Your budget is good and you have some pretty good gear to start with.

I would tend to agree with the con against the ProTools (requiring their hardware considering the pieces you're looking at won't work with ProTools.)

I can personally vouch for the Onyx stuff - it's good. It's really good! (I wouldn't hesitate to use it over string quartets. The exception being, I wouldn't use them with Ribbons. The last little throw of gain is a tad noisy.)

That being said, I think every studio should have at least one ribbon and thus a pre appropriate for it. This might be something to consider (Beyer, Royer or AEA - all good, all very different!)

Cheers -
J.

Thanks for the reply Cucco.

I do like the Onyx especially as it has 16 inputs. I would probably never use all of them but it's would be nice to know they are there. The only thing is the firewire card sends the audio pre eq. I wish they had made it post to take advantage of it.

I'm thinking of the Yamaha N12 as well. I know it's linked to Cubase and comes with the new Cubase AI but I think it can be linked to other DAWs as well as a controller. The Onyx has none of this functionality.

I will buy the macbook pro on a friends recommendation. I am leaning towards Logic Pro even though I have heard Logic is hard to pick up at the start at least it is very stable on a mac. Plus I don't have experience with any DAW so they all will probably have the same learning curve for me.

Have you any preferences / opinions on Logic or macs?

I don't know much about Logic. I know enough about Macs. I'm one to believe that a Mac or a PC can be a highly effective machine and either one can do justice.

The few times I've seen Logic, I've been impressed.

I must admit I'm not even slightly familiar with the Yamaha mixer, but it looks as though its only DAW control features are transport controls. Although it looks like a nice machine.

Tough call.

Drumlea, if you're going with the Mac, make sure you check out Digital Performer as well, before you spend the $ on Logic. There's a big price difference, and DP may be more than enough for what you need, plus a lot of music scorers and recordists use DP with their MACs.

Don't forget either, that any new iMAC comes with GarageBand, and from what I've seen/heard about it, might be enough to keep you busy and get your chops up for quite a while, until you're ready to get the big-ticket software. just a thought!

To Cucco and JoeH:

I'm looking at the Mackie Onyx 1200F as an option now even though it still hasn't been released but it looks like the perfect interface.

12 combo inputs and sp/dif in which is handy because I have some hardware with sp/dif out (Lexicon MPX100, Roland MMP-2).

I think my mixer idea is nice in theory but not very transportable. The more I think about I won't always be able to record live drums at home so will have to do some location work.

The Onyx 1200F comes with Tracktion software which might be a good starting place for a DAW noobie to get his "chops up" as JoeH put it. But I will check out DP as well. At the end of the day I just need a DAW with good EQ, Compression, Reverb, and Delays. Anything else is a bonus.

In the future when I get more cash I can get a mackie controller. They seem to have a good reputation and are expandable.

Cucco if you think the Mackie Onyx preamps are good, going on the quality of the work on your site, I think that's the way to go. And you have a Microtech Mic. I have only experienced a few condenser mics but the Microtech stuff is so clear and honest they are great. Will check out the ribbon mics as well. I've read about them but don't know very much. The seem like a good tonal option from what I've seen.

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So at the moment I'm considering:
- Mac Book Pro
* 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
* 4GB 667 DDR2 SDRAM - 2x2GB
* 160GB Serial ATA drive(5400rpm)
- Tracktion or Digital Performer (Maybe Logic in the future)
- Mackie Onyx 1200F
- Lacie 500GB or 1000GB 7200rpm external hard drive
- Dynaudio or Adam Monitors.

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Do you guys think I should get the 7200 rpm hard drive. Does it really make that much of a difference with an external hard drive?

Just to let you know I'm in Cork, Ireland so access to try gear out is a little limited so all this feedback is invaluable.

Cheers,
Brian.

I would definitely go with the 7200 RPM (or higher) where possible.

Glad we could help!

J.

7200 RPM it is. I'll be living on the streets but at least I'll be happy.

Thanks again, I'm sure I'll be back to pick some brains again. The forum is great to just read and learn.