How to complete this Home Studio Setup?

[Synchanter]

Just started a small home studio for fun. I have the following gear listed below. What other software/hardware do I need to make professional sounding tracks? Don't want to spend more than $1000 more. So just the bare essentials please!

PC: i7-4500U, 8GB RAM
DAW: Reaper
MIDI Controller: Roland A-49
Soft-Synths: DIVA, Harmor, Blue II.
Drums: Drumaxx

Basically, what software is necessary to polish a raw Reaper project into a finished professional sounding MP3/.wav? Do I need an Equalizer? Compressor? Reverb? Sorry, no clue about recording at all.

My interest is just making some cool electronica tracks. Analog type sounds as the base with some more modern, interesting sounds to make it interesting. Need to learn mixing or whatever to make them sound less amateurish.

It would be awesome or fun too if you share your home studio setups!

Thanks in Advance,
Synchanter

[el-bo (formerly ebow)]

Hi KVRers,

I just started a small home studio for fun. So far I have the following gear listed below. What other software/hardware do I need to make polished, properly professional sounding tracks? I don't want to spend more than another $1000 at the most.

PC: i7-4500U, 8GB RAM
DAW: Reaper
MIDI Controller: Roland A-49
Soft-Synths: DIVA, Harmor, Blue II.
Drums: Drumaxx

Basically, I need to know what software is necessary to polish a raw Reaper project into a finished professional track. Do I need an Equalizer? Compressor? Reverb? Sorry, no clue about recording at all.

My interest is just making some cool electronica tracks. Analog type sounds as the base with some more modern, interesting sounds to make it interesting.

It would be awesome or fun too if you share your home studio setups!

Thanks in Advance,
Synchanter

as long as you have something to hear it all with, i wouldn't get anything else

you have great synths, and a capable daw. the effects in reaper may be all you ever need, but at least learn them to see if you find anything lacking

maybe it would be wise to invest in some video tutorials

groove3 have a handful of reaper tutorials

http://www.groove3.com/str/reaper-4-explained.html

groove3 also currently have cheap monthly subscriptions (cancel any time), which give you access to all tut's.this would allow you to check tutorials on compression, eq etc, which will give you understanding of using effects. you could even follow one of their genre production courses

macprovideo offer a similar service, and have a 'diva' tutorial

https://www.macprovideo.com/tutorial/diva-demystified

and some reaper tut's

https://www.macprovideo.com/tutorials/r ... pplication

you are in the enviable position of starting out with a handful of great tools, while not getting overloaded with lists of plugs that you may never really need

at least spend some time working out i you even enjoy doing it all

p.s. that whole 'professional' thing is a whole can of worms. don't get fooled into the idea that professionals need expensive plugs etc. while certain plugs do offer different features, and workflows etc, a true professional would be able to eek great results out of standard daw plugs.

[arkmabat]

FL Studio throws a master limiter on the end of a default project. What kind of speakers do you have? Do you want an audio interface? Spline EQ is very cheap if you're looking for an EQ.

[Synchanter]

Thanks El-bo for the links, will look at them. Studying Reaper and my soft synths is really interesting.

FL Studio throws a master limiter on the end of a default project. What kind of speakers do you have? Do you want an audio interface? Spline EQ is very cheap if you're looking for an EQ.

Don't want to change DAWs or get speakers. But headphone (I have $10 earphones) and audio interface and other software recommendations wanted. Thanks for suggestion of Spline, I go check it out.

I see in forums lots of people talking about Valhalla Reverb, is it that good? Also I tried CamelPhat and VintageWarmer and they gave me SERIOUS GAS.
OK folks, what are your MUST HAVE software for mixing and mastering?

[G-Sun]

But headphone (I have $10 earphones) and audio interface and other software recommendations wanted. Thanks for suggestion of Spline, I go check it out.

If you know what your doing, you could come a long way with these earbuds:
http://en-de.sennheiser.com/stereo-ear- ... nes-mx-170

Look up some good free vsts.
(You don't need anything else at the moment)

Make some music

[Synchanter]

Thanks for the suggestions! OK, so what do you guys think of this lineup?
PC: i7-4500U, 8GB RAM
DAW: Reaper
MIDI Controller: Roland A-49
Soft-Synths: DIVA, Harmor, Blue II.
Drums: Drumaxx

Audio Interface: ?
Effects: CamelPhat?
Compressor: VintageWarmer2?
Limiter: ?
EQ: Spline EQ?
Headphones: Sennheiser MX-170?

