What do You Think of My Home Studio and How do I Improve it?

[jikky]

I would go solution 2 on the interface/converters. The other stuff I don't know much about.

[razorz]

What is your budget? The difference between an MBox Mini and an 002/003 is $1000. Do you not care what you spend or are these your extreme limits?

[mattstudio]

Thanks for the replies!
Thinking about it more... PTs is secondary. 1st priority is to track to Cubase 4 via good pre's and converters.

I mainly use PT's to teach students and to edit/ add more vocal/guitar parts after tracking drums and bass in a properly fitted out studio.

If I can track to PTs when necessary with say an MBox going in on a good front end, (that has decent DA/AD converters and pres) via SPDIF AND be able to use that aforementioned front end as my Cubase interface then I think I'd be sorted! To clarify - I'd only use the MBox with PTs as a big dumb dongle!

The TC Konnekt 48 looks good for my needs, esp with the DSP gear included. I don't really have decent reverb etc. and although I've stated that I primarily want a tracking studio, my ultimate aim is to able to mix too as my skills develop.

Any thoughts on monitors and is there anyone out there who knows the AKAI 1214?

RE: the budget Razorz: I'd rather have someting that works well and have to wait a bit longer to get the cash. I don't have a strict budget in mind but for the interface I'm thinking up to $2000.

[AudioFocus]

There are 3 really important things to look at here.

1)Converters -
Spend the $$ on decent converters. I would highly reccomend an RME Fireface 800. Without good converters you won't get decent recording or monitoring in your studio.

2)Mics -
Quality microphones are essential. Get a small collection going. Again, if you want any kind of quality you need to invest in it. Forget about all the cheap china mics and buy fewer but better mics.

3)Your Room -
Without a properly treated room you will have a very hard time mixing anything of value.

As far as PTLE or MPWRD goes, just drop it. PTLE is useless compared to Logic, Cubase, et al. If you must use PT just go HD otherwise you'll have all kinds of delay problems with plug-ins that will ruin your mix.

Just my $.02

[Stiff]

Originally Posted by AudioFocus

As far as PTLE or MPWRD goes, just drop it. PTLE is useless compared to Logic, Cubase, et al. If you must use PT just go HD otherwise you'll have all kinds of delay problems with plug-ins that will ruin your mix.

Never experienced that on any of my LE rigs.

[johnwayne]

Originally Posted by Stiff

Never experienced that on any of my LE rigs.

Not if you use URS CSP and still I don't have a problem with the Delay. I just move when needed. It's not really that big a deal. You just gotta listen as always.

[wakerickman]

I have a pair of the jlm baby animal dual's. A fairly straightforward build and great support from Joe Malone from JLM and the dudes at the prodigy pro forum. They sound great to my ears. Very rich sound with tons of gain. Miles ahead of anything you'll find in a budget desk. Won't cost you too much either,plus you'll learn an awful lot about mic preamps and general electronics. Seventh Circle Audio pre's are fabulous too! Happy diying

[AudioFocus]

Originally Posted by Stiff

Never experienced that on any of my LE rigs.

Have you ever CMD+Clicked on the display below your faders. It will show you how many samples of delay there are on that track as a result of plug-ins. Sure you could shift your tracks around to compensate, print your verbs etc. But it's a PITA. It's the one thing that kept me away from PTLE for mixing on the go.

[mattstudio]

Thanks Gearslutz.

This input is great AND I'd still love to hear an answer re my earlier question:

1). Is there anyone out there who has used or is familiar with the AKAI 1214 pre's/EQ?
2).What do you think of them and how do you think they'd work out as a pre/channel strip front end into a decent interface?

Next, regarding:

Originally Posted by mattstudio

Wish List:
A better interface/converters:
Solution 1). The BLA Tweakhead modded M-Audio 1814. I require Pro-Tools so its gotta be either Digidesign or M-Audio interface.
Solution 2). Getting a M-Box Mini or a cheaper M-Audio interface, using that for Pro-Tools and then using a better interface/ and or converters for Cubase.
Solution 3). A 003 with the BLA mod? Thoughts please...

Solution 2). is the one I'm going to shoot for. I DO need to use PTLE or PTMPWRD and HD is out of the question in terms of my budget and not desirable anyway. I'd prefer to use Cubase.

A friend who was an MBox owner just bought a 003 and will sell me the MBox on the cheap. So I'm thinking I use a TC Electronics Konnekt 48 or RME FF 800 for Cubase and when necessary hook it up as a front end via SPDIF to the Mbox for PTs sessions.

In addition to this I'll get some nice pres and mics.

BTW - re: mics - Knowing what gear I've got from my 1st post can anyone suggest a nice mic/s for recording acoustic gtr.
Also a mic for vocals for a style that is kind of akin in terms of tone and and punch to Tim Freedmans' from the Aussie band The Whitlams. Here's a quick audio snippet.
BTW Aussie Gearslutz, I'm not trying to compare myself to the great man, just laying out an example, cool?

