What would I need?

[morejaylesswar]

This past summer has been spent doing a lot of independent research and a lot of scouring through forums like this one. (None beats HomeRecording.com, though.) I've come up with a ton of ideas, but nothing concrete that would help me for what I need to do.

Here's a background of what I'm doing:

I primarily deal in Hip-Hop & R&B. Most of the artist I work with, including myself, work with digital music. Highly sample driven from groove stations such as Maschine and production software like Reason with a ton of VST plug ins. I am not recording much live sound right now; however, I am looking to get into that.

I am at a bare minimal right now. This is what I have:

Computer: MacBook Pro 15" wtih 8GB of Ram
Microphone: Rode NT1-A and MXL 990
Interface: Mbox 2
DAW: Pro Tools 8 LE
Headphones: AKG k240 and AKG k99
Monitors: Cheapo M-Audios that I'm looking to upgrade
Extras: 1TB MyBook External HD, Boom Stand, and Voxguard

What do you suggest for me? A good preamp? Do I need a mixing console? I don't know anything about gear. I just google and end up buying stuff that I may not need. Any sound ideas? I'm all ears. Treat this as a commission job and you're suggesting a product to a customer.

Thanks for any input!

 

[moresound]

How Much money you got? - SEE! there is the salesman in me.

 

[morejaylesswar]

How Much money you got? - SEE! there is the salesman in me.

LOL! Let's put it this way...

I am a fulltime college student and I sell cell phones for a living. I work on a commission based job. Business is NOT booming right now. However, I have a great save-ethic. I'd like something in a modest price range for a beginner, but I do have the ambition to get the things I want and need. Especially when it comes to something that I'd LOVE to make a career out of.

 

[Steenamaroo]

It seems you have everything you need.

What are you happy with or not happy with.

There's no real need for an audio console these days, unless there a specific reason that you'd want to go that route.
Most people in digital recording don't unless they're going with somethin pretty fancy.

I never liked them mbox 2 preamps, but how do you find them?

 

[morejaylesswar]

It seems you have everything you need.

What are you happy with or not happy with.

There's no real need for an audio console these days, unless there a specific reason that you'd want to go that route.
Most people in digital recording don't unless they're going with a big neve or somethin!

I never liked them mbox 2 preamps, but how do you find them?

I wouldn't know, lol. I don't know anything about it. I bought it based on what I was told to get by my instructor when I took a Pro Tools class last year. I just use it for getting the levels of the mic I'm recording. Other than that, it just allows me to run Pro Tools. I'm completely ignorant about anything that doesn't involve writing music, lol. I am an awesome songwriter for myself and others. The actual recording and mixing process is a large world that I'd LOVE to understand and know more about.

 

[moresound]

I never liked them mbox 2 preamps, but how do you find them?

That is what I was going to bring up.

If anything maybe you should start looking foe a preamp that you can call your own that is in combination with your chosen microphone that really complements your vocals and make them shine.

 

[morejaylesswar]

That is what I was going to bring up.

If anything maybe you should start looking foe a preamp that you can call your own that is in combination with your chosen microphone that really complements your vocals and make them shine.

Out of all of my research, I've come across PreSonus all summer. That seems to be the choice brand of a lot of people. Now, I sit here with the debate on going with the PreSonus StudioLive 16.0.2 or just the PreSonus Studio Channel. After watching this video I don't know if I need all of what the Studio Live 16.0.2 offers. He's speaking years beyond where I am right now and it seems like a lot of money to shell out for something that won't reach it's potential in my home studio. Then again, if it's gong to be worth it then I should just save up and buy it. I'm just a bit unsure about that yet. What do you suggest?

 

[moresound]

Well as far as he being years beyond where you are ..... that learning curve and knowing terminology will go by quickly once you have been here awhile and learning.
Best part is every bit of knowledge here is free and for the most part spot on - if not then a debate starts.
And of course there will be several opinions.

 

[CrowsofFritz]

Out of all of my research, I've come across PreSonus all summer. That seems to be the choice brand of a lot of people. Now, I sit here with the debate on going with the PreSonus StudioLive 16.0.2 or just the PreSonus Studio Channel. After watching this video I don't know if I need all of what the Studio Live 16.0.2 offers. He's speaking years beyond where I am right now and it seems like a lot of money to shell out for something that won't reach it's potential in my home studio. Then again, if it's gong to be worth it then I should just save up and buy it. I'm just a bit unsure about that yet. What do you suggest?

That is always a tough decision. How dedicated are you? And are you going to be after some time? For me, I took the gamble that I was going to be very dedicated to audio, so I purchased high quality gear early on. I was a noob and didn't know how to use it to it's potential. But I learned everything, and I still have that gear. If I had bought something cheap, I probably would've just trashed it after a while. So if your dedicated, high quality gear is money well spent.

 

[moresound]

That is always a tough decision. How dedicated are you? And are you going to be after some time? For me, I took the gamble that I was going to be very dedicated to audio, so I purchased high quality gear early on. I was a noob and didn't know how to use it to it's potential. But I learned everything, and I still have that gear. If I had bought something cheap, I probably would've just trashed it after a while. So if your dedicated, high quality gear is money well spent.

