 firewire audio interface/preamp.
-Alesis M1 Active monitors
-Behringer DI box
-Behringer mic100 preamp (never use)
Mics:
-Cad m9 tube condenser
-sm57
-pair of MXL 603S
-AKG D112
-Behringer b-2 condenser
-4 audio technica dynamic mics

-Got all nice intruments and amps.

So things ive been thinking about getting include:
-Audix i5 dynamic mic
-Sennheiser e609 dynamic mic
-FMR RNC compressor
-Focusrite Voicemaster pro maybe help vocals sound better idk?
-More RAM for the computer (although it hasnt cause a problem yet...)
-Better plugins?
-Maybe another set of monitors to add to the others?

IDK guys any suggestions welcome, remember keep them resonable. What do you think i need or would help the most in my recordings.

For some samples you can check out www.myspace.com/insecrecy although I know myspace kills songs sometimes.

 

[Robert D]

You definitely need a $3000 preamp. No really.

Ok, maybe not $3000, but looking at your gear, two things come to mind...... a new preamp, and new monitors.

 

[Myriad_Rocker]

How about doing some acoustic treatment to your room? Then maybe adding some more ram to that computer? Oh, and learn to use what you have really really well...THEN think about upgrading/adding to. Know your limitations before you think about purchasing new things.

 

[Janesaid2me]

Hahhaa man if i had 3000 to spend on a preamp id totally do it, maybe in 5 years? What preamps do you guys suggest? How about monitors? How much RAM 1gb, 2gb?
The more i work with what i have the better ill get but its also important to have the right tools.
As for acoustic treatment, i record in a basement, its pretty quite down here when no ones home...the floors carpeted and ive been using a few old cubicle pieces to act as like sound absorbers (with extra blankets overtop them)....plus i read some article on setting up your home for better acoustics, ie furniture placement etc and kinda folled that as well....i wont be here for ever so its hard to really put money into something that you know youll be leaving.

 

[rory]

Definitely a preamp. I've used to use one of those 896 units by itself and they're pretty muddy compared to some other pres. How much are you looking to spend? The Grace 101 is popular around here, so is the FMR RNP. I'd put my money into a modular lunchbox depending on how much you are looking to spend. The lunchbox will run around $400 and each unit will be anywhere from $500-800 per channel, but they're really nice and there are lots of color choices to choose from.

Rory

 

[rory]

Out of curiosity, what are you in graduate school for? Please don't say english...

 

[Janesaid2me]

HAHAHAHA no way, not English....glad you picked up on that...Im actually in Dental School and if u cant tell i like using ....alot. Ive always been interested in the FMR RNP and thats in the right price range. Could look into that, although i never really though the MOTU was muddy persay...but then again i dont have anything better to compare it to...everything else ive used has been cheaper and less quality then the MOTU so thats why to me its sounds great....so far...

 

[Ironklad Audio]

adding an i5 would definitely be a good idea...i personally feel that they put sm-57's to shame on both guitar cabs and snare

 

[BigRay]

Get a DAV BG-1(www.davelectronics.com/bg1.htm)

or a Hamptone.

www.hamptone.com

do a search on them...DAV is worlds better than the FMR

 

[studiomaster]

A new mic perhaps....?

 

[Janesaid2me]

Thanks for some of the tips guys...i know alil bit of everything would obviously help...hahah...ill check out some of the new suggestions and see what i think/find...any other suggestions let me know.

 

[Dogbreath]

The one obvious thing I see missing is a .........lava lamp.

 

[Janesaid2me]

Ummm now that I can afford! I Think they are on sale at Target this week...hahaha!