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Topic: Home Recording Setups? |
Matt Steindl
From:
New Orleans, LA, USA
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Posted 31 Jan 2002 5:16 pm |
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I am a member of the Fender Rhodes mailing list as well, and it seems as if about 95% of the people that post have pretty complex home studio setups. I assume that this is because a person who owns a Rhodes probably has some midi keyboards, and if you deal w/ midi, you are half way there.
Just trying to see how many PSG people record at home.
My system is based around a Tascam 788 24bit 8track machine w/ a hard drive. I then dump my stuff to cubase or cool edit. The only outboard gear I use it a presonus bluetube preamp and a rack compresor.
Let me know whatcha got!
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Mattman in "The Big Sleazy"-:
S-10 Dekley, Suitcase Fender Rhodes, B-bender Les Paul
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Jim Phelps
From:
Mexico City, Mexico
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Posted 31 Jan 2002 7:04 pm
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| I don't have anything fancy. I use Cakewalk Pro-Audio 9 with a little Behringer mixer on a Dell 800mhz with 133 mhz internal bus, CD burner, it does the job. [This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 02 February 2002 at 11:22 AM.] |
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Joe E
From:
Houston Texas
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Posted 31 Jan 2002 7:44 pm
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I think what happens is you catch it on your elbows and it crawls right up your sleeves. I mean you can't stop at a little.
I'm just now selling of a pretty elaborate ADAT set up with a huge number of outboard gear for a smaller DAW setup.
I currently use Tanoy monitors, AKG phones, (2)alesis 3630 & (2)DBX 160's comps, (2)DBX 286 & (1)386 pre's, (2)ART pre's, (1)Manley pre, (4)AB international 31 band eq's, Sony DSVP 55 4 channel FX. Phantom 2408 and Mackie mixers, DA30MKII DAT, Marantz PRO CD burner, Dennon Pro 790R cassette. I use a Alesis D4 drum Module for midi. Keyboards from Yamaha and Casio. Software: cakewalk pro 9 for midi and editing, Sound Forge for mastering, and slue of others for everything in between. Mic's from CAD (E200 and E300, Shure (57's and 58's),AKG (C1000 and 3000), Audio Technica (4033). A crown DC150a power amp, Rane headphone amp and MOJO stereo 31 band eq for the room..........and on and on and on...
Joe[This message was edited by Joe E on 31 January 2002 at 07:48 PM.] [This message was edited by Joe E on 31 January 2002 at 07:50 PM.] [This message was edited by Joe E on 31 January 2002 at 07:52 PM.] |
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Darvin Willhoite
From:
Roxton, Tx. USA
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Posted 31 Jan 2002 8:01 pm
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It's a bottomless pit, but a lot of fun. Click the link below for me and my Son's setup.
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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording
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Steven Knapper
From:
Temecula Ca USA
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Posted 31 Jan 2002 8:07 pm
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| I use my good 'ol Tascam 424, a Nanoverb and sometimes a 6 channel mixer. I'd like to up grade the Tascam to one of the Digital things someday, but for now ----- |
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Jim Phelps
From:
Mexico City, Mexico
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Posted 31 Jan 2002 10:30 pm
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| Nice! |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 1 Feb 2002 2:49 am
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Darvin, very excellent ! Several years ago I had a full Midi studio, Cakewalk, synth mods, the very finest DX-7 , 8 track analog tape ,32 channel board, effects , more effects, blah blah blah,nad pretty much used it to make tracks for our Church ministry. My good friend used to come over and we would laugh because it would take us longer to set up and prepare for the recording than doing the actual recording ! We both agreed that our purpose, to play music, became the smallest part of the equation. Well since then I left the church, sold everything, even the great old DX7( to a very good friend who can play the be-geezus out of it and bring you to tears with her phrasing ). Now I have a Tascam 424 , a couple of small effects deals ( reverb and delay ) and thats it .I feed the Tascam from my Laptop with either a CD or a BIAB tune , mix in the Steel and practice away. It takes me longer to put my picks on than to set this little system up ! I know you are all jealous ! And when all is said and done I gained an entire 1/3 of my rec room back after selling off all that midi/recording studio stuff. If I think I ever need to record anything of value( doubtfull) I will go to a small local studio and pay a few bucks..
