Help with studio setup |
Guys, i need a bit of help with what equipment to buy for a small home studio i'm planning on setting up.
for a mixer im thinking: Behringer 802
USB Interface i'm thinking:
Monitors: Can't decide
Microphone(s): MXL 550/551R Recording Pack
Midi Keyboard: 61es M-Audio
Anything else i've left out?
Any other recomendations?
Any advice/help will be greatly received
for a mixer im thinking: Behringer 802
USB Interface i'm thinking:
Monitors: Can't decide
Microphone(s): MXL 550/551R Recording Pack
Midi Keyboard: 61es M-Audio
Anything else i've left out?
Any other recomendations?
Any advice/help will be greatly received
I have a brand new MAcbook Pro
I basically just want to be able to record vocals and guitar
my budget is about £300-400
I basically just want to be able to record vocals and guitar
my budget is about £300-400
The audio interface is probably the most important part of the set-up or more to the point the quality of the preamps.
If you have a firewire interface port(or able to add one) on your mac, I'd go the firewire option, it's faster, although with USB 3 on the way, I'm not sure a)how compatible it is with interfaces, or b) if it's available.
I did a lot of research recently and ended up getting the Focusrite Saffire pro 24, cost about £220.00, but they do another one called the saffire pro 14, which I believe are on special offer at £159.99, it should provide you with enough inputs.
Focusrite have fantastic preamps, they are very clean and record true, meaning they don't colour the original sound source. For me this is important, but you may just be happy with just a clean recording.
Mics vary a lot, the ones you are looking at should be fine, to get you going, I would check eBay out too. I recently purchased a used Rode NT1a, great vocal condenser for the money for about £100.00. For acoustic guitar ideally you want pencil style condenser stereo pair, if you want to get a big sound or you want to record just the guitar and vocals, but you can still get a good recording with one mic, many recording are done this way professionally. I used to use the AKG1000s for acoustic guitar, you pick them up for about £40/50 second-hand on ebay.
EDIT* Check that your firewire imports are compatible, I think on the MacPro's they have firewire800, Foucurite are Firewire600, you may need to get a converter, but not sure.
EDIT2**
Info on connecting to MAcbook Pro
http://www.focusrite.com/answerbase/en/article.php?id=1017
If you have a firewire interface port(or able to add one) on your mac, I'd go the firewire option, it's faster, although with USB 3 on the way, I'm not sure a)how compatible it is with interfaces, or b) if it's available.
I did a lot of research recently and ended up getting the Focusrite Saffire pro 24, cost about £220.00, but they do another one called the saffire pro 14, which I believe are on special offer at £159.99, it should provide you with enough inputs.
Focusrite have fantastic preamps, they are very clean and record true, meaning they don't colour the original sound source. For me this is important, but you may just be happy with just a clean recording.
Mics vary a lot, the ones you are looking at should be fine, to get you going, I would check eBay out too. I recently purchased a used Rode NT1a, great vocal condenser for the money for about £100.00. For acoustic guitar ideally you want pencil style condenser stereo pair, if you want to get a big sound or you want to record just the guitar and vocals, but you can still get a good recording with one mic, many recording are done this way professionally. I used to use the AKG1000s for acoustic guitar, you pick them up for about £40/50 second-hand on ebay.
EDIT* Check that your firewire imports are compatible, I think on the MacPro's they have firewire800, Foucurite are Firewire600, you may need to get a converter, but not sure.
EDIT2**
Info on connecting to MAcbook Pro
http://www.focusrite.com/answerbase/en/article.php?id=1017
If you are using a mac, get Logic Audio and a good interface then you are set.
For recording purposes, avoid behringer. It's ok for live. On a mixer you are looking at the XLR inputs for microphone quality and possibly a good eq. They are all different. Mackie Oynx was my favourite in the past 3 years.
This might be a bit expensive but think of it as an investment.
The other option in your budget is a second hand DAW like a korg or a Roland. These are fine, and can be linked to a computer with Spidif, are a mixer, fx box, soundcard, mastering machine etc. and have everything you need.
