Hi guys,
After a few years off from playing music, I've decided to rebuild my home studio. I've read through a lot of the posts on this forum, which has been a great help. I'm leaning towards the following purchases, and still have a few holes in my plan, and would appreciate any advice from those that are more experienced.
I'm currently using an AMD64 x2 CPU, 2GB RAM, 160GB SATA drive, and have plans on getting a laptop in the near future, so I'm leaning towards a firewire audio device. I'll be doing a lot of writing music with MIDI (already have the MIDI keyboard). I'll also be recording vocals, alto sax, and acoustic guitar. I currently own Tracktion 3 Ultimate Bundle.
I'm considering purchasing the following:
PreSonus Firebox OR FocusRite Saffire
MXL 990 Condenser Mic (x2)
Yamaha HS50M 5" Powered Studio Monitor (x2)
Headphones
Preamps? (I'm aware both of the boxes above have preamps, but would it be better to run through a stand-alone mic preamp for a better sound, or just use the one built in and use the software to get a sound I like?)
The sound I'm going for is somewhere between Collin Hay and Ben Folds
I'm open to suggestions, opinions, or even alternatives to any of the items listed above. The goal is to get the most bang for the buck, so if there are comparable products that are cheaper (or even slightly more expensive but a lot higher quality), I'm open to your feedback.
Also, I haven't done any research on headphones yet, so this is an area that I'm really seeking help on.
Thanks in advance for any feedback.
Edit: I just read this thread over at the Tracktion forum about MIDI recording dropping out in Traction for the PreSonus Firebox.
http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=184635
Is this a common problem with firewire devices, specific to the box, or a Tracktion problem? MIDI will be a big part of the home studio, I'd rather not deal with headaches with hardware when trying to create music.
Rebuilding my home studio, please review.
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- Banned
- 78 posts since 29 Jun, 2007
IMHO the MXL 990 is a very harsh sounding brittle mic. In that price range the Studioprojects B-1 is a far better choice.
Also, consider getting a pair of sdc's, and for this on the cheap the Samson CO2's are great. A pair with shockmounts goes for around $130, and don't let the price fool you, these mics are industry sleepers, they sound amazing on acoustic guitars, ad drum or percussion overheads, and work fantastic on strings and piano.
Also consider picking up a couple dynamics, such as the standard SM57 Shures. For speaker micing, the Sennheiser e609s is great at $100.
AFA ADDA, the Firebox is a great unit, with 8 in (2 with pres, 4 line only and 2 spdif) and 10 outs (8 analog line 2 spdif). This means, with 4 outboard pres and a 2 channel pre with spdif i/o, you could track 8 inputs at a time, say 2 oh/room/kick for drums bass direct, a mic'd guitar, mono instrument and a scratch vocal.
I've had no issues with dropouts and midi with the Firebox, and I've had mine almost a year.
AFA outboard pres, expect to spend some money to get improvement over the Firebox. The cheapest upgrade would be the FMR RNP, 2 channels for around $500. However they are great pres, and well worth the money.
Make sure you have a dedicated audio drive, and for you this means FW as well.
Of course, before any purchases, IMHO the most important thing to consider is control room acoustics. A properly acoustically tuned control room is crutial to mixes that translate everywhere well. No matter what you get for monitors, if the room is poorly tuned, the mixes will suffer.
I've not heard the new Yamaha's but heard good things. I have used the KRK Rockit 5's many times with great success, and highly recommend them.
Stay away from a separate sub until your room is really tuned well. The afore mentioned Rockets have excellent low end reproduction, they do not need a sub.
AFA headphones for artist monitoring while tracking, the Sony 7506's are very popular, as are AKG240's. A good set of isolation phones, like the Vic Firth, are a good thing to have in the arsenal as well, and at $50 they sound great and handle even the most volume demanding player with excellent fidelity and isolation.
