For discussion about setting up your studio and advice on the gear and equipment within it.
By shadeed Mon Nov 17, 2003 6:26 pm
Ok, I'm gonna lay it all--the equipment I'm working with, and exactly what I wanna do with it--so that the best answer can be given.

Equipment: MPC 2000, Roland JV 2080, Korg Karma, Apple Computer.
Guitar/Amplifier.

My Vision : Complete recording, mixing, and mastering of my work
within the walls of my home. I want to take my work and
burn it to CD and then market it to the world.

What additional software or equipment is suggested to get the MOST outta the equipment listed above?
Do I need to buy a mixer board or will software cover that?

ANY suggestions would be appreciated. Your advice could help trigger a musical movement. Thanks.
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By itchyvinyl Mon Nov 17, 2003 8:35 pm
It seems like one of the Pro Tools DIGI setups would complete your setup (DIGI 001, or DIGI 002)
Those come with the ProTools LE software, and a hardware multi IN/OUT patch bay. That way if you didn't want to get a mixer, you don't HAVE to get one. You mix all in the Pro Tools environment with plug-ins for effects.
You can also still use "outboard" effects - just run it out of the DIGI interface, through your effect module, and back in the DIGI. I prefer ProTools because so many studios use it, and I can take my project into just about any studio to do any part of it, and then take it back home.

The only part of your "vision" that I'm not sure about is the mastering part. Despite what any software company (or anyone else) will tell you, if you want high end pro quality mastering, you have to go into a real mastering studio, with real mastering equipment, with a real mastering engineer. It makes all the difference in the world. Expensive, but true.
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By DOVESKI Mon Nov 17, 2003 9:23 pm
100% on point itchy.

By the way, mastering is not always that expensive, i dont know where you live at, but around here there are a lot of little cutty studios that dont see much traffic but have loads of heavy duty outboard gear and TDM setups and would happy to do a "little rap job" for $400 to $600.

By prospect Tue Nov 18, 2003 4:52 am
The Pro-Tools is okay... but to get the most out of the software world I would highly recommend running Logic Platinum 6. Its much more versatile than Pro Tools, and if your more of a producer than an engineer you could benefit a heck of a lot more from Logic. Since you already have an Apple computer, consider this... Apple now owns Emagic (Logic's developer) and they are already working on some pretty amazing things.

The one piece of gear I noticed you didn't mention was a pre-amp.
Nothing tops off a studio like a decent tube pre-amp. It will do wonders to your sound.

As far as mastering, go with the advice above.
There is nothing like getting a mastering job from an engineer with years of experience.