Can you help make sure this is right?

[razed]

So, I'm new at this. I'm overwhelmed by the amount of stuff there is to learn. Anyway, to my question. I want to get a home recording/producing setup as a hobby. I'd play guitar, bass, keys, and hopefully get fairly proficient with some beat software. The key here is that it's just a hobby. I've been reading through guides, wanting to build this from scratch, but I'd like to go over it with you guys before I purchase anything, because I want to make sure I do this right.

My main goal is to be able to do some dub reggae; play all my tracks simultaneously and adjust each track in real time on the mixer. Does this make sense? Please forgive my lack of terminology here.

• Sound Card:
  Newegg.com - M-AUDIO Audiophile 2496 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface 4-In-4-Out Audio Card with MIDI and Digital I-O - Sound Cards

• Computer:
  Newegg.com - Recertified: IBM ThinkCentre A50P(8193A3U) Pentium 4 2.40GHz 512MB DDR 40GB Intel Extreme Graphics 2 Windows XP Professional

• Mixer:
  Buy Behringer EURORACK UB1222FX-PRO Mixer online at Musician's Friend

• Reverb/Echo Processor:
  Lexicon MX200 Dual Reverb/Effects Processor and more Multi Effects at GuitarCenter.com.

I know the computer is minimal, but I have enough extra RAM laying around to get it up to 2 gigs, and I also have a spare monitor. I also know that I'd need monitors and mics eventually, but given that most of what I want to do is instrumental (plus the amount of time it's going to take to get started learning how to use all this), I'm not too worried about getting those immediately. So, with all that being said, would this setup allow me to do what I want? Am I leaving anything out?

Thanks in advance.

[tacman7]

I'd say start small and learn as you go.

You don't have a computer now?

I hate notebooks but that's just me, some people like them for audio.
Where are you going to put this pci card on your notebook.

You need a mixer? You can do everything in the computer, but some like a mixer.

I would also wait about buying an fx processor till you get things setup.

Other than that...

[razed]

I do have a computer now, and some very basic recording equipment and software that I've always used. My goal for getting new equipment is to make a dedicated recording/producing system, thus why I'm getting a new computer (Also, that's not a notebook, it's a desktop ). I want a desktop mixer because, frankly, I like having knobs to turn and sliders to slide.

Besides, most of my projects are going to be dub, so I'd really like to run all my tracks through the mixer, and adjust them in real time. Would this setup do it?

I've also been thinking of getting this audio interface instead of a soundcard: Emu 0404 USB 2.0 Audio/MIDI Interface from zZounds.com!

What do you think?

[tacman7]

Sorry, I saw IBM think- and stopped reading. If your going to save up for a music computer I would get at least a duo with E8400 chip in it. But that's a whole lot more than what your looking at. Is it better than what your using?
There's still a lot you can do with older computers. I was making good music with my P1 166mx computer and a SW1000XG sound card.

If you want a PCI audio interface look through these:

PCI Sound Cards : JRRshop.com


The trend is towards control surfaces for real knobs, to control your software.
If you want to run all your tracks out to a mixer and back again you need a lot of I/O which the cards your looking at don't have.

Just sounds like your taking on too much at once when you could focus on one thing at a time, like getting the interface you want then later get the computer you want and so on.

[tatteredstudios]

The computer you've picked out does not have enough ram, you need at least 1 gig at minimum, preferably 2....

You should check out this sites' Soundcard Wizard for help in selecting a soundcard, you don't really need a mixer, save the money and buy a better soundcard.

Your reverb and effects can be handled from your software as well

Good luck !!!

[razed]

Originally Posted by tacman7

Just sounds like your taking on too much at once when you could focus on one thing at a time, like getting the interface you want then later get the computer you want and so on.

Oh, I agree, and that's what I plan on doing. Buying it piece by piece, and adding as I go along. But I figure I might as well plan out my whole system now, before I start any purchases. In the past I've made the mistake of not planning things out, so I end up with incompatible stuff. I want to do it right this time!

It's been suggested to me that an audio interface would work a little better, and I have to admit I like the portability. Plus they seem to have more ins&outs.

So what if I adjusted my system and went with this:

1. Computer:
   Newegg.com - Recertified: IBM ThinkCentre A50P(8193A3U) Pentium 4 2.40GHz 512MB DDR 40GB Intel Extreme Graphics 2 Windows XP Professional
   
2. Mixer:
   Buy Behringer EURORACK UB1222FX-PRO Mixer online at Musician's Friend
   
3. Audio Interface:
   Emu 0404 USB 2.0 Audio/MIDI Interface from zZounds.com!
   
4. Echo/Reverb Processor:
   Lexicon MX200 Dual Reverb/Effects Processor and more Multi Effects at GuitarCenter.com.

Would that allow for the real-time mixing I want?

