Opinions needed for home studio.

Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 1:51 pm

ok i need help figuring out what to buy for my recording studio.

this is the computer i'm planning to get from pugetsystems.com;

motherboard-Asus P5E Deluxe (Intel X48) DDR2
CPU-Intel Core 2 Duo (Wolfdale) E8400 3.0GHz 65W
RAM-OCZ Reaper 4GB DDR2-800 w/ Heatpipe Cooling (2x2GB)
hard drive-Western Digital Caviar SE16 SATA2 640GB QUIET
2nd hard drive - Western Digital Caviar SE16 SATA2 320GB QUIET
case - Lian-Li PC7H+ Mid Tower (black w/ window)
power case- Corsair TX 450W
cooler - Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro (775)
windows xp pro spr3

i think this setup should have no latency and will be the cheapest in the long run (as i can upgrade as i buy more equipment)

also, i think i'm gonna get the m audio delta 1010lt to start with but dont know if i should get a control surface or mixer.
the delta 1010 lt has 8 unbalanced rca cables so do i need to look for a special mixer to hook it up to?(i dont want to buy a mixer/ control surface just to find its not compatible) also i will want to record 8 tracks simoltaneously, would i need an 8 bus mixer?

im not trying to spend to much money so im trying to find the best mixer or conrol surface for under 500$ your guys help is appreciated.

Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 4:58 pm

You don't need a special mixer, but you do want to keep the computer close to the mixer. Use your mixer aux sends to some 1010LT channels, and then put the remaining 1010LT channels on the inserts of some mixer channels.

Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 5:47 pm

Also, the Delta only has 6 RCA inputs, and 2 mic preamps, IIRC.
It has 8 RCA outs though.

Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 5:53 pm

Actually the 1010lt doesn't have pres.

It does have, at board level, 2 jumpers to set the input of line in 1 and line in 2 for either -10 or +4.

Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 6:27 pm

Codemonky has it right. 2 sets of 2 jumpers. There are 4 settings:
+30dB mic gain
+19dB mic gain
14dBu line level
3dBu line level

(I'm looking at mine right now)

Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 7:02 pm

But it's not variable gain pres as such?
Fixed gain, hmm.

Do they beat a budget mixer?
I'm thinking about getting one (once I get a job).

Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 7:38 pm

Look under page 14, heading "Delta’s Analog Inputs/Outputs":
"...Signal level settings of +4dBu, “Consumer” (-4dBu), and “-10” are available."

This is the information that I use to configure mine.

Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 7:56 pm

Space,
That is on the software control panel for the line level input and outputs. The mic pres are jumpers that you set for just two channels. (1 and 2)
Look at page 8 in the user manual.

Codemonkey,
The jumpers are to set your maximum gain. There is a level fader on the input as well, but I normally run them at unison and adjust the gain on my outboard pre.

Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 8:20 pm

Mic level/ Line level.

Like I said ut, This is the information that I use to configure mine.

It's not a pre in the sense that I wanted but does give me options over the past three years that I have used it Wink

But thanks for putting up with me.

Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 10:18 am

gecko you said you have 3 of them, what mixer do you have just so i can get a push in the right direction on what im gonna buy.

also do i need special cables to hook up the mixer?

Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 11:50 am

Is this really happening?

Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 12:49 pm

Any mixer with inserts will work. I would recommend something like the Mackie 1642. 8 channels with inserts. I would connect 6 to your unbalanced lines. Then use two sub busses or two aux sends for the balanced inputs on the Delta 1010LT. Yes you will need to build custom cables.

For the price of the card and the mixer you could get something like the Presonus FP10 and have cash to spare.

The mixer will be useful for live sound and headphone mixes, but many people get by without a mixer in the recording environment.

Greener wrote:

Is this really happening?

??

Someone asking for advice and getting a response? Yes. Not sure what you mean.

Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 12:19 am

Out of interest, how much is the computer costing? Just saying, if you are spending 75% of your budget on the computer and 25% on the conversion, you might want to, um, reevaluate those priorities?

Just the way the spec is laid out sounds like you might be outlaying a ton of cash on a PC you could build yourself for half the price. It sounds great, don't get me wrong, and it will last, but just wondering as I've never heard of Puget computers.

Also a 640G main hard drive sounds like a lot. If you are planning to record via SATA to your secondary hard drive, then unless you want lots of non-use storage, why not make the main 120-250Gb, and the secondary 640Gb?

Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2008 6:50 am

The components you are using will work just fine together. They are overkill for most recordists. That system is enough to handle a professional studio without breathing too hard.

Be sure you buy a video card that doesn't have a fan and be sure the hard drives are 7200 rpm. Also make sure you get a fairly quiet power supply. Spend a little extra on the power supply.

ASUS, as you may know, is the world's largest mainboard manufacturer. I use their products myself. The Intel X48 chipset is the latest and will be compatible with virtually any currently hardware and software. Looks good.

Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 4:21 am

read this article about building home studio
http://audioproductionworld.blogspot.com/2008/11/guide-to-home-and-project-studio-part-1.html

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