Recording Advice, Getting Started Options

[Sparrow]

Hey everyone I want to start recording but my computer I have now won't let me! Fortunately I have some money saved from my good old tax return, so I can start to fix my situation

I have a budget of $2000 and I'm looking to buy/build a new computer that I will use ONLY for recording different instruments and mixing songs. I might need to get a monitor speaker to mix songs on properly (I have heard if you mix on headphones then the songs will sound bad when played on a stereo) and some other things too, surely. So where should I start?

I want to get a full blown song editing program like protools or cubase, and a computer that can run all that stuff. Plus whatever else I will need. It's really intimidating trying to figure out where to start with all this, because all the guides on the internet say different things.

Anyways, it would be great if you guys could help me with this

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[Saoirse O'Shea]

...

I want to get a full blown song editing program like protools or cubase, and a computer that can run all that stuff. ...

Just to add that neither PT nor Cubase are a guarantee of a good final project. One of the worst mixes sent to me to master recently was recorded and mixed on a high end Pro Tools HD system by pro engineers. One of the best was from a home studio that used an old basic 16 track version of RML. In the case of the last one the engineer didn't have an unlimited number of tracks and toys but he knew how to get a good result with what he did have.

Arguably the rise in the use of DAWs has resulted in a lowering of standards as it seems that there are fewer and fewer people who actually know, understand or perhaps care about issues like correct gainstaging, signal flow, bouncing, how and why effects and dynamics work and so on. Similarly few now seem able to listen critically to their own mixes to identify issues let alone understand what needs to be done to improve their mix. I have to say that this includes a lot of people I've come across who studied some college/university course or other about music production.

What I'm getting at is that it isn't just about getting gear, it's about learning how to use it properly. Sometimes it is easier to learn the basics on more limited, and less intimidating, equipment then by jumping in to the deep end.

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[Sparrow]

Just to add that neither PT nor Cubase are a guarantee of a good final project. One of the worst mixes sent to me to master recently was recorded and mixed on a high end Pro Tools HD system by pro engineers. One of the best was from a home studio that used an old basic 16 track version of RML. In the case of the last one the engineer didn't have an unlimited number of tracks and toys but he knew how to get a good result with what he did have.

Arguably the rise in the use of DAWs has resulted in a lowering of standards as it seems that there are fewer and fewer people who actually know, understand or perhaps care about issues like correct gainstaging, signal flow, bouncing, how and why effects and dynamics work and so on. Similarly few now seem able to listen critically to their own mixes to identify issues let alone understand what needs to be done to improve their mix. I have to say that this includes a lot of people I've come across who studied some college/university course or other about music production.

What I'm getting at is that it isn't just about getting gear, it's about learning how to use it properly. Sometimes it is easier to learn the basics on more limited, and less intimidating, equipment then by jumping in to the deep end.

This is what I am scared of! I will buy something very complicated and will be in over my head. I think it would be best to learn on the most basic thing first. I have no idea about gainstaging, signal flow, bouncing flow. So much to learn! What is RML? Can I still buy an old 16 track RML thing?

I am running a iMac the new one and it works great! If you want to create a studio as a business than you need a super powerful computer, but for a home studio iMac will do! I would suggest getting a decent computer and a good audio card! That what will make your sound! You can run Logic instead of Pro tools so you won't be limited on the tracks and won't have a delay when recording!
I can help you out more with this if you want! Let me know!

On the other hand, so many people are recommending Mac, even though it is known they are the devil . An Imac would be nice, I don't need to have a laptop. Alex you must know all about making good mixes So I would need some help!

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[Alex Feather]

This is what I am scared of! I will buy something very complicated and will be in over my head. I think it would be best to learn on the most basic thing first. I have no idea about gainstaging, signal flow, bouncing flow. So much to learn! What is RML? Can I still buy an old 16 track RML thing?



On the other hand, so many people are recommending Mac, even though it is known they are the devil . An Imac would be nice, I don't need to have a laptop. Alex you must know all about making good mixes So I would need some help!

Get Mac it's is more stable and reliable! For a budget of 2K I would suggest this combination:
iMac will be around 1300 http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/family/imac
Logic 9 you can find it anywhere from $250 - 500 http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB795Z/A
For the sound card I would go with Apogee the best quality out there! Recording studios running pro tools but composers Logic and apogee!
There are two options:
Two channel duet
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/a...terface-regular You can find one in Mint condition or previous generation for $300
Or Gio for guitar recording
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/a...-controller-mac this one new for $400 used for $250

I found this to be the best combination and very good equipment that will not loose the value!
Let me know if you have any questions!

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[Rammikin]

Many great ideas on this thread. On the subject of audio interfaces, I'll just add: the choice of an audio interface depends greatly on what you'll be plugging into it.

If you're using an outboard guitar processor like a Line6 Pod, then you may not need an audio interface at all. The built-in audio interfaces on recent Macs are actually quite good.

If you're using an in-the-box software amp simulator like Guitar Rig or Overloud TH2, then you don't need an audio interface with mic preamps and you can simply use something like an Apogee Jam.

It's only if your'e micing an amp that you'll need mic pres. You could either use a mic preamp and run the output from that directly into a Mac, or you could get a combination audio interface/mic pre (there are many to choose from, for example a Focusrite Scarlett) if you'd rather not use the audio input on your computer.

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[Alex Feather]

Many great ideas on this thread. On the subject of audio interfaces, I'll just add: the choice of an audio interface depends greatly on what you'll be plugging into it.

If you're using an outboard guitar processor like a Line6 Pod, then you may not need an audio interface at all. The built-in audio interfaces on recent Macs are actually quite good.

If you're using an in-the-box software amp simulator like Guitar Rig or Overloud TH2, then you don't need an audio interface with mic preamps and you can simply use something like an Apogee Jam.

It's only if your'e micing an amp that you'll need mic pres. You could either use a mic preamp and run the output from that directly into a Mac, or you could get a combination audio interface/mic pre (there are many to choose from, for example a Focusrite Scarlett) if you'd rather not use the audio input on your computer.

Even if you are running a processor it's better to have preamps! You can use a processor like POD and run it through the preamp and you will get better sound!
The way preamp work is basically boosting up your signal without boosting noise and coloring the signal! That's pretty much it!
So you can run preamp with anything! You can even plug in your pedalboard into preamp and will get a huge difference in the sound!

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