TP[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 01 February 2002 at 02:49 AM.] |
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Joe Smith
From:
Charlotte, NC, USA
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Posted 1 Feb 2002 5:51 am
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I have a VS880EX, some mics, an old Ensonic keyboard, BIAB, and a Panasonic SV-3200 DAT.
After laying down tracks, I mix down to DAT.
I also have a CD burner.
It's simple, don't take up a lot of room and sounds pretty good.
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Michael Brebes
From:
Northridge CA
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Posted 1 Feb 2002 7:33 am
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| My home studio is based around two formats. I've got an old 2" 16 track that I use from time to time. Not as often as I'd like to since the tape costs $150-200 for 30 minutes at 15ips. And then I've got a computer based system using Cubase VST32 software. I've got a lot of vintage synths and synth modules that I control w/MIDI. Hammond organ and Wurlitzer electric piano. 24 channel in-line mixing board (48 ch mixdown). Mixdown to computer, DAT, or 1/4" 2 track. Hafler TRM8 and JBL4412 monitoring. Neumann, AKG, Sennheiser, Shure, RCA, Royer, Audio Technica, Crown, and Oktava microphones. A drumset setup for recording. Then the various stringed instruments and amps... |
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Matt Steindl
From:
New Orleans, LA, USA
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Posted 1 Feb 2002 7:49 am
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Darvin, your studio looks sweet!
Steve, when you are ready to upgrade to digital, the Tascam 788 comes hihgly recomended. The Roland/Boss stuff is nice souning, but the learning curve is pretty steep. The biggest asset of the 788 is that it is almost like using your 424. It is 24 bit w/ 8 tracks and is soooooooo easy to use. If youve ever fooled w/ an analog 4 track, you will have no problem w/ the 788.
By the way, I dont work for Tascam!!!
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Mattman in "The Big Sleazy"-:
S-10 Dekley, Suitcase Fender Rhodes, B-bender Les Paul
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Matt Steindl
From:
New Orleans, LA, USA
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Posted 1 Feb 2002 7:53 am
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Here is a link to my dream studio. They have prodeced the three best albums in the last 5 years: Flaming lips-Soft Bulletin and Mrcury Rev's-Deserters paradise and All is Dream.
Check it out:
http://www.tarboxroadstudios.com/
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Mattman in "The Big Sleazy"-:
S-10 Dekley, Suitcase Fender Rhodes, B-bender Les Paul
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Larry Bell
From:
Englewood, Florida
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Posted 1 Feb 2002 8:28 am
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It ain't the meat, it's the motion.
Remember that Sgt. Pepper was recorded on two Studer J-37 FOUR TRACK machines. I'm pretty sure your Tascam blows it out of the water, specs-wise (unless you want to get hung up in the analog/digital debate).
We often talk about steel tone being 'in the hands'. Production ability is 'in the ears'. Some got it. Some don't. All the equipment in the world won't make up for bad production; talent for hearing what sounds good and knowing how to reproduce it can transcend less than optimal equipment.
And, yes, I'm an equipment junkie just like most other steel players. Keep me away from your Neve 88R (yeah, right) unless you want slobber all over it, but don't lose track of the fact that the song is the thing. Great equipment doesn't necessarily guarantee a great product.
Just my opinion.
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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2000 Fessenden S-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Emmons D-10 9x9, 1971 Dobro[This message was edited by Larry Bell on 01 February 2002 at 08:38 AM.] |
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Matt Steindl
From:
New Orleans, LA, USA
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Posted 1 Feb 2002 8:46 am
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My home recording advice for beginners:
"Remember, the Arc was built by novices and the Titanic was built by experts"
Yes we have more technology/trackspace available than they had for Sgt. Pepper or Petsounds, but if ya dont need it all, dont use it all!!
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Mattman in "The Big Sleazy"-:
S-10 Dekley, Suitcase Fender Rhodes, B-bender Les Paul
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Allen
From:
Littleton, CO USA
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Posted 1 Feb 2002 4:39 pm
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Well mine is fairly new and not complete yet: Roland VS-890HD; Plextor CDRW; two mics (SM57 & ART w/preamp, getting ready to buy a C1 and/or C3000B). eMagic Logic VS (if I get it working right); Shopping for monitor's now, using AKG240M headphones in the meantime.
