Help me design Home Studio/Production Suite

[mharmon1]

Hey Guys,

This is my first post, and I just wanted to know if there was anyone out there that could help me clarify a couple of things. First of all:

I was looking at the Digidesign 888 interfaces. Does anyone know if they work with the current Pro Tools 9 LE program? I can't seem to find much online, except for that they work with Pro Tools Mix systems (6.4, etc.). Also, do these interfaces predate MIDI, and if so is there a way to use another MIDI interface in conjunction with this while working in Pro Tools? If these will work, awesome, if not, does anyone know of a cheaper interface/AD/DA converter with preferable 8 ins that doesn't break the bank?

Secondly, I'm looking to buy a console in the next few months. I've had the luxury of getting most of my engineering education on SSL 4000 and 6000 series', Neve, Trident Series '65, Digidesign Icon, and Sony MXP3000. I'd love to find some kind of a console in the $5,000 range that I can comfortably work on that sounds phenominal.

Anyone have any suggestions for some kickass outboard gear that (again) doesn't break the bank? I'm looking into some Presonus modules, and I'd love to find an affordable 1176-style Compressor.

Any and all help is accepted, and I thank you for looking into this. I'm looking forward to building my first studio that I can expand upon.

[sporadicMotion]

Originally Posted by mharmon1

Hey Guys,

This is my first post, and I just wanted to know if there was anyone out there that could help me clarify a couple of things. First of all:

I was looking at the Digidesign 888 interfaces. Does anyone know if they work with the current Pro Tools 9 LE program? I can't seem to find much online, except for that they work with Pro Tools Mix systems (6.4, etc.). Also, do these interfaces predate MIDI, and if so is there a way to use another MIDI interface in conjunction with this while working in Pro Tools? If these will work, awesome, if not, does anyone know of a cheaper interface/AD/DA converter with preferable 8 ins that doesn't break the bank?

Secondly, I'm looking to buy a console in the next few months. I've had the luxury of getting most of my engineering education on SSL 4000 and 6000 series', Neve, Trident Series '65, Digidesign Icon, and Sony MXP3000. I'd love to find some kind of a console in the $5,000 range that I can comfortably work on that sounds phenominal.

Anyone have any suggestions for some kickass outboard gear that (again) doesn't break the bank? I'm looking into some Presonus modules, and I'd love to find an affordable 1176-style Compressor.

Any and all help is accepted, and I thank you for looking into this. I'm looking forward to building my first studio that I can expand upon.

Do a search on the forum, I'm sure you'll find everything from there.

Cheers

[tribedescribe]

$5000? For all analog why not check out the Toft atb 16? Its a excellent console for the dough. For analog/digital check out the Audient asp2802 console!

Outboard? get two empirical labs distressors with the brit mod. These have a opto la-2a mode and 1176 mode. All the pro's are using them. For more bang for your buck also get two dbx 160a.

Interface? depends on the computer, firewire usb pci?

Rme apogee lynx are good bets

[Kronos147]

Originally Posted by mharmon1

Hey Guys,

This is my first post, and I just wanted to know if there was anyone out there that could help me clarify a couple of things. First of all:

I was looking at the Digidesign 888 interfaces. Does anyone know if they work with the current Pro Tools 9 LE program? I can't seem to find much online, except for that they work with Pro Tools Mix systems (6.4, etc.). Also, do these interfaces predate MIDI, and if so is there a way to use another MIDI interface in conjunction with this while working in Pro Tools? If these will work, awesome, if not, does anyone know of a cheaper interface/AD/DA converter with preferable 8 ins that doesn't break the bank?

The 888's are limited to running PT 6.4. They require a Pro Tools Core card which mean that it would run Pro Tools HD 6.4. I believe LE is out, and anything beyond PT 6.4 is out. Also, I don't think they will run (the core card actually) on anything beyond a Mac G4.

With a G5, and try to go Intel to avoid painting yourself into an upgrade corner, you can run Pro Tools basically any version. For an 8 channel interface, if you have the bank, get Pro Tools HD|2 and maybe a 192. A respectable system, and the 192's are available in the used market for cheap (compared to what I paid for mine new!).

There are plenty of MIDI interfaces that will connect via USB.

Originally Posted by mharmon1

Secondly, I'm looking to buy a console in the next few months. I've had the luxury of getting most of my engineering education on SSL 4000 and 6000 series', Neve, Trident Series '65, Digidesign Icon, and Sony MXP3000. I'd love to find some kind of a console in the $5,000 range that I can comfortably work on that sounds phenominal.

What is the console going to be. You want a full on recording console with mic ins or just playback? If you want mic pre ins Toft may be your best bet. If you are going to use outboard front end that changes a lot. Bang for the buck consoles for your budget often means used. The used market dictates you wait for what you can find, when it becomes available.

I have a friend who wants to start building up a home tracking rig for primarily drums. I advised starting out in the box and get some mic pres with good resale value. Then, if/when he finds the console for him, he can sell the mic pres. Maybe this would be an option for you?

[mharmon1]

Thanks Kronos147, thats a lot of great info about the 888's that was unanswered for me in my looking around. Based on how cheap i saw them on ebay my thought process was that they were a bit out-dated and hadn't known about the compatablility info. I'll be running a Mac Pro as my friend and I are a production team working a lot in the box. That being said, i appreciate your suggestion of really putting my money in the outboard pres if that's what I'd really be seeking out in the sound from the console. I (in a perfect world) would at least just like to have the console to really practice mixing mainly analog. I would essentially like to have the capability of recording drums, and in either situations i could see myself loving either the Toft ATB or Audient series'. Since I am pretty much starting my own project studio (i'm graduating from Berklee), i'm now looking for advice as to where to start in the first few steps to getting the gear together to be competitive and marketable and find work. I'll look into the dbs', and i'll have to save a bit more for the Distressor stereo pair with the Brit. Mod's