Have I got everything I need to record?

white_falcon

Hey lads,

I've just finished my music degree in college, and after doing a bit of music tech I can't remember much about it lol...in fact anything...

So far I've got the following:

• Reason 4
• Sibelius 4 + 5
• Cubase (4 i think?)
• Fruity loops
• Cool Edit Pro 2.0
• Guitar Pro 5
• Soundforge

• Very high end PC
• Access Virus Ti Keyboard (unfortunately they have been fantastic in that they don't support 64bit vista yet which sucks...)
• High end guitar
• High end electric guitar
• Marshall 100 watt amp

I want to get a USB controller keyboard also so i can use VST's

Basically I want to make music for computer games and films and also some contemporary composition

I know I'll need the following:

A mic
A set of monitors
VST software like this - http://www.soundsonline.com/EWQL-Symphonic-Orchestra-Gold-Edition-pr-EW-160.html
An audio interface for recording live instruments


Can anyone tell me is there anything else?

TelePaul

If you wanna do live instruments you're gonna need a variety of microphones, most likely condensors and a good dynamic. Otherwise you seem good to go.

And if you have a Gretsch, it'll help!

squibs

You'll also need to know your chosen DAW(s), and a core set of VSTs and VSTis in great detail. After spending all that money on the software do spend time reading the boring manuals and playing with the stuff you'll be using on a daily basis. I'm always amazed seeing people jump through hoops to perform a simple task because thats how they bodged it 1st time they tried. So now they waste valuable minutes going thru the same ritual when it could be done in a few clicks id they'd RTFMd in the first place. And yes - I have been guilty of this too.

white_falcon

Yea sorry I also have Cakewalk Sonar too..forgot about that

I'm just trying to make out a list of what else I'll need to buy (and lump it onto the loan..yay)

So far it looks like I'll need

Few different mics - condensors, dynamic
A good set of monitors
VST software like this really looks good - the samples are amazing: http://www.soundsonline.com/EWQL-Sym...pr-EW-160.html
An audio interface for recording live instruments

I can't really think of anything else - is there anything else I'd need...I don't want to think how much the rest of this will cost lol..

TelePaul

white_falcon wrote: »

Yea sorry I also have Cakewalk Sonar too..forgot about that

I'm just trying to make out a list of what else I'll need to buy (and lump it onto the loan..yay)

So far it looks like I'll need

Few different mics - condensors, dynamic
A good set of monitors
VST software like this really looks good - the samples are amazing: http://www.soundsonline.com/EWQL-Sym...pr-EW-160.html
An audio interface for recording live instruments

I can't really think of anything else - is there anything else I'd need...I don't want to think how much the rest of this will cost lol..

Yeah those high-end orchestra samples are pretty fantastic.

Depending on your approach to recording, you may need a firewire soundcard with multiple inputs - really only if you're going to be recording drums. You could think about some basic room treatment too.

white_falcon

TelePaul wrote: »

Yeah those high-end orchestra samples are pretty fantastic.

Depending on your approach to recording, you may need a firewire soundcard with multiple inputs - really only if you're going to be recording drums. You could think about some basic room treatment too.

yea well that was what i was gonna get to input guitars and vocals if ever needed. id be looking at spending around 400 on this - i really want to be able to spend a lot of money on the VSTs...

white_falcon

What I was looking at now to get the rest of what I need is this:

(Audio interface and condenser mic)
http://www.thomann.de/ie/maudio_fast_track_pro_mit_joemeekjm47.htm

OR

(Audio Interface)
http://www.thomann.de/ie/echo_audiofire_2.htm


(Dynamic shure mic)
http://www.thomann.de/ie/shure_sm58.htm

(VST Software)
http://www.soundsonline.com/EWQL-Sym...pr-EW-160.html

(Monitors)
http://www.thomann.de/ie/alesis_m1_aktiv_monitor_mk_ii.htm


What does everyone think of these?

cornbb

If you have tons of money to spend on VSTs I'd suggest getting Native Instruments Komplete. Its a pretty impressive bundle of all their soft synths, samplers and Guitar Rig. Can't afford it myself unfortunately. But I just got a copy of Kontakt 3 which has over 30gb of samples, can't wait to install it...

TelePaul

cornbb wrote: »

If you have tons of money to spend on VSTs I'd suggest getting Native Instruments Komplete. Its a pretty impressive bundle of all their soft synths, samplers and Guitar Rig. Can't afford it myself unfortunately. But I just got a copy of Kontakt 3 which has over 30gb of samples, can't wait to install it...

Natives stuff is fantastic. What's their bundled string package like?

TelePaul

white_falcon wrote: »

What I was looking at now to get the rest of what I need is this:

(Audio interface and condenser mic)
http://www.thomann.de/ie/maudio_fast_track_pro_mit_joemeekjm47.htm

OR

(Audio Interface)
http://www.thomann.de/ie/echo_audiofire_2.htm


(Dynamic shure mic)
http://www.thomann.de/ie/shure_sm58.htm

(VST Software)
http://www.soundsonline.com/EWQL-Sym...pr-EW-160.html

(Monitors)
http://www.thomann.de/ie/alesis_m1_aktiv_monitor_mk_ii.htm


What does everyone think of these?

