what works well with the fostex VF80?

[thevirus5085]

ok. i am tryign to buy the stuff i need to build a small recording "studio" if you will. i decided to go with the fostex VF80 but i am an extream newbe. so i do not know what else to buy that owuld work well with this peace of equipment. i jsut want enough to buy what i need to record and i want it to be quality, but not thousands of dollars. can anyone help?

 

[tomleblanc]

What kind of stuff will you be recording? Vocals, acoustic guitar, micing amps, etc.?

I'm pretty sure the VF80 has phantom power capability built-in, so you don't necessarily need to buy an outboard pre-amp, although it's highly recommended eventually, to get a better sounding recording.

First priority should probably be a good pair of monitirs so that you can actually hear what you've recorded! The easiest thing is to buy a pair of powered ones (they have built-in amps in each speaker). How much do you want to spend total? There are entry-level amplified monitors for around $200, like the Samson Resolv 50a (8thstreet.com or samash.com), or the Event TR-5 ($299), or the M-Audio BX-5 ($299). The latter two come well-recommended for someone just starting out. I could never find a review of the Samsons, and people generally seem to "poo-poo" Samson products on this board, but I don't know enough about their monitors to either recommend or caution against them.

Another important priority is a microphone, of course! Again, it depends on how much money you want to spend. A recording can ALWAYS sound better, so at some point you have to stop! I'm sure you don't want to spend a few grand on a Neumann, but would you be thinking $50-$100, or $100-$250, or more, for a mic??

The Marshall (MXL) v67g and the Studio Projects B1 are about as good as mics get for under $150 or so, and cost around $80 each (the MXL mic can be a bit more, depending on where/how you get it, but $99 at most if you look around).

Also, you need at least one GOOD mic cable. Your sound will only be as good as the weakest/cheapest part of your signal chain, so if you skimp on cables, you could make all the money you spent on that great mic moot! I'd recommend a BLUE Blueberry or maybe even a Kiwi. Actually, I'd recommend the latter since it's a better cable but can be gotten on musiciansfriend.com for the same price as the Blueberry right now ($29.99)!

It's also important to have a pair of headphones to use while tracking, which will keep sound from escaping, to a reasonable degree. I got a pair of "MoreMe" phones that Harvey is selling, and they're great for the price (only $20!)! Check out the thread called something like "cheap isolation tracking headphones." Just do a search...the link to buy the headphones is there.

Later on you'll probably want to add a pre-amp or maybe a compressor, or computer interface, but for starters it isn't really necessary.

I hope this is helpful!

 

[billisa]

I've got one...

The VF80 is a great machine. It does indeed have phantom power, though I'm also using a Behringer 2200 Ultragain 2-channel preamp. As asked already, what type of recording are you doing?

One way to avoid the purchase of monitors is to use your home stereo as your playback monitors. Headphones are a necessity. I use the Sennheiser 280's that have a closed back, so I won't feedback when using them on recording a vocal. Fostex RP50 headphones are supposed to be excellent.

Using just headphones, I was able to record/master a commercial while I was away. I'd master/burn the CD, and try it out on my car stereo later (not a bad thing to do in any case). It's gotten to the point where I can tell how good a mix is going to sound just through the headphones...

I also own 2 Studio Projects B1's (Great!); a ZOOM RT123 drum/bass machine (Great!), a Korg Microkorg synthesizer (yes, also Great!). Plus I have two nice quad 20ft. cables, two Groove Play boom stands (very adequate).

I am also using a Yamaha receiver and 2 Polk monitor 7's for monitoring... I'm having a blast!

 

[thevirus5085]

thanx. yah i am doing bands recording. i own a local record company. and would like to get up my own studio so i dont have to deal with my friends studios.
it is mainly just bass,guitar, drums, vocals.
i own a p.a. system... can i use that for monitors?
and i already have headphones.
i already have a couple mics. pretty descent ones too.
so after i get this all i really need to worry about is headphones and monitors?

 

[billisa]

Well you can use the pa for monitoring so long as you know the way it tends to color the sound, otherwise your mixes will only sound good on the pa... In other words, if it tends to emphasise one set of frequencies over another, you have to keep that in mind... Also, you must be aware the the VF80 only does a maximum of two inputs at a time... The VF160 will do quite a bit more, say if you wanted 8 inputs at once... It also is a 16 track machine.

Even so, if you just need 2 at a time, the VF80 will do just fine. If you know how to use what you have and compensate for any limitations, such as in the pa or the headphones, then you can do some great recording. With the headphones it will really help to have a neutral full range pair -- plus closed back is an absolute must if a vocalist will be wearing them to sing with other tracks.

