Recording, What to use? |
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Recording, What to use? |
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Sep 23 2013, 07:53 AM |
Hey man, I think the Focusrite is a good idea. Personally, I don't Pro Tools would be the best idea. The version that comes with the interface is probably a lite edition with a lot of limitations. Also, Pro Tools has their own proprietary plug-in format (RTAS) as opposed to the more standard VST format, meaning you won't be able to use the plethora of great VST plugins around. You'd probably be better off with something like Reaper or Studio One for the software side.
About the monitors, it really depends on the seriousness of quality you want. The basic idea of monitors is that is accurately plays the frequencies of music, as opposed to headphones that already have some processing stuff inside them. I use big stereo speakers which I already had, and I have been happy with them. If you're doing YouTube videos for REC takes at GMC, I think you won't really need the monitors. I think the important thing is to just draw a line financially, because you could end up getting more and more stuff for the sake of having a 'better' setup (and there will always be something better than what you have) Finally, what will you be recording with the mic? It's hard to give recommendations without knowing if it's for vocals, guitar, saxophones etc. I am by no means a mic expert, but I'm sure other people here know a lot about them. Let me know what you think man |
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Sep 23 2013, 10:57 AM |
Hey man, I think the Focusrite is a good idea. Personally, I don't Pro Tools would be the best idea. The version that comes with the interface is probably a lite edition with a lot of limitations. Also, Pro Tools has their own proprietary plug-in format (RTAS) as opposed to the more standard VST format, meaning you won't be able to use the plethora of great VST plugins around. You'd probably be better off with something like Reaper or Studio One for the software side. About the monitors, it really depends on the seriousness of quality you want. The basic idea of monitors is that is accurately plays the frequencies of music, as opposed to headphones that already have some processing stuff inside them. I use big stereo speakers which I already had, and I have been happy with them. If you're doing YouTube videos for REC takes at GMC, I think you won't really need the monitors. I think the important thing is to just draw a line financially, because you could end up getting more and more stuff for the sake of having a 'better' setup (and there will always be something better than what you have) Finally, what will you be recording with the mic? It's hard to give recommendations without knowing if it's for vocals, guitar, saxophones etc. I am by no means a mic expert, but I'm sure other people here know a lot about them. Let me know what you think man Hi Taka, thanks for the response, great advice there. I actually do have Cubase 4 software, I am starting to look at tutorial videos on how to use it, The mic is for the guitar no singing although have been practicing a bit. I also have to learn then how to synch the video with the audio afterwards the music stores here have lessons on how to make videos and use software so will be taking a course soon. -------------------- Tomislav
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Sep 23 2013, 02:13 PM |
I use a very cheap setup, take a look:
*Audio interface: Line 6 GX (comes with the Pod Farm VST) *DAW: Reaper (free, if you need/want a licence, it's relatively cheap) *VST: Use the Pod Farm you got with the GX above I plug into the GX with cheap ~£10 Sony earphones Should be ~£60 total? So ~$95? This post has been edited by dark_dude: Sep 23 2013, 02:14 PM -------------------- *Ibanez 2550E Prestige
*LTD EC-1000 *Squier bullet ---- *Roland Cube 30W ---- *Line 6 Pod Studio GX My Practice Agenda |
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Sep 30 2013, 09:19 PM |
I'd say download REAPER and try to get used to it since it's free to download and work with (will give you a nag screen if you keep it free). Everyone generally has a copy of reaper so it's the most compatible IMHO. Mac and PC. Not to say you shouldn't use the cubase or any other daw, just that REAPER will provide great compatibility and sounds great.
