you have $300 to pick your 1st piece of hardware [Archive]

Jungle Jessi

2005-05-28, 07:11 PM

i'd save up another 100 or so and get a microkorg

i agree with this if you have your heart set on a synth.

microkorgs are pretty damn cool.

a midi controller with some vst's could also work for ya.

personally i would go for moniters, just cause it dosn't matter what kind of hardware you have if everything you do on it sounds like crap.

but thats just me.

(FYI- if you are looking to spend your money NOW rather then later, then i would head to guitar center as early as possible on monday morning for their memorial day sale.

most of the shit that is on sale is crap, but if you go early enough (they open at 8 and there will be a line outside of the door) there is always at least a couple killer deals. :yes:)

mattb

2005-05-28, 07:35 PM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7319289370

get ya one of these.

or maybe one of these.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=38069&item=7325559564&rd=1

Agent Sunshine

2005-05-29, 07:37 AM

Hold on, why exactly do you want hardware?

method

2005-05-29, 11:54 AM

holy shit - the raveOlutions have gotten really cheap - when i was looking at hardware a couple years ago, they were over 2x that!

djliquidice

2005-05-29, 12:14 PM

i say don't waste money on hardware just to realize how hard it is to make good music. Use software. If you can kick ass on the software, then the hardware will be easy.

Heider

2005-05-31, 09:59 AM

seems like the majority here and other places are pointing me towards a decent pair of studio monitors, and you are totally right. i've produced stuff in the past on my cheap computer speaks, and it ends up sounding totally different on a better system. i actually burn some tracks to cd and throw them in my car to see how it actually sounds (my car system actually sounds better than the one i use to produce).

i agree with this if you have your heart set on a synth.

microkorgs are pretty damn cool.

a midi controller with some vst's could also work for ya.

personally i would go for moniters, just cause it dosn't matter what kind of hardware you have if everything you do on it sounds like crap.

but thats just me.

(FYI- if you are looking to spend your money NOW rather then later, then i would head to guitar center as early as possible on monday morning for their memorial day sale.

most of the shit that is on sale is crap, but if you go early enough (they open at 8 and there will be a line outside of the door) there is always at least a couple killer deals. :yes:)

i actually checked out that microkorg on the memorial day sale. seemed pretty cool for the price. i might just end up getting a cheap midi controller like the oxygen 8 and just stick mostly to software.

I did pick up one of these cards though...
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Delta1010LT-main.html (http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Delta1010LT-main.html)

next step....monitors.

Heider

2005-05-31, 10:04 AM

Hold on, why exactly do you want hardware?

i say don't waste money on hardware just to realize how hard it is to make good music. Use software. If you can kick ass on the software, then the hardware will be easy.

i might not want it for the best reasons. like....i like messing with the physical knobs instead of clicking around on my computer. but i have heard in the past that I can get a "fuller" sound from hardware than software. @ liquidice - i already know it's hard to make good music in hardware or software. i've used fruityloops/FL studio for about 5 years now, and I just felt like I was being held back in a few things. maybe I should just give Reason another chance.

Jay Selway

2005-05-31, 11:20 AM

what kind of production hardware would you pick to get your studio started? i know this isn't much cash to work with, but just curious...

i've mostly just used fruity loops and a bit of Reason, and i wanna get a few hardware pieces....talkin like synths/keyboards/drum machines/etc (btw - i produce dnb if that matters)

A good midi controller keyboard.

If you already have one of those and you don't have a good audio interface, look into getting a firewire interface.

It eliminates the need for a mixer / sound card down the line. While it doesn't actually generate 'sound' its an essential peice of gear for a studio with external gear.

I'd recommend a Motu 828 mk2, but that's about $750 .. which is outta your price range.

I almost forgot, if you have $300 to spend and you haven't done so yet, save your money and get a decent pair of studio monitors.

