Some questions from a newbie...

[ghostdance]

Hello, I've been tossing around the thought of doing a home studio for 2-3 years, and haven't done anything yet. I'm just going to start small, enough to record some solo material, including guitar, bass, keyboards/synth, and electronic drums.

1 - I am in college, so I'm trying to be cheap as possible.

2 - I am 100% sure that I want to use ProTools for my software.

3 - PC or Mac? I've noticed that most people seem to use Mac, but PC can easily be upgraded to comparable power for a cheaper price. However, I am going to be using ProTools, and since Digidesign creates products especially for Mac, I'm not sure how my equipment options will change based on the computer.

4 - I was considering just buying one of these Mbox2 bundles. It may not be high-quality, but I am not ready to spend too much on gear I don't have enough experience to put to use. Keep in mind I'll only be recording solo material, one instrument at a time, so I have no need for a larger, more expensive interface yet. This is compatible with PC, correct?

5 - I realize it's unnecessary and that I could spend the money on equipment that would have more influence on my recording, but I would really like to have a digital mixer. I'm a hands-on person and adding that aspect could only help. Perhaps I've been looking in the wrong places, but I can't find too much information on them. I would need something cheap, of course, but compatible with ProTools and the computer I decide on. Suggestions in that department would be appreciated, as the Digidesign mixers I've seen are outrageously expensive.

6 - Those items should be about everything, besides some headset monitors. Anything I may have forgotten? I've never had any recording experience beyond Audacity and a Radioshack mic.

6 - Any other tips for a newbie trying to start cheaply?

Thanks!

[Tony Ramone]

welcome to the forum dude.
Wow, that is pretty cheap for all that stuff - good deal.
When you're setting it all up in your room, you'll probably want to take a careful look into positioning yourself and your monitors properly, and maybe getting a little bit of treatment done too - here's a good place to start (it's a long ready alright, but it's important ).
I'm curious as to why you say you're 100% sure you want to use pro-tools to the exclusion of all other DAW software? You realise this ties you into a limited selection of hardware, right?

[ghostdance]

Originally Posted by Tony Ramone

welcome to the forum dude.
Wow, that is pretty cheap for all that stuff - good deal.
When you're setting it all up in your room, you'll probably want to take a careful look into positioning yourself and your monitors properly, and maybe getting a little bit of treatment done too - here's a good place to start (it's a long ready alright, but it's important ).
I'm curious as to why you say you're 100% sure you want to use pro-tools to the exclusion of all other DAW software? You realise this ties you into a limited selection of hardware, right?

Yeah, that's where I'm having some equipment confusion, particularly regarding the mixer. I have a good friend who makes a living from recording using ProTools, and really my preference is based on his suggestion, but also that I can get help from him at anytime with the software. I'm in his studio almost every weekend, so I'm used to the layout of the program and simply feel comfortable starting there, rather than some of the others I've seen.

Also, thanks for that link. I haven't looked too much into setup, but I'm aware I'll need to when I'm ready to get everything going properly. I'm just concentrating on one obstacle at a time.

[Tony Ramone]

That's cool man - if you're already used to it, then stick with it. I'm not seeing any mixer in that bundle though, unless I've missed it...

[garageband]

I have a good friend who makes a living from recording using ProTools

This is a bit of comparing apples with apple-flavored Jolly Ranchers. Big time studios use PT not because the software is so wonderful (it's not substantially different from anything else on the market) but because they find advantage in using TDM hardware: which, all totaled, amounts to tens of thousands of dollars.

BTW, PT? No free fun plug-ins of VSTis for you. You will pay for all your plug-ins always. And use Digi hardware only, as the penguin pointed out.

[Tony Ramone]

Originally Posted by garageband

...as the penguin pointed out.

nice one

[TonyB]

Originally Posted by garageband

This is a bit of comparing apples with apple-flavored Jolly Ranchers. Big time studios use PT not because the software is so wonderful (it's not substantially different from anything else on the market) but because they find advantage in using TDM hardware: which, all totaled, amounts to tens of thousands of dollars.

BTW, PT? No free fun plug-ins of VSTis for you. You will pay for all your plug-ins always. And use Digi hardware only, as the penguin pointed out.

GB said it well. I was ready to go on my "PT is NOT the master of all DAWs" rant, but GB's explanation succinctly explained it.

[TonyB]

Originally Posted by ghostdance

Hello, I've been tossing around the thought of doing a home studio for 2-3 years, and haven't done anything yet. I'm just going to start small, enough to record some solo material, including guitar, bass, keyboards/synth, and electronic drums.

1 - I am in college, so I'm trying to be cheap as possible.

2 - I am 100% sure that I want to use ProTools for my software.

3 - PC or Mac? I've noticed that most people seem to use Mac, but PC can easily be upgraded to comparable power for a cheaper price. However, I am going to be using ProTools, and since Digidesign creates products especially for Mac, I'm not sure how my equipment options will change based on the computer.

4 - I was considering just buying one of these Mbox2 bundles. It may not be high-quality, but I am not ready to spend too much on gear I don't have enough experience to put to use. Keep in mind I'll only be recording solo material, one instrument at a time, so I have no need for a larger, more expensive interface yet. This is compatible with PC, correct?

5 - I realize it's unnecessary and that I could spend the money on equipment that would have more influence on my recording, but I would really like to have a digital mixer. I'm a hands-on person and adding that aspect could only help. Perhaps I've been looking in the wrong places, but I can't find too much information on them. I would need something cheap, of course, but compatible with ProTools and the computer I decide on. Suggestions in that department would be appreciated, as the Digidesign mixers I've seen are outrageously expensive.

6 - Those items should be about everything, besides some headset monitors. Anything I may have forgotten? I've never had any recording experience beyond Audacity and a Radioshack mic.

6 - Any other tips for a newbie trying to start cheaply?

Thanks!

I'm trying not to get myself into a rant, but the more I read this the more I want to say "don't do what other people are doing just because they say what they're doing is cool"

You need to do what works for you. Right now #1, #2, and #6 are conflicting statements.

PT HW and SW suite is not cheap (and is very proprietary...as the penguin pointed out [okay so I stole that from GB])...and not necessarily effective or efficient for a small home studio, and I'm not sure how you can be "100%" sure of your decision to use PT (just because someone said it's the best?).

Sheesh! I'm never 100% sure with most of my purchases.

Oh well, I tried not to rant, but what I'm trying to say is that you don't quite have the right mindset yet. You need to know why you're purchasing the equipment and how you are going to effectively use it.

Back to my milk and cookies now.

[String7th]

Looks like all my points were made by Garageband, Tony and Penguin Mcgee.

I need to really reiterate Tony's comment about your list having conflicting statements. You want the best, you want the extras, and you want it for cheap. Story of our lives.
But I don't think your friend pointed out that you can't have Protools and cheap. Just doesn't happen. The only Protools-compatible digital mixers will either be the gigantic desks, or a very overpriced 4-channel interface with only 8 faders. Hardware and software is twice the price but the same capabilities, and with the knowledge you already have with Protools, you can master another DAW in a month or less.

Bottom line:
If you stay 100% protools with a digital mixer, get cheap, affordable, and food out of your daily vocabulary.

If you're willing to budge a bit, look into the features and prices of Presonus, M-audio, and Focusrite, compared to it's equivalent in the Digidesign line.

[ghostdance]

Why can't ProTools be cheap? I've linked a bundle that has everything I need to record for only 400. The only other piece of equipment I would need would be monitors and an optional control surface. I'm okay with paying for plug-ins.

What would be an example of a similar setup equipment-wise for another program?