1st post - 1st studio upgrade in years

[Rizza The Fizza]

Hey Guys,

Came across gearslutz a couple of weeks ago and been addicted since. Really like how helpful everyone is so I thought I'd post my questions here. I'm looking at upgrading my home studio for the first time in years, basically since I started home recording. I'm looking at making a large improvement with a decent investment but still want to utilise some of the gear I already have. This is what I am thinking ...

Already have Digi002 desk. Am happy with Pro Tools LE and the native environment. From what I'm led to believe, the current crop of I7 PC's are far exceeding any HD setup (been reading the Digi User Conference for this). With this in mind, I will upgrade the PC and upgrade to PT 8. Where I'm lacking is in monitoring and obviously the limitations of the 002. My thoughts are to purchase new monitors (Adams, Dynaudio, Focals have all been thrown around here), an AD/DA converter (Lynx Aurora, Apogee Rosetta, Lucid etc.), a bunch of external pre's (API, JLM, Chandler, Avalon, UA etc) and possibly another 2ch pre with SPDIF. I'll then ignore the 4 Focusrite Pre's on the 002 and the analog line ins, instead utilising 10 digital inputs with the better clocking.

I'm also looking at some sort of summing mixer (TL Audio Fat Tracker/Tubetracker etc.). I'll mix mostly in the box but want to add external outboard gear as I go so I guess it will be a hybrid approach. Will I need an analog desk for this?

Am I missing anything obvious? Any suggestions for improvement? Am I misinformed about anything? Please keep in mind that I don't want to go to Pro Tools HD, I don't think I can justify the expense (unless there is an inexpensive way of doing it???) Also, I don't think there are any great software benefits for me either. I will look at the optional production toolkits to upgrade track count in LE.

Anyone else running a similar setup who can impart their wisdom?

Many thanks in advance.

[Poorbutrich]

Welcome to the forums! Yes, gearslutz can be very addicting, so tread carefully... You've been warned!

No experience wit any of the gear you have mentioned, apart from Pro Tools (M-Powered). If you are comfortable with it, and don't feel limited by it, I say stick with it and do the upgrade to version 8. Lots of goodies to be had with it. I'm at the lower end of low end, so I can't really give my opinions on the hardware you are considering.

Perhaps if you could give some more info as far as budget, material to be recorded etc, that would get the ball rolling quicker. You didn't mention what mics you were working with?

Let me be the first to say, if you haven't done so by now, treatment would probably be a good place to start as far as getting a better sound. If you are going to drop the cash on some big boy monitors, you def wanna be able to do them justice, ya dig?

I'm sure lot's of the fellow slutz will chime in with ALLLL types of suggestions, so get ready to have your brain wrecked. Again, welcome aboard the slut train!

[Poorbutrich]

Cool ride btw... It's clean as a baby's buttox (b4 they do a #2 that is)!

[Rizza The Fizza]

Thanks mate,

I should mention that I'm down under so I'm talking Aussie dollars. I'd be happy to spend upwards of $10k-$15k to get the basics (new computer, software/plug-in upgrades, monitors, AD/DA, and a couple of pres to start with). I realize this is a work in progress (as most studios are I'm sure!).

Some mates and I are chipping in to build a purpose built area for our band rehearsals and our own studio projects with the intention that we could make some extra cash further down the track. I know the actual studio build is a different story which we won't get into here.

Will mostly be a rock studio - live instruments mostly. I already have a few mics which I'll expand upon in the future (Beta 52, 57's, Sennheiser 521 - kinda like the 421, Neumann TLM103, Fostex MC10 pencils - cheap as chips and sound that way!). I also have a DBX 386 dual tube preamp. Heaps of quality guitars, basses & amps etc. (Gibsons, Fenders, Rickies, Hofner, Tobias, Orange, Gallien Krueger etc ... the list goes on ha ha)

Ok hope this helps.

[twentyhertz]

Hmm. I don't get it, but then I'm not a pro tools guy. If you have $10K to spend It seems weird to me to buy a bunch of nice pres and converters and still be limited to going through an 002. Am I reading correctly that you'd be limited to 10 simultaneous ins? For live rock?

Maybe if you don't feel like using other DAWs you have to make certain sacrifices, but it just doesn't seem to make sense to me. Without being tied to digidesign hardware you have a bunch of really interesting choices about what you could do with your studio. Shrug. good luck anyway. I wish I had 10K to build out my home studio

[DeyBwah]

You COULD get that 002 modded via Black Lion Audio and your DigiTurd hardware would actually be usable. I sold my 002 Console and got a 002R (BLA doesn't mod the console anymore) for the mod. It has made a significant improvement to my whole set-up. Usable pres, better clocking, A/D, D/A conversions... monitoring.

[Rizza The Fizza]

Thanks for the responses guys.

Yes, my understanding is that I can get 10 inputs with the better converters and if I'm correct, the 002 can clock externally, effectively taking the 002 out of the equation (other than being a control surface).

When I said live rock, I meant tracking separately. I doubt I'd need more than 10 inputs at once, and even if I need to utilise the 002 pres for a guide guitar/vocal etc. that wouldn't be so bad.

Already looked into Black Lion. They don't mod the consoles anymore.

[j2dafo]

Originally Posted by Rizza The Fizza

Already looked into Black Lion. They don't mod the consoles anymore.

This may seem like more than you're willing to do, but ditch the console. Get a 002R modded by Black Lion, and get a control surface. That's about $2500 USD, less if you do some serious shopping. That will give you the brain your whole studio needs. Then when you get the Apogee or whatever you want for 8 more inputs, you'll have 16 high quality AD/DA ins and outs. You may not think you'll ever need more than 10 ins at a time, but trust me, you will someday. And where this setup will really help you is mixing. With a modded 002R and a good external converter, you'll also have 16 great outs to add external effects, comps, eq's, summing, or just good old fashioned mixing on a mixer.

What I'm saying is, doing a bigger redesign now (switching from the 002 console to a BLA modded 002R) will give you more and better options now. If you really have a 10k budget, go for it. You'll easily get the basics, including the BLA 002, a control surface, monitors, room treatment, a new computer, and probably money left over to get a few boutique pre's.

[j2dafo]

I forgot to add, if you can sell the 002 console for enough money, that will pretty much directly cover a control surface.

[twentyhertz]

Or...ditch pro tools and buy a A&H Zed R16. 16 inputs, conversion on par with Apogee (from what I've heard on these boards), excellent pres and onboard EQ and you have $8k to spend on some really great monitors, some color pres and everything else you're going to need.

Feel free to ignore my advice but spending all this money to stay with PT just seems nuts to me.