You can be the best producer in the world, but if your production sounds sloppy because you have shit studio monitors - you'll never get anywhere. I currently have Behringer Truth monitors, which are so/so - but only about $350 for the pair. They are basically reverse engineered mackie hr824s. If you can save up some money, get a pair of mackie hr824s, they are expensive, but definitely worth the $.

Before I bought any external synths, work on getting your studio up to par for easy expansion and for good mixing. After that, buy the external gear...

But then again, you could save your $ and get a really powerful computer and just use VST soft synths. Most people seem to be going that route anyway.. The VSTs are so powerful these days.

Jay Selway

2005-05-31, 11:24 AM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7319289370

get ya one of these.

or maybe one of these.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=38069&item=7325559564&rd=1

Don't get either of those.

If you dont' have an interface to hook them into, they are useless.

Especially the Moog. If you dont' have a midi to CV convertor you'll only be able to use it for un-synced sound sampling. You won't have the ability to program patterns.

Jay Selway

2005-05-31, 11:25 AM

Good purchase with the delta1010.. its a good starting point.

djdavidmichael

2005-05-31, 11:32 AM

300 doesn't get you very far....go buy a good soundcard and a midi controller. You can get most of the other programs that you need online.....but you didn't hear that from me.

Heider

2005-05-31, 11:39 AM

300 doesn't get you very far....go buy a good soundcard and a midi controller. You can get most of the other programs that you need online.....but you didn't hear that from me.

what...you think i actually buy my software?? :wink:

infectedskazi

2005-05-31, 01:19 PM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=47093&item=7326495932&rd=1 their cheap now if u want em, mackie HR-824

Heider

2005-05-31, 01:50 PM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=47093&item=7326495932&rd=1 their cheap now if u want em, mackie HR-824

that would be nice except it has the "reserve not met" yet.

i was thinkin of maybe this
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7326315553&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

the KRK V8 would be nicer of course, but it's pricey. maybe i can find a deal on ebay...

stevelogik

2005-05-31, 02:09 PM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7319289370

get ya one of these.

or maybe one of these.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=38069&item=7325559564&rd=1

Those are fun :o) u should get one of those as a controller for reason n such, plus it comes with some old skool sounds which are fun to fuck with

stevelogik

2005-05-31, 02:10 PM

Good purchase with the delta1010.. its a good starting point.

Yeah I have that, its a pretty good sound card

Heider

2005-05-31, 02:13 PM

Yeah I have that, its a pretty good sound card

how do i use it if i just want to hook up a pair of headphones with a 1/4" jack since all it has is the rca's and xlr's?...or do i need to get an adapter

Jungle Jessi

2005-05-31, 02:27 PM

that would be nice except it has the "reserve not met" yet.

i was thinkin of maybe this
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7326315553&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

the KRK V8 would be nicer of course, but it's pricey. maybe i can find a deal on ebay...

yeah those mackies still have 4 days left on 'em, and they won't stay cheap for long.

as for the v6's.....be forwarned that krk's are just about the flatest speakers you can buy.

i would def recommend them for live-sound mix-downs.....but maybe not so much for d'n'b.

you'll just end up over-compensating on the low end, and when you get that shit out to your car it will be nothing but bass.

unless you have a sub of course, and then that makes them a pretty good find.

i actually just picked up 5 yamaha msp3's yesterday at the GC sale.....and hopefully soon i'll be picking up a big 'ol krk sub in an attempt to make myself the most wikkid ghetto-ass surround sound ever!!

should be fun.

