Home Recording
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- sublocked0
in general though you'll want a nice preamp / direct input box. you could do a lot worse than an apogee duet / api a2d setup.
http://www.apiaudio.com/a2d.html…
nice sounding rig, that would be :)
- stoplying0
There's a decent Alesis firewire mixer that may work for what you're looking to do??
http://www.alesis.com/multimix8f…
They have an 8 and a 12 and I think a 16 too.
- ismith0
Sublocked linked to it (end of page one), but I think an Apogee interface will be the best for your situation. I would never use it in the (actual) studio, but for a home setup it's really not too shabby. Same goes for MOTU stuff, which you can find here: http://www.motu.com/products/mot…
Are you just looking to record for fun/ep-style stuff or are you actually looking to get past constant recording studio fees?
- i know major producers placing records with a laptop/logic/apogee duet setup...sublocked
- Everyone does what they need to get by, but equipment like that is far from amazing... the difference though is night and dayismith
- day. Obviously things can be improved with incredible mixing, but that's a bit of a hack solution if you ask me.ismith
- For the record, I'm not disputing any of the equip's technical capabilities. *remembers why I hate notesismith
- These could go on forever.ismith
- And ever.ismith
- matt310
I do my drums and bass in garage band. export as aif file. import to protools (i have an mbox), where I record vocals and guitar. can check out some of the results here:
http://www.myspace.com/tallyhomu…
All Falls Down & Save Our Songs were recorded at home.
- sublocked0
@ismith interesting then...what converters do you rock if you're downing the apogee? the general consensus amongst pros i know is that the duet is really the business.
i've got a desktop setup here, using a creamware a16 ultra for my converters. that's not even apogee quality, but i still make pro tracks with that rig and a couple of great preamps.
- Mostly API, although I used to have two 828s in there to try and have used Apogee stuff a number of times.ismith
- BTW if you see a Mesa TriAxis with Version 1.0 software let me know... looking for a guitar preamp alternative to the ENGL.ismith
- ENGL.ismith
- I think I have a WTB on gearslutz, but the only one I've seen was an Australian (240V) version...ismith
- Now I realize I've gotten sidetracked. Again. Dammit.ismith
- But to clarify, I do love the Apogee stuff, it's amazing for home studios. But no doubt there's better, and to me that's all that matters in the highest levels.ismith
- all that matters in the highest levels. (Price to some extent, but I find a lot of used gear, and I'm not financing the studio...)ismith
- studio...)ismith
- Oh, but note that the API stuff is all components... not like an 80 channel console or anything.ismith
- sublocked0
ps my music is here...mp3 but the sound quality / mix comes through:
- morilla0
I need to update my setup with some pres and compression. Any suggestions? Right now I just run into a M-Audio Fast Track. I need to step up to the next level.
- sublocked0
^ morilla...dope shit!
here are external pre's and compressors i'm jocking / own.
langevin dvc (own this, awesome solid state unit...has a limiter / eq on each channel too. very clean.)
sebatron vmp2000e (decent tube amp. can get dirty / PHAT for tracking. good for vox with a solid dynamic mic like a shure sm7)
api a2d
Aurora Audio GTQ2mkIIIcompressors:
empirical labs fatso (dope on the 2 bus / drums)
empirical labs distressors
dbx 160x (vocals)in the box, you can't go wrong with a UAD-1 / UAD-2 card setup. i use the fuck out of the plugins on that card.
- lots of good shit here:
http://highprofileau…
sublocked - on the card the 1176 / LA2A compressors are the shit!sublocked
- Thanks man! This helps. Have spent my whole life on the other side of the glass. Now trying to learn the other side.morilla
- I have producer friends but asking them is futile. They suggest rigs that are way too $$$morilla
- lots of good shit here:
- mg330
I'm currently recording at home with the following:
Macbook Pro w/Garageband
Line 6 TonePort UXB with Gearbox
M Audio Oxygen 49I'm kind of setting off on some projects of my own aside from my band right now (band is still going, working on new album very soon), more instrumental, film score type of music. I've spent every night this week staying up way too late because I've been in a pretty creative mood all week. Setting some long term goals to accomplish through the winter.
I like the setup I have right now and enjoy the simplicity of Garageband. I've been wanting Reason but all I really like doing with my midi keyboard is playing piano, which I'm hoping to learn to play for real this winter. I can sit and play it by ear till my fingers fall off, but want to learn the actual process like I know how to play guitar, which came very naturally.