Finally regarding monitors: Who'd care to comment on the Tannoy 6D's and or the Rubicon 6a's?

[Johnyc]

just a little input.....the JLM kits are amazing....the Baby animal is sweet....dead easy to build and sounds great!

[beau_mckee]

Originally Posted by AudioFocus

As far as PTLE or MPWRD goes, just drop it. PTLE is useless compared to Logic, Cubase, et al. If you must use PT just go HD otherwise you'll have all kinds of delay problems with plug-ins that will ruin your mix.

Just my $.02

LOL! If that swayed me to Cubase, i would say cigarettes killed my mother, and raped my father.

[YRLK]

I feel like a target stepping out in front of people with guns saying this, but other than the N72 (and supposedly the Jensen based one), I haven't heard too great of stuff coming from Seventh Circle. A buddy of mine has the A12's, and he does not like them. He only likes those N72's (as do I), but why buy something for only 1 or 2 good sounds? My API's beat the A12's, and there are other things that give you the N72 sound too.

Personally, what I'd go for instead is either an OSA or Purple 500 series rack, and then do some DIY Eisen modules for it (Eisen Audio, LLC). This way, you can mix and match things that you can afford with other retail classic pieces like the API's and and A-Designs P1 or a Great River or Chandler, etc. Plus, you can ALSO put in EQ's and Comp's from everybody else. Just look at the ridiculously low prices of the new Purple stuff coming out (Product / Purple Audio, LLC) like that FET compressor and the EQ.

Myself, I just bought a Purple Biz today to compliment two API 512c's and a custom Eisen with a St. Ives input tranny in it. That's my lunch box. I've got some other sounds (like a DAV BG-1, ADM 780's racked by Brian Roth, and a good ol' JoeMeek VC6Q), but honestly, 90% of the time, I plug into the lunchbox for one reason or another. *Of course, I like the simplicity of being able to unplug one thing and plug into another just to compare sounds for each track on each song.

All I'm saying is eventually, you'll probably want to have some better pre's at your disposal, and the 500 - imho - is the way to go. Plus, when/if it came time to sell anything 500 series that you just aren't digging - or if you need emergency cash, the 500 series has way more users than the 7th Circle. But again, the main advantage is that you can build Eisen kits and/or buy anything else that's pretty much an industry standard and mix and match the two side-by-side.

In my opinion, good instruments, good mics, and good pre's are the most important things to own in any studio because if you know THOSE sounds of your arsenal well, you can always keep those. Converters and interfaces and computers just keep getting better, but the basic technology of recording - at least, in my opinion, when it comes to mics and pre's stays the same.

Just my 2. Maybe start off getting either an API 512c or a Purple Biz, some sort of 500 rack or lunchbox, and buy a few of those Eisen kits - Jens, the owner of Eisen Audio, LLC - is AWESOME. Also... how much is that BLA mod? Either up your converter now, or save money to REALLY up it later.

Sometimes, mods are worth it, depending on how good the mod can make something sound and how long you plan on keeping the piece. But other times, it's wiser to save your money and get something really good.

P.S. Let me know if you're looking for a Purple Biz. I can probably still get you one for 600 bucks shipped. The guy I bought from has one more.

B

[chrisp2u]

Originally Posted by mattstudio

1). Is there anyone out there who has used or is familiar with the AKAI 1214 pre's/EQ?
2).What do you think of them and how do you think they'd work out as a pre/channel strip front end into a decent interface?

I had a MG1212 for sometime, and had also used a 1214 on a couple occasions. Think they were essentially the same for the most part feature-wise, but the 1214 supposedly had a more reliable transport (an achilles heal of the 1212 apparently... never had an issue with mine though).

Overall, I thought they sounded pretty good. The EQ seemed OK and somewhat useable, but nothing great. The worst part about it was those stupid proprietary tapes that were near impossible to find, and expensive when you did... as well as too short. Too bad they didn't use VHS tapes. I had read somewhere that they were trying to license the Beta format from Sony, but it didn't work out.

I think it's funny that Akai tried to pitch it as a "Portable Studio"... it weighs like 100 pounds and wasn't exactly a decent form factor to carry around given the size too/
---
c

[AudioFocus]

Originally Posted by mattstudio

Finally regarding monitors: Who'd care to comment on the Tannoy 6D's and or the Rubicon 6a's?

I've never had much expirience with Tannoys, however I would advise you to steer clear of the Samsons. A roomate of mine a while back had a pair and they were just awful. Bass heavy with a shrill high end. Depending on your budget I would highly suggest a pair of Focal Solo6 be. I picked up a pair for 2k USD from mercenary audio. probably the best purchase I've ever made. Also check out the JBL LSR series, not the ones with the meters on the bottom but the larger ones.

Cheers,
Creston

ps

just out of pure curiosity, who do you shop with over there in oz. Turramurra or Sound Devices. Only reason I ask is because sound devices was so helpful when i was in Five Dock setting up a studio.