How would you set up a Studio if you had to start over?

I run into a lot of guys that say "If I knew what I know now about studio hardware & software & the way technology is changing, I would setup my studio completely different! I wouldn't have bought all this *@!%"

I come from a dj background, & played drums in a school, so my interfacing is very hands on. At the same time, I like the idea that you can make a balance using a computer & interfacing the MPC to get that real hands on feel.

Currently I have my dj setup: [2] Technics, Pioneer DJM-500 & a ton of records to sample
& the MPC1000.

Budget is somewhat tight & so is space. All studio money is coming straight from DJ money.

So I am trying to figure out a priority list of what to get next.

- a mixing board? any brands recommended over any others.
-software?
- an audio interface? I read a few threads here on the M-Box, the Omega
or
- a mixing board that can interface directly to the PC, like the Allen & Heath ZED? I think it comes with Sonar LE.

& finally a midi keyboard/synthesizer [read a few threads on the Korg Triton, Nord, etc..]


any thoughts or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. I just don't want to start impulsively buying the wrong things.

thanks,

jt

about the mixingboards.. google the yamaha n8 and see if u like it maybe n12 if u wanta bigger one.
Cubase AI follows the purchase;)

I am in a similar situation(mpc 2k & dj setup). I have a Behringer 8 channel mixer that I use for my monitors. It is decent, but I'm going to upgrade to a mackie mixer. I just got a new macbook pro and I'm looking to run reason and pro tools and I'm trying to figure out what interface to get, I'm thinking about maybe an m-audio fast track ultra. I like those digi002 interfaces with an actual physical interface also. Those are so cool.

thanks for the recommendation on the Yamaha mixer. they are nice... a bit pricey, but nice..

I talked to a friend that has a decent home studio & he recommends the first thing is to get an audio interface to be able to run the mpc to my computer.

he said most of the channels on his huge mackie mixer never get touched. "it was overkill"

i read up a little on tweakheadz & found this chart that compares all the audio interfaces.

http://www.tweakheadz.com/audio_interface_fw_comparison_chart.htm

i guess the next step is to go to GC, price the interface for what my needs are.

i did notice some of the Mixing boards with USB or FireWire connections. Would that solve the need for a stand alone audio interface?
the Yamaha mentioned above has this, Allen & Heath ZED mixers, Alesis Multimix USB mixers, among a few others?

anyone else have any suggestions.

I say.. buy it once..

get a good interface and you wont be getting a crap one and later wind up buying the good one.

buy a good mixer with a good amount of channels and you wont need to go out and buy a bigger one or a cleaner sounding one later.

Personally I am not a fan of behringer mixers... in fact I stay away from most of their products. I admit I own one of their crossovers, but it is one of their (lmao) "high end" ones.

I suggest not spending all sorts of money on software because besides pro tools software is free.

Get a good pair of monitors, and when you have enough money get another pair of good monitors of a different brand (not to replace the first ones, but actually to add an additional reference to your studio)

I suggest an interface with minimum 8 balanced ins, and an 8 bus mixer if you plan to use your setup for recording several instruments.


Just remember, the quality of your sound is as good as your noisiest piece in the chain.


OH, and by all means......... Get good quality cables and wiring. dont cut corners by getting cheap quality stuff. So many people make that mistake. Good cabling costs as much if not more then any other piece of equipment in your setup. Also dont forget to get a power conditioner ( like a furman or something similar ) . I bought a new furman 9 plug, and went to test it out. I was lucky, because I plugged my crown and my crest power amp into it and it was thundering outside... within 15 minutes there was a power spike and the furman saved me a few grand.

mr_debauch wrote:I say.. buy it once..

i believe in this. buy the best that you can afford.

skip the mixing desk.
just get a sound card/interface with multiple inputs.

for a synth, you can get really good value on some late 80s, early 90s synths - for $150-250 you should be able to get something like a korg m1 or ensoniq esq-1. they'll have more/different character than the current crop of popular synths. just spend a bit of time on vintagesynths.com.

you might want to buy a shure sm57 microphone. they're cheap (around $100?) and you can sample your own cowbell, bongos, handclaps, drums etc.

a sampler, synth and mic gives you a lot of diversity and range for your sounds.

this is a GREAT question...

if i could start over i'd keep it as simple as possible to get what i need. i'm talking mpc, records, synth for good measure, and an inexpensive delay/reverb outside of the mpc (cuz the mpc ones are not that sweet...). that's it. that's pretty much what i have now, but i would have loved to hear someone tell me that back in the day.