Also, consider getting a pair of sdc's, and for this on the cheap the Samson CO2's are great. A pair with shockmounts goes for around $130, and don't let the price fool you, these mics are industry sleepers, they sound amazing on acoustic guitars, ad drum or percussion overheads, and work fantastic on strings and piano.
Also consider picking up a couple dynamics, such as the standard SM57 Shures. For speaker micing, the Sennheiser e609s is great at $100.
AFA ADDA, the Firebox is a great unit, with 8 in (2 with pres, 4 line only and 2 spdif) and 10 outs (8 analog line 2 spdif). This means, with 4 outboard pres and a 2 channel pre with spdif i/o, you could track 8 inputs at a time, say 2 oh/room/kick for drums bass direct, a mic'd guitar, mono instrument and a scratch vocal.
I've had no issues with dropouts and midi with the Firebox, and I've had mine almost a year.
AFA outboard pres, expect to spend some money to get improvement over the Firebox. The cheapest upgrade would be the FMR RNP, 2 channels for around $500. However they are great pres, and well worth the money.
Make sure you have a dedicated audio drive, and for you this means FW as well.
Of course, before any purchases, IMHO the most important thing to consider is control room acoustics. A properly acoustically tuned control room is crutial to mixes that translate everywhere well. No matter what you get for monitors, if the room is poorly tuned, the mixes will suffer.
I've not heard the new Yamaha's but heard good things. I have used the KRK Rockit 5's many times with great success, and highly recommend them.
Stay away from a separate sub until your room is really tuned well. The afore mentioned Rockets have excellent low end reproduction, they do not need a sub.
AFA headphones for artist monitoring while tracking, the Sony 7506's are very popular, as are AKG240's. A good set of isolation phones, like the Vic Firth, are a good thing to have in the arsenal as well, and at $50 they sound great and handle even the most volume demanding player with excellent fidelity and isolation.
Last edited by audiorules on Thu Jul 12, 2007 6:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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- Skunk Mod
- 21249 posts since 10 Jun, 2004 from Pony Pasture
The Studio Projects B1 is a bargain, but if you're going that way you ought to consider their B3, with added directivity selector (cardioid, figure-eight bipolar, or omnidirectional) and switches for 10dB pad and HPF. Its frequency response isn't identical to the B1 but it's close. Drawbacks: costs more than the B1 and colors the sound slightly.
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- Banned
- 78 posts since 29 Jun, 2007
I didn't like the B-3 at all, it's more akin to the sound of the MXL, very brittle.
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- Skunk Mod
- 21249 posts since 10 Jun, 2004 from Pony Pasture
Then I advise you not to buy one. And I advise the OP to consider it and decide for him- or herself.audiorules wrote:I didn't like the B-3 at all, it's more akin to the sound of the MXL, very brittle.
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- KVRAF
- 16866 posts since 8 Mar, 2005 from Utrecht, Holland
C'mon AudioRuler, at the end it's all about taste and that differs. You've made it clear that you don't like how the B-3 sounds, but that says ziltch about what the OP will think about it. It's just an opinion for crying out loud.
We are the KVR collective. Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated. 
My MusicCalc is served over https!!
My MusicCalc is served over https!!
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 110 posts since 13 Apr, 2003
Thanks for the feedback fellas. No need to fight, I won't buy any product based on one person's opinion, I'm just looking for opinions from people that are currently recording. Food for thought, if you will.
I believe after more research I've settled on the idea of getting the Saffire. The on-board DSP and clean preamps are getting really good reviews on this product, and I found it local for the same price as the FireBox, which helps in the decision process.
I'm also curious if anyone has any direct experience with the Audio-Technica AT2020 and your opinions of it. I've read it's better than the MXL 990, but I again I understand this is just opinion.
I'm also still totally in the dark when it comes to getting some decent headphones for both recording and mixing. If anyone has any opinions here, it would really be appreciated. I'd rather not spend several hundred bucks on this is possible. I'll be using these until I settle on the monitors I want to use, which might be a while since I haven't moved into the room I'm going to be recording in yet.
