List of gear & On/Off Switch for 2 Towers

[sherok]

Hello, I'm enjoying the website; it's been the best thing out there for me. I stopped working in this business years ago but I'd like to set up something at home now and play around with some of the new "toys" that I've never used before and tackle it and see how it goes. All I'm trying to do is set myself up so that I can have the capability to get whatever song is in my head, onto the keyboard as well as into the software (yes I want a somewhat decent digital piano, (any suggestion?) and I will want to add some sweetening...strings. not too much...stuff) ...and my own vocal and overdubs....bass ....(not sure what drum track ?) ...if it's good then yes...I want the capabiliity in the software to build on the song with more (stuff)...maybe lay down a better bass and drum...It's just for me. If I'm serious about giving it to anybody....I'll go into the studio and lay down my best vocal there. I just want to be able to sit down and create at home, save a hook, work on a bass, riff, stuff like that, just work on material and be able to get to it somewhere.

So here's my shopping list. .The cubecase SX (something?).. The..Controller tiny Keyboard Midi...(what was it?) . ..The audio Fire.....Thingamajig?(does that come in a rack? or can I set it on the table?)? ..The AK-40 [B]Microphone .WOW ...Oh...I'm getting that Native Instruments NI Komplete Bundle 4 ...(but can you tell me exactly what it does and why I'm going to love it once I figure out how to use it?) and last of all....I'm going to get a computer.. (don't they make one that's ready for music software? Ready to go with all the right (POWER! BANG & BOOM!) or do I have to do that myself? Sheeesh!.: .but..I want to keep the computer for the internet separate from the computer with the music software....so would I buy a separate tower with it's own computer and then install some kind of (hub switch of some sort to turn On/Off between the two towers for going back and forth between computers? I know I'm clueless about all of software stuff...and what it does and doesn't do......I come from the era of the Lynn 9000 and the synclavier so what can I say.. .I'll figure it out...just tell me what to buy....what's if for...and somebody give me a controller name and model number and a digital keyboard name and model number....something decent in the middle I don't care...so I can stop researching... ...Just tell me what to buy!... Thanks...Sherok

[richiebee]

Cubase SX - it might be tough to get hold of now... the latest version is called Cubase 4, or the cut down version - Cubase 4 Studio. I'm pretty sure Studio would do it for you and even if not, I'm pretty sure there's a good upgrade path to the full thing.
Controller keyboard - tiny? There are several by Novation (SL, LE), and M-Audio (Oxygen 8). I have the Oxygen 8 and I'm not fussy on the keys. They're very stiff even after a couple of years of use. If you want something bigger than 2 octaves (I find 2 octaves is not enough to play much), then you might try CME keyboards... reviews are mixed, but they are apparently built like a tank and have lots of features that don't appear on other keyboards of their price range.
Audiofire - I don't know what this is... I'm guessing the interface by Echo. Well, Echo have a good reputation in the business. I'm sure its good.
NI Komplete - sounds like overkill for what you're doing. Unless you want lots of synth options, I'd leave this one - grab NI Kontakt instead. If you like the sound of the hammond organ, there's a good freeware one out there by the same people that make Mr Ray.
AK-40 microphone - never heard of this one.
Digital piano? What do you mean? If you want the sounds of an electric piano, Mr Ray is free, and good. If you want a real sounding piano, the ones that come with Kontakt might be fine - I've used them successfully on commercial products. Otherwise, I'd suggest Synthology's Ivory, or at the budget end - something by Sampletekk. The Sampletekk offerings will work in Kontakt, Ivory has its own sampler interface.
Bass - I love Scarbee J-Fingered/J-Slap... they have a new one coming out too called Black Bass. The best alternative is probably Spectronics Trilogy. If you want automatic accompaniments, then you could try Broomstick Bass or Steinberg's Virtual Bassist. Both seem a lot less flexible than Scarbee's, but for quick putting together good bass lines, they'll be good.
Drums - EZ Drummer if you want to work from pre-made drum patterns, Superior Custom & Vintage if you want to make your own from scratch.
To share monitor, keyboard and mouse between two computers, you need a KVR switch.
You should be able to google all these things for prices and stuff.
As for computer - I would avoid the pre-made for audio ones unless you can buy a top of the range one. The standard ones tend to be a little underpowered for their price. Make your own or buy a Dell. Either way, I'd advise getting the fastest processor you can afford and 2Gig of RAM.

