My Mobile Recording Studio

[Gizzmo0815]

Ok so it's not really a Mobile Recording "Studio". It's a mobile recording rig. I thought you guys might be interested in what I've put together.

I'm in the military so I travel to a lot of places that are...austere...to say the least. But I'm also a musician, so my heart is torn between two loyalties! My country and my music! It's tragic...

...But I've put together a solution for my next deployment (coming soon).

I bought myself a Samsung NC10 Netbook last year that I've been using extensively when I travel. It's awesome. No, not powerful, but awesome nonetheless. So I says to myself: "Self. This might be useful for your music."

And then I downloaded Reaper. A program I'm sure we're all familiar with here (if not, but it's a really powerful little beast of an application for recording/mixing audio and MIDI).

And I went out and laid hands on two pieces of gear. The Akai LPK25, and the LPD8. Which are both USB MIDI controllers of the keyboard and MPC variety respectively. They're small, and they fit into my backpack with my netbook.

I've got a Line 6 UX1 which has a line in for guitar. And a mic input (XLR) as well as a small phantom power unit that can plug directly into the UX1.

I'll take along my AT2020 condenser, a tripod desk stand to mount it on, the smallest Phantom Power unit I could find, two 3 foot XLR cables, and a 6 foot TRS cable for my...

Baby Taylor with Dean Markley ProMag acoustic pickup!

Lastly, my ATH-M50 headphones will give me the output I need to hear what I'm trackin'.

With the exception of the Baby Taylor, everything listed above will fit into my trusty old backpack.

For plugins I chose the best low CPU synths I could find and a few specifically for filling in bass lines. The included VST and JS plugins that come with Reaper...

...and there you have it!

I'm hoping that while I'm gone, living in my trailer, surely missing my lovely wife, I'll be able to write on my off time and then when I get back get the songs completed and released to friends and family, or anyone else who wants to listen, no charge...I just do it for the love of the music. Hopefully in time for next Christmas

Or...it'll all get stolen and I'll be up a creek without a paddle. Ha!!

What do you think?

[Eric Pederson]

Sounds like a good way to keep in touch with your music WHILE serving your country!

As for getting it stolen... Some pieces of gear are coming out with the Kensington locking system (maybe on the computer)... Might be able to security cable stuff together?

Maybe camoflogue the gear in other packaging...

Good luck with your recording!

[BlueFireStudio]

Giz
your rig sounds nice.
I too, am in the military (Marines) and I too travel alot (I feel your pain).
Here is my mobile rig that I use:
MacBook Pro
Logic 9
Apogee One
Table top Mic Stand w/boom arm
CAD Trion 6000 (for vocals)
OWC 500GB 7200rpm external (Smallest eSATA/FW drive I could find)
Baby Taylor (I use the internal condenser on the Apogee One to track)

It's extremely portable and for the most part fits in my laptop bag, except for the mic stand (in my suitcase) and my guitar.

[Gizzmo0815]

I haven't received my Baby Taylor yet. How do you like it?

I plan on recording with the mic if I get some quiet, but I thought it might be nice to have that pickup as another option.

The Apogee is certainly an awesome option for you Apple dudes. I WISH it was compatible with PC.

[captainate]

The baby taylor is a great guitar, although if you're a real stickler for sound quality and ultimate playability it will require a fret dressing and lowering the bridge saddle/nut (find a good luthier).

As with all acoustics, it's important to watch humidity and temperature. They coat the baby taylor in a thick polyurethane finish and it WILL bubble and crack if you're not careful. I'm getting very close to stripping and refinishing it in lacquer!!

Sorry if I'm hijacking