Like the man said "..a bottomless pit.."
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Allen Harry
Mullen D-10, 8 & 6
Nashville 1000
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Matt Steindl
From:
New Orleans, LA, USA
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Posted 1 Feb 2002 5:54 pm
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Allen,
Stay away from that C1, it is way overhyped!
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Mattman in "The Big Sleazy"-:
S-10 Dekley, Suitcase Fender Rhodes, B-bender Les Paul
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Jerry Gleason
From:
Eugene, Oregon, USA
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Posted 2 Feb 2002 12:38 am
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| Matt, What exaxctly did you dislike about the Studio Projects C1 microphone? I assume you've had some personal experience with one, to make a statement telling someone to "stay away from it". |
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John Lacey
From:
Black Diamond, Alberta, Canada
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Posted 2 Feb 2002 7:36 am
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| I've got a studio out in a shed, called oddly enough, "The Shedhouse". I primarily use a Roland VS1680 along with a Pentium 600 computer for mastering and my main mic is an Apex 430 condensor. I route some stuff thru a Mackie 1202 mixer and sometimes use a Panasonic 3200 DAT machine and a pair of Yorkville monitors for playback. I've done about 5 projects so far, not really radio airplayable yet I think that they came out pretty darn good, if I do say so myself. I'm working on a steel CD of standards right now utilizing Band in a Box thru a VSC88H soundcard software. That's about it. |
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Steve Stallings
From:
Houston/Cypress, Texas
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Posted 2 Feb 2002 7:37 am
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17x21 room....no control booth
Mackie 8 buss 24X8
Black face Adats
Alesis Masterlink
Lexicon PCM 60 Reverb
Lexicon Alex Reverb
TC Electronics M-One
Alesis Q2 (two of them)
Zoom Studio Reverb
Digitech Delay
Roland Delay
BBE 862
Digitech Harmony Machine
Behringer autocomp
Behringer Intelligate
Sansamp PSA-1
ADA Micro Cab
Mics from AKG, Audio Tech, Shure
Amps from Fender, Kendrick, Evans, Peavey
Guitars...You name it, I got it. Martin, Fender, Peavey, Gibson, G&L,Etc.
Emmons Steels
I am replacing my ADATS with a new 24 channel HD system. I still am undecided on which one.
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Steve Stallings
Bremond, Texas
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Steven Knapper
From:
Temecula Ca USA
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Posted 2 Feb 2002 10:40 am
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| Matt and Larry, Ya got a point there about tape. I've had the Tascam for 10 years or so and made some killer demo's, even live recording at the slower speed. True, it is all in the ear, but if you use good tape and keep the heads clean. I wish I had one of those old 16 track machines, didn't McCartney make RAM on one of those in a farm house after the Beatles?? |
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Jim Phelps
From:
Mexico City, Mexico
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Posted 2 Feb 2002 11:24 am
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| Larry Bell, I agree with you 100%. We'd all like to have dream studios but it's really the musician, not the gear. |
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Matt Steindl
From:
New Orleans, LA, USA
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Posted 2 Feb 2002 1:23 pm
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Jerry and Allen,
The reason I panned the C1, we A/B'ed one against a bunch of mics, from cheap to ultra high end, and it really sounded like crap. I was so excited to hear the "$200 Neuman" and was sadly dissapointed. This was a couple of months ago. I figured it might have been a bad one, so we played around w/ a different C1 last week w/ the same results. Basically the capsule is the same as all the chineese cheapies out there, but it is put in a fancy looking body. W/ the price on LD Condensors dropping, I think you would be better served spending an extra hundred and getting a CAD or something else. Beware of sheep in woves clothes! Dont always believe the hype!!!
Just my 2 cents.
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Mattman in "The Big Sleazy"-:
S-10 Dekley, Suitcase Fender Rhodes, B-bender Les Paul
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Jerry Gleason
From:
Eugene, Oregon, USA
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Posted 2 Feb 2002 3:30 pm
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Matt,
So you say the C1 "sounded like crap". Compared to what? What mics were tested in this "A/B comparison"? What was the sound source? What mic preamp was used? Too bright? Too dark? Too harsh? Please elaborate.