^^^^^^^True this^^^^^^^

 

[Steenamaroo]

I agree with this.

I don't recommend spending big bucks to test the waters, but if you know you're in it for the long haul, just buy the good gear at the start.

Have you ever used any other mics or preamps? Do you have access to any to try out?

That honestly is the best way to decide on upgrades.

Is it mainly your own voice you're working with, or are you going to have a lot of different customers?

 

[morejaylesswar]

That is always a tough decision. How dedicated are you? And are you going to be after some time? For me, I took the gamble that I was going to be very dedicated to audio, so I purchased high quality gear early on. I was a noob and didn't know how to use it to it's potential. But I learned everything, and I still have that gear. If I had bought something cheap, I probably would've just trashed it after a while. So if your dedicated, high quality gear is money well spent.

I'm in the same mindset where you were. But I want the best quality that I can afford right now. I know that I'll eventually upgrade, but I don't want to wait another six months in order to afford everything else. Someone once told me that you can never have too may backups because something may be good for one job that isn't good for the next. So I'm leaning towards buying the Studio Channel on friday and saving up so I can buy the StudioLive 16.0.2 as a Christmas present to myself or something.

My last big purchase was this mac. I got the NT1-A and Voxguard last week. I am excited to learn what I need things for and how they will fit into my budding setup. I've been looking at this "let me see your studio!" thread all day. I'd love to have the stuff these guys have, but I don't know what half of it is! LOL! If I went out and mimicked their studios I'd be broke with a bunch of stuff that I don't know how to use.

 

[morejaylesswar]

I agree with this.

I don't recommend spending big bucks to test the waters, but if you know you're in it for the long haul, just buy the good gear at the start.

Have you ever used any other mics or preamps? Do you have access to any to try out?

That honestly is the best way to decide on upgrades.

Is it mainly your own voice you're working with, or are you going to have a lot of different customers?

I haven't used anything other than what I've purchased for myself over the years. I wish I had the means to try things out and mess around with them. I made the mistake of buying a mic a few years ago that completely sucked. LOL! I sold my Xbox to get it when I was in the 11th grade. It was no good... So I stuck with my MXL. The same one I saved up lunch money to get in the 10th grade.

I have a team of people... Singers, rappers, guitar players, you name it. I record all of them. We are our own little production group here in Detroit. We write songs for other people and we have a guy who does music videos. He's looking to do more in-depth film projects and I want to do the audio for that.

I'm empty right now... No preconceived notions about specific brands or items. Just a guy looking for a bit of direction. Then I'll be able to formulate my own opinions on gear and what not.

 

[CrowsofFritz]

The Studio Live 16:2 is one big investment! I would do lots and lots of research on gear, mixing, mic placement etc. Knowledge is power, and if you have the knowledge on how to use a nice piece of gear such as the Studio Live mixer, your going to produce some great stuff!

 

[moresound]

What I hate is ..... as soon as you get it, learn it, it becomes obsolete.

 

[morejaylesswar]

The Studio Live 16:2 is one big investment! I would do lots and lots of research on gear, mixing, mic placement etc. Knowledge is power, and if you have the knowledge on how to use a nice piece of gear such as the Studio Live mixer, your going to produce some great stuff!

I definitely agree!!!! I'm doing a ton of research. If I'm not writing, I'm researching. Learning about this is just as fun as writing the music. I enjoy learning new lingo and finding new ways to apply the things that I've learned in my next mixes. HOWEVER, it does seem like recording is a black art. No one wants to share their knowledge, lol. Everyone is so hush-hush. Rightfully so, I'm guessing. You have to keep what makes you unique. That's why I love this website. Everyone seems to be willing and ready to help.

 

[morejaylesswar]

What I hate is ..... as soon as you get it, learn it, it becomes obsolete.

LOL! I work in the wireless phone industry! I deal with obsolete everyday! If it's one thing that I've taken from this job is to just be happy with what I have. I swear I'll go broke chasing the newest stuff; although, audio gear is still a shiny new toy to me. It's just too expensive of a field for me to try and keep up with everything.

I want to be a billionaire sooooo effing bad.

 

[moresound]

This site is an open book and if someone is *black arting* you ..... then they are just guessing.

 

[moresound]

LOL! I work in the wireless phone industry! I deal with obsolete everyday! If it's one thing that I've taken from this job is to just be happy with what I have. I swear I'll go broke chasing the newest stuff; although, audio gear is still a shiny new toy to me. It's just too expensive of a field for me to try and keep up with everything.

I want to be a billionaire sooooo effing bad.

Well you know there is absolutely nothing wrong with purchasing used gear.

 

[morejaylesswar]

This site is an open book and if someone is *black arting* you ..... then they are just guessing.

It took me to find this website to figure out what the hell I needed a compressor for and what the settings did. I still have a pretty novice, at best, understanding of it, but before I got here everyone I asked couldn't give me much information. I just got stuff like "You have to figure out how to apply it for yourself. Your mixes will be different than mine." Like, damn, I know you can't tell me how much salt I'll need in my soup but you can at least tell me why I would need to add salt. Geez.