ADA Depot - A Forum To Support Users of ADA Amplification Gear
Miscellaneous => Recording - Studio Talk => Topic started by: MarshallJMP on March 27, 2014, 03:55:56 PM
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So i'm starting this topic to find out what you guys use for recording at home (or some other place).
What hardware (soundcards,mics,computer,monitors),software (OS,DAW,plugins etc..)
And... don't forget a picture(s) tells more then a 1000 words.
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8)
My tools
http://www.thegrannyattic.com/tools.php (http://www.thegrannyattic.com/tools.php)
Pics
http://www.thegrannyattic.com/media.php (http://www.thegrannyattic.com/media.php)
:banana-dance:
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Wow Peter nice studio you have.
I attached the stuff i use and also my drumset (altough it's actually my son his drum,but dad had to pay for it :facepalm:)
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Some pics
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I record with my Macbook Pro, using Garageband or Logic. I usually start out in Garageband & refine the mix in Logic. I plug my rig into my old-as-hell 4 track tape recorder because it has an awesome mixer (with a sweepable midrange!) and get the signal into the guitar via a USB D/A converter made by Aardvark. I bought it back in the early 2000s and it still works great. Same with the mixer section of the ol' 4-track, that works great.
I have all the instruments (bass, guitars, keys, mics) and a POS electronic drum kit for laying down fills. I program the beats and record my own fills.
It ain't high tech, but it ain't high budget either ;) I really should do more recording
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Wow Peter nice studio you have.
Thanks ;D
I attached the stuff i use and also my drumset (altough it's actually my son his drum,but dad had to pay for it :facepalm:)
I see you like Audix mics too :thumb-up: and Cubase/Wavelab combination. O0
Are you running 64 bit?
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It ain't high tech, but it ain't high budget either ;) I really should do more recording
If it works, it works :)
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So ages ago I bought a Behringer eurorack UB2442FX-pro desk and protools LE (currently v6.4) with digi 001 8 in/out IO, I have a mates digi 002 but haven't used it in my set up yet (we did some recordings with his mac (also protools) which came out well). Need a firewire card to include it... I have a bunch of mics, 58s, 57, EV RE320, Rode NT1, pair of Rode NT5s' etc.
Monitor with Behringer Truths and Truth SUB (very early ones, new ones don't seem as good), and my dad left me a pair of QUAD ESL 63's, QUAD 44 preamp and QUAD 606 poweramp (nice :thumb-up: ). Out board I have a TLA Ivory 5001 quad valve preamp (after recent bass test this is sounding good, next I'll try it with the NT5s on acoustic guitar), a Focusrite Penta stereo compressor (haven't used this yet) and a TC M-One XL. Also a Behringer Ultra patchpro, Behringer headphone amp, a Nakamichi CD and Nakamichi 3 head Cassette. I've also got a Rolland DAW, haven't gone there yet, still in the create I was given it in. Also a Korg Triton LE keyboard (lots of good sounds).
For home recording, I use my old EV 3 way TL for monitoring (guide vox (58), electric kit, bass (direct)) coz they give the truths a hard time, MP2, Acoustic guitar direct monitor through the Truths. Overdub Vox with NT1 and headphones, guitar again direct. All monitoring comes from the desk, only final mix with protools so I don't get latency issues.
These days I try to get it as live as possible to capture the energy, more than 3 takes on an overdub forget it and come back later, solos wind back and drop in as I go to fix any blunders.
I've always used protools like a digital tape machine, old school, I don't do any cut paste/loop stuff just real playing on destructive record, but then I began on analogue desks and 2" 24 track.
I've found DSP plug ins very ordinary, I'm sure there are better ones but I'd rather use a dedicated outboard device, they sound better (the good ones). But we live in the age of crap MP3 files (and whatever apple call their crap iformat)
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I'm running 64 bit,works great.Cubase 7 is really different from the previous versions and you need some time to get used to it.Once you get it into it it works really great.Now it looks like a real mixing console,nice for old school guys like me :))
Wavelab is also amazing,really like the steinberg stuff.And you can get it quite cheap if you get the educational versions.
Audix makes some amazing mics for recording drums.The sound doesn't need a lot of tweaking since it's already pre eq'd.Also love the I5 for guitar.It sounds just a bit better then a SM57.
I see some of you also use protools and logic.Logic only works on a mac right?Tried protools LE a couple of years ago but that wasn't really my thing,don't know why,maybe i was getting used to cubase too much.