Thanks again.
I believe after more research I've settled on the idea of getting the Saffire. The on-board DSP and clean preamps are getting really good reviews on this product, and I found it local for the same price as the FireBox, which helps in the decision process.
I'm also curious if anyone has any direct experience with the Audio-Technica AT2020 and your opinions of it. I've read it's better than the MXL 990, but I again I understand this is just opinion.
I'm also still totally in the dark when it comes to getting some decent headphones for both recording and mixing. If anyone has any opinions here, it would really be appreciated. I'd rather not spend several hundred bucks on this is possible. I'll be using these until I settle on the monitors I want to use, which might be a while since I haven't moved into the room I'm going to be recording in yet.
Thanks again.
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- Skunk Mod
- 21249 posts since 10 Jun, 2004 from Pony Pasture
Righty, time to split audiorules' trolling into a place where he can't get at it. Keep it up and you know what to expect next -- if you bothered to read the forum rules anyway.
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- Skunk Mod
- 21249 posts since 10 Jun, 2004 from Pony Pasture
Back on topic, some kind KVRperson long ago suggested I try www.headphone.com for good headphone reviews and other info. I found the Sennheiser 280 Pro provided a good tradeoff between cost and performance. Your budget, needs, and tastes will most likely be different, but their selection guide will give you plenty of choices and many ways to compare the available options.
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- Banned
- 9890 posts since 14 Nov, 2006
For FW interfaces, I'm quite happy with my Tascam FW-1804, which I found on clearance at a music store on Ebay. I still run my vocals and guitars through my ART tube preamp and it seems to make a difference, a bit warmer sound, imho 
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- Banned
- 78 posts since 29 Jun, 2007
[mod edit: audiorules / where02190, you were warned. Take a week to cool off. When you come back, use your original login. If after a week you still can't control your impulses it'll be permanent.
Spew deleted, to be posted in the same place where your other trolling went. The remainder of your post follows.]
Oh, and BTW, one tube in an otherwise SS preamp does not a tube preamp make. I've used those Art 'tube" pres, what a joke calling them a tube pre. They are noisey, colored, arse sounding cheap solid state pres with a 12AX7 stuck in the gain stage so they can call it a tube pre. Get what ya pay for I guess.
Spew deleted, to be posted in the same place where your other trolling went. The remainder of your post follows.]
Oh, and BTW, one tube in an otherwise SS preamp does not a tube preamp make. I've used those Art 'tube" pres, what a joke calling them a tube pre. They are noisey, colored, arse sounding cheap solid state pres with a 12AX7 stuck in the gain stage so they can call it a tube pre. Get what ya pay for I guess.
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- Skunk Mod
- 21249 posts since 10 Jun, 2004 from Pony Pasture
NP, debra. Playing chicken with a skunk is very, very foolish.
JWilburn, apparently I was wrong in my PM to you. Some people just won't learn. That's life, oh yeah, that's life.
End hijack. =9_9=
JWilburn, apparently I was wrong in my PM to you. Some people just won't learn. That's life, oh yeah, that's life.
End hijack. =9_9=
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 110 posts since 13 Apr, 2003
For anyone interested, I just picked up the Focusrite Saffire for $299 from my local Guitar Center. It's listed at $399 on their own web site, and several other sites I looked at, so the $100 savings made it that much easier to decide.
I also grabbed some Senheiser HD 280 Pro headphones based on a recommendation from Meffy and reviews I read online as a result of his suggestion.
Still haven't decided on a mic yet, and have to learn my software all over again, but hopefully I can contribute some music to the site in the weeks to come.
Thanks again!
I also grabbed some Senheiser HD 280 Pro headphones based on a recommendation from Meffy and reviews I read online as a result of his suggestion.
Still haven't decided on a mic yet, and have to learn my software all over again, but hopefully I can contribute some music to the site in the weeks to come.
Thanks again!