So my Dad came into some money, and he wants to build a mini home studio in our basement to do some basic recording and producing. I’m wondering what all I’ll need, price range is a few thousand, I think around 2 or 3.
He wants some mics to record live drums and piano, and also a midi keyboard to lay down soft synth stuff. I’m thinking ableton for the daw, maybe massive for soft synth stuff. I’m wondering what else I should look for, I know nothing about mics and not much about midi keyboards. I’m also looking for a controller for ableton like the apc40/20 or something similar and maybe a mixer.
Some suggestions on what you may need for a basic set up.
Computer : iMac w/ Logic Express installed. aprox. 2000$
Soundcard : M-Audio Fast Track Pro approx. 200$
Monoitors : M Audio Studiophile BX5a Deluxe apox 400$
Keyboard : Axiom Pro 61 aprox 700 (any keyboard works just fine)
some suggested additions.
Native Instruments Machine
Propellerheads Reason (great for rewire applications such as Ableton, Logic)
A good coffee maker
Ableton
Native Instruments Komplete
If you want to work with live drums and piano I’d go with Logic or Pro Tools over ableton. I’d spend ALOT on monitors as well. Makes such a huge difference
BUMP!
defo need to spend a fair bit on monitors… Personally i really like the yamaha HS-80M’s… have a pair and SWEAR BY THEM… but others are good like the KRK’s, Mackies and Genelec’s (if you can afford them) and i agree, Logic/Protools is much better for recording live instruments like drums/guitar/piano than ableton
as for mics… Shure SM58’s are good all rounders… ive worked in studios as an audio engineer before and ive used these from recording everything from drums to vocals and guitar… My advice would be to get 1-2 SM58’s for vocals/general use and 2-3 SM-57’s (which are essensially the same thing just without the big dome bit on top) for recording guitars, piano, snare drums and hihats/tops on your drum kit… as for the kick drum, shure Beta 52 is a very good mic…
NOTE: to record a drum kit properly you essensially need a minimum of 4 mics… One for the kick, one for the snare, and 2 for the tops… some people like to use 2 for the snare or kick and sometimes even 3 mics for the tops… i have had this requested once or twice when recording bands… but this isnt neccesary unless your looking for a very particular sound… plus the more mics you introduce, the more phaze problems you run into… but 4 is generally the minimum for recording drums
Reason = EXELENT soft synths
Midi keyboard… whatever tickles your fancy… if you just want to play basic stuff then go for a basic controller, if you want heaps of hands on control of your soft synths then id reccomend something with heaps of buttons/knobs like the novation controllers
As for an audio interface… if you want to record drums properly, your going to want an interface with a whole lot of inputs, the M-Audio fastrack ULTRA is a good option with heaps of mic/line inputs… also the MOTU ultralites are quite good and have pretty descent onboard DSP with compression and other effects and minimal latency…
as for the computer… get a mac… or a macpro if your willing to dish out the extra cash
and yeah, if your recording live instruments Logic is definately the way to go… protools is exellent software too, but personally i hate it… Ableton is great for EDM and playing/jamming live and trying things out… but when organizing and sequencing… nothing beats a traditional style sequencer…
I do not know at this point about a recording booth. Is there anything I can do in logic that I couldn’t do in Ableton? Sorry I’m being so pesky I’m just attached I suppose, and would prefer to buy more gear and use the computer I have, than to shell out at least a grand for a Mac.
rojectMix I/O has this covered, with motorized faders, and midi i/o if you need more control.