For monitors, you can get by with a nice set of headphones to keep the budget down at first. I use the AGK MKII 240 which work great for not lying to your ears too badly You can get a really cheap interface these days. I'd say STAY AWAY from M-AUDIO gear for one simple reason. They routinely drop support for their gear (not in every case of course, but often) so that you can't get drivers past a certain point. TASCAM does the same dirty tricks. For $120 you can get the smaller FOCUSRITE iTRACK input interface which is a great box that works with PC, MAC and Ipad/Ipod/iphone etc. Very flexible, and they actually keep supporting gear so you don't get the "legacy" problem when they drop driver support. For the price this is IMHO simply unbeatable. It it flat out a better box than anything else I'm aware of in the price range. I'm sure there are wads of folks very happy with whatever they are using. But if you have not bought it in yet, check this out before you do http://global.focusrite.com/ipad-audio-int...ces/itrack-solo Hi Taka, thanks for the response, great advice there. I actually do have Cubase 4 software, I am starting to look at tutorial videos on how to use it, The mic is for the guitar no singing although have been practicing a bit. I also have to learn then how to synch the video with the audio afterwards the music stores here have lessons on how to make videos and use software so will be taking a course soon. |
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Oct 1 2013, 08:28 AM |
Hey man, I think the Focusrite is a good idea. Personally, I don't Pro Tools would be the best idea. The version that comes with the interface is probably a lite edition with a lot of limitations. Also, Pro Tools has their own proprietary plug-in format (RTAS) as opposed to the more standard VST format, meaning you won't be able to use the plethora of great VST plugins around. You'd probably be better off with something like Reaper or Studio One for the software side. Sort of. If you want to use PT then you can get around the vst compatability issue by using a vst-rtas wrapper. Having said that I don't think there are actually not that many vsts that are so unique that this is a major deciding factor; there'sa fw but not many. Also having said that personally I've never been impressed with the home/project version of PT. It's always seemed like the workflow and performance are a bit behimd the latest Cubase/Sonar/Reaper/Logic versions. This may be because it lags a bit behind the full pro studio version in development. Too many project studios use it because they believe the hype that it's the choice of pro studios - one reason why a lot of pro engineers call it 'pro fools'. Ultimately what daw you use for home/project recording and mixing really depends on workflow. Reaper has the bonus in that you can download and test the full version. It also has a veru good user base who interact with the development team. QUOTE headphones that already have some processing stuff inside them. I use big stereo speakers which I already had, and I have been happy with them. If you're doing YouTube videos for REC takes at GMC, I think you won't really need the monitors. I think the important thing is to just draw a line financially, because you could end up getting more and more stuff for the sake of having a 'better' setup (and there will always be something better than what you have) Not sure what you mean. Studio quality headphones don't have 'sound processing stuff inside them'. The issue is that you can't get a proper sense of stereo when mixing on 'phones and that most of them over emphasise stereo depth and don't present the bass accurately. Otherwise yes, decide how much money you have and at least at first invest in the audio interface and a good set of studio phones and use Reaper as the DAW. Ultimately like Todd says you can start with 'phones but at some stage you'll probably have to get a set of near field monitors. At that point you shoudl also invest in sound treatment for the room but that can wait for the future. Just with the interface - think carefully how many ins and outs and what types you need. If you get one with only 2 ins/outs you will be very limited as to what you can record. If you think you'll want to record your band playing live or a drum kit you really need 8 or more ins. Recording an electric guitar direct for reamping needs a HiZ input - this isn't the same as the mic or line input. Mics - a dynamic like a Shure SM 57 or 58 is a good, basic general mic for a home studio. After that look at condenser mics whe you have more money. -------------------- Get your music professionally mastered by anl AES registered Mastering Engineer. Contact me for Audio Mastering Services and Advice and visit our website www.miromastering.com
Be friends on facebook with us here. We use professional, mastering grade hardware in our mastering studo. Our hardware includes: Cranesong Avocet II Monitor Controller, Dangerous Music Liasion Insert Hardware Router, ATC SCM Pro Monitors, Lavry Black DA11, Prism Orpheus ADC/DAC, Gyratec Gyraf XIV Parallel Passive Mastering EQ, Great River MAQ 2NV Mastering EQ, Kush Clariphonic Parallel EQ Shelf, Maselec MLA-2 Mastering Compressor, API 2500 Mastering Compressor, Eventide Eclipse Reverb/Echo. |
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