Lessons from a n00b buying recording crap......

[Digital Jams]

1) If someone tells you not to buy BFD and get EZDrummer do not ask questions.

2) Unless you are mixing a gazillion tracks you do NOT need full versions of Cubase, Samplitude, Sonar, whatever....way overkill and huge learning curve.

3) Monitors...go BIG x2.

4) Save up a little longer and buy larger audio monitors.

5) RAM RAM.....oh yeah........MORE RAM

6) Get a comfy chair....your arse is going to need it.

It took me 2 hours to get the first Cubase4 Studio tutorial working last night Between latency settings, VST paths, input and output settings and figuring out WTF each button was a 3 Jose Golden adventure alone

BFD.......ugh Having to run FL and get BFD into that AND get the programming down is like sticking toothpicks under your nails.

If I get this crap sorted out and my machine crashes someone will die................

 

[Shiny_Surface]

Good advice!

Due to space limitations I can't even follow some of the points you made so I'm below noob status in some areas

 

[Ultron]

I LOATHE those drum programs....I'm more partial to prerecorded drum tracks, like BetaMonkey, or Extreme metal loops, etc.

 

[danhops]

Not sure why you say get larger monitors, I just say get good monitors. As for BFD, I like it, but I am currently using Strike in Protools. I like both for different reasons. Then again, I dont use the preset loops, I program my own drums when I do it.

 

[Digital Jams]

Good advice!

Due to space limitations I can't even follow some of the points you made so I'm below noob status in some areas

I may know some fancy words but trust me you are WAY over me right now

 

[Gainfreak]

Not sure why you say get larger monitors, I just say get good monitors. As for BFD, I like it, but I am currently using Strike in Protools. I like both for different reasons. Then again, I dont use the preset loops, I program my own drums when I do it.

What monitors do you recommend? I have the old JBL monitor 4208's and they are not accurate at all. I have no idea how JBL won a tech awards because those speakers eat up bass like crazy. Everything sounds great on them but when you go to normal speakers everything is to bass heavy. i think its time to unload them.

 

[Digital Jams]

Not sure why you say get larger monitors, I just say get good monitors. As for BFD, I like it, but I am currently using Strike in Protools. I like both for different reasons. Then again, I dont use the preset loops, I program my own drums when I do it.

Well I have the KRK5s right now and someone sent me something to listen to and I thought the bass level was pretty darn good but when a sub was thrown into the mix the bass was boomy. I probably should have invested another $200 for the KRK8s for added bass response.

 

[Ultron]

Not sure why you say get larger monitors, I just say get good monitors. As for BFD, I like it, but I am currently using Strike in Protools. I like both for different reasons. Then again, I dont use the preset loops, I program my own drums when I do it.

What monitors do you recommend? I have the old JBL monitor 4208's and they are not accurate at all. I have no idea how JBL won a tech awards because those speakers eat up bass like crazy. Everything sounds great on them but when you go to normal speakers everything is to bass heavy. i think its time to unload them.

I have a pair of the 4208's too....same issue.....mix sounds great, play it on normal speakers and

 

[thiswaythatway]

A big + on not needed full version recording software. I upgraded from Sonar 3 to Sonar 6 and I'm really just doing the same shit i was on Sonar 3.


And i need more RAM. As soon as i try to add Perfect Space reverb, i get dropouts.

The biggest change i have found in my equipment that changes the sounds i get from recordings are what speakers I'm using to make the clip with. I tried a Groove Tube Brick tube mic pre and it wasn't much of an improvment over my crappy litte Audiobuddy.

 

[Gainfreak]

Not sure why you say get larger monitors, I just say get good monitors. As for BFD, I like it, but I am currently using Strike in Protools. I like both for different reasons. Then again, I dont use the preset loops, I program my own drums when I do it.

Well I have the KRK5s right now and someone sent me something to listen to and I thought the bass level was pretty darn good but when a sub was thrown into the mix the bass was boomy. I probably should have invested another $200 for the KRK8s for added bass response.

I think it is mandatory. The Subs respond differently in that you can tell if something has enough bass or is just to BOOOMY!!

I think I need to ace the JBL's but I don;t have the cash right now.

