Criticism welcomed for my budget setup

[earfreshener]

To keep this short and simple... my first post/long time reader/much respect - check out my new setup! I'm a 1 man band, my budget was small, expectations were high, don't regret 1 dollar spent.
Reaper $40
Fireface 400 $1,000
Radial JDI MK3 $180
Event ASP8's $1,300
AT4040 $300
SM57 $100
SM7 $350
Mogami cables $160
Axiom 61 Key $300
That's $3,730 so far.
With a little more saving, I'm looking at a "Son of Q Jr" Equitech for power management and a soft synth that is easy to use for rock (I play guitar). Oh ya, room treatment went smoothly with homemade applications. So far, so good. This setup has been fruitful, inspiring, and way affordable. Anything missing that I'll be desiring later? Please, do tell.

[FireMoon]

If you nip over to the SoundonSound web site and check the sticky threads under the PC Music forum there is a whole list of recommendations for free software including a pretty comprehensive list of free VSTis...

[AlexLakis]

You could probably get away with less expensive monitors, depending on what you like, what you're used to, and what you're looking for...Are you keeping your old monitors too for A/B?

Also, if you're looking for a guitar VSTi, I'd have to recommend Amplitube 2 these days...It's a little bit more of a CPU hog than Guitar Rig 2, tho, how's your DAW looking power-wise? I think there's also a new free guitar VSTi out there...haven't tried it...forget the name...it's probably on the list Firemoon suggested...

Good to hear you invested in some room treatment as well. thumbsup

Oh, and what are you doing for drums? BFD?

[CoteRotie]

Are you looking for a softsynth FOR guitar (or amp emulator) or are you looking for a softsynth to complement your guitar (Organ, bass sounds, etc?)) If it's the latter check out Cakewalk's Dimension Pro, it's pretty good and very versatile. Comes with a huge library of sounds, and many are quite usable.

Regards,

John

[GordZilla]

I'd say you are off to a good start amigo

You might want to look into a Radial X-Amp box for reamping (as a guitar player you might find this capability very handy)

Your choice of Reaper is also two thumbs up thumbsupthumbsup

[Audio Hombre]

looks good i guess the next question is what are you recording, just guitar or other instruments and vocals too?

[henryrobinett]

Cool! I like.

[earfreshener]

Thanks for the interest guys. Eh hem....
The ASP8's I'm using are a little more expensive then what I may be able to get away with, but the sound compared to others is noticeably better (to my ears) and it does great on the lows so I can squeak by without a sub (or so I think). The soft synth that I'm shopping for is not so much for amp simulation as it is for creating atmospheres and layers. My workstation is:
A single core AMD 64 3700+
1GB of OCZ PC3200
2 80G Western Digital 7200's
hooked to a Lanparty UT nf3 M. Board
powered by an OCZ 520W Powerstream
..not the newest powerhouse, but has taken everything I've thrown at it.
Drums are not as clear for me. I have been using Rebirth as a beat keeper, but I may move on to Reason or a stand alone machine. Oh, and vocals are in the mix too.

[Tommy-boy]

I'd keep the ASP8s. I think they're quite nice.

Perhaps down the road you can add one good pre to your setup.

[earfreshener]

Please guys, spill the beans!

[Aearth]

I agree the ASP8's you can keep for along time (no need to change them once you got them).
Maybe later get a decent channel strip, mics will do you for now (usable).
nIC