Heider

2005-05-31, 02:35 PM

yeah those mackies still have 4 days left on 'em, and they won't stay cheap for long.

as for the v6's.....be forwarned that krk's are just about the flatest speakers you can buy.

i would def recommend them for live-sound mix-downs.....but maybe not so much for d'n'b.

you'll just end up over-compensating on the low end, and when you get that shit out to your car it will be nothing but bass.

unless you have a sub of course, and then that makes them a pretty good find.

i actually just picked up 5 yamaha msp3's yesterday at the GC sale.....and hopefully soon i'll be picking up a big 'ol krk sub in an attempt to make myself the most wikkid ghetto-ass surround sound ever!!

should be fun.

yo jessi - don't i want them to be flat? doesn't the flat eq mean the sound coming out of the speakers is as close as possible to what the computer is actually producing? i have a nice polk 10" sub i use for blastin music/movies, but i dunno how i'd hook it up with the powered monitors. what kinda studio monitors would you suggest then without makin me poor. a friend of mine has the behringer truth's, but i'm not sure what i think of them yet...

Jay Selway

2005-05-31, 02:46 PM

Get these if you can..

http://mackie.com/products/hr624/index.html

or these..

http://www.behringer.com/B2031/index.cfm?lang=ENG

You can usually find the behringers for under $400 for the pair. I have a pair, and I like them.

nickn

2005-05-31, 03:48 PM

monitors (http://search.ebay.com/monitors_W0QQsofocusZbsQQsbrftogZ1QQsojsZ1QQcatrefZC5QQfrppZ50QQsaslopZ1QQs orefinesearchZ1QQfromZR10QQfclZ3QQsacurZ0QQsacatZ619QQcatrefZC6QQsargnZ-1QQsaslcZ2QQftrtZ1QQftrvZ1QQpriceZ1QQsaprchiZ300QQsadisZ200QQfposZQ5AIPQ2FP ostalQQfsopZ1QQfsooZ1QQcoactionZcompareQQcopagenumZ1QQcoentrypageZsearch)

djdavidmichael

2005-05-31, 04:39 PM

Fuck outboard gear....these days it's a total waste of money and you have MUCH more that you can do using VSTs...
Get a midi keyboard,a soundcard and some monitors adn you are set

Jungle Jessi

2005-05-31, 04:40 PM

yo jessi - don't i want them to be flat? doesn't the flat eq mean the sound coming out of the speakers is as close as possible to what the computer is actually producing? i have a nice polk 10" sub i use for blastin music/movies, but i dunno how i'd hook it up with the powered monitors. what kinda studio monitors would you suggest then without makin me poor. a friend of mine has the behringer truth's, but i'm not sure what i think of them yet...

you want them to be flat to an extent.

the problem with overly flat moniters is while they might be technically accurate, in reality they don't sound the way you want them to. (assuming that your like most other d'n'b heads and are into the kinda bass that makes your teeth chatter.)

like i said before, you will most likely end up overcompensating the bass on the flat moniters, because your not used to hearing things that way. it will never sound like there is enough bass in your mix......untill you take it out to your car, and suddenly there will be way to much.

the reason why the mackies are so bad ass, is because they are mos def NOT flat....they have got a THUMPIN bass, while still retaining the clarity and eveness of a high quality studio moniter.

i want them more then anything in the world.

mackie is my hero.

OR you could add a sub. the cool thing about a sub is that you can turn it on and off, enabling you to hear your mix on the flat "technicaly accurate" speakers, and then again on the more realistic system.

this will give you a good idea on how to balance eveything. :yes:

as far as the behringers....i have never heard them, but i am not a big fan of behringer, so i'm not the person to ask.

if i had to recomend a middle-of-the-line moniter i would go with the event 20/20's.

crisp, clear, not to flat, and not TOO exspensive.

they run about $500 for the pair @ GC. (less is you know how to haggle!!)

happy hunting!!

djdavidmichael

2005-05-31, 04:43 PM

I have the KRK Rockit 8s
They are wicked and now that the price has dropped you can swoop a pair for around 500...
300 just isn't enough for decent monitors and they are the MOST IMPORTANT part os a good studio.
Don't get something just to have it...if you don't have the loot wait until you do.
Trust me on this...sound quality is the most important thing...and a 300 dollar pair of speaks just doesn't cut it.