To get more detailed on what I've got and what I want to do: I've got electric & acoustic guitars, bass guitar, USB keyboard. I'll get a decent mic eventually to record those strange sounds you hear in dub sometimes, but it's not a priority. I don't play drums, so I'll hopefully be able to reproduce some acceptable drum beats on software. I'll record one track at a time (it's just me by myself), so I know the mixer isn't technically necessary. But, I do want the ability to mix in real-time... "play" my mixer, so to speak... over anything else, due to the nature of the type of music I make. I don't even know if this is possible, which is why I'm poking around this forum, asking newbie questions!

To get an idea of the kind of music I want to make, if you want, head to pandora.com or something and type in King Tubby, Scientist, August Pablo, Mad Professor, Lee "Scratch" Perry, or someone like that. Those are great examples of old school dub music.

Thanks for the replies, dude. I appreciate your help on this. It's so overwhelming by myself!

[tacman7]

I think the main thing you need - to get into this whole home recording thing -
Is to get into it.

The planning you do now, with what you know now is going to be limited by what you know. You can make better plans as you go and learn as far as specifics.

Buy an interface and get doing it.

By interface I mean the interface that you need to connect your analog world to the digital world of the computer. That can be in the form of a external box using firewire or USB to connect to the computer or an actual card you put inside the computer as you have listed.

There are so many and you can read alot about them but ultimately the only way to really learn about something is to buy it and use it. The school of hard knocks.
Then you really know, "Hey it would be good if it had this or that on it"

The entry level interface you have listed or the 1212 would be a good way to learn especially learning the software that comes with them.

When you want something more you can sell it on ebay and move up.

Of course it is also good advice to get something as good as you can afford. Like when I bought my mic preamp, the reviews said it was sounded like unit's costing 3-4 times as much. You can't believe everything you read but there is a lot of good information on the web, I trust the reviewers at sound on sound magazine more than most, but I read them all before I buy.

Decide if you want firewire(if you have a firewire port on your computer), USB, or PCI/PCIe. Then look at what's available:

Audio Interfaces | Sweetwater.com

And search for the best deal or buy used.

[brandondrury]

There is some redundancy in your list of possible gear.

First off you don't need a mixer if you buy an audio interface with built in preamps. I can't help but think there is a more economical way that would cut out the mixer completely.

Check this out: Home Recording Soundcard Wizard / Audio Interface Search Tool

Secondly, that hardware reverb box isn't going to do you any good because you are going to be mixing in the box with plugins. It's possible to use that hardware box, but it requires a dramatically more elaborate setup than you've got here. So save that money for reverb plugins.

Lastly, Check out this rebate:
Musician's Friend - Instant Rebates

Brandon

[razed]

Actually, Brandon, I checked that out and some of your members only articles after my last post here, and I've decided on a different setup. I've ordered the computer, but nothing else, so tell me if you still think something is redundant.

• Computer:
  Newegg.com - Recertified: IBM ThinkCentre A50P(8193A3U) Pentium 4 2.40GHz 512MB DDR 40GB Intel Extreme Graphics 2 Windows XP Professional
  (Memory: Newegg.com - Patriot Signature 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) System Memory - Desktop Memory)
  
• Audio Interface:
  Buy E-Mu 0404 USB 2.0 Audio/MIDI Interface online at Musician's Friend
  
• DAW Controller:
  Behringer BCF2000 MIDI Controller with Faders from zZounds.com!

I decided on a DAW Controller due to the type of music I want to do. I realize that for most setups, I don't need the controller. But since I'm doing a lot of dub, I really need easy multi-track control. The keyboard/mouse just won't do it.

Since it's just me, recording by myself, I have no need for recording more than 2 tracks at a time, and I've heard good things about that Audio Interface.

That'll just be my starter set. Next will be monitors, then a mic. Thanks for your articles, dude. Very helpful.

[P.S. - I meant to mention, also, that I tried that Musician's Friend coupon code, and it doesn't seem to work for me. Says it's expired or something. Sucks... I could really use that!]

[brandondrury]

I decided on a DAW Controller due to the type of music I want to do. I realize that for most setups, I don't need the controller. But since I'm doing a lot of dub, I really need easy multi-track control. The keyboard/mouse just won't do it.

Only you can make that judgement. If you think the control surface is absolutely required, I won't try to change your mind, but I've never encountered a situation where a more important link in the chain wasn't ignored in order to get the fancy sliders.

P.S. - I meant to mention, also, that I tried that Musician's Friend coupon code, and it doesn't seem to work for me. Says it's expired or something. Sucks... I could really use that!]

Really? That is supposed to be good until Christmas.