Plugins,well there are some good ones out there,and some bad ones too.Usually finding a good compressor is really hard.Any suggestions?The overloud stuff is nice,normally I'm not a fan of recording guitars direct,but the sound is decent altough not same as amp cab mic combo.
Anyway lots of fun,and i must altough tape is good the DAW is a lot easier to work with,more possibility's and less cables.
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I've always used protools like a digital tape machine, old school, I don't do any cut paste/loop stuff just real playing on destructive record, but then I began on analogue desks and 2" 24 track.
That's how I use Cubase (although I do have Protools, I prefer the workflow of Cubase) 8)
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I'm running 64 bit,works great.Cubase 7 is really different from the previous versions and you need some time to get used to it.Once you get it into it it works really great.Now it looks like a real mixing console,nice for old school guys like me :))
Wavelab is also amazing,really like the steinberg stuff.
As I cannot get a 64-bit driver for Windows 7 or 8 for my DIG003, I'm holding out on upgrading my computer to 64 bit.
It would mean forking out an extra 1000 Euro to buy a sound soundcard at the same time as upgrading the computer and operating system. :amaze:
Audix makes some amazing mics for recording drums.The sound doesn't need a lot of tweaking since it's already pre eq'd.Also love the I5 for guitar.It sounds just a bit better then a SM57.
Yup, have used the i5 for guitars also (although originally bought for snares)
This one http://www.thomann.de/nl/the_tbone_rb100.htm (http://www.thomann.de/nl/the_tbone_rb100.htm) is also very nice (and cheap) for guitars. combines perfectly with th i5 or the SM57
Usually finding a good compressor is really hard.Any suggestions?
I really love the Voxengo compressors like this one http://www.voxengo.com/product/crunchessor/ (http://www.voxengo.com/product/crunchessor/) :thumb-up:
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Very nice setups, guys!
My main DAW is based on a Mac Mini, running Presonus Studio One 2 in Mountain Lion. Inputs are via a Mackie Onyx 1220i 12-channel mixer and Presonus Firestudio Project 10x10 interface, both Firewire 800. I have lots of VST plugins, but I use a trusty Lexicon MX300 for reverb.
I use an assortment of mics from Shure, Audix, MXL, and Blue.
Guitars are routed to all preamps and amps via patch panels and a Radial Engineering JD-7 with transformer isolation, which is also used for re-amping of dry guitar tracks. Preamps include Lexicon MPX-G2, Rockman XPR, Nobels SST-19, ADA MP-1, ADA MP-1 Classic, ADA MP-2, Rockman Modular Head, Line 6 POD HD.
Synth guitar interfaces include Fishman Triple Play, Roland GR-20, and Yamaha G50.
Keyboard is Novation Impulse, hardware synth is Roland JV-880. Too many software synths to count!
I'm a huge fan of the 1W Marshall 50th anniversary amps (I have 4 of them) and have other assorted Marshall and Fender amps. The cabs are mic'd with either Shure SM57 or Audix i5. Strats and Les Pauls are my main passion. I have a basic pedalboard with wah, fuzz, OD, phaser, echo/chorus/reverb that is patched in via the JD-7.
Not a pro setup, but good enough to record my musician friends!
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That Radial Engineering JD-7 looks very nice too bad it's so expensive.
Anybody did some reamping with a mp-1 or mp-X,and how do you do it since the signal comming out of mixers and soundcards is line level?
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Anybody did some reamping with a mp-1 or mp-X,and how do you do it since the signal comming out of mixers and soundcards is line level?
With something like this http://audiogeekzine.com/2012/06/re-amping-explained/ (http://audiogeekzine.com/2012/06/re-amping-explained/) or this http://www.thomann.de/nl/radial_engineering_reamp_kit_reamping_kit.htm (http://www.thomann.de/nl/radial_engineering_reamp_kit_reamping_kit.htm)
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Hey Guys !
I am using Cakewalk Sonar X3 as my recording software , with Superior drummer , and a Motu Audio Interface.
Usually I am recording direct for quietness , but i sometimes mic up with sm57.
Below is my signal chain , I record totally Dry ; only use the TC as a noise gate, and add all FX on pc for maximum mix control.
Guitar > ADA MP1 3tm > TC Gmaj > ADA Monstercab (no cab buttons engaged "open mode") > Motu Interface
Sometimes i use a Mesa 2:90 before the monstercab , but i dont really think its necessary , even when playing into cab
at bedroom levels I most times leave it out , and just use ADA and TC
Record my bass direct into Audio Interface for a different sound than the guitar section
Keyboards are a AX7 Keytar > Korg Triton rack > Interface
If you look closely, you will see i reinforce my wobbly rack unit with a rearmounted Alesis 3630 compressor l
It performs this function better than it compresses - dont buy one lol !
