Tips for two aspiring producers????? studio?????? advice??

[Jimmyfitz]

Hey,

I have been posting and skimming this forum for a week or so now and I really like it. Let me tell you about myself. I have always had musical talent but never been all that great at playing real instruments, I am okay on the guitar and can play with others, but I am not the next guitar god by any means.

I have fallen in love with electronic music this past year or two and I finally decided to shift my musical focus towards electronic rather than simply reggae and rock. Last week I put together this small studio from scratch and hand-me-down gear from my saint of a mom. My friend and DJ also threw some of his gear into the mix as well. We want to start doing some DJ gigs and composing our own electronic music.

What do you recommend for beginners?

Is it all that important to have good acoustics in a home studio thats used for composing electron?

what software do you love?
hardware?

any advice in general?

here is the studio (some stuff isnt in the pic).. which will get better with time and $$$.

Mackie board, mac book pro, m-audio interface, garage band, boss VT-1, microkorg XL, korg legacy, Korg Electribe mkII, m-audio midi keyboard, random microphone

will be adding a korg o1w/prox soon.

I have pretty much made my current education in this by reading every manual up and down and expirementing.... thats about it

[lhm1138]

Yes, pick a different hobby.

Sorry, just kidding.

You've got most everything you need already. Maybe some better monitors, those definitely don't look shielded and I seriously doubt they're flat for accuracy. Maybe upgrade to Logic Express if you grow out of Garageband. A better multi-purpose mic wouldn't be a bad idea either if your random mic says Realistic on the side.

[grantlandau]

pick a different desktop background. something that won't even remind you that daylight exists. it makes going outside too tempting.

[msl]

Since your on mac get Logic or Live, try the demos, Live would be good for playing out too. Without knowing your budget its hard to make the best recommendations. Treatment is important in electronic music yes. You should definitely get some monitors, and a good starter mic a se2200 or such, everything else you have sounds good.

[Jimmyfitz]

Thanks

Yeah, monitors are a must, I know. I was looking at getting some KRK RP5G2's since that is about the only thing that goes with my budget, they sounded good at GC. The truth is that I already have a good job, and the DJing will be just for the fun of it instead of for the money. Composing is the main goal though.
So my budget is actually not bad, but I am not about to go out and spend thousands of dollars in one day being this green. This is my list of things to buy, if I wanted to I could buy it all tomorrow... but as I said I'm easing into things.


what does it mean when speakers are "shielded" does that mean the EQ is all flat and balanced?

These are the items I plan on buying within the next couple months

-Add 3gigs, a bigger hard drive, and leopard to my MAC.
-Ableton live, or logic (dont know which one I want yet)
-Analog delay pedal
-Mixer for our two technic's decks
-monitors

[Jimmyfitz]

When it comes to electronic music..

do you use just an audio interface? or do you use a mixer and soundcard/interface?


just curious. What are the advantages and disadvantages? I having my mackie going into my M-audio interface into the computer via USB..... is USB all that bad?

i am running my mackie into this right now
M-AUDIO - Fast Track Pro - 4 x 4 Mobile USB Audio/MIDI Interface with Preamps

[b808]

Hey Jimmy.

It all depends on how you mix or plan to mix.

If you want to control your channels, eq them and process them outside of the computer and record them, then a mixer and interface combo will be want you want to work towards.

If you just want to track your drums and synths and mix and eq within the computer then an interface would work. I tend to stay away from USB if I'm unplugging the device often. If it remains plugged in for most of the time then USB will be fine, if its what you can afford fo the time being.

[b808]

Originally Posted by Jimmyfitz

Thanks

Yeah, monitors are a must, I know. I was looking at getting some KRK RP5G2's since that is about the only thing that goes with my budget, they sounded good at GC. The truth is that I already have a good job, and the DJing will be just for the fun of it instead of for the money. Composing is the main goal though.
So my budget is actually not bad, but I am not about to go out and spend thousands of dollars in one day being this green. This is my list of things to buy, if I wanted to I could buy it all tomorrow... but as I said I'm easing into things.


what does it mean when speakers are "shielded" does that mean the EQ is all flat and balanced?

