Studio hardware/toys/HELP

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Member Since: Nov 11, 2009

My friends and I just moved into a house with a jam room and studio-ish room.

we have a large number of Mic's, cables, stands, we have the mac, a pretty nice Mackie board, running firewire M-AUDIO interface (nothing special about that piece) and monitors.

No other equipment, if anyone knows of a good rack mounted unit/hardware that would help us out also. We don't know anything about limiters/compressors/etc.

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QUESTIONS -

1. We want to install a window between the two rooms for viewing.

Any information on that would be helpful.
All I know right now is I have to install the window in the Jam room at an angle. Anything else as far as making it the best quality it can be?


2. We were going to drill a semi-large hole between the rooms and run the mic cables from the instruments straight through the wall to the mixer in the other room.

NOW - I'm thinking we should install some sort of patch-bay, a rack style unit with 11+ XLR ins - run that to the other side where another mic bay is - and onto the mixer . (it Will look nice, not sure if its the best way to go. Any ideas?)


3. Lastly, the Mac we use is a laptop. so firewire and USB are our limitations. the M-AUDIO device has proven itself worth the $200 paid for it.

WHAT is the best firewire/USB option as far as interfaces go right now?



that's a lot.
thanks a lot to anyone who can help.

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Member
Since: Nov 11, 2009


Nov 12, 2009 12:15 am

is this the wrong area to post a question of this magnitude?

A small pie will soon be eaten
Member
Since: Aug 26, 2004


Nov 12, 2009 12:47 am

No mate. Right area.

Welcome to HRC.

I cant help personally as I've never built a studio like that or used a fire wire/usb device.

Sounds like you'll have a great time putting it together though.

Someone will get to you. Lots of experience in this stuff floating around here.

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


Nov 12, 2009 01:41 am

I've been building a studio w/ control room & live room. You can see parts of it in my photo gallery / blog. It's come along some since then, but it's still not finished.

I ran wires in my walls when I built the room, so I then put 4 & 2 input wallplates to receive XLR and 1/4" jacks. I also have wallplates in my control room on the other end, coming from the live room. Works pretty well, as I can only put in the cables I want, for the job I need. I'd say this is a good solution, if not a little guerilla. A rack would probably be better.

I put 2 windows between the two rooms, each with 2 panes about 3-4 inches apart, as I found non-used windows and used the glass from that. I put CR side fastened to the wall / studs, and the LR side is fastened to the inner skin, which is separate from the stud wall, using brackets and channel.

Outboard gear is a good thing to use, but I'd say you don't need it if you can plan and adjust your process to accommodate. Using an outboard compressor can keep your signal phat and under clipping, but usually you can track low and make it up in the box. In-box compressors can do a real nice job, and they can give you options after you've tracked. Same kinda goes for other effects and gear. In-box solutions gives you undo possibilities, and lots of options.

I guess now would be great time to look at budget. MassiveMaster has had some recommendations for preamps, which you may want to get if you're going to be using nice mics, and treating your rooms. Along that line, a preamp/compressor channel strip may be a good idea, as you can get a few important tools in the same purchase. Some will have EQ as well.

As far as interfaces, think about how many inputs you need, like how many separate tracks you'll record at one time. 8 is pretty common. MOTU makes a few 8 input devices, the TASCAM 1641 comes to mind, as does the presonus firestudio line (unsure of exact name). I think Cpt Tripps uses a 8 channel line6 USB2 solution, or at least did. UX8 i think it is. This gives you some modeling, so you can tweak, add effects, mic models, etc. right from the line6 software. They're pretty well liked.

I think maudio makes a 4 input USB device, that looked pretty nice. Maybe 4 is enough. If you're going more, then maybe your mackie board will accept the FireWire interface, letting you plug that in, then connect to your lappy. That'd be nice, but you didn't mention the model, so i don't know if it's available for you.

Best options for interface, eh, i don't know the high end stuff, so i may not be much help. The MOTU is pretty well liked around the MAC world. I think RME is another well liked name. I think Lynx comes up once in a while. I can't think of any other at the moment.

You may want to call sweetwater and get a sales engineer. They will look into your setup and equipment and help you move in a good direction. They know their stuff, so you can talk shop and they'll know what you're talking about. More than me, that's for sure. They'll drop prices for you too, which is extra nice. They're heavy in MAC too, so that helps.

My sales engineer is Ted Hunter, whom you can ask for if you wish. He's a senior engineer, and has been very good to work with for me. (4500+ so far).

Good luck, and don't go crazy =).

http://www.unitedmusicians.info
Contributor
Since: Nov 11, 2007


Nov 12, 2009 05:09 pm

@ PJK: I ended up getting my API A2D from Ted. He's been on the ball making sure I'm taken are of. Thanks for giving me his name.

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


Nov 13, 2009 11:50 am

Sweet. Glad to help out. He's done pretty good by me.

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