[el-bo (formerly ebow)]

earbuds are good for checking how your mix might be heard by many, were you to release your music. i wouldn't use them for creating or mixing though

some well-regarded budget cans

http://www.head-fi.org/products/superlux-hd-681

a simple focusrite interface would do a great job, but unless you are powering heavy-duty equipment, or recording mic's or other instruments, then you're probably ok with the audio on your computer.

not sure about the quality of reapers 'verbs, so maybe worth asking reaper users (cockos forum, perhaps). if you do find them lacking, then valhalla's plugs are a great recommendation

i honestly wouldn't bother spending on any eq's. save the money. maybe one day you'll invest in one of the uber-eq's, or some character stuff

i am answering you with the benefit of my own hindsight (and of many others on this forum) learn to use what you have. in the right hands, hit records could be made with less than you currently have. so buy some headphones, plug them in, start making music, and re-evaluate if you find something lacking

[tehlord]

Buy a Steinberg UR22 and a pair of JBL LSR305s

In your OP you ask what software you need to create a quality finished product. The answer is you already have more than you need to do so. The 'magic' comes from good monitoring and much, much practice.

You could also add a pair of decent monitoring headphones and still have change from $1k

[G-Sun]

Reverb: Reaper has an excellent convolution reverb, Reaverb.
Grab some nice IR-files, like here:
http://www.voxengo.com/impulses/
http://www.samplicity.com/bricasti-m7-i ... responses/

and free verbs like here:
http://music.tutsplus.com/articles/15-t ... --audio-35

And other stuff:
http://geir-music.blogspot.no/2014/02/g ... undle.html
(my blog)

As the others say: Don't waste your time and money on more software.
Use what you have

[Synchanter]

Ah ok thanks guys. Got a clear game plan on what to buy now.

$50 for Cans and $25 for Spline EQ wouldn't set me back much.
No immediate need for audio interface yet.
For time being, I just rely on ReaComp, ReaVerb and such.
I was pleased to see ReaComp has quite a good rep!

However, I must admit a big weakness for PSPaudioware stuff after trying their demos.
DOWN GAS. OK I go concentrate on music now, not this technical stuff.

[el-bo (formerly ebow)]

Ah ok thanks guys. Got a clear game plan on what to buy now.

$50 for Cans and $25 for Spline EQ wouldn't set me back much.
No immediate need for audio interface yet.
For time being, I just rely on ReaComp, ReaVerb and such.
I was pleased to see ReaComp has quite a good rep!

However, I must admit a big weakness for PSPaudioware stuff after trying their demos.
DOWN GAS. OK I go concentrate on music now, not this technical stuff.

good job. have fun, and let us know how you get on

[Synchanter]

Thanks, appreciate this community.
Getting started in electronic music has taken a while and been all quite technical.
All researching what software to use, reading up how to use it, and twiddling knobs and sliders.
Looking forward to getting back to music and sharing and commenting on each others' music.

[G-Sun]

Good.

Audio interface: You'll probably need something else than your stock pc/laptop interface.
But for your immediate needs, you could do fine with what you have.

[Mivo]

ReaEQ is very good (just not pretty), so I'd probably not have bought another one, but it won't hurt having more than one. I would spend any extra money on the Groove3.com tutorials, as mentioned. The mixing and mastering series is also Reaper-based.

Oh, and yes, an audio interface. The UR22 or the Scarlett 2i2 are excellent for how little they cost.

[arkmabat]

Thanks El-bo for the links, will look at them. Studying Reaper and my soft synths is really interesting.

FL Studio throws a master limiter on the end of a default project. What kind of speakers do you have? Do you want an audio interface? Spline EQ is very cheap if you're looking for an EQ.

Don't want to change DAWs or get speakers. But headphone (I have $10 earphones) and audio interface and other software recommendations wanted. Thanks for suggestion of Spline, I go check it out.

I see in forums lots of people talking about Valhalla Reverb, is it that good? Also I tried CamelPhat and VintageWarmer and they gave me SERIOUS GAS.
OK folks, what are your MUST HAVE software for mixing and mastering?

I don't like spending money but Valhalla Room made me rethink what I thought reverb even was or how good it could be. Well worth the $50.