Gearslutz.com - View Single Post - Needing to make some changes/upgrade- need input

Parisongs · 25th June 2006

What I Have
What I know,
But what do I need?

Ok, here’s a little background-

I started recording on a Tascam 4 track, graduated to a 38, eventually bought a Roland 1680 to record me and my band, and now I have a custom DAW. This over a 20 year period.

I have been finding that busy mixes on the DAW to be more difficult to produce than any of the aforementioned systems I had. But I’ll never return to ancient technology unless I get rich and am able to buy a 24 2’ machine. I didn’t seem to have a problem with semi-busy mixes with the Roland 1680, but what a closed-system beast it was!

I’ve scoured the web for the last few weeks because I know I need to upgrade my system. I want to go to 24/88.2 rather than the 24/44.1 scheme I’ve been using. Supposedly I would get more headroom from this method and that’s probably what’s lacking in my current setup.

I AM NOT TRACKING A LOT OF LIVE INSTRUMENTS

Mainly, just bass and some guitar. I’m doing a hybrid type of experimental electronica using samples(my own) drum beats, midi and of course live bass(sometimes) and guitar.

Here’s what I have:

P4 2.8ghz
2 gig RAM
2- 120 Drives
1- 80 Drive
Dual Screens
Pioneer CDR/DVDR
RME Multiface linked to Tango 24 via ADAT(I’m going to lose the Tango completely)
DBX 386
FMR-RNC
2 DBX166
Mackie 1604 VLZ
Mackie HR824s
Tascam DA30-MKII DAT
Tascam 750 CDR
2 SM57s
AKG C414
AKG D112
Audio Technica 822
EV PL-20

Cubase SX 3.1.1
Ableton Live 5.2
Stylus RMX
Waves Gold Bundle

Lots of VST synths and various plugs

Some of Ethan Winer’s bass traps(Real Traps)

WHAT I KNOW

The RME stays- the Tango goes.

What I already intend to do is get 2 UAD-1 cards and Wavelab software. That seems to be some missing links that are common to everybody’s arsenal of goodies.

I’ve seen tons of threads on analog summing. A giant can of worms. I don’t really know where I stand but I probably can’t afford it.

I’ve been told by Bob Katz that a Big Ben would not improve jitter in my system- even though lots of people believe it improves image.

Also, I plan to score the soundtrack for a documentary film I’m working on. I would like to do this on other films as well so I have to consider making the move to Nuendo, correct?

I know I need a few more bass traps.

WHAT DO I NEED?

What other hardware would I need?

I’m thinking I need a processor upgrade to handle the new sample rate of 24/88.1. Does that sound correct? Dual Core? Dual Processor?

Do I suck at digital mixing? (Actually, if you know of a book that is solely dedicated to mixing digital, I’d like to give it a whirl. I could be missing something I need to know. I already have the Mixing Engineer’s Handbook.)

I really would appreciate some good input. Thanks dudes.

25th June 2006	#1
Parisongs Gear nut Joined: May 2006 Posts: 116 Thread Starter	Needing to make some changes/upgrade- need input What I Have What I know, But what do I need? Ok, here’s a little background- I started recording on a Tascam 4 track, graduated to a 38, eventually bought a Roland 1680 to record me and my band, and now I have a custom DAW. This over a 20 year period. I have been finding that busy mixes on the DAW to be more difficult to produce than any of the aforementioned systems I had. But I’ll never return to ancient technology unless I get rich and am able to buy a 24 2’ machine. I didn’t seem to have a problem with semi-busy mixes with the Roland 1680, but what a closed-system beast it was! I’ve scoured the web for the last few weeks because I know I need to upgrade my system. I want to go to 24/88.2 rather than the 24/44.1 scheme I’ve been using. Supposedly I would get more headroom from this method and that’s probably what’s lacking in my current setup. I AM NOT TRACKING A LOT OF LIVE INSTRUMENTS Mainly, just bass and some guitar. I’m doing a hybrid type of experimental electronica using samples(my own) drum beats, midi and of course live bass(sometimes) and guitar. Here’s what I have: P4 2.8ghz 2 gig RAM 2- 120 Drives 1- 80 Drive Dual Screens Pioneer CDR/DVDR RME Multiface linked to Tango 24 via ADAT(I’m going to lose the Tango completely) DBX 386 FMR-RNC 2 DBX166 Mackie 1604 VLZ Mackie HR824s Tascam DA30-MKII DAT Tascam 750 CDR 2 SM57s AKG C414 AKG D112 Audio Technica 822 EV PL-20 Cubase SX 3.1.1 Ableton Live 5.2 Stylus RMX Waves Gold Bundle Lots of VST synths and various plugs Some of Ethan Winer’s bass traps(Real Traps) WHAT I KNOW The RME stays- the Tango goes. What I already intend to do is get 2 UAD-1 cards and Wavelab software. That seems to be some missing links that are common to everybody’s arsenal of goodies. I’ve seen tons of threads on analog summing. A giant can of worms. I don’t really know where I stand but I probably can’t afford it. I’ve been told by Bob Katz that a Big Ben would not improve jitter in my system- even though lots of people believe it improves image. Also, I plan to score the soundtrack for a documentary film I’m working on. I would like to do this on other films as well so I have to consider making the move to Nuendo, correct? I know I need a few more bass traps. WHAT DO I NEED? What other hardware would I need? I’m thinking I need a processor upgrade to handle the new sample rate of 24/88.1. Does that sound correct? Dual Core? Dual Processor? Do I suck at digital mixing? (Actually, if you know of a book that is solely dedicated to mixing digital, I’d like to give it a whirl. I could be missing something I need to know. I already have the Mixing Engineer’s Handbook.) I really would appreciate some good input. Thanks dudes.