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[vegas4ever]

So, currently shopping for "Home studio" equipment, I came out with some Great options for my budget ($5000), But a know there is alot of talented people w/ huge imagination so here is what I need:

At least 8 channels of Input.
Good Pres at least 8 (not great because of $$$)
some sort of interface, if the option you go w. is Digital.
It will be use to record a cd thats Rock/Blues/Jazz.
remember is a "home recording studio"  One room install. 18/18/10
any software
I need the best for the money..

DO NOT INCLUDED MONITORS OR MICS!

I know its a wild Idea but if you have to put all the pieces of the puzzel for $5k what will you get, Compressors? no? eq? maybe a nice desk and interface and maybe a RNC? Im open to everything, the only thing I currently have is a Powermac Dual G5 (Ebay BABy)

[Mike Butler]

I just built a room on a similar budget. Here's what I can think of off the top of my head for your specific needs...

Digidesign 002 $1000
Presonus FS-8 Preamp $600
Presonus Central Station $500
Room treatment (The most overlooked piece of studio gear) $600-$800
    (I got mine from ATS Acoustics. Nice stuff.)
Desk, Rack, misc furniture, speaker stands, etc $500
Headphones, cables, etc.   $500 (at least!)

That leaves around $1000 for some decent outboard, like a good all around compressor for vocals, etc. (Used Distressor?)

That doesn't account for additional plug-ins or any additional software, but provided you have decent mics, a decent room, and good material, you could easily make a Pro sounding record with that.

There are cheaper ways to go other than Pro Tools, but if you really want to do it pro, and be compatible with other studios and engineers if you ever want to have someone else mix it, it's the only way to go.


Also keep in mind that no matter how well you plan, you will inevitably spend way more money than you budgeted. So if your budget is really only $5000. Plan to spend $4000.

Good luck!

[maxim]

motu 828 $800

2x api3124+ $4400

whatever software fits on your brand of computer (personally, i use digital performer on mac osx, which are both great)

[vegas4ever]

Nice very Nice! I like both Ideas.. keep them comming....

I must say that having PT will be nice, but the 3124+ are a dream come true...

what else?..

[Buzz]

Vegas for pre's SCA ( Seventh circle audio ) N72's ( Neve clone ) and A12's ( Trident clones) I have both and for the $ they KILL around $1500!! and believe it or not B'ringer ADA8000 ( Max 48khz ) 8 ch's for around $225 each ( read the reviews ) , also a SYtek MPiii 4 ch's of clean pre for $800 , so for $2700 you have 8 ch's of Nice mic pre's.
For room treatment I used http://www.modularacoustics.com/ worked great for my application. I used a diffuser on my back wall and 3 bass traps 1 in either corner and one overhead at 45 deg.

As far as software REAPER IS FREE !!! they are porting it to MAC right now.

LAter
Buzz

PS: for Mics see Gefell Um70's !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[vegas4ever]

Buzz thanks!! the SCA look attractive but I'm not that skill!, bytheway realy the B ringer? are you for real?

Buzz wrote on Mon, 26 February 2007 10:12

Vegas for pre's SCA ( Seventh circle audio ) N72's ( Neve clone ) and A12's ( Trident clones) I have both and for the $ they KILL around $1500!! and believe it or not B'ringer ADA8000 ( Max 48khz ) 8 ch's for around $225 each ( read the reviews ) , also a SYtek MPiii 4 ch's of clean pre for $800 , so for $2700 you have 8 ch's of Nice mic pre's. For room treatment I used http://www.modularacoustics.com/ worked great for my application. I used a diffuser on my back wall and 3 bass traps 1 in either corner and one overhead at 45 deg. As far as software REAPER IS FREE !!! they are porting it to MAC right now. LAter Buzz PS: for Mics see Gefell Um70's !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Fox]

If you were going to follow the above post, replace the behringer with a used digi001. It's basically the same analog I/O + ADAT I/O, same price, and NOT BEHRINGER! They work with reaper, too.

DISCLAIMER

(I really hate behringer in general, so take this with a grain of salt. I have no experience with the ADA8000, but I still think the digi is the better choice for the money.)

