here is your budget...

[rod_zero]

think of muse but only synth based is the best way to describe it... dark, but I need all the sounds very powerful, so I need to brush up on how to make the sounds thicker and harder, so I'm hoping logic has all the tools to do that... It's completely amateur what I will be doing, I don't really care for acoustics (i'm not doing anything to the room) it's just for the fun of making my own stuff (should have explained better at the first post) I just need to know if I could benefit better from outboard gear that will achieve a thicker harder sound (or ozone vst maybe??)

Well it seems to me you want to experiment with sound. Not sure if you wanna make "songs" or just play and play for a while and the song will come later.

You will ned an audio interface (for getting the synths in, and the sound out the computer), obviously a pair of monitor speakers for listening it all.

from there it depends, software can do a lot depending on your objective. All those rack full of hardware can now be repalced with software (called In The Box production, ITB).

But you could also get a couple of effect and synths and record everything and develop songs in the long run. hardware effects (pedals) are fun to use and if you like to play more than "composing" it's the way to go. You can also use software effects but the lack of controls is not as fun.

Anyway, I think you need to be more clear about your goals, the way you will try to work etc.

personally If I had to start today all over again, apart from the computer, audio interface and monitors I will pick a copy of Ableton Live and Push.

Or maybe get one good polysynth as your Juno, a drum machine (elektron analog rytm) and a couple of effect pedals (strymon or eventide).

[cocoazenith]

This thread might be actually fun. So you already have: Logic, a Mac and a Juno keyboard.

Here is a fun list for you:

2 x Equator Audio D-5 monitors
1 x Elektron Analog Rytm
1 x Korg ARP Odyssey
1 x Steinberg UR44
1 x Warm Audio WA76 Compressor
1 x Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S49

And there's yout £3500...

[stillshaded]

I would say.. without a doubt:

pretty decent monitors.. (spend a grand?)
build some acoustic treatment ($500?)
and you'll need a passable audio interface. Presonus audiobox is 100 dollars and very decent.


that's it for now. Those are the only things that you will almost certainly not regret buying.

You don't need any outboard gear. Having a good monitoring setup, however, will make a bigger difference than anything else. You could use only 10 year old plugins and get fantastic results if you mix it well in a good listening setup.

[zerocrossing]

How is it that so few have suggested an audio interface? Get yourself a good one. Make sure it has enough inputs to accommodate your hardware instruments and probably a few mic preamps if needed. It will sound better than what is internal on your Mac and help you lower latency. (low latency is crucial if you're recording live keyboard parts) Some of these have built in effects that'll help take some of the work away from your CPU. Ask Uncle E about the Presonus 16.0.2 I just traded in. It's a good one.

Also, good monitors are very important. So is room treatment, but I'm personally not that picky that some basic curtains and a shag rug won't do most of what I need. I'm not producing commercial albums.

It is true that you will not really need any external hardware. Often it can be kind of clumsy to integrate into your DAW. Some instruments are starting to provide software based editors that help a lot. (Elektron seems to be doing this really well from what I can see)

Anyway, see if you can get the sound you're looking for with software. Try demos and put them through their paces. Ask a lot of questions here. One trick I use to get a "thicker and harder" sound is to use a guitar amp simulator like Amplitube and disable the cabinet, or use bass amp cab with a tweeter for a wider range of sound. There are really no rules, just try stuff.

If later you feel something is missing, look at getting an analog of some sort. Ones that I can recommend that are good for a "thicker and harder" type of sound are the Pulse 2, Bass Station 2, anything by Studio Electronics, or the Elektron Analog Four. Oh, they're kind of rare, but a good cheap analog mono is the Neptune 2 if you can find one. Really though, if you take your Juno 60 and run it through a plug in like Saturn (there are probably built in effects in Logic too, I just don't know them), or even the free version of Amplitube, you will probably be super happy.

[damargeo]

I love this place, you guys are great, I can't thank you enough for your support

[JonSolo]

Ok my turn, ha ha ha...

It really starts with a good pair of monitors and a great interface. I love Focusrite for the value vs the cost, but if I am starting over it would be with RME. I have my JBLs.

Oh heck, just look at my signature. Grab the monitors, an RME and Panorama. Logic and and handful of great VSTi's including the new Falcon, Spire, u-he's stuff and you are great out the door.

[FNG]

I would say.. without a doubt:

pretty decent monitors.. (spend a grand?)
build some acoustic treatment ($500?)
and you'll need a passable audio interface. Presonus audiobox is 100 dollars and very decent.


that's it for now. Those are the only things that you will almost certainly not regret buying.

You don't need any outboard gear. Having a good monitoring setup, however, will make a bigger difference than anything else. You could use only 10 year old plugins and get fantastic results if you mix it well in a good listening setup.

I agree. Start with this and see what you can do with your DAW. As time goes on you will realize what you might need that suits your sounds. Good speakers, aucustic treatment and an audio interface is all you need to begin with. Your DAW is very powerful and you can do a lot without 3rd party software.

[el-bo (formerly ebow)]

Get yourself a set of monitors. If you aren't going to treat the room, then don't go too crazy, especially with reard to the size. Add an audio interface (focusrite, or presonus, are a good place to start). Then add some headphones, and you're done

Forget software...it would be different if you were going with something like reaper, but in logic you really have a lot to work with (even more so with the addition of alchemy)

I'm not suggesting that you never buy anything else, but you will get much more from your money once you have worked out what you are missing

If i were to suggest something else then it would be an ipad. For starters you get the logic integration, but ipad's can now be integrated much more easily into daw's. Aside from that, there are a ton of really cheap, yet extremely good, apps that are really inspiring

If you insist on spunking it all up the wall, then add Reaktor 6 and
Omnisphere 2

[el-bo (formerly ebow)]

so good, i said it twice

[e@rs]

Focal or Genelec monitors. Room treatment. RME audio interface. MIDI controller.
NI Komplete, Soundtoys, FabFilter and Sonic Charge plugins.

Hardware racks are so 90s...

[thecontrolcentre]

So lets say this is your budget, you have a desk, a mac and logic.
What would you buy next?

An audio interface, a set of studio monitors and a midi keyboard/controller to start with. I like Genelec monitors and Novation keyboards, and am using a NI audio interface.
If you have cash left over, hang on to it until you know what else you need in software or hardware. Logic should get you a long way.

Hardware racks are so 90s...

Almost everything in my rack is from the 90's

[rod_zero]

My starter set up will be simple:

[sin night]

A decent soundcard, decent monitor and headphones. And a master keyboard (unless you can use your Juno 60, if I recall correctly it has no midi unless you retrofit it, and I still don't know if there are limitations on the implementation - velocity for example).
Some acustic treatment would be a nice idea (it's more or less of a priority depending on how good your room sounds).

I'd keep some spares for some additional software, but I'd also try not to cut the budget on monitors and soundcard. Logic has a lot to offer. Before spending money on additional software, I'd wait some time to learn the new speakers: I found that after changing monitors I pay attention to things I didn't notice before (to the point of changing my opinion on things and techniques!), so I think dangerous to make purchases during the transition period.

[stillshaded]

haha.. most everybody said the same thing. I think this is the first time that's ever happened.

[ghettosynth]

Good advice.. maybe I should just treat myself to a Jupiter-4 or SH-2 then.

Or Micro Brute and Ultranova, it's 2015, not 1985

He wanted a treat, not a light snack and a vegan cookie.

(PS: I actually like the microbrute, but it's still not an SH2)