$3000 to put together a small studio - your suggestions please

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For being such a nerd when it comes to coding and computer stuff, I haven't really done much in the way of digital multitracking outside of some mucking around in GarageBand and Logic. I haven't really thought much about getting serious - where "getting serious" is defined as "spending some money."

Until now.

Anyway, so say I have $3000 to spend on a FireWire audio interface, mixers, "effects in a box" and various and sundry stuff. What do you guys suggest? I've got the computer already.

FWIW, I'm mostly a guitar and analog keyboard player and really have no clue when it comes to MIDI and things electronic. Help this 2" tape guy come in from the cold.

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Tuesday, 1 August 2006 22:57 (seventeen years ago) link

In the meantime I will resist the temptation to blow the works on a Rickenbacker 12-string and/or a AC30. While nice, they will not help me to record more.

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Tuesday, 1 August 2006 23:00 (seventeen years ago) link

I have a Presonus Firebox and love it. If you need more inputs there's the Firepod.

― Dan I. (Dan I.), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 01:06 (seventeen years ago) link

I suppose it's kind've last generation now though. The newer Edirol ones are supposed to be very nice.

― Dan I. (Dan I.), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 03:28 (seventeen years ago) link

Monitors! Make sure to invest in quality ones because everything you do will be heard through them, and they'll improve your mixing if they're accurate and detailed. Good converters are also important.

If you already have Logic - I'm assuming this from your post - then you probably don't need "effects in a box" like reverb. You may want to pick up an outboard compressor for your recording path.

What are you actually recording? Do you have a couple synths and guitars you want to get into your computer, or something more elaborate like vocals etc?

― DougD (DougD), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 16:27 (seventeen years ago) link

What are you actually recording? Do you have a couple synths and guitars you want to get into your computer, or something more elaborate like vocals etc?

Yes and yes. I've got a couple of non-MIDI keyboards (Farfisa, Vox) and guitars that I want to get in, and I would like to do vocals and the occasional percussion piece (not a complete set - just an occasional snare and ride cymbal).

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 22:27 (seventeen years ago) link

If you're recording things using mics - rather than just running a guitar or keyboard into a DI box - you should consider the room sound and whether acoustic treatment etc can improve things.

― DougD (DougD), Thursday, 3 August 2006 22:52 (seventeen years ago) link

Korg MicroKontrol. Don't really know what you want for controlling softsynths though, that's up to you. M-Audio low-end is uugggh.

Alesis Monitor Ones, I believe I've said before, are great.
The step-up Mackies (6"?) from the Alesis M1mkII price point are better.

I would get the mBox 2 from digidesign for my audio interface. I don't trust M-audio and everything else seems overpriced and overbuilt.

As far as FX-in-a-box, the only thing Logic can't do for you is, um. Some dynamic processing in the chain before your digital I/O might be just the thing to make your life not a total pain in the ass, though.

Take your spare change at the end of the day and get Ableton 6 when it comes out.

― TOMBOT (TOMBOT), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 16:44 (seventeen years ago) link

I use Alesis Monitor One MkIIs (the passive kind, I'm driving them with a 100W reference amp), and my only beef with them is that they can be a little too much on the high end. But for the price, they really are pretty good. I think the active versions actually sound a little better, but that's usually true of cheaper actives because the amp in an active is usually better matched to the speakers at that price point.

I wouldn't spend the money on the 6" Mackies. If you can afford nicer monitors, and want to go Mackie, the 8" monitors just destroy the smaller ones. I know they cost a good bit more too.

― martin m. (mushrush), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 17:57 (seventeen years ago) link

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