END OF DISCLAIMER

[Buzz]

Fox and Vegas BELIEVE me I don't like the B'Ringer stuff either , almost all of it is cheap CRAP but ever once in a while they happen to build something decent by accident !!! the ADA8000 is one of those products. It is NOT a Lavery or Mytek !!!!! but it is transparent to my ears.
Read the reviews ( I read about 10 before I spent the $ ) I have had good results with them ( the specs are there also ! )
http://duc.digidesign.com/showflat.php?Number=605990
http://www.zzounds.com/item--BEHADA8000

ANyhow you can buy the SCA pres pre-built also but the price will double !! , they really arent that bad to build they come with a VERY detailed instruction set.

Anyhow I have had good results with my setup , goto [url]http://www.myspace.com/machineband[url] for a listen all recorded using ADA8000 and SCA pre'a with gefell mics on vox and gtrs

Later
Buzz

[Vertigo]

The MOTU HD192 units offer smoking conversion quality, especially given the price.

The SCA stuff is amazing as well, and if you have considerable soldering experience the directions make their assembly almost foolproof. The N72 and A12 modules are OUTSTANDING.

Since you're just putting your room together, I'd grab an RNC for general tracking duties (particularly vocals) and hold off on additional compressors and outboard til later. Focus on your DAW first - a UAD-1 will handle all of your compression and processing needs until you're ready to take your studio to the next level.

Buzz - I think the SCA A12 modules are actually API clones. I know that they can be modified to use a 2520 op-amp, and they definitely sound very "API-like" to me.

-Lance

[Buzz]

Hey Lance , I stand corrected the A12 is the API style pre !! , I used the John Hardy 990c op-amp for mine and love them !!

LAter
Buzz

PS: I tried the Motu HD192's ( 2 of them ) and never got them to sync as 2 units on a pc SO ???? Motu apprently has BAD drivers for the PC ????

[vegas4ever]

actually there is a HUGE problem with there driver, I have a friend that has 2 new units, and the Clock never sync. for 2 years now (mac), apparently the old units had the Hardware and software down to the T, but the new ones the hardware is there but not the software. Again thats what I was told, I never used Motu personally so take that with a grain of salt.
Now as for the Building of the pres... I know its a great deal but the last model plane that I build look a little more like a submarine/bad nightmare, So I pass on the build your own, what you guys think about this:

http://www.zzounds.com/item--MDOPROJECTIO

It looks solid, and it will take care of the Interface and control surface, now here comes some question;

will it be a good idea say get this Board and them spend the rest in "Type A" pres?? the AD and DA conversion for that price is not the best, but say I use;

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ISA428/ and
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/DigimaxLT/

Im still in budget (almost) What you guys think?

[Fibes]

I've got friends that say the clocking of the Motu stuff is working fine on PC now. They just released an update for it...

I use the 1296 and HD 192 on a mac and get occasional startup misclocking like most systems. One reboot of the unit and we're normally back on track. I think it has more to do with my slow start isolation transformer than the software...

I wouldn't discount a used 1296 with a pci 424 card, it gives 12 inputs/outputs, sounds pretty good and doesn't have the 192 fan noise issue.

[vegas4ever]

Fibes wrote on Wed, 28 February 2007 12:15

I've got friends that say the clocking of the Motu stuff is working fine on PC now. They just released an update for it... I use the 1296 and HD 192 on a mac and get occasional startup misclocking like most systems. One reboot of the unit and we're normally back on track. I think it has more to do with my slow start isolation transformer than the software... I wouldn't discount a used 1296 with a pci 424 card, it gives 12 inputs/outputs, sounds pretty good and doesn't have the 192 fan noise issue.

Sweet! I think has to be put back on the list! if it works it works, the Motu brand for all I have read (in the last 2 hours) has a bad problem with tech support, but if the product is good why do I need CS?

What about the MOTU 8PRE??

Now to the ??? do I need to put the most $$$ into Preamps or Converters?

[Fox]

Preamps! Preamps I say!

[Fibes]

Fox wrote on Wed, 28 February 2007 14:24

Preamps! Preamps I say!

Yes.

But you don't have to buy the farm right away.

I'm an API guy, two 500 series racks, one with A-designs stuff.

That said, picking up a 500 series rack used would be my first choice and building it up.

But the SCA and Sytek stuff works too.

HD192+424 card, 500 rack NEW, 4 preamps= 5 grand

Or 2 Syteks (8 ch) and the 192+ 3,300+ lunchbox and two API modules.

Used may help...

Or not.