 

[Gainfreak]

Not sure why you say get larger monitors, I just say get good monitors. As for BFD, I like it, but I am currently using Strike in Protools. I like both for different reasons. Then again, I dont use the preset loops, I program my own drums when I do it.

What monitors do you recommend? I have the old JBL monitor 4208's and they are not accurate at all. I have no idea how JBL won a tech awards because those speakers eat up bass like crazy. Everything sounds great on them but when you go to normal speakers everything is to bass heavy. i think its time to unload them.

I have a pair of the 4208's too....same issue.....mix sounds great, play it on normal speakers and

Im glad that Im not the only one. The cool thing is that everything sounds HUGE on those speakers (in a good way) But for mixes.. they absolutely blow. i might keep them for playback purposes. I need a good mixing pair that wont break the bank.

 

[SuperStrat]

Clips

 

[Digital Jams]

A big + on not needed full version recording software. I upgraded from Sonar 3 to Sonar 6 and I'm really just doing the same shit i was on Sonar 3.


And i need more RAM. As soon as i try to add Perfect Space reverb, i get dropouts.

The biggest change i have found in my equipment that changes the sounds i get from recordings are what speakers I'm using to make the clip with. I tried a Groove Tube Brick tube mic pre and it wasn't much of an improvment over my crappy litte Audiobuddy.

Yup, I got all stoked while looking at Samplitude 8, Cubase4 and got caught up in all of the bells and whistles that I will never use. Cubase LE would fit what I am doing right now but maybe in the future as I grow I will use what I have more.

 

[Digital Jams]

Clips

Ask Ralph to play back his phone messages...just ignore the drunk yelling in the beginning

 

[SuperStrat]

A big + on not needed full version recording software. I upgraded from Sonar 3 to Sonar 6 and I'm really just doing the same shit i was on Sonar 3.


And i need more RAM. As soon as i try to add Perfect Space reverb, i get dropouts.

The biggest change i have found in my equipment that changes the sounds i get from recordings are what speakers I'm using to make the clip with. I tried a Groove Tube Brick tube mic pre and it wasn't much of an improvment over my crappy litte Audiobuddy.

Yup, I got all stoked while looking at Samplitude 8, Cubase4 and got caught up in all of the bells and whistles that I will never use. Cubase LE would fit what I am doing right now but maybe in the future as I grow I will use what I have more.

I still haven't moved on from Cakewalk Home Studio... I almost did, but then realized that there wasn't a single function that I needed to have that would justify the cost in dollars and time. The money was better spent on plugins and monitors.

 

[The Big Snit]

Way too many home studios and not enough CDs released!

 

[SuperStrat]

Way too many home studios and not enough CDs released!

I'm still trying to hire a guitarist.

 

[Digital Jams]

A big + on not needed full version recording software. I upgraded from Sonar 3 to Sonar 6 and I'm really just doing the same shit i was on Sonar 3.


And i need more RAM. As soon as i try to add Perfect Space reverb, i get dropouts.

The biggest change i have found in my equipment that changes the sounds i get from recordings are what speakers I'm using to make the clip with. I tried a Groove Tube Brick tube mic pre and it wasn't much of an improvment over my crappy litte Audiobuddy.

Yup, I got all stoked while looking at Samplitude 8, Cubase4 and got caught up in all of the bells and whistles that I will never use. Cubase LE would fit what I am doing right now but maybe in the future as I grow I will use what I have more.

I still haven't moved on from Cakewalk Home Studio... I almost did, but then realized that there wasn't a single function that I needed to have that would justify the cost in dollars and time. The money was better spent on plugins and monitors.

I did score Cubase4 Studio for $299, they let me get the competitive version since I have Cubase VST but man I did not know the learning curve would be this high. Way different progs

 

[Digital Jams]

Way too many home studios and not enough CDs released!

So get cracking

At least all my crap runs on Vista

 

[The Big Snit]

Way too many home studios and not enough CDs released!

So get cracking

At least all my crap runs on Vista

My new laser printer won't work with Vista, video card crashes/glitches all the time, audio card won't work, recording software...incompatible. Blue tooth...forget it.
Almost everything is just beta drivers.

I bought a copy of XP Media Center....yeah!