The Line 6 TonePort UXB has been awesome. At first I thought I wouldn't get use out of the tons of guitar tones in there, but for solo, non band songs the variety is awesome. For band demo songs I stick to a sound I similar to my amp setup and effects.
I always like learning about recording setups, so great thread.
- check out http://gearslutz.com… ...the only other site on the net i lurksublocked
- mg330
Here's a short sample from something I started recording this week if you're curious about sound from the Line6 Toneport + Garageband. There are three guitar tracks and a bass track I think.
http://www.mg33.net/music/090808…
Enjoy - most of my non-band music is sort of in this vein. I really like more compositional recording with far more tracks and parts than I could pull off in a band playing live.
- matt310
oh you guys are recording electronic music? Sorry I thought this thread was about real music, you know, something with a melody.
- 23kon0
A lot of people are going to recommend stuff that they think is the bomb and more than likely costs the bomb. Just like Guitarists and Photographers - you ask them "what gear should i buy?" and they'll tell you all the top notch stuff that costs a fortune. When in reality - just as good results can be achieved by kit a lot lot lot cheaper.
DJ Shadows "Endtroducing" album was solely created on a Akai MPC60. And countless bands/artists are releasing stuff thats been made in their bedroom.
Unless you are going to be mastering your own stuff, then rediculous compressors etc arent needed.
- BaskerviIle0
I play guitar, keys, bass and a few other things, been doing lots of recording at home on my mac using garageband, a couple of decent mics and a few other apps, I'm pretty happy with how things have been coming out recently, really enjoying learning about the recording process, mixing etc. I've got about 10 tracks together for my first ever album.
This is one, it's a cover of Donny Hathaway's The Ghetto, still needs lots of work/re-recording in places, but not bad for garageband.
(used some weird free site to upload the file!)
http://www.supload.com/music/Jos…
- autoflavour0
compressors arent just used in mastering. Run a compressor over each track and your audio will sound infinitely better than just messing around in mastering. TLA make nice compressors that arent stupid expensive.
my only advice.. DONT USE USB for an audio interface. Firewire only.
- SigDesign0
I'm using:
Cubase 4
Presonus Firepod (8 mic ins/2 midi, firewire)
A couple SM58s, AKG perception 200 condenser
Got a cheap danelectro bass
Korg Poly-800 with Reason 4
Fender Jaguar HH guitar/Fender Super Reverb reissue amp
Also have a couple acoustics and a Vaccarro V2 Generator X guitarI've used ProTools in the past, and I have to say... it does not matter which audio software you use. What's important are the preamps/audio interface and microphones. Mic placement for live music is an art, and midi stuff is easy...you can also just plug the guitar or bass direct into most audio interfaces.
You can use Garage band, and that would work just fine.
- mg330
Can anyone give me some feedback about the following?
Thinking about buying Logic after finally sitting down and reading about it. I had no idea it had as much as it does. Only recording with Garageband right now, but for the sake of things being far more sophisticated I just assume make the jump up and start learning it.
Now, I'd also been wanting Reason but can't spend that much all at once. Half of me does normal guitar, vocals, some backing keys, etc., and the other half of me wants to start getting into electronic music, synths, dance-esque ambient music, etc.
I have both an Oxygen 49 MIDI keyboard as well as an Alesis Micron that we used in my band and still might use a bit. I know the Micron has software for free that allows you to use it as a controller but with the exact same sounds as that actual hardware. This could be used going into Logic, correct?
How is Logic for synths, patterns, stuff that is somewhat similar to Reason's capabilities of tweaking sounds and using effects and such?
Also, I see that Logic has a wide range of guitar tones, amp models, etc. Looks impressive. I am, however, really enjoying the Line 6 TonePort and GearBox software (though it's USB only) so I'd be fine to continue using that, right?
Much thanks for a response. Also, if there are any tutorials on Logic, or good sites to learn some things about it, that would be great. Thanks.
- olli1010
DI box should fine - make sure it's firewire.
Be sure to check out Ableton Live if you haven't yet. It's the greatest thing since the 4 track.
- mg330
I have a demo of Ableton Live and I hate the interface. It's a complete mess.
But in any regard, A Live is the same type of thing as Logic for the most part, right?