 

[robjh22]

"I decided . . . "

Virus: You decided to buy the 80? Or you bought it? If you haven't bought yet, let me recommend that you get the machine from a local shop, as opposed to buying on line from a warehouse, so that somebody there can give you a tutorial (show you how to run it, soup to nuts, from set up thru recording and mixing and making the CD. Otherwise you'll be back on this board with a million questions just to get it to work. As I've griped elsewhere, the manual is the worst in history. I only mention this because you confessed yourself as a newbie, as I am. But I've learned a lot just oin the last week paying close attention to billisa and others on this forum. Good luck.

 

[robjh22]

condensers with preamp

Bill - Sorry to be dense, but you said "It does indeed have phantom power, though I'm also using a Behringer 2200 Ultragain 2-channel preamp." What do you mean "though"?
The preamp obviates the need for the 80's phantom power? Or supplies it?

 

[billisa]

Re: condensers with preamp

Bill - Sorry to be dense, but you said "It does indeed have phantom power, though I'm also using a Behringer 2200 Ultragain 2-channel preamp." What do you mean "though"?
The preamp obviates the need for the 80's phantom power? Or supplies it?

I only mean I also have the Behringer that also has phantom. The VF80 has phantom power alone, but I came across the Behringer and liked it, so I kept it. So, I have two ways of generating phantom power.

 

[tomleblanc]

Virus, if you're going to be recording drums as you said, it'll probably be a little more difficult to do if you only have the ability to record two tracks at once, as is the case with the VF80. The way around this is to add a mixer, so that you can record drums using more than just 2 mics, and mix it all together into just two signals, which then go from the mixer to the inputs on the Fostex unit.

This method works, but isn't necessarily ideal, as it becomes pretty much impossible to go back later and add effects, EQ, etc. to particular parts of the drum kit in order to give you a better mix and final product.

It's definitely something to think about. But if you've decided on the VF80, you don't necessarily have to spend lots more to get a mixer. Behringer mixers can be found pretty cheap. Even better, you can get something like the Mackie DFX-6 or DFX-12, for around $200-ish. Mackie mixers are generally thought to be superior to the Behringers.

 

[billisa]

And while I love the VF80...

If I were you and hadn't gotten it yet, and had an extra $200. I'd get the VF160. You can always do with extra tracks.

 

[thevirus5085]

yah... i havent gotten it yet. i think i will go with the vf 160.thanx for all the information. it helped alot

 

[a12stringer]

Anybody recording drums would definitely be better off going with the VF160 if they are wanting to individually track each drum. I had someone try to talk me into a 16 track, but since my recording is limited to acoustic trio type music, I found the VF-80 to be more than adequate for my purposes.

At the same time, I have to say that individual tracks for each drum is no guarantee of great sound. A lot of great recordings have been made with 8-track and even 4-track equipment when a lot of bouncing down has to take place. I have a friend who still records at home using an ancient (over 20 years old) Tascam 4-track open-reel. And he makes great recordings.

My biggest fear in this technologically advanced era in which state of the art recording equipment is now available to the masses is that we are substituting technical expertise for true artistry.

 

[billisa]

great point

Anybody recording drums would definitely be better off going with the VF160 if they are wanting to individually track each drum.

At the same time, I have to say that individual tracks for each drum is no guarantee of great sound. A lot of great recordings have been made with 8-track and even 4-track equipment when a lot of bouncing down has to take place. I have a friend who still records at home using an ancient (over 20 years old) Tascam 4-track open-reel. And he makes great recordings.

My biggest fear in this technologically advanced era in which state of the art recording equipment is now available to the masses is that we are substituting technical expertise for true artistry.

Great points! I agree that the VF160's extra tracks would help in many situations. It seems as though, like in photography, focus on the "brand" and amount of lenses has taken over from honing solid technique.

As to the VF-80... One way to multitrack drums would be to do the drums first on tracks 1-6, bounce them to 7/8, then transfer them back to 1-2, leaving 3-6 for guitars, vocals etc. People in the 60's would've gladly owned a VF80. (and certainly a 160).

 

[billisa]

Re: what was I thinking??

As to the VF-80... One way to multitrack drums would be to do the drums first on tracks 1-6, bounce them to 7/8, then transfer them back to 1-2, leaving 3-6 for guitars, vocals etc.

I have no clue why I said this... Perhaps using a spdif in one could do this, but even then I don't know. Obviously the VF80's 2 inputs would not allow simultaneous tracking on 1-6. Sorry. I may have been thinking of the as yet uninvented VF90!