:banana-rock: >:D
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I went for protools LE coz out of the box it was very similar (to me) to being in a normal (back then) studio and it worked with my win 98 box. I always used the mix window, hardly ever straying to the edit window (ohh do I have to). More recently, some guys I was playing with got Cuebase, and liked that better (I really couldn't see that much difference, well I suppose protools came more from digital recording and will also sequence where Cuebase come from a sequencing background and added digital recording, they are very similar though (as Peter? says, slightly different work flow), in the end they both do the same job, and they are both so "rich" as applications, you need to stick with one and get "reasonable" at it). Always the big down side (until now) with protools is you're locked to their hardware (not that its bad, on the contrary, their I/O is very good), but you're locked. And now driver issues to go 64 bit (not good!). I'm pissed that the newer versions (PT10/11 whatever) don't support my digi 001, so I stay where I am or go buy more stuff.
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MJMP: I had a copy of Cubase a loooong time ago and really liked it. Then, I discovered Garageband and i was hooked. Logic is really just a much nicer version of Garageband, great for mastering.
Anybody with a Mac knows that you can do a helluva lot with Garageband and it's dirt cheap.
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That Radial Engineering JD-7 looks very nice too bad it's so expensive.
Yes, the list price is very high - they do show up on eBay a lot and I picked mine up for less than half price! :banana:
Anybody did some reamping with a mp-1 or mp-X,and how do you do it since the signal comming out of mixers and soundcards is line level?
An Ebtech Line Level Shifter is a must for any studio!
http://www.ebtechaudio.com/llsdes.html (http://www.ebtechaudio.com/llsdes.html)
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Looks lilke most of you guys are really serius of your home studio and not running a basic simple setup... so nothing for me to add here for now.
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Anybody did some reamping with a mp-1 or mp-X,and how do you do it since the signal comming out of mixers and soundcards is line level?
Hey MJMP, I haven't tried re-amping but am getting a bit interested now I read about it. Would be handy for playing around with mic positioning. If any of your MP1(s) still have the line level input on the back, that should work for a direct line feed from the unprocessed recorded guitar.
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I briefly experimented with re-amping a year or two ago. From memory, what I did was plug the guitar directly into the interface and record a patch in Cubase. When I decided to re-amp, I would take the line-level output from the interface, and feed it into my little Radial re-amping gadget. From the Radial I would go into the front end of the amps. I THINK that's what I did.....
It's really handy for quickly finding optimum mic positions, as you can loop the guitar track and have someone move around the mic while you listen through the monitors.
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So you either need to buy/(build go MJMP :wave: :thumb-up: ) a gadget to take the line level signal and turn it into a guitar preamp input signal (level/impedance, 1/4" T/S jack), or find another way. So Ebtech good option, MP1 line in I recon should work (if you have that model(s)) (wont work for MP2s....no line in jack). However, on the input (record side), you need to get the unadulterated clean guitar signal onto tape/digital track. So maybe you need to make an input splitter, I did something similar with an old amp switch peavy pedal, so I got Guit in > out 1, out 2 or both out1/2, just some jack sockets and wires, foot switches (2), and a bit of re-soldering.... So this way you can easily send your guitar to your preamp etc (so you can here it to play) and send the other (direct guit) output to your record interface and record just what comes from the guitar (and then play that back into your preamp/amp and re-record later as above...).
I must say though, one thing that bothers me with the re-amping concept is, when you play, you and the devices' (guitar/preamp/amp/cabs) all sing together, you respond to them, they respond to you, sending your original guitar signal to a different amp/set up can't be the same. So for me (I think, for now anyway), re-amping is a good tool for mic placement refinement.
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Anybody with a Mac knows that you can do a helluva lot with Garageband and it's dirt cheap.
Too bad a mac isn't cheap ;)
As for all the line shifters,i don't think you need them.The only problem could be that signal is a bit hot but that can be trimmed.The impedance doesn't matter IMO.
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So if impedance isn't an issue (and I tend to agree it shouldn't be) you could just put a couple of resistors in/before the jack socket. I used to plug my tom shultz rockman into 2 Marshall this way (i.e. rockman headphone 3.5 mm RTS out to 2 1/4" jacks a couple of resistors (forget what value they needed to be) in the leads before the jacks). Worked a treat and gave me stereo rockman through the 2 Marshalls. Then I got a MP1.......
