The "Home studio" thread

[Kov]

What do you guys use to record your music?

What setup, and software would you recommend?

etc.

Just thought this would be an interesting thread. I'm planning on putting a cheap setup together, and I wanted to ask you guys about it, but I thought a general thread would be better.

[bucketsixx]

How much are you willing to spend?

Also...Do you have a mac or PC?

[Kov]

I've got a PC, and I don't plan on spending more than 200$ on the whole thing, but to be honest I might, since probably I won't buy everything at once.

[mooney]

I could get a dead cheap Pro Tools LE set up going on my PC. I get 40% discount on hardware and 50% on software from digidesign - and if i buy any hardware, such as an M-Box mini, i get ProT's LE free!

I have done this though as im saving for an iMac with Logic pro 9. Will get the above for that as well. Maybe a different interface as it doesnt have many inputs though is basic and quite cheap and obviously i have the benefit of the discount etc...

Definately get Pro Tools or Logic - or even the latest Cubase for a top quality DAW. A MIDI keyboard is essential too! though my piano has MIDI capabilites. So my set up will look something like that.

[Gez]

How do you get those deals?

I'd love to get in on that :P

[mooney]

How do you get those deals?

I'd love to get in on that :P

i get them through the course i am on, so i cant help you there. There may be other ways but none that i know of. I still haven't got round to doing it though and people i know who are entitled to the discounts have had problems getting some of the stuff they wanted.

Look up doing a pro tools 101 exam through digidesign - you can pay to take the test, i think it costs about 20 dollars. If you have the certificate that might make you eligible for the discount. The test is done online from their site. It was all sorted for me through my course though, but i imagine you can do it independently. And the test itself is piss. It's all about biggin' themselves up, "look how good we are here at digidesign blah blah blah".

[mongis]

i'd go for cubase but whatever software you uses, the soundcard is important

[mooney]

I've got a PC, and I don't plan on spending more than 200$ on the whole thing, but to be honest I might, since probably I won't buy everything at once.

For what purpose will you be using said software? Recording live instruments, eg band recording, or electronic music... MIDI, samples, loops... And what about mixing, plugins etc... What are you looking for primiarily, which functions are more important to you?

[Kov]

For what purpose will you be using said software? Recording live instruments, eg band recording, or electronic music... MIDI, samples, loops... And what about mixing, plugins etc... What are you looking for primiarily, which functions are more important to you?

Live instruments, I just want to be able to record my doodlings in a proper manner.. guitar, bass, vocals.

[mooney]

Live instruments, I just want to be able to record my doodlings in a proper manner.. guitar, bass, vocals.

Pro Tools LE with a mbox 2 mini. piss simple set up. i think it has 2 inputs on the mbox. So if you have a sm58/57 mic and a condenser for vocals you're sorted!

[stedy76]

Kristal Audio Engine (free) onto PC

[Ice Blue]

Scrap the PC and get a Mac. That's the first step.

[Kov]

I've found a great site to help to choose, this should be helpful to everybody.
http://www.recordingreview.com/soundcard/soundcard_wizard.php

[mooney]

Ive now got an iMac, Logic Pro 9 as my recording software, a Line 6 studio ux2 Audio Interface and I have an M-Audio 61 key MIDI controller arriving on friday. Then after that all i need for now is some good monitors (budget though). I'll be getting some Fostex monitors most likely. Another good resource for reviewing shit loads of gear, in great detail as well is Sound on Sound magazine. They also have a website which i use regularly to review products like monitors, mics, interfaces... literally anything to do with recording music. I'd highly recommend it.