"Upgrades" Where to go from here?

[demane22]

Hi ALL and please bare with me.

Every few years i try to upgrade some gear if the budget and wife allows it. I'm pretty happy with my current setup but feel there is always room for improvement. I currently have a small home studio setup that is Windows based. I currently produce and record hip hop, R&B type music. I have about $2K-3K to play with so please let me know what you think.

Here is a list of what I'm currently using:

DAW
- Pro Tools 9 (soon to be 10)
- Cubase 6
- StudioOne 2

Converters
- MOTU HD192 /BLA Analog Upgrade
- MOTU 1224

Monitoring
- KRK Rokit 6
- Presonus Monitor Station

Preamps

Purple Sweet 10 Rack
- Great River MP-500NV
- API 512C

Microphones
- BLUE KIWI


I'm pretty sure I'm going to upgrade at least my monitors to maybe like Dynaudio BM6A mkII's but any other solutions or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[Kabby]

What kind of music do you record?

[Kabby]

My B you already told us. Have you thought of getting a compressor for tracking with?

[dandeurloo]

seems the weak link right off the bat is the monitoring.

[007]

Can you be more specific about what exactly you would like to improve?
Many of us can look at your list and find weak links, but what are your ears telling you about where to improve?
Is tracking vocals an issue, is it the mixing, don't have that punch/smack/warmth or whatever adjective you wish your music had?

Point is, we all can find extra cash and get on the GAS gravy train, and there's no denying that's a lot of fun when those moments happen.
It's just that with the plethora of tools out there, software of hardware, it's so easy to buy the wrong thing, thinking that was the magic piece to elevate the game.

That said, I agree that your monitors, well, eeek.
I love KRK, but they're one of those companies that gets a bad rep based on their low-end models like Rokit and RP series.
Personally, I love the older V and even the newer VXT line, they just don't compare to the bottom-feeding low end line.
As for other monitors, I'm quite fond of the ADAM A7X and the new Neumann KH120.

You're looking good with your pres and converters.
Why you are using 3 DAW's is a but baffling, imo.
I'd rather just pick one and run with it, learn it to bits and keep it streamlined, but hey, whatever work for you.

Mics, I'm not familiar with the Kiwi.
R&B/Hip-Hop, I think a Sure SM7B or EV RE-20 could be a nice addition.

How's your acoustic treatment?
If you find your room is resonant, too many reflections that are creeping into the recording, treat it.
Bass traps, side-wall absorption, cloud above mix position, makeshift gobos, etc.
That line should have gone first, probably more important than adding any new gear.

Good luck.

[RonGherkins]

Why do you have 3 daws? I'm assuming cubase and studio 1 v2 cover almost exactly the same ground. Pick one. More than 2 is often overkill (and sometimes just one is the best).

Get some new monitors.

[demane22]

Originally Posted by Kabby

What kind of music do you record?

Right now i'm doing a lot of Hip Hop & Rap and occasionally some R&B.

[demane22]

Originally Posted by Kabby

My B you already told us. Have you thought of getting a compressor for tracking with?

I've been using plugins to get the job done, but it's definitely time to fill up this rack. I'm looking into getting something in the 500 series format.

[demane22]

Originally Posted by dandeurloo

seems the weak link right off the bat is the monitoring.

I agree, but i do love the these monitors for production. Currently using a spare bedroom with a walk in closet which is almost the same size as the room. With the KRK's i didn't need a sub and hoping i can get something like the in the BM6A's or the A8X. Hopefully i wont need a sub, i feel like it will be to much but i guess ill find out soon enough.

[demane22]

Originally Posted by 007

Can you be more specific about what exactly you would like to improve?
Many of us can look at your list and find weak links, but what are your ears telling you about where to improve?
Is tracking vocals an issue, is it the mixing, don't have that punch/smack/warmth or whatever adjective you wish your music had?

Point is, we all can find extra cash and get on the GAS gravy train, and there's no denying that's a lot of fun when those moments happen.
It's just that with the plethora of tools out there, software of hardware, it's so easy to buy the wrong thing, thinking that was the magic piece to elevate the game.

That said, I agree that your monitors, well, eeek.
I love KRK, but they're one of those companies that gets a bad rep based on their low-end models like Rokit and RP series.
Personally, I love the older V and even the newer VXT line, they just don't compare to the bottom-feeding low end line.
As for other monitors, I'm quite fond of the ADAM A7X and the new Neumann KH120.

You're looking good with your pres and converters.
Why you are using 3 DAW's is a but baffling, imo.
I'd rather just pick one and run with it, learn it to bits and keep it streamlined, but hey, whatever work for you.

Mics, I'm not familiar with the Kiwi.
R&B/Hip-Hop, I think a Sure SM7B or EV RE-20 could be a nice addition.

How's your acoustic treatment?
If you find your room is resonant, too many reflections that are creeping into the recording, treat it.
Bass traps, side-wall absorption, cloud above mix position, makeshift gobos, etc.
That line should have gone first, probably more important than adding any new gear.

Good luck.

I think i will start with the monitors and also do some room treatment. I will have to read up on this because i'm not sure where to start or if i even need it. I've always used two DAW's because ive always found it hard to actually produce in Cubase. I started out with Cakewalks's Pro Audio back in the day and moved on to Sonar. I recently switched to Studio One and love it. Ive always tracked in Cubase because the studio's i would visit where using Nuendo so it was really quick to pick up. I only purchased Pro Tools because some of the people i work with have many projects and sessions in Pro Tools so it made it easier for me to open a session and export it. I have heard nothing but good things about the SM7B and was thinking of picking one up too.