These are the items I plan on buying within the next couple months

-Add 3gigs, a bigger hard drive, and leopard to my MAC.
-Ableton live, or logic (dont know which one I want yet)
-Analog delay pedal
-Mixer for our two technic's decks
-monitors

Monitors would be the first thing IMHO.

[wax808]

Have fun man Keep stuff simple. It's easy to go down technical paths which suck away your creativity. Some of my best tracks are just an MPC and a little Fostex recorder with a synth.


And don't EVER sell that VT-1. Those are dope.

[Jimmyfitz]

Originally Posted by wax808

Have fun man Keep stuff simple. It's easy to go down technical paths which suck away your creativity. Some of my best tracks are just an MPC and a little Fostex recorder with a synth.


And don't EVER sell that VT-1. Those are dope.

Yeah man my mom bought that about 16 years ago when I was just a little kid. Only in the last year or so did I realize how special it is... Plugging the guitar into it is fun

[msl]

Originally Posted by Jimmyfitz

what does it mean when speakers are "shielded"...

It means "shielded" from high frequency interference, so they won't mess with your computer screen, etc. KRK are good monitors and should see you through fine, get some mopads to isolate the monitors from your desk. Just keep in mind that you will definitely want bigger/better ones after a year or so. Do get the extra ram for the mac it makes a huge difference.

[SurveillanceP]

Learn basic room treatment concepts, and why it is so important, from Ethan Winer's homepage.

Then haunt the acoustics and construction section of the site for a week or so reading everything.

Then build eight bass traps. Then position them in the room, then position the new monitors you're going to buy in the right part of the room.

People who's posts deserve alot of your attention (just a sample):

Ethan Winer, Glenn Kuras, Rod Gervais, Bob Katz, Bob Ohlsson, Brian Lucey, Jay Frigo, Tony Belmont, Riccardo, every interview in the Q and A section.

-----------

Oh and yeah, have fun too

[Jimmyfitz]

Thanks for all the responses everyone,

I will look into checking out those interviews, posts, and websites forsure. Also going to do a mopad google search.

this is ganna be fun

[Popbott]

I would also recommend a good set of monitors and setting up some sound absorbtion in your room. Add some more cheese whiz and crackers too.

[XAXAU]

Get a decent pair of monitors. I love Adam A7´s but I totally dig the new Yamaha HS80´s as well. Great for electronic music.

Get a UAD2 solo card to get some nice color to your tracks.
My top plugins for electronic are:

* Precision Maximizer - No you don´t have to have it on the master buss for chasing volume. I use it on the synth buss and it gives a fat "analog" sound. You can also drive the input for nice softclipping, and it has 3-band mode as well...

* VCA VU - Emulation of the old DBX 160 VU, it sounds fat if you have it on synth channels at 4:1 with 5-10dB of GR and very snappy (if not the most snappy comp in the software world I have ever heard) on percussion. It transforms the bass into mid, low-mid punch and snap. It sounds amazing on hihats, toms, claps, synth buss, drum buss, echo/reverb buss. Even on the master buss just blinking with low ratio. Kickdrums sounds great going through it. Did I mention bass and vocals too?

* Precision Limiter - Superb metering with Katz´ K-System and sweet color if not pushed too hard. 2-3dB´s is usually right...

* SPL Transient Designer - Will make your drums and synth sounds kick you in the balls. It´s not an ordinary transient designer, this one gives you that magical punch without adding too muck to the peak level.
Can be used in parallel as an effect too...

* 4K Buss compressor - That famous SSL sound. Use 30ms attack to let the kick through and 100-300ms release for that in your face bounce. 2:1 with soft knee, 1-3dB´s of GR, yum yum...

