thanks I will check this one out too
help me rebuild a cheap recording set up
- panoramic
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Re: help me rebuild a cheap recording set up
I used to be cool, now I just complain about prices.
- DrQuasar
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Re: help me rebuild a cheap recording set up
What DAW are you going to use? I'm looking at Logic and have been messing around with the free version of Live but haven't made a decision yet.
- panoramic
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Re: help me rebuild a cheap recording set up
I love logic but based on what i have lucked into I am guessing garageband for starters or whatever free daw comes with the interface I buy.
I used to be cool, now I just complain about prices.
- Dok
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Re: help me rebuild a cheap recording set up
If you already have a mac, Logic is the best $200 you will EVER spend on music gear.
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- Larry Mal
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Re: help me rebuild a cheap recording set up
I guess I said I was going to quit giving advice here, but I have licenses and experience with Pro Tools, Live, Cubase, Digital Performer and some other DAWs as well that I can't think of offhand.
They all have their strengths and weaknesses, however, like Dok says, if you have a Mac then it doesn't make sense to get anything other than Logic unless you have a very specific reason to do so.
For one thing, inexplicably, only Logic has Drummer. And frankly, Drummer is the only thing that keeps me on the Mac platform, although I will probably get one of those new Mac Studios.
They all have their strengths and weaknesses, however, like Dok says, if you have a Mac then it doesn't make sense to get anything other than Logic unless you have a very specific reason to do so.
For one thing, inexplicably, only Logic has Drummer. And frankly, Drummer is the only thing that keeps me on the Mac platform, although I will probably get one of those new Mac Studios.
Back in those days, everyone knew that if you were talking about Destiny's Child, you were talking about Beyonce, LaTavia, LeToya, and Larry.
- panoramic
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Re: help me rebuild a cheap recording set up
I loved logic when i used it previously, ultimately I feel like i would grasp it rather directly if i had a few days with it to brush up
I used to be cool, now I just complain about prices.
- tdksa90
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Re: help me rebuild a cheap recording set up
I'd recommend giving REAPER a look. It's highly configurable, and is constantly updated. It's not made by a huge company, but by a handful of coders who continually add features and squash bugs. A personal license is only $60.
http://www.reaper.fm
My Music: https://keithhanlon.bandcamp.com/
- seenoevil II
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Re: help me rebuild a cheap recording set up
I was just looking at these as I need to upgrade my interface. I can't decide if they're a leg up with those front end compressor and preamp sims or a condescending cash grab with those front end compressor and pre amp sims. Like, I'm sure they sound nice in a lot of contexts, but they have no controls at all (more vexing on the preamp due to lack of EQ).
The likelihood of me getting any rack mount compressors or pre amps is pretty remote (maybe a mic pre for Vox).
I'm in stuff buying hell just like OP right now.
If it wasn't for disappointment, I wouldn't have any appointments.
- marqueemoon
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Re: help me rebuild a cheap recording set up
For whatever it’s worth I use a tiny bit of hardware compressor on the way in all the time.seenoevil II wrote: ↑Mon Apr 11, 2022 7:18 amI was just looking at these as I need to upgrade my interface. I can't decide if they're a leg up with those front end compressor and preamp sims or a condescending cash grab with those front end compressor and pre amp sims. Like, I'm sure they sound nice in a lot of contexts, but they have no controls at all (more vexing on the preamp due to lack of EQ).
The likelihood of me getting any rack mount compressors or pre amps is pretty remote (maybe a mic pre for Vox).
I'm in stuff buying hell just like OP right now.
All eq is in the box though. I just don’t trust making the right call printing eq (other than high pass) when recording myself.
- panoramic
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Re: help me rebuild a cheap recording set up
Update: I got my hands on a 2018 macbook pro for free so now this is escalating in timeframe. I'll be trying to order up an interface this weekend so i'll be checking all of these units out over the next day or so. Thanks for all of the input!
I used to be cool, now I just complain about prices.
- Firecat
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Re: help me rebuild a cheap recording set up
I've started recording at home in the pandemic. Before that I had only recorded in studios or at my bandmate's place (where he did everything), so it was new for me. I wanted to find a cheap and practical way to record my own songs, so I guess we're more or less in the same boat.
I'd say the stuff you want to get started is:
- a computer with a decent DAW. The laptop you already have is probably fine.
- an interface: the focusrite scarlett series is nice and cheap.
- a pair of studio monitors. I've had a few and like the JBL LSR305 as a cheap option.
- foam decouplers if you're going to put the studio monitors on your desk, something like these: https://www.thomann.de/be/the_takustik_isopad_6.htm. These are cheap and make a ton of difference!
- studio headphones: I like my Audio-Technica ATH-M40X.
- a condensor mic to record vocals/acoustic guitars. I bough a cheap t.bone SC 400 from Thomann that got decent reviews and I'm pretty happy with it, but I don't do much vocals or acoustics. Some of the mics mentioned above are probably better options
- a dynamic mic: you already have a couple of good ones
- some kind of DI solution to record guitars if you don't want to mic amps and/or treat your room. For me this was also essential because I get to record mostly in the evening when my daughter is asleep. Not cheap, but I really like the Strymon Iridium for this. The Joyo American Sound is a nice and cheap option.
I'd say the stuff you want to get started is:
- a computer with a decent DAW. The laptop you already have is probably fine.
- an interface: the focusrite scarlett series is nice and cheap.
