Taking the Plunge into Production

[Zer0beet]

So after about a good year and a some months of producing music and recording songs, EPs and mix tapes for my friends on a boot leg set up, I think I'm ready to purchase some new gear. All I have at the moment is a Focusrite 2i4 audio card and a dynamic mic. I've been looking into gear on guitar center and I think I've come across a suitable setup. What do you guys think of this set up? I am in no way a pro, but I can see the benefits of having decent equipment when producing, but I'm not sure if this set of stuff is the best combo or not.

A desk with enough upper shelf space to fit an iMac and monitors,
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Studio-T...esid=109309229

2 KRK Rokit 5s,
http://www.guitarcenter.com/KRK-Roki...esid=104908710

This condenser mic,
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Audio-Te...esid=105134308

a bunch of monster brand cables (can't beat a life time warranty),

a fully adjustable mic stand,

And this power conditioner.
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Furman-M...esid=105920011


Thanks!

[Coldfuzion]

All looks good! You'll be ready to produce, but you have no keyboard or some sort of MIDI controller. Maybe even a Maschine? Cause i'm selling mine :P. But seriously you may want to get something you can actually play notes etc. But you can produce without them. Aside from that, everything looks good man. I'd look on Craigslist too for the desk, etc. you may be able to find it cheaper.

My maschine on sale - http://forum.djtechtools.com/showthread.php?t=76675

[ImNotDedYet]

my only concern would be the width of the desk. I'm not sure if you mix as well or if you do, if you'd want your mixing stuff on the desk as well. If so, 46" may not be wide enough. I know I've got a 4 foot wide table and I can't fit my 49 key controller and s4 on the desk, and both the controller and S4 are a bit too big to put on a "back shelf" if I were to install one.

[Zer0beet]

All looks good! You'll be ready to produce, but you have no keyboard or some sort of MIDI controller. Maybe even a Maschine? Cause i'm selling mine :P. But seriously you may want to get something you can actually play notes etc. But you can produce without them. Aside from that, everything looks good man. I'd look on Craigslist too for the desk, etc. you may be able to find it cheaper.

My maschine on sale - http://forum.djtechtools.com/showthread.php?t=76675

I forgot to mention I have a 49 key Casio keyboard that outputs to the MIDI in slot on my sound card, it works well enough for now. I might end up buying an Axiom keyboard simply so i can output the through a MIDI cable rather then USB. As for the Maschine, I'm not exactly a fan of that particular piece of hardware. It might work well for others but I can't see myself paying 500-600 dollars for a shinny drum pad. I might as well just pay 200 for an MPD or something similar.

my only concern would be the width of the desk. I'm not sure if you mix as well or if you do, if you'd want your mixing stuff on the desk as well. If so, 46" may not be wide enough. I know I've got a 4 foot wide table and I can't fit my 49 key controller and s4 on the desk, and both the controller and S4 are a bit too big to put on a "back shelf" if I were to install one.

I do mix as well but I have a separate keyboard stand that holds up my flight case when I'm at home with my decks. Since I don't use a laptop to mix at all, that stand works perfectly. I was initially concerned about the width of the table at first because not only must i fin an iMac and two monitors on the upper shelf but I need to fit a MIDI keyboard, my computer keyboard and a mouse as well.

[Nick V]

You should probably check if your Focusrite 2i4 audio card meets the phantom power requirements for the AT2035. I haven't used Focusrite interfaces but if it's usb powered it may not put out enough phantom power and you may need a mic pre amp. You'll probably want a decent mic pre at some point anyway if you are doing a lot of recording. I have a little Joe meek half rack that does the job. I have major gear lust for the LA-610 but $1600 is too rich for me. You can get a presonus tube pre for around $100 but it doesnt have a compressor and that really comes in handy.