Need some advice...(an intermediate newbie :P)
Home > Home Recording Forum > Gear Gab > Need some advice...(an intermediate newbie :P)
Posted on Apr 24, 2006 09:21 am
hidingscars
Member Since: Apr 24, 2006
heh, I'm not really a newbie to the home recording scene, but I am a newbie to 'doing it right', like getting the right equipment and so forth. lately I've been doin' some research, and getting on the right track (I hope!).
I've gotten some equipment over the last few months, and now I'm just wondering what kind of effects units I should get. I've been looking at the Alto ACL2 PRO, or the Behringer Composer Pro for dynamics, the Alto Control 30 for EQ, and the Alto BETAVERB, or the Behringer V-VERB PRO for verb. but I'm not sure if I want to keep going with the alto/berhinger trend I seem to be setting, or if I should perhaps try some new brands, heh.
my current equipment...
PC: AMD Sempron, 2.0GHZ, 256mb RAM, a 40gb and a 160gb hard drive (not that great eh).
software: Windows XP Home, Sonar 4, Guitar Rig 2 and Reason 3, other stuff..
soundcard: Yamaha UW500
preamp: Behringer MIC200 (got it a fair few months ago)
mics: Sennheizer 8155 (I think, can't read the model on it properly), and a Lane LM545
mixer: Alto AMX120
DI: Berhinger Ultra-G GI100 (still actually waiting for it to arrive)
so yeah, I'm mainly wanting to go hardware more than software since my computer isn't that great at the moment. but not only that, but I like the more hands on approach.
I'd also like some recommendations on maybe some other equipment I could get too, like some better mic's maybe, and I'm also interested in obtaining a MIDI keyboard and/or sampler.
the kinda music I work on differs. I'm currently in a band who does mainly rock/metal stuff, but I also do some solo work, which is a bit industrial/electronic/ambient/anything else I can come up with. so yes, any help would be much appreciated.
sure hope I posted this in the right forum...
[ Back to Top ]
Apr 24, 2006 12:54 pm Welcome to HRC!!
i donno man, your computer will be just fine if ya get your hands on some more RAM....i'm not too fimalliar with alotta hardware effect units, but i can safely say, you're gonna get better quality by stayin' in the digital domain....mid priced hardware isn't really worth reconverting (DA/AD) IMHO....definately look into more mics, get yourself a matched pair of pencil type condensors (MXL and Samson have good reputation here). a large diaphragm dynamic for bass and kick drums, a pair of SM-57's, and as many large diaphragm condensors as you care to buy. and if you're itchin' for outboard gear, you can never have too many preamps and compressors......definately plan on gettin' a midi keyboard, and use your computer as a sampler (unless you need a hardware sampler (MPC) for live performance purposes.
cheers
wyd
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Apr 24, 2006 09:43 pm I have to agree with WYD here on the PC being pretty well set other then RAM to do what you need.
I will also agree on the software pluggins being a good way to go. And I say the being a hardware geek myself. I still have several piece of rack gear I find hard to get rid of. But on the other hand, I have pretty much emptied a half a rack in the last couple of years as the software pluggins have gotten so dang good.
And there is nothing wrong with sticking with a brand or two of gear you know and trust.
Welcome to HRC by the way.
Noize
Apr 24, 2006 10:49 pm thanks heaps for the tips guys :)
I was mainly looking at the hardware stuff for live gig's and whatnot. I currently have a fair few effects plugins. any recommendations on some top ones? all the stuff I try, I can't seem to get what I want out of them. at the moment, money's really no problem. to get a decent sound, I'll pay whatever it takes, even if I have to save for years, hah.
OH, what I was also wondering... with the mixer, connecting it to my soundcard, would I use the RCA outputs on the mixer and connect it to the RCA inputs on my soundcard, or should I use the main mix output on the mixer, and plug it into both line inputs on the card? and...the guitar...I'm a little confused as to where to plug that into (haha, I'm such a blonde).
so you reckon the computer is alright? I was thinking of upgrading it a bit more. I'm getting 2gb of ram in a couple weeks. and maybe a new motherboard and CPU after it. but if all I really need is RAM, more money to spend on other things, since I really need to buy a better guitar. also wanna buy an electric acoustic, bass, the midi keyboard and more mic's.