For recording purposes, avoid behringer. It's ok for live. On a mixer you are looking at the XLR inputs for microphone quality and possibly a good eq. They are all different. Mackie Oynx was my favourite in the past 3 years.
This might be a bit expensive but think of it as an investment.
The other option in your budget is a second hand DAW like a korg or a Roland. These are fine, and can be linked to a computer with Spidif, are a mixer, fx box, soundcard, mastering machine etc. and have everything you need.
your budget is the deciding factor.
with mac if you have the $$$$ then apogee is the way to go. If you have not quite enough $$$ then avid pro tools I/O, Motu I/O, or focusrite.
http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/symphony-io.php
http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/ensemble.php
http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/duet2.php
http://www.motu.com/products
http://www.motu.com/products
http://www.focusrite.com/products/
)0ops almost forgot to mention RME Interfaces.
http://www.rme-audio.de/en_products_fireface_800.php
There are lots of others available so shop around, The real cheap stuff will color your recordings and give you more noise, making real hard to get a quality mix.
If you are not recording a lot of stuff at the same time (like a band), you really don't need a mixer.
Most additional instruments come as VST's or software plug-ins of some sort.
A good A/D .D/A converter and good preamps will get great guitar tones, and vocals.
If you have garageband in your mac pro it'll do fine for recording, and editing most audio.
If you have the $$$ get, Logic Pro.. If you are doing lots of midi, and loop writing, get Digital Performer, or Cubase for mac. I'm not sure if Fruityloop works on mac.
The mic you have picked out is a good starter mic, you'll want to upgrade as you grow in your recording skills and abilities. I like the AKGC414 as an all around useful mic in studio environment. It's a little more money but the quality of this mic is superb for all kinds of different recordings. Rhodes makes some very good inexpensive mics, Audio Technica makes some good mics, AKG, and some others.
I use aYamaha O2R mixer, 2 Motu HD192, 2 motu 2408's, 1 pcie 424 card (allows me to use four Motu I/O units at the same time), Motu Midi Piece, and JBL,monitors, looking to upgrade to some Genelocs soon. Software is Pro Tools, Digital Performer, Logic Pro on the mac. On the PC I use Cubase 6, and Wavelab.
I have upgraded throughout years of DAW recording. You want to look for pieces that can transfer through out computer upgrades, software upgrades, if possible.
with mac if you have the $$$$ then apogee is the way to go. If you have not quite enough $$$ then avid pro tools I/O, Motu I/O, or focusrite.
http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/symphony-io.php
http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/ensemble.php
http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/duet2.php
http://www.motu.com/products
http://www.motu.com/products
http://www.focusrite.com/products/
)0ops almost forgot to mention RME Interfaces.
http://www.rme-audio.de/en_products_fireface_800.php
There are lots of others available so shop around, The real cheap stuff will color your recordings and give you more noise, making real hard to get a quality mix.
If you are not recording a lot of stuff at the same time (like a band), you really don't need a mixer.
Most additional instruments come as VST's or software plug-ins of some sort.
A good A/D .D/A converter and good preamps will get great guitar tones, and vocals.
If you have garageband in your mac pro it'll do fine for recording, and editing most audio.
If you have the $$$ get, Logic Pro.. If you are doing lots of midi, and loop writing, get Digital Performer, or Cubase for mac. I'm not sure if Fruityloop works on mac.
The mic you have picked out is a good starter mic, you'll want to upgrade as you grow in your recording skills and abilities. I like the AKGC414 as an all around useful mic in studio environment. It's a little more money but the quality of this mic is superb for all kinds of different recordings. Rhodes makes some very good inexpensive mics, Audio Technica makes some good mics, AKG, and some others.
I use aYamaha O2R mixer, 2 Motu HD192, 2 motu 2408's, 1 pcie 424 card (allows me to use four Motu I/O units at the same time), Motu Midi Piece, and JBL,monitors, looking to upgrade to some Genelocs soon. Software is Pro Tools, Digital Performer, Logic Pro on the mac. On the PC I use Cubase 6, and Wavelab.
I have upgraded throughout years of DAW recording. You want to look for pieces that can transfer through out computer upgrades, software upgrades, if possible.
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