Home Studio Gear
Home Studio Gear Posted on: 03.12.2010 by Pura Gaske So my Dad came into some money, and he wants to build a mini home studio in our basement to do some basic recording and producing. I'm wondering what all I'll need, price range is a few thousand, I believe around 2 or 3. He wants some mics to record live drums and piano, and also a midi keyboard to lay down soft synth stuff. I'm believeing ableton for the daw, maybe massive for soft synth stuff. I'm wondering what else I should look for, I know nothing about mics and not much about midi keyboards. I'm also looking for a controller for ableton like the apc40/20 or something similar and maybe a mixer. Thanks | |
| Janyce Jardon 04.12.2010 |
Originally Posted by Rumblejazz
defo need to spend a fair bit on monitors... Personally i really like the yamaha HS-80M's... have a pair and SWEAR BY THEM... but others are good like the KRK's, Mackies and Genelec's (if you can afford them) and i agree, Logic/Protools is much better for recording live instruments like drums/guitar/piano than ableton as for mics... Shure SM58's are good all rounders... ive worked in studios as an audio engineer before and ive used these from recording everything from drums to vocals and guitar... My advice would be to get 1-2 SM58's for vocals/general use and 2-3 SM-57's (which are essensially the same thing just without the big dome bit on top) for recording guitars, piano, snare drums and hihats/tops on your drum kit... as for the kick drum, shure Beta 52 is a very good mic... NOTE: to record a drum kit properly you essensially need a minimum of 4 mics... One for the kick, one for the snare, and 2 for the tops... some people like to use 2 for the snare or kick and sometimes even 3 mics for the tops... i have had this requested once or twice when recording bands... but this isnt neccesary unless your looking for a very particular sound... plus the more mics you introduce, the more phaze problems you run into... but 4 is generally the minimum for recording drums Reason = EXELENT soft synths Midi keyboard... whatever tickles your fancy... if you just want to play basic stuff then go for a basic controller, if you want heaps of hands on control of your soft synths then id reccomend something with heaps of buttons/knobs like the novation controllers As for an audio interface... if you want to record drums properly, your going to want an interface with a whole lot of inputs, the M-Audio fastrack ULTRA is a good option with heaps of mic/line inputs... also the MOTU ultralites are quite good and have pretty descent onboard DSP with compression and other effects and minimal latency... as for the computer... get a mac... or a macpro if your willing to dish out the extra cash |
| Pura Gaske 03.12.2010 | So my Dad came into some money, and he wants to build a mini home studio in our basement to do some basic recording and producing. I'm wondering what all I'll need, price range is a few thousand, I believe around 2 or 3. He wants some mics to record live drums and piano, and also a midi keyboard to lay down soft synth stuff. I'm believeing ableton for the daw, maybe massive for soft synth stuff. I'm wondering what else I should look for, I know nothing about mics and not much about midi keyboards. I'm also looking for a controller for ableton like the apc40/20 or something similar and maybe a mixer. Thanks |
| Pura Gaske 07.12.2010 | I do not know at this point about a recording booth. Is there anything I can do in logic that I couldn't do in Ableton? Sorry I'm being so pesky I'm just attached I suppose, and would prefer to buy more gear and use the computer I have, than to shell out at least a grand for a Mac. Thanks again for all the help everyone. |
| Antonetta Wikel 04.12.2010 | You need to consider Sound Proofing and baffles also. Are you planning on having a separate "recording booth" from your main control room? |
| Janyce Jardon 04.12.2010 | and yeah, if your recording live instruments Logic is definately the way to go... protools is exellent software too, but personally i hate it... Ableton is great for EDM and playing/jamming live and trying things out... but when organizing and sequencing... nothing beats a traditional style sequencer... |
| Janyce Jardon 04.12.2010 |
Originally Posted by Rumblejazz
defo need to spend a fair bit on monitors... Personally i really like the yamaha HS-80M's... have a pair and SWEAR BY THEM... but others are good like the KRK's, Mackies and Genelec's (if you can afford them) and i agree, Logic/Protools is much better for recording live instruments like drums/guitar/piano than ableton as for mics... Shure SM58's are good all rounders... ive worked in studios as an audio engineer before and ive used these from recording everything from drums to vocals and guitar... My advice would be to get 1-2 SM58's for vocals/general use and 2-3 SM-57's (which are essensially the same thing just without the big dome bit on top) for recording guitars, piano, snare drums and hihats/tops on your drum kit... as for the kick drum, shure Beta 52 is a very good mic... NOTE: to record a drum kit properly you essensially need a minimum of 4 mics... One for the kick, one for the snare, and 2 for the tops... some people like to use 2 for the snare or kick and sometimes even 3 mics for the tops... i have had this requested once or twice when recording bands... but this isnt neccesary unless your looking for a very particular sound... plus the more mics you introduce, the more phaze problems you run into... but 4 is generally the minimum for recording drums Reason = EXELENT soft synths Midi keyboard... whatever tickles your fancy... if you just want to play basic stuff then go for a basic controller, if you want heaps of hands on control of your soft synths then id reccomend something with heaps of buttons/knobs like the novation controllers As for an audio interface... if you want to record drums properly, your going to want an interface with a whole lot of inputs, the M-Audio fastrack ULTRA is a good option with heaps of mic/line inputs... also the MOTU ultralites are quite good and have pretty descent onboard DSP with compression and other effects and minimal latency... as for the computer... get a mac... or a macpro if your willing to dish out the extra cash |
| Pura Gaske 04.12.2010 | Is logic really the best way to go? I guess I'm just more comfortable with Ableton, and my windows laptop. |
| nayit ruiz jaramillo 04.12.2010 | Comfy Chair cus your ass will be fixed to it for hours and hours and hours... |
| Graham Frazier 04.12.2010 | Mic's: Can't go wrong with Shure SM-57's & SM-58's. For vocals you're going to want something a little nicer, check out the Rode NT-1A. Computer: MAC!!! Audio Interface: M-Audio ProjectMix I/O (you're going to need at least 8 inputs to record drums.) Mixer:ProjectMix I/O has this covered, with motorized faders, and midi i/o if you need more control. Keyboard: Anything with at least 61 "VELOCITY SENSITIVE" keys. DAW: Logic/Ableton/ProTools (It's more of a personal preference) But i'd go with logic. Monitors: White Lines Audio Model K Monitor Amp: Hafler P1500 (These last 2 are pretty unrealistic.) I hear good things about the KRK's. |
| Amada Brierley 04.12.2010 | If you want to work with live drums and piano I'd go with Logic or Pro Tools over ableton. I'd spend ALOT on monitors as well. Makes such a huge difference |
| Eloy Snopkowski 03.12.2010 | pro tools 9 have some nice feature |
| Ashirumatic DJ 03.12.2010 | Some suggestions on what you may need for a basic set up. Computer : iMac w/ Logic Express installed. aprox. 2000$ Soundcard : M-Audio Fast Track Pro approx. 200$ Monoitors : M Audio Studiophile BX5a Deluxe apox 400$ Keyboard : Axiom Pro 61 aprox 700 (any keyboard works just fine) some suggested additions. Native Instruments Machine Propellerheads Reason (great for rewire applications such as Ableton, Logic) A good coffee maker Ableton Native Instruments Komplete |
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