I also love the Arturia softsynths. Get the whole bundle and you´ll be playing with them all day long...

Oh, and invest in some Realtraps, it will be the biggest improvement...

[Jimmyfitz]

Originally Posted by XAXAU

Get a decent pair of monitors. I love Adam A7´s but I totally dig the new Yamaha HS80´s as well. Great for electronic music.

Get a UAD2 solo card to get some nice color to your tracks.
My top plugins for electronic are:

* Precision Maximizer - No you don´t have to have it on the master buss for chasing volume. I use it on the synth buss and it gives a fat "analog" sound. You can also drive the input for nice softclipping, and it has 3-band mode as well...

* VCA VU - Emulation of the old DBX 160 VU, it sounds fat if you have it on synth channels at 4:1 with 5-10dB of GR and very snappy (if not the most snappy comp in the software world I have ever heard) on percussion. It transforms the bass into mid, low-mid punch and snap. It sounds amazing on hihats, toms, claps, synth buss, drum buss, echo/reverb buss. Even on the master buss just blinking with low ratio. Kickdrums sounds great going through it. Did I mention bass and vocals too?

* Precision Limiter - Superb metering with Katz´ K-System and sweet color if not pushed too hard. 2-3dB´s is usually right...

* SPL Transient Designer - Will make your drums and synth sounds kick you in the balls. It´s not an ordinary transient designer, this one gives you that magical punch without adding too muck to the peak level.
Can be used in parallel as an effect too...

* 4K Buss compressor - That famous SSL sound. Use 30ms attack to let the kick through and 100-300ms release for that in your face bounce. 2:1 with soft knee, 1-3dB´s of GR, yum yum...

I also love the Arturia softsynths. Get the whole bundle and you´ll be playing with them all day long...

Oh, and invest in some Realtraps, it will be the biggest improvement...

Thanks a ton dude

[zmoorhs]

The Logic vs Live dilemma isn't an easy one to advise on because it'll depend on your eventual preferred way of working, but if I were you just starting out, I'd go with Logic as a future proofing executive decision. thumbsup

[ScumAndVillany]

Tips
1. Logic Studio 8 is $500 and it will do everything you need, and Logic is the boss of midi.

2. Don't back your monitors up to a wall. It throws off the freq response.

3. Put up some foam on your walls. foamandmoreupholstery dot com is cheap. You don't have to completely cover every wall, just kind of spread it out evenly here and there until it gets slightly dry. Heavy blankets and nails are cheaper.

4. Get some basic powered studio monitors. A good starter pair can be had for $400 or less. And get a powered sub for a few hundred more if you can afford it.

5. Get at least one pair of nice headphones. Spend at least $100. Me, I like the
AKG K240.

6. Get the stuff XAXAU said to if you can afford it.

7. Paint the walls a different color and hang some art.

8. Do what you do. Write music. Record. Produce.

[themadnun]

Originally Posted by ScumAndVillany

Tips
3. Put up some foam on your walls. foamandmoreupholstery dot com is cheap. You don't have to completely cover every wall, just kind of spread it out evenly here and there until it gets slightly dry. Heavy blankets and nails are cheaper.

tutt

NONONONONONONONONONONONONONOOOOOO

never, ever put foam up in your room! kills of high frequency response and leaves all of the bass to just go wild


"Oh, and invest in some Realtraps, it will be the biggest improvement..."

+1 thumbsup

[Tomic]

get some good monitors and dont worry about the gear...focus on you music..

good luck!!

[Jimmyfitz]

thanks for all the advice

Originally Posted by Tomic

get some good monitors and dont worry about the gear...focus on you music..

good luck!!

yeah im trying to keep my wallet out of this... so it doesnt distract me from the real purpose. i get seduced by the glamour of just having a studio...

even the other night some drunk females were eating it up..

[Tomic]

i know what what your sayin