[Ryan Coke]

OP: That's some really good gear that you have. I love Studio One's stuff, I use Studio One Pro and it's absolutely great.

If there's one thing that i've sworn by for the last long while, it's T-Racks' Black 76 and White 2A compressors. Putting them on submixes and even alot of individual tracks works tremendously, because whether it's slight compression/ limiting or alot, they always seem to glue things together in a way that other plugin compressors don't, and with the White 2A, it's nice to have a minimum of controls to just put it on something and have it work it's own inherent magic.

[toolate4roses]

I'd say buy some books on acoustics or even just hit the acoustics forum here. Get creative and make sure your room gets treated, DIY style. You'd be surprised how much you'll save versus buying pre constructed treatments. It doesn't matter what gear your tracking through if you can't hear what's going on.

Next on my list would suggest monitoring. I personally love Tannoy, I use the precision 8D and love them to pieces but even the cheaper Tannoy stuff is still very good. For Hip-Hop I would also recommend a sub to reference through. Personally, I can't mix through a sub because I find myself cutting unnesasary amounts of low end but I find with hip hop alot the samples that make up the tracks contain massive amounts of sub bass that is hard to hear on near fields.

Lastly my final recommendation would be a nice tracking compressor. It's always nice to get as much signal to tape as possible and some people are more dynamic than others. My main tracking comps are the drawmer 1968 ME and the JDK R22 and have no complaints currently, quite love them. I see the drawmer in the classifieds quite often and can usually be had for around the $1000-$1200 mark

Good luck!
Everyone loves to burn money on toys.

[Doc Mixwell]

I say Mic's and Monitors! Upgrade the front and back end!!! But if your happy with that stuff already, than maybe a tracking compressor as the last poster suggested. The Drawmer 1968, or the JDK R22, that he mentioned, are both fantastic boxes for the coin!! For a LDC, that is nice for your style of music, and sounds great with your chain, I would suggest the Bock Audio 195 to challenge that KIWI and bring a different dimension/tonal response to the game. Then add pair of Focal CMS-50's to sit right next to those KRK's, and use the monitor controller to switch between them, so as to make sure your work translates perfectly.

Gook Luck!

[demane22]

Originally Posted by Ryan Coke

OP: That's some really good gear that you have. I love Studio One's stuff, I use Studio One Pro and it's absolutely great.

If there's one thing that i've sworn by for the last long while, it's T-Racks' Black 76 and White 2A compressors. Putting them on submixes and even alot of individual tracks works tremendously, because whether it's slight compression/ limiting or alot, they always seem to glue things together in a way that other plugin compressors don't, and with the White 2A, it's nice to have a minimum of controls to just put it on something and have it work it's own inherent magic.

The drag and drop features alone sold me. It doesn't slow down creativity at all...

[demane22]

Originally Posted by toolate4roses

I'd say buy some books on acoustics or even just hit the acoustics forum here. Get creative and make sure your room gets treated, DIY style. You'd be surprised how much you'll save versus buying pre constructed treatments. It doesn't matter what gear your tracking through if you can't hear what's going on.

Next on my list would suggest monitoring. I personally love Tannoy, I use the precision 8D and love them to pieces but even the cheaper Tannoy stuff is still very good. For Hip-Hop I would also recommend a sub to reference through. Personally, I can't mix through a sub because I find myself cutting unnesasary amounts of low end but I find with hip hop alot the samples that make up the tracks contain massive amounts of sub bass that is hard to hear on near fields.

Lastly my final recommendation would be a nice tracking compressor. It's always nice to get as much signal to tape as possible and some people are more dynamic than others. My main tracking comps are the drawmer 1968 ME and the JDK R22 and have no complaints currently, quite love them. I see the drawmer in the classifieds quite often and can usually be had for around the $1000-$1200 mark

Good luck!
Everyone loves to burn money on toys.

Great info, i really appreciate it all. I will also take a look at the comps you suggested. If i do grab something i would like to get something in the 500 series format. I have 7 slots to fill .

[demane22]

First let me say thank you to everyone who offered there suggestions.
Well here is an update. My wife surprised me and matched my cash to play with so i picked up a few things:

- Dynaudio BM 6A Mk II - sound great but i will definitely need a sub now
- MCU Pro with 2 extenders - Mackie HUI died on me
- Avedis MA5
- Great River Harrison 32EQ x2
- Serpent Audio SB4001

I'm looking to upgrade converters because i think I'm going to need more ins and outs. I'm looking at the Lynx Aurora 16 or the RME UFX which I'm leaning towards with a BLA mod. A sub, another compressor, and some DIY room treatment. When tax time comes i'll look into adding a few mic's.

What do you think?

[Jim Williams]

Here's how I handle it. If you buy something for the 'studio', spend an equal amount on a gift for your wife.

Trust me, that works. If you don't, expect problems...

[demane22]

Originally Posted by Jim Williams

Here's how I handle it. If you buy something for the 'studio', spend an equal amount on a gift for your wife.

Trust me, that works. If you don't, expect problems...

Trust me, i took care of her first. She just got $4,000 in diamonds and a new iPad. So she will be happy for a while. It actually worked out best for me because she gave me 3,000 for more gear.