I've been following the ads for the Allen & Heath ZED 16 and I gotta say I'm very interested.

kneebone77 wrote:I've been following the ads for the Allen & Heath ZED 16 and I gotta say I'm very interested.

If you get one, i would like it if you made a thread giving your opinion on the board once you've had it for a while... also would be cool to hear something done using it.

Same background as you...

Started out dj'ing (2 techs, + tech mixer, later on 07, and since a year a xone 02), got mpc, got a jv2080 mostly for basslines, got audio interface (firepod), got a 60, got an eps, got a siel mono (last three were package deals), got a mo'phatt, got a a&h 16 channel mixer, got a compressor (compounder)...

Works for me just fine...I did the research, bought what I wanted and needed and I love it! The key is to figure out what you want/need and pay your dues learning that sh!t.

kneebone77 wrote:I've been following the ads for the Allen & Heath ZED 16 and I gotta say I'm very interested.

I've LITERALLY been researching this little mixer over the passed two days. I was thinking of picking one up for the home setup. I like how it comes with Sonar already and being that I loved Home Studio I imagine this fitting well into my setup.

after talking to a few more people & playing with gear at guitar center, I ended up with:
- an M-Audio interface [that came with Ableton Live-for Free in the box]
- a cheap 100gb HD from ebay.


*next purchase will be a Midi controller [a cheapy will do fine...to make basslines & etc.]

-I'm holding off on the mixing consule b/c money is tight around the holidays. but am also looking forward to any input on the A&H Zed mixers once people start getting their hands on one.

kungfupimp wrote:after talking to a few more people & playing with gear at guitar center, I ended up with:
- an M-Audio interface [that came with Ableton Live-for Free in the box]
- a cheap 100gb HD from ebay.


*next purchase will be a Midi controller [a cheapy will do fine...to make basslines & etc.]

-I'm holding off on the mixing consule b/c money is tight around the holidays. but am also looking forward to any input on the A&H Zed mixers once people start getting their hands on one.

I think it will most likely be the ableton live light version or a demo of some sort. I have two disks for this from m-audio stuff.

mr_debauch wrote:

kungfupimp wrote:after talking to a few more people & playing with gear at guitar center, I ended up with:
- an M-Audio interface [that came with Ableton Live-for Free in the box]
- a cheap 100gb HD from ebay.


*next purchase will be a Midi controller [a cheapy will do fine...to make basslines & etc.]

-I'm holding off on the mixing consule b/c money is tight around the holidays. but am also looking forward to any input on the A&H Zed mixers once people start getting their hands on one.

I think it will most likely be the ableton live light version or a demo of some sort. I have two disks for this from m-audio stuff.

Yeah. M-Audio interface you mean like MIDI Controller right. That's usually just demo versions.

Just wondering. How many people in here actually use FL Studio.

My gear... Hmm I am glad I got what I have, but my only problem is buying too much gear too quickly, haven't really mastered my software, or my hardware yet and I think I'm missing a piece to make all my stuff fit together the way I want... Read my other thread in here "getting started" - having issues with setting up MPC with my turntables, speakers and all that. But I'm a quick learner and stubborn when it comes to work, music, and most stuff in life so I don't really think it's a mistake for someone like me - rather use my money on something useful down the road, than the usual stuff. (Yeah it's the canvas-salesman syndrome, it comes with the 9 to 5).