Hardware for tracking?

Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2005 3:34 pm

I'm just getting into recording and have recently bought some gear.
I am getting ready to buy some things to upgrade my current setup which includes:

Powerbook G4 1.5/1g ram/SD
Digidesign 002R
Seagate 160 gig/HD
Behringer ADA8000
M-Audio BX5 monitors
Yamaha MG 16/4 mixer
Audix Fusion 6pc mic pack
MXL 990/991 pack
SM-57 (worn out)

I will be mostly recording rock music (acoustic & electric)
I could use some input on some pieces of hardware I'm thinking of buying.I really want a control surface for ease of mixing and editing
and be able to manipulate plug-in values.I don't care for the monitors I have now but they were purchased according to my budget.I have been looking at some channel strips like the presonus Eureka,and ART Pro Channel for tracking bass,guitars...ect, I would like to buy something I can atleast use to run kick & snare through to add a little comp.&eq while tracking.And I could use some mics for
Kick Drum,bass & guitar..........This is my list I've got so far:

Digidesign Command 8
Event ASP8's
Shure Beta 52
Shure SM-57(2)

But,I am unsure of what harware would be best to track through.My budget for hardware is $700-$800,and would like to get 2 channels.Any help would be appreciatedand thanks to anyone who took the time to read this.

Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2005 6:35 pm

You have enough now
just learn to use it

Look for Great mics and not just good mic.
the SM57 is worn out ?? fix it or get another one ... solid workhorses.

Look for some class monitoring.

Headphone and cue and talkback system. (email me)

The Command 8 is fine and perhaps on top of the heap at the moment BUT I don't think there is a control surface worth buying yet.
Including Pro Control.

save your money and just learn
practice
keep it simple and look to the music and mic placement and technique

Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2005 8:01 pm

I can totally appreciate that.I am planning on taking some classes and have an internship setup already.The thing is I make decent money working as a carpenter now,but once I go back to school I'm gonna take a lower paying job to free up time for school.My point being I would like to get some gear now while its easier on the pocketbook.
I do plan to get 2 new SM-57's and a couple other mics to do exactly that practice and learn.I have read quite a few articles on this forum saying to get the best possible monitors you can.And I figured it would be good to have a couple a peices of outboard gear to better understand signal flow between gear as well as making better sounding music.

Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2005 11:03 pm

I suggest:

instead of SM57s - maybe try Audix I5's (they're priced about the same and IMO have better overall performance)

C414 ULS stereo set (if you can afford em): these are pro mics that can be used for just about anything. 4 pickup patterns selectable ( each mic has 2 diaphrams) makes them very versatile. They're workhorses: vocals, acoustic instruments, drum overheads ... they'll cover everything that your SM57s won't.

Studio Projects B1 mics are cheap alternatives at around $100 each, but they don't have the multiple pickup patterns (cardiod only).

A good preamp. Unfortunately anything below $800 is generally not really worth buying, but the Sebatron VMP2000e (about $1,300) is well worth it. You get two channels of class A discrete vacuum tube lovin. Also there are some simple but nice EQ switches onboard.

I would personally not put money into EQ or channel strips (unless for live use). With good mics, placement, and acoustics you shouldn't have to do much! And if so, just EQ in your software environment using any one of the many top quality plugins out there.

If you EQ pre recording - you can't remove the EQ setting after the fact. Also, much of the channel strips being sold are really digital so you're going from analog to digital to analog to digital just to do something that can be done in 32bit software.

If you must have a hardware compressor, look into FMR's RNC. Its a high quality *analog* stereo compressor. You can use it for instruments or stereo mixes.

A really, really - really nice channel setup:
mic --> Sebatron preamp Ch1 --> RNC compressor --> Seb Ch2 --> digital converter

The first preamp channel will get the signal up to db snuff for the compressor which cultivates the levels to run hot but without peaking, perfect for driving that 2nd preamp channel for some very rich saturated without distorted audio.

Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2005 4:36 pm

Thanks you guys for the posts it sounds like good advice. I think I'll concentrate more on buying some good mics.

Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2005 5:28 pm

Right. And seriously - do not waiste money on control surface. Most
of engineers I know don't even use the mix ProTools window (all is
done in edit window).
Good luck,
Costy.

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