First-time home studio

I know I've made a couple of posts regarding setting up my very basic home studio, and i thought a poll might get some quick responses.

I will be recording: Acoustic and electric guitar, acoustic and electric bass, organ, drums, vocals.

This is for nothing professional, just a hobby to keep me from thinking about work.

If you want to go really basic, use your Mac with Garageband (available in iLife, $79) and a two channel Behringer mixer console (about $30-$50 on ebay) connected to the stereo line input.

It's actually what I use as a home studio.

Yeah, if I was a Mac user that'd be the slam-dunk get-in-cheap way to go!

As a PC guy (hey, it's what I have!), I'm very happy with Reaper.

Cheers, Tim

I tried Reaper with the same Behringer console, and that worked like a charm.
VST fx work good as well; something I still have to work out on a Mac.

Problem is, the Mac we have is the family computer (read as: My wife won't let me keep it in the basement studio), so I'd have to get a new one. Which I'm not against, it's just more of a purchase than just buying a console.

That's why I'm wondering about the Tascam - dedicated package, less financial commitment. hmmmm....

a good strong Mac with a Firewire interface will get you through better, IMO. i'm a Tascam loyalist from way back, but the digital standalone units have tiny windows and require massive menu-diving and memorization of pushbutton sequences. GarageBand is easy to master, yields good results and on a dedicated music computer, you could get a lot done in a short time.

Or the cheaper option, pc, reaper and any decent two channel interface with phantom power for your condensors.

I chose the first option but actually I would go for something a bit more expensive.

Mac Pro Tower, RME Fireface and Logic Pro would give you extremely professional results- but is probably $3k higher than you want to spend.

I chose the first option but actually I would go for something a bit more expensive.

Mac Pro Tower, RME Fireface and Logic Pro would give you extremely professional results- but is probably $3k higher than you want to spend.

Actually, I'd LOVE to spend that much!! It's just that I can't! :cry:

:razz:

I've got a Fireface 400 and its a great little unit, although for your application maybe consider the Mackie Onyx Firewire desks. Better mic pres than most mid-level desks and you can order them from frontendaudio modded to take advantage of the good EQ section for recording purposes.

http://www.frontendaudio.com/Mackie_Onyx_1640_EQ_Modification_p/7276.htm

No affiliation etc etc - just one option that I've been tossing around for a while for myself.

i bought one of the carvin f e t condenser mics w/ power supply and plug
staight to my sound card using impedance matching transformer......great acoustic and vocal results, i think they're $20 off this month.

Problem is, the Mac we have is the family computer (read as: My wife won't let me keep it in the basement studio), so I'd have to get a new one. Which I'm not against, it's just more of a purchase than just buying a console.

That's why I'm wondering about the Tascam - dedicated package, less financial commitment. hmmmm....

+1

This was my situation and I chose the standalone option. I bought used which I think is a low cost way to lay down some tracks and check things out. I'm not computer tech savy (I've used computers everyday for 25 years, I just don't care what's inside) so I just wanted to plug-n-play.

I bought the TASCAM DP-02 because I wanted something that wasn't computer-based, I didn't know what I was doing, and I happened to have the right money at the time they were introduced to my local musicians addiction shop.

The learning curve for me looks like a hairpin. I went straight from recording with a cheap cassette machine to the DP-02, with very little information except what I've read and a few lies I've heard over the years.

Having spent a month and half with the DP-02 and half a semester with the manual... I am almost at the point where I am sure I don't have a clue. :oops:

people are dumping Mac G4s like mad, you could probably get one on Craigslist/eBay on the el cheapo. it's likely to have GarageBand already on there. for hobby use, it's insanely easy to master and very user-friendly. i'm just sayin'.

people are dumping Mac G4s like mad, you could probably get one on Craigslist/eBay on the el cheapo. it's likely to have GarageBand already on there. for hobby use, it's insanely easy to master and very user-friendly. i'm just sayin'.

+1

mud