Heider

2005-05-31, 04:56 PM

:dammit: time to save up my money. thanks all.

Jungle Jessi

2005-05-31, 04:59 PM

Don't get something just to have it...if you don't have the loot wait until you do.
Trust me on this...sound quality is the most important thing...and a 300 dollar pair of speaks just doesn't cut it.

<-------- agrees 100% :yes:

djane

2005-05-31, 05:09 PM

i actually checked out that microkorg on the memorial day sale. seemed pretty cool for the price. i might just end up getting a cheap midi controller like the oxygen 8 and just stick mostly to software.

The MicroKorg doubles as a midi controller

Matt Sanborn

2005-05-31, 05:13 PM

KRK's are the best bang for the buck ya can come by...and they sound sweet.

Heider

2005-06-01, 12:53 AM

KRK's are the best bang for the buck ya can come by...and they sound sweet.

hmmm, should i listen to the guy with a ton of posts, or jessi, who's worked @ guitar center???

djane

2005-06-01, 09:44 AM

hmmm, should i listen to the guy with a ton of posts, or jessi, who's worked @ guitar center???

I think the guys at guitar center will tell you the same thing... at least they talked me into the rokit 5's and for $150 a piece they fucking rock. If you are worried about them 'sounding good' here is a little tip...

although there are good monitors and bad monitors you can make music that sounds great on lesser quality monitors. Take a cd of a producer you like and see how he sounds on the monitors and tweek your stuff until it sounds the same. As far as bass goes there are many arguments for and against subwoofers. With a sub you may think you have enough bass when you don't, and with out a sub you may end up over compensating and find out you have too much bass. It's all about learning how to use what you have, it will take time.

Jungle Jessi

2005-06-01, 10:07 AM

As far as bass goes there are many arguments for and against subwoofers. With a sub you may think you have enough bass when you don't, and with out a sub you may end up over compensating and find out you have too much bass. It's all about learning how to use what you have, it will take time.

ahhh, but if you listen to your mix WITH a sub and then again WITHOUT you will probably be able to find a nice middle ground, without having to run to and from your car a million times.

and don't get me wrong....the krk's are sweet.

interesting thing about krk is that they ONLY make high quality studio moniters, unlike companies like mackie and behringer that make one of everything under the pro-audio sun.

but just because they are high quality, dosn't mean that they are a one size fits all, 'ya know??

since all music focus's on different aspects, it will depend of what kind of sound you are looking for. something thats normally eq'ed pretty even (like a live band, some funkier house and breaks, or maybe even something like liquid d'n'b) will usually sound pretty bad-ass on flat moniters.

i personally like my d'n'b to have agressive bass thats crunchy and hard, which i never really felt on the krk's/

but it's all preference, really.

the best thing to do honestly, is to go to a store and listen to them all. at GC we had it lined up so you listen to each set of moniters one at a time. if you do something like that then you can REALLY hear what each moniter has to offer in comparison to the others. :thumbsup:

like i said before, happy hunting!!

PYVND

2005-06-01, 02:01 PM

If you want something with sweet keyboard action, I'll sell you my Kawai K1 mkII for $100. Kawai is famous for the feel of their keyboards. It will come with some sweet bonuses as well. PM me and we'll talk.

I think most people here are correct in that if you are low on cash, spending on sound reinforcement and a good-feeling controller is priority. Having said that, I think something like an Oberheim Matrix 1000 or Roland MKS-50 would bring some added REAL analog goodness. And they are pretty economical.

Heider

2005-06-02, 02:49 PM

Good purchase with the delta1010.. its a good starting point.

does anyone else have this card? i'm trying to figure out how to set it up. i want to output my computer audio to at least 2 sources, but it only lets me choose one. like i'll have PA system 1 hooked up to outputs 1/2 and PA system 2 hooked up to outputs 3/4, but i can only get audio out to one system. btw- the labels on the rca's are awfull. i had to tape pairs together and label them to be able to see the numbers.