[sherok]

Thank you much! Ok..On my list I've got the Cubase 4 Studio, [B]Academic Steinberg Virtual Bassist[ (unless I catch Black bass) and [B]EZ Drummer[].....a couple of mic's to start (I'm fine there) but the rest of my shopping list looks like this:...(Ozonic 37key audio midi firewire interface/controller) [..(m-audio firewire 1814 Audio/midi Interface w/adat lightpipe).[...(M-Audio Audiophile 2496 MIDI Digital Recording Interface)[..(Rain Recording Element T4 Desktop Audio Computer)...2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB RAM, 250 and 500 GB 7200RPM hard drives OR... G-Tech G-DRIVE Q 320GB Quad Interface Hard Drive.. FireWire 400, FireWire 800, USB 2.0, and eSATA connectivity all in a single unit... Mac OS X v10.3.x or later or Windows 2000/XP ... Rotational speed (rpm): 7200 ...OR THE G-Tech G-DRIVE 250GB FW400/USB 2.0 Hard Drive.....or the Western Digital 500 GB 7200 RPM USB 2.0 External Hard Drive..Desktop - External - 500 GB - USB, USB 2.0 - 7,200 RPM (I have a PC so I think that if I find out how to get my hands on a KVR switch...then I'll go with a PC hard drive but which one? I can't seem to fine 4 Gig of Ram and more than 7200 Rpm.) ...I'm still trying to find a keyboard that I can use with all of this AND play without turning on the computer?? You definitely got me started instead of spinning around and around and around.....No guitars...acoustic maybe...no electric... and I haven't hear of any speakers for the desk top?....I know my list is a mess but there must be something in it I can keep?....thanks much for at least attempting....sherok..

[richiebee]

That computer looks way overpriced. Also, I wouldn't get an external hard drive unless you absolutely have to have portability. They're more prone to damage - even accidentally getting knocked off the top of your computer case, or being damaged otherwise. A FW400 or USB2 drive will not outperform an internal drive. A good internal drive will work well for you (in my computer, space is fairly tight, but I've still managed to install three drives with adequate circulation for cooling around them).
Firewire 1814 or Audiophile 2496... you don't need both. If you want pre-amps, then the 1814 is the only one of the two that will do you. The 2496 is an excellent card if everything is internal to your computer.
The Ozonic from memory doesn't perform well on the audio side. Since you're getting a Firewire 1814, why would you need the Ozonic anyway? It's advantages over the Oxygen 8 are when you need an audio input source. You'll have that in the 1814, so you don't need it from the Ozonic.
7200rpm is standard for drives. There are 10,000rpm ones out there, but their benefits are negligible and their faster speed makes them less reliable. You don't need 4 gig of RAM. 2 gig should be fine. In fact in most installations, Windows XP can't make use of 4Gigs of ram anyway.
I'm not sure whether you've just won the lottery or something, but your list would be considered extravagent by most peoples standards.

R.

[brandondrury]

To share monitor, keyboard and mouse between two computers, you need a KVR switch.

I think Richiebee made a typo. It's "KVM".

Well, normally I don't recommend that people just dive in and spend the price of a car on all this crap, but now that I think about it, that's exactly what I did!!

So, if you are like me, than this is a good move.

Cubase 4 is what I would get if I was just starting.

m-audio firewire 1814 Audio/midi Interface w/adat lightpipe).[...(M-Audio Audiophile 2496 MIDI Digital Recording Interface

These are two totally different beasts. I suggest you use my Home Recording Soundcard Wizard and it will help you make sense of all these audio interfaces (and even understand what is going on a little better).