Sorry if my post seemed to have a little topspin on it, but I have a problem with blanket statements like "stay away from this or that, it's crap", without giving more specifics about how you happened to form your opinion. I'm not trying to be combative, I'm sincerely interested in your evaluation.
There are some great values in Large Diaphram condenser mics out there now, many for under $200, that sound great, and some that are maybe not so great. Most are generic Chinese mics sold under a variety of brand names, but some have custom designed electronics and other changes specified by the distributer, like the Studio Projects mics.
No single microphone is going to be the best for every application, every voice, or every preamp. For example, I generally don't care for the AKG 3000b. For most things I've used it on, and with most of the preamps I have available, it sounds somewhat thin and edgy. But I wouldn't say that it's crappy, because it might be just the right mic for a particular situation.
I think everyone should rely on their own ears when testing microphones. I always consider recommendations and negative reviews from people who have actually owned or used the gear in question. It helps me decide what to try. But statements like "Sounds just like a Neumann U87", or "Blows everything else away", or "Sounds like crap" are all just more hype, and not particularly helpful.
add two more cents...
Jerry
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Matt Steindl
From:
New Orleans, LA, USA
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Posted 2 Feb 2002 5:02 pm
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Jerry,
When you A/B something, it is irrelevent what the signal chain is. If you can make something sound nice on 5 mics. and the C1 doesnt even come up to the sound on a cheap Octavia mic. it probably isnt that hot of a mic. My complaint was that it was not warm sounding(as hyped), but muffled in the low mids, big difference! Usually some creative EQing can fix that, but on both of our tests, we couldnt get an acceptable sound.
Dont get me wrong, I am constantly looking for great sounding gear on the cheap, but like you said, watch out for blanket statements. My statement to stay clear of the C1 was AN OPPINION. I am a huge fan of CAD mics(as mentioned in a previous post). I love the big mid-range that they pump, they work great for what I do, and for my vocal timbre, but lots of cats out there hate em. Just my oppinion.
If you were going to buy a do-it-all LDC would you buy a C1? I sure wouldnt! Dont want to get in a pissing match about mics. We are all entitled to our oppinions.
You obviously are a big C1 disciple, why dont you let us know why they are so great? Are they really the elusive "$200 Neuman"? Let us know!!!!!
Not trying to start shit(seriously!),
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Mattman in "The Big Sleazy"-:
S-10 Dekley, Suitcase Fender Rhodes, B-bender Les Paul
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Allen
From:
Littleton, CO USA
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Posted 2 Feb 2002 5:52 pm
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Matt & Jerry, I am very interested in this discussion, since I am mic shopping.
My intent for this type of mic is not vocal, but acoustic piano,i.e. 7ft grand.
I am using the SM57 or the ART/Apex 190 to mic my Nashville 1000 for steel recording, but am interested in other options.
On the VS-Planet, the C1 gets a lot of positive comments, but the folks seldom say what it is being used for.
The C1000B seems to enjoy a large following. Also it is stated that Roland used it as their standard to create all of their mic modeling.
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Allen Harry
Mullen D-10, 8 & 6
Nashville 1000
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Bill Llewellyn
From:
San Jose, CA
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Posted 2 Feb 2002 9:26 pm
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My gear consists of...
Yamaha Dx7 synthesizer (which is also my controller keyboard)
E-mu ESI-32 rack-mount sampler
E-mu Proteus/1 rack-mount sampled sound module
Kurzweil K2000R rack-mount sample playback and synthesizer unit
Lexicon LXP-5 reverb, delay, and pitch-shift effects module
Opcode Studio 4 MIDI interface (8 in, 8 out)
Panasonic SV-3700 digital audio tape (DAT) recorder
Macintosh PowerPC model 6100 (with NewerTech 240MHz G3 card, 136MB RAM, 9GB hard disk, Plextor PlexWriter 8/2/20 CD-RW drive)
MOTU Performer 6 MIDI sequencing and digital audio recording software
Adcom GFA 535-II stereo amplifier
Tannoy CR-650 speakers as monitors
Infinity RS4 loudspeakers as parallel monitors
Here's my studio page:
http://www.rahul.net/thinker/studio.html
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Bill (steel not out of the woodshed) | MSA Classic U12 | Email | My music | Steeler birthdays | Over 50?[This message was edited by Bill Llewellyn on 02 February 2002 at 09:47 PM.] |
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