Okay first things first, do you want a firewire or USB audio card?

Secondly, does the M-Audio card you linked to support Vista, i.e has it vista compatible drivers?

The Joe Meek is fine I guess, it's definately on the low end of the scale but it'll probably do the job.

The SM58 is a great choice for vocals, but if you're recording a mic'd amp, go with the SM57, it has a slightly larger high end range. That's a good all round mic, if you had to cut costs and NOT go with a condensor you could probably get away with half-decent acoustic rhythm using this mic.

cornbb

TelePaul wrote: »

Natives stuff is fantastic. What's their bundled string package like?

I've been using Kontakt 2 for awhile, part of the library consists of Vienna Symphonic stuff, which is the business. The Kontakt 3 library is over double the size :eek: so I expect it should be pretty good too. I'll report back after I get a chance to install it. The Garritan Personal Orchestra is also pretty good, its got a wide selection of instruments and won't break the bank.

white_falcon

TelePaul wrote: »

Okay first things first, do you want a firewire or USB audio card?

Secondly, does the M-Audio card you linked to support Vista, i.e has it vista compatible drivers?

The Joe Meek is fine I guess, it's definately on the low end of the scale but it'll probably do the job.

The SM58 is a great choice for vocals, but if you're recording a mic'd amp, go with the SM57, it has a slightly larger high end range. That's a good all round mic, if you had to cut costs and NOT go with a condensor you could probably get away with half-decent acoustic rhythm using this mic.

1. Don't know if I want a firewire or USB audio card lol - which is better - firewire im presuming ye?

2. I was looking into that - it does support Vista, but i'd contact them first before I bought it to make sure it works with 64bit

3. I thought a Joe Meek mic was good sorry lol - any other good condenser mics out there?


Could anyone recommend a set up for less than 800 - 1k ish that includes a condenser, dynamic, monitors, and audio interface?

TelePaul

white_falcon wrote: »

1. Don't know if I want a firewire or USB audio card lol - which is better - firewire im presuming ye?

2. I was looking into that - it does support Vista, but i'd contact them first before I bought it to make sure it works with 64bit

3. I thought a Joe Meek mic was good sorry lol - any other good condenser mics out there?


Could anyone recommend a set up for less than 800 - 1k ish that includes a condenser, dynamic, monitors, and audio interface?

Wouldn't be comfortable doing that but I can make a few suggestions based on my own experiences.

Firewire is faster - people will say it's not, but for arguments sake, jsut go with em on this one. The benefit of firewire is that you can track inputs to different tracks on your sequencers. With USB you'll be able to record two mics at once - say a stereo micing of an acoustic guitar. That wont be enough for a 5 mic drum kit if you want to mix each component individually. Firewire will let you do that. A large consideration is whether you have a firewire port, buying one will cost extra.

If you are going down that road, I'd recoomend something like this:

http://www.thomann.de/ie/presonus_firebox.htm

Nice pre amps built into that.

Good condensor, stand, pop filter etc:

http://www.thomann.de/ie/studio_projects_c1_bundle.htm

white_falcon

TelePaul wrote: »

Wouldn't be comfortable doing that but I can make a few suggestions based on my own experiences.

Firewire is faster - people will say it's not, but for arguments sake, jsut go with em on this one. The benefit of firewire is that you can track inputs to different tracks on your sequencers. With USB you'll be able to record two mics at once - say a stereo micing of an acoustic guitar. That wont be enough for a 5 mic drum kit if you want to mix each component individually. Firewire will let you do that. A large consideration is whether you have a firewire port, buying one will cost extra.

If you are going down that road, I'd recoomend something like this:

http://www.thomann.de/ie/presonus_firebox.htm

Nice pre amps built into that.

Good condensor, stand, pop filter etc:

http://www.thomann.de/ie/studio_projects_c1_bundle.htm

cool yea. well i have a firewire port on my PC - built it myself so it defo has one on it. sounds like it will be firewire so - i didn't know the difference between them thanks

Thanks for the advice

TelePaul

white_falcon wrote: »

cool yea. well i have a firewire port on my PC - built it myself so it defo has one on it. sounds like it will be firewire so - i didn't know the difference between them thanks

Thanks for the advice

USB 2.0 is faster but can't move as much info. Here's a pretty basic example: Imagine USB is a highway and Firewire is a highway. Both highways have a speed limit of 100 mph. But USB has two lanes in the highway, Firewire has 8 lanes in the highway.

squibs

The Joe Meek is one of the unsung heroes in my opinion. It does have a fair bit of character, so I wouldn't buy it without listening to it, but it is a good mic. Works particularly well through Koe Meek preamps - especially with the opto compressor working just hard enough so you can hear it.