mixer or not? poor mans acoustic rig / home studio workstation

[Sean]

So for home practice I need something for vocals while playing acoustic/jamming.  So I thought about (for a long time $) getting the Laney A1 which is an acoustic amp with 3 channels, 10 inch speaker, mic in's etc etc... so I can play and sing and has built in reverb and pad and other features.  I was really gun ho on getting this.  312.71 €



but then I thought...  If I want to be doing at home studio recording with my Toneport2 in which I do not have monitors..  just headphones...  that maybe I should just look into buying a mixer (like the Mackie 802 vlz) IMAGE  LINK to Product
and then just buy powered PA speakers that could act as studio monitoring plus PA that will work for my acoustic and vocals. 

???    SIXXXXX ?? or anybody else want to chime in.

So I have a toneport2 < 2 channels.    And thinking about adding that mixer and getting powered speakers.   How would I route this for:

1. acoustic rig and will either mic or direct to board for electric
2. vocal rig
3. Toneport2

I keep telling myself you need the physical mixer... but I really don't ...  but would be better with PA etc... acoustic etc ??

monitors and pa the same??  thanks

[Sean]

I think I'll go with the Laney A1 and DI out to the mixer for acoustic/and/or/vocal for live playing and recording of.  Then can also use mixer to mic of a second amp for color sounds. or just 2 amps anyway for whatever reason etc...

Then I won't need to shell out big bucks for a PA -  and get active studio monitors instead.

Glad we had this talk 

although you can talk me out of it or give me your point of view

[Sean]

Can anybody recommend cheap studio monitors?    for a pair...       m-audio any good?

[bucketsixx]

Had a look on youtube.....that laney looks pretty neat.

I spent about 6 months looking for the right monitors....how tight is your budget?


You should look at:

KRK RP5 G2
M-Audio BX5a (the newer ones)
Tascam VL series

[Sean]

Had a look on youtube.....that laney looks pretty neat.

I spent about 6 months looking for the right monitors....how tight is your budget?


You should look at:

KRK RP5 G2
M-Audio BX5a (the newer ones)
Tascam VL series

DV has a decent price for the KRK's ...  was checking them out before. they have 2 on b stock actually. 

also looking at Alesis M1 520 with usb option to pc - don't know if they are shit though

[mooney]

M-Audio are decent, yea. Do you have a Mac? or Pro Tools/Logic, Abbleton, Cubase or anything?

[Sean]

M-Audio are decent, yea. Do you have a Mac? or Pro Tools/Logic, Abbleton, Cubase or anything?

 

my problems is many though  when comes to recording software and technique and patience

[Sean]

Had a look on youtube.....that laney looks pretty neat.

I spent about 6 months looking for the right monitors....how tight is your budget?


You should look at:

KRK RP5 G2
M-Audio BX5a (the newer ones)
Tascam VL series

They won't sell me the KRK's on B Stock cuzzz I am in Greece. only UK.. warranty issues.  I said screw warranty and they said no. but the guy said to send him a list of stuff I want and he'll try and do something.    So after the list he saved me 30 pounds BUT will have to pay 37 pounds extra to buy new KRK's.  Meaning he took 30 pounds off my new order. 

but I gave credit card and ummm  next day still in review.  shit they are slow...  compared to like guitar center ...      believe me I know things take longer in Europe. but his service was pretty damn good. Answered my questions via email etc.  My guy is named Theo and he's Greek. They gave me the Greek since they thought I was Greek. I was like "Stop speaking Greek to me".

Anyway from my research this company has the best prices in Europe and I will get free shipping to Greece.

[Sean]

transaction didn't go through..  got in a argument...   they won't take my cc.  idiots

[bucketsixx]

transaction didn't go through..  got in a argument...   they won't take my cc.  idiots

Whaaaaaat?!!! Why not?

Have you tried ebay?

[Sean]

Whaaaaaat?!!! Why not?

Have you tried ebay?

Just now they let me pay with paypal transfer.   jeeeebbbussss how many days did that take?  anyway I didn't get rapped so bad and the guy gave me a discount.

I am floored!! as they gave me pretty good rates comparable to what it would cost for me in the states.  Got lucky this time around.

[blueheart]

Just now they let me pay with paypal transfer.   jeeeebbbussss how many days did that take?  anyway I didn't get rapped so bad and the guy gave me a discount.

I am floored!! as they gave me pretty good rates comparable to what it would cost for me in the states.  Got lucky this time around.

oh sweetie! I am so happy for you! <3

[Sean]

The laney A1 got to me yesterday.  I am not very impressed with the actual build.. like knobs and such is so made in china.  Had some weird frequency cutting on the bass that really annoyed me but maybe it was its shitty built in reverb effect. So I turned it off and so far I haven't heard the bass fluctuations and electro buzzing of some sort.  << this was on the guitar notes.  The back insert jacks on the back... about 4 jacks were loose.

anyway I am still getting used to it, its not as big as a PA I am used to singing on.  The effects are crappy.. at least I wanted a decent reverb. The style idea is pretty cool though with the kickback tilt and layout of options of buttons.    I still have to mess with it more today. my first impressions.

It took a hard hit in either shipping or in their warehouse. I guess i'll complain and I took a picture of the corner metal that is smashed in. I should for sure get a 'smash n den't' price on it. but more worried if that wood cracked or the cheap chinese electronic jobby got fucked.

oh well... Designed in the UK - Made in China.    DV sent me the wrong fucking picks too....  sent me .84mm Green tolex Dunlop..  wanted the Gator 1.5mm 

edit: continueed

So I played in more today. had some issues. stopped and tried again... this time using PAD. Seemed to even out the ranges more and I can hear bass notes better and such. none of the flub like I heard before at times.  STill testing...   trying different cables too.....   and maybe the Washburn Acoustic electronics are crap too.

[bucketsixx]

Oh man

Did you get on to DV about the damage and the wrong picks? Im surprised at them fucking up...I've had zero problems with them in the past.

[Sean]

Oh man

Did you get on to DV about the damage and the wrong picks? Im surprised at them fucking up...I've had zero problems with them in the past.

I will tomorrow for sure.  Been messing with the amp and its pretty kool. been working with it and can get a pretty clean signal now, but need more testing cuzz sometimes my ear catches shit still for the instrument channel.  PAD stays in... been better since...  no hard clipping. Liking it better. build quality still on the low side but I guess the cab itself is pretty sturdy.  I think they just skimped for cheap parts because I seen pictures of this thing with higher quality tolex and higher quality metal knobs and such.  The picture in the first post shows this a little.. so first version I guess. Laney replaced the tolex with that black carpet stuff now.

Can't really blame DV that much I guess.  I don't know at what point it got dented.  but yea the picks...  both are Green lol but I hate the ones they gave me.

[Sean]

ok DV made the deal better 

   
33 British pounds = 52.0773 U.S. dollars   worth of cables I wanted and the correct picks.