- a pair of studio monitors. I've had a few and like the JBL LSR305 as a cheap option.
- foam decouplers if you're going to put the studio monitors on your desk, something like these: https://www.thomann.de/be/the_takustik_isopad_6.htm. These are cheap and make a ton of difference!
- studio headphones: I like my Audio-Technica ATH-M40X.
- a condensor mic to record vocals/acoustic guitars. I bough a cheap t.bone SC 400 from Thomann that got decent reviews and I'm pretty happy with it, but I don't do much vocals or acoustics. Some of the mics mentioned above are probably better options
- a dynamic mic: you already have a couple of good ones
- some kind of DI solution to record guitars if you don't want to mic amps and/or treat your room. For me this was also essential because I get to record mostly in the evening when my daughter is asleep. Not cheap, but I really like the Strymon Iridium for this. The Joyo American Sound is a nice and cheap option.
- panoramic
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Re: help me rebuild a cheap recording set up
stupid question but can the Benson pre be used as a DI? I was looking at a few other options for a guitar DI including just picking up a quilter head to use for that. Lots of potential options and so many limitations on the funds I have right now.Filipe wrote: ↑Thu Apr 14, 2022 4:52 amI've started recording at home in the pandemic. Before that I had only recorded in studios or at my bandmate's place (where he did everything), so it was new for me. I wanted to find a cheap and practical way to record my own songs, so I guess we're more or less in the same boat.
I'd say the stuff you want to get started is:
- a computer with a decent DAW. The laptop you already have is probably fine.
- an interface: the focusrite scarlett series is nice and cheap.
- a pair of studio monitors. I've had a few and like the JBL LSR305 as a cheap option.
- foam decouplers if you're going to put the studio monitors on your desk, something like these: https://www.thomann.de/be/the_takustik_isopad_6.htm. These are cheap and make a ton of difference!
- studio headphones: I like my Audio-Technica ATH-M40X.
- a condensor mic to record vocals/acoustic guitars. I bough a cheap t.bone SC 400 from Thomann that got decent reviews and I'm pretty happy with it, but I don't do much vocals or acoustics. Some of the mics mentioned above are probably better options
- a dynamic mic: you already have a couple of good ones
- some kind of DI solution to record guitars if you don't want to mic amps and/or treat your room. For me this was also essential because I get to record mostly in the evening when my daughter is asleep. Not cheap, but I really like the Strymon Iridium for this. The Joyo American Sound is a nice and cheap option.
My guess is i will go interface NOW, then a DI of some sort for guitar work. I have a few pairs of decent headphones to use already, I have a few decent mics and my main amp has a master volume on it that I can get to bedroom level volumes with but I hate to use it like that and i think you'd hear my strumming if i did that in my current place.
I used to be cool, now I just complain about prices.
- Larry Mal
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Re: help me rebuild a cheap recording set up
The Scarlett will handle your guitar's DI just fine. You don't need anything else for that.
Back in those days, everyone knew that if you were talking about Destiny's Child, you were talking about Beyonce, LaTavia, LeToya, and Larry.
- Larry Mal
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Re: help me rebuild a cheap recording set up
However, here is something to consider as far as future expandability, this is also what I did.
I bought a Focusrite Clarett, this one:
https://focusrite.com/en/usb-c-audio-in ... -plus-4pre
These are expandable, you have four high quality inputs on the face of the thing, but if you look at the rear there is other ways to add other preamps to it.
As such I bought a Focusrite ISA One and have that running into the Clarett, and I could add three more preamp inputs that way.
Now, I'm not telling you to get the Clarett, although it's an excellent unit. But maybe consider future expandability when you look for your unit, as always, it's tempting to get the cheapest thing you can get, but if you spend a little more you have something that will serve you further into the future as your needs change.
I bought a Focusrite Clarett, this one:
https://focusrite.com/en/usb-c-audio-in ... -plus-4pre
These are expandable, you have four high quality inputs on the face of the thing, but if you look at the rear there is other ways to add other preamps to it.
As such I bought a Focusrite ISA One and have that running into the Clarett, and I could add three more preamp inputs that way.
Now, I'm not telling you to get the Clarett, although it's an excellent unit. But maybe consider future expandability when you look for your unit, as always, it's tempting to get the cheapest thing you can get, but if you spend a little more you have something that will serve you further into the future as your needs change.
Back in those days, everyone knew that if you were talking about Destiny's Child, you were talking about Beyonce, LaTavia, LeToya, and Larry.
- panoramic
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Re: help me rebuild a cheap recording set up
that's good advice for sure. I am probably not going to get super expansive in my endeavors. I plan to make recordings with friends using this stuff as my days of being in a full on band seem to be behind me. I'm not a spring chicken anymoreLarry Mal wrote: ↑Thu Apr 14, 2022 6:08 amHowever, here is something to consider as far as future expandability, this is also what I did.
I bought a Focusrite Clarett, this one:
https://focusrite.com/en/usb-c-audio-in ... -plus-4pre
These are expandable, you have four high quality inputs on the face of the thing, but if you look at the rear there is other ways to add other preamps to it.
As such I bought a Focusrite ISA One and have that running into the Clarett, and I could add three more preamp inputs that way.
Now, I'm not telling you to get the Clarett, although it's an excellent unit. But maybe consider future expandability when you look for your unit, as always, it's tempting to get the cheapest thing you can get, but if you spend a little more you have something that will serve you further into the future as your needs change.
I used to be cool, now I just complain about prices.