What's your first home recording setup?
- Thread starter Fariz
- Start date
arcadeko
Illuminatius Overlordious
First setup
Cakewalk UA-1G
Sonar LE 6
Ensoniq ASR-10 Keyboard
- Lasted about 3 days then I got a Boss BR600 which laster another week or so until I finally got an Alesis Multimix 8 USB 2.0
that lasted a couple months till I added drums and guitars and mics and an output expander to the ASR-10 so I sold it and bought the multimix 16 USB 2.0
so now I have 16/16 multitrack recording into Cubase LE - works like a charm...
Cakewalk UA-1G
Sonar LE 6
Ensoniq ASR-10 Keyboard
- Lasted about 3 days then I got a Boss BR600 which laster another week or so until I finally got an Alesis Multimix 8 USB 2.0
that lasted a couple months till I added drums and guitars and mics and an output expander to the ASR-10 so I sold it and bought the multimix 16 USB 2.0
so now I have 16/16 multitrack recording into Cubase LE - works like a charm...
grimtraveller
If only for a moment.....
Mine was a kind of evolution. I had a bass and was learning guitar. I got into jazz fusion and kind of liked the idea of being a multi~instrumentalist so I bought a clavinet, congas, bongoes and a bass amp, two AKG mikes and stands. Over the next year, I added a drumkit, double bass, mandolin and on a whim, a four track portastudio. I only bought the 4 track because I had a little bit of money left over and didn't want to go home with £60 left over. Also, where I was working at the time, we had a music project going with the kids (the fabled Tariq Kebabs) and we had a 4 track that no one knew how to work.
I'd long been interested in recording and about a year later, actually started recording. My 4 track was a Fostex X~15. I figured with what I had and my mate the drummer/percussionist using my stuff, we should be able to make songs. I'd written for years. But I eventually found 4 tracks far too limiting. Just on a simple song I needed at least 10 tracks and with all the bouncing I had to do, my stuff just became a mush. I used to put the bass and drums on the same track. They were the most separated parts ! So I progressed to an 8 track portastudio, a Tascam 488. In those early days, I'd buy effects and the like and I added things like a 4 input mic mixer and 8 input headphone dock, things that 20 years later I still use. As I had my own flat and generally great neighbours, I did most of the recording at home. It never occurred to me to do anything other. My set up included a Hammond organ, a Fender Rhodes and a piano which took 4 of us to get down the stairs of the guy I bought it from.
Like most people, the set up grew slowly and it took ages to learn things and figure things out, my mixes were fun to do but pretty shitty.
It was alot more expensive in the early 90s. I liked certain parts of the set up more than others and things changed from time to time in the quest for better sounds and mixes. It's always been a real bang on the head for me to record something I've written or collaborated on.
I'd long been interested in recording and about a year later, actually started recording. My 4 track was a Fostex X~15. I figured with what I had and my mate the drummer/percussionist using my stuff, we should be able to make songs. I'd written for years. But I eventually found 4 tracks far too limiting. Just on a simple song I needed at least 10 tracks and with all the bouncing I had to do, my stuff just became a mush. I used to put the bass and drums on the same track. They were the most separated parts ! So I progressed to an 8 track portastudio, a Tascam 488. In those early days, I'd buy effects and the like and I added things like a 4 input mic mixer and 8 input headphone dock, things that 20 years later I still use. As I had my own flat and generally great neighbours, I did most of the recording at home. It never occurred to me to do anything other. My set up included a Hammond organ, a Fender Rhodes and a piano which took 4 of us to get down the stairs of the guy I bought it from.
Like most people, the set up grew slowly and it took ages to learn things and figure things out, my mixes were fun to do but pretty shitty.
It was alot more expensive in the early 90s. I liked certain parts of the set up more than others and things changed from time to time in the quest for better sounds and mixes. It's always been a real bang on the head for me to record something I've written or collaborated on.
chrisharris
King of Bling
1997
TASCAM 4-Track.
Shure 58
Decent digital reverb unit.
Cassettes
No compressors or other outboard gear. It was for recording songwriting demos. I liked it fine, but I hated the hiss.
TASCAM 4-Track.
Shure 58
Decent digital reverb unit.
Cassettes
No compressors or other outboard gear. It was for recording songwriting demos. I liked it fine, but I hated the hiss.
Shadow_7
New member
laptop + giant squid mini mono
- NO -
The usual reasons, couldn't multi-track. High hiss input. Every little thing caused interference and other quirks. Sounded nothing like the source sound(s). But it was cheap.
Phase II
M-Audio Mobile Pre + same laptop + Art Tube MP + AT4033a
- YES -
But not well suited for my needs or at least upcoming needs. Took too long to setup on location. If someone tripped on the cord(s), the recording application crashed from the temporary disconnect. And other mobility concerns.
And a few upgrades since then to get my current capabilities. Or at least quality levels. Same basic capabilities. Just more flexible and better suited for on location stuff. i.e. no power cords, one person one trip, and recording within seconds, not minutes. Everything within a foot of the mic stand so not much to trip on.
- NO -
The usual reasons, couldn't multi-track. High hiss input. Every little thing caused interference and other quirks. Sounded nothing like the source sound(s). But it was cheap.
Phase II
M-Audio Mobile Pre + same laptop + Art Tube MP + AT4033a
- YES -
But not well suited for my needs or at least upcoming needs. Took too long to setup on location. If someone tripped on the cord(s), the recording application crashed from the temporary disconnect. And other mobility concerns.
And a few upgrades since then to get my current capabilities. Or at least quality levels. Same basic capabilities. Just more flexible and better suited for on location stuff. i.e. no power cords, one person one trip, and recording within seconds, not minutes. Everything within a foot of the mic stand so not much to trip on.
gecko zzed
Grumpy Mod
Supercreep
Lizard People
Sears tape deck with a record button.
Shadow_7
New member
Yeah, old tape recorder and recording a new track while playing along karaoke style with the previous track ala stereo. But I didn't count there either. No current day evidence that such an event ever took place. And that whole reproduction of a reproduction thing. i.e. Cloning has it's limits.
Bobbsy
Boring Old Git
I'm with Supercreep. In the early 1960s I had an old Sears (think they called it "Silvertone") quarter inch tape deck and I microphone I saved up my allowance to buy--a "non name" one but it LOOKED more professional than the one that came with the deck.
No multitracking (obviously) but I became a wizz at cutting and splicing tape!
My first computer based system was Cool Edit 96, a Yamaha sound card, a small ENG/field mixer and couple of AKG microphones.
Bob
No multitracking (obviously) but I became a wizz at cutting and splicing tape!
My first computer based system was Cool Edit 96, a Yamaha sound card, a small ENG/field mixer and couple of AKG microphones.
Bob
Bobbsy
Boring Old Git
Don't you think "Queensland, Australia" is a bit confusing, Bobbsy? I mean, if not actually a separate country, it is a separate state of mind...
...just an attempt to fight off at least SOME of the questions from numpties who ask if I know their cousin in Perth!
gecko zzed
Grumpy Mod
I wouldn't be so silly to ask if you knew my cousin in Perth. Do you know my cousin in Brisbane?