2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB RAM, 250 and 500 GB 7200RPM hard drives

That should suffice. What is your budget on your computer. I may be able to help.

I can't seem to fine 4 Gig of Ram and more than 7200 Rpm.)

You'll probably end up going with 4 sticks of 1GB RAM.

Are you going to try building this thing yourself?

I'm still trying to find a keyboard that I can use with all of this AND play without turning on the computer??

Any keyboard with midi out will work fine. I use a old Roland keyboard that sells on Ebay for $40. It does everything I need it to do.

and I haven't hear of any speakers for the desk top?....

People seam to be liking these studio monitors for the money.

I'd be afraid of getting all of the samples right away. After I had a strong grasp of Cubase, I bought Komplete and it was still overwhelming at first. If you know you are going to use them, go ahead and buy them, but lock them up in a closet until you find yourself complaining that you don't have enough sounds. You'll be complaining about plenty else in the mean time.

Brandon

[sherok]

Ok, You've been a big help...not only have I been able to better figure out what all this stuff does for me, I'm saving money at the same time. Some of this stuff I could use and some of it I will use later after I uncross my eyes...and most of it..., (one step at a time) ...Since I don't need a recording studio in my house per se....I already have access to a studio...but I don't think I'll be needing one..... I'll just make it simple on me... and my family and two dogs....by not making their ears bleed ......and I'll set myself up at home for writing songs at the PC. I'll put my money into that. A Songwriter setup ...PC/Software/keyboard/and /vocal/ setup ..(demo style lol )(sound cheesy enough?).. (no guitars)(Not that I don't know anything about guitars cuz I do! I know the fastest guitar player to rule the planet could be a "guy" but it's not cuz it's a girl!..(jennifer battan )...thanks guys for the help on the speakers....It's good that you showed me the speakers...it gave me a place to start. I'm thinking that I may not even need something as powered up as those now that I'm just scaling down to a personal setup for myself. (I still like to buy UP not DOWN) just in case. I did a comparison and now I realize...I dug out an old pair of NS10 studio monitor speakers I kept in storage from a long time ago and looked at them and then at what you showed me...and I think I can get away with using something a lot less powerful than most of these kinds of speakers...so I'll probably have an easy time finding something there if I don't already have it somewhere in storage. Your Sound Wizard is great...I passed it along to some friends......Took Richiebee's advise on the @gig RAM and the /internal drive/7200rmp only/NIKintakt/Cubase 4/BlackBass/EZ Drummer/ (still thinking about the CME Keyboards?) Thanks a bunch.

[richiebee]

If it makes a difference, I have a CME keyboard on order. Should be here within a week or so (I was too cheap to pay express shipping!). I'm not expecting great things - it was incredibly cheap, but I'll post my review after it arrives and I've had a chance to play.

If you have a pair of NS10's, I'd use them. They might not be the most accurate monitor out there, but they're well used in studio situations and will do you for sure. If you want to buy, I can thoroughly recommend the M-Audio BX8A's that Brandon suggested. These are worth way more than you pay for them!



R.

[brandondrury]

I dug out an old pair of NS10 studio monitor speakers

USE THEM!!

Richiebee says they are not the most accurate monitors out there (and he's technically right) but I'd be very suprised if the majority of your record collection weren't mixed Yamaha NS10s. Even if a majority weren't, I've got a feeling that NS10s were used more than any other monitor on you record collection.

Since you are not building The Plant (robo studio), the difference between NS10s, Genelecs, and anything else isn't really that critical. I wouldn't even think of using anything else right now. Again, don't try to fix a problem until you find yourself complaining about it.

So with that being said. A few mics, a good audio interface, a decently powered computer, a powerful piece of recording software / sequencer, some great samples, and some good studio monitors and you are set.

On most of this stuff, you don't have to go nuts with mega expensive stuff. I'm using the stock samples that come with Kontakt2 most of the time and I'm very happy.

Brandon