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I'm using Line 6 UX1 into a Dell desktop with windows XP. I'm running my Pod XT Live into the UX1. Or I mic an amp if I want to use something else. I have a Roland electronic drum kit. Which makes doing the drums so much easier. I have several softwares. I usually use Riffworks or Audacity. I think for free the Audacity is pretty cool. Has a bunch of features.
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:)
MP-1 2.0
MP-1 2.01
MP-1 1.38
MP2
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Go Zsoli, it's all very blue LOL. Hey, get a desk, plug them all in at the same time, split your input signal across them all and combine them into poweramp/speakers/direct in who hoo
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:)
MP-1 2.0
MP-1 2.01
MP-1 1.38
MP2
NICE!
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Late to this one. I'll get a couple pics of my studio up this weekend.
Recording wise, I run my Axe Fx Ultra direct into a Delta 44 card into my PC (i7, 16GB, 2 250 SSD drives) using Sonar 7 and a LOT of great plugins from Chucky :thumb-up:
I also use EZ Drummer and DFH add ons for drums. Keyboard plugs into a MidiPort 2x2 that also allows me to match each drum and keyboard track separately in Sonar.
Sound runs back thru a Rane ME-60, Hafler amp, Mackie VLZ1202 Pro out to my Event 20/20's.
All sits on this killer $2000 cherry desk that I scored for $400.
Studio was built using an 8" header and footer with staggered studs, 16"OC. 2 5/8" walls on outside with green glue between. Used industrial strength insulation (a cheaper version of the Owens Corning 7 something or another.)
Inside studs have soundproof tape > RC channel and 2 5/8" green glued sheet rock sheets. Auralex and other foam for the walls and base traps.
Getting my Red Bull fridge to hold the brews in the cave come Father's Day.
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that seems to be a nice studio,can't wait to see some pics.
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that seems to be a nice studio,can't wait to see some pics.
It's a freakin' mess right now. lol
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DAW Hardware:
2013 Macbook Pro
2014 iMac
Thunderbolt Display
4 TB Thunderbolt Drive for tracks
DAW Interfaces:
POD HD Desktop
POD HD 500
POD HD 500X
M-Audio Mobile-Pre
DAW Software:
Logic Pro X
EZ Drums
Instruments/Hardware:
DT25 Combo
DT25 Head
Mesa Boogie 2x12 Recto Cab (vertical)
Casio CDP-120 (Yes, Casio, more on that following)
Roland TD-11K (More on that following)
Audio Technica 2020 Condenser Mic (I have had this one for years, it is my go to mic for both vocals and guitar cab micing)
Behringer Truth Monitors (Also had for years, very nice and clear and focused sound, but need to get used to the 'hyped' factor they add)
ADA MP-1 (Have not used much in awhile, but hopefully will be using more)
ADA 2FX (My go to for flange. When I really want a flange, this is the only one that pleases me)
Now for my own comments on a couple of things:
The Casio keyboard. On hindsight, I would probably go with a more generic MIDI keyboard with no sounds built in. I got the Casio at a great price, looking for an 88 key piano weighted/action keyboard, but I find myself really missing having a pitch shift and modulation wheel. On the other hand, it is forcing me to actually learn how to play, rather than rely on effects like pitch and mod, plus I can also just sit down, turn it on and play, rather than having to fire up a piece of software.
The V-Druns. I could have bought the next version up of kit, which would have had the full mesh triggers and better brain, but, getting the lower cost kit and upgrading the heads cost less, and gave me *much* better heads to play with, and saved me a good chunk of money. This is what I use to record with and trigger the sounds from the EZ Drums addon. Now, I *could* go with Superior Drums, but the EZ drum kits sound great, and very co-incedentally, match up with what I can trigger on the V-Drums. Well, technically, I *could* trigger more, but I want a rimshot to be a rimshot no matter what drum I hit. I am sort of simple that way.
About the *only* piece I really would like to replace in my current setup is that M-Audio Mobile Pre. I am not a big fan of that one. It does the job, but I have never been happy with it. So, I am now looking for a new 'main' audio interface (I can use the other line 6 interfaces, but...)
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Hey Zilthy, nice setup. I've had a pair of Truths for over 10 years I think (the newer Truths don't seem as good now that he has a whole town in China dedicated to the Behringer cause albeit they are much cheaper now, I paid AUD $2k for mine, I think they are $600 ish these days). Along the way I added the Truth SUB (375w?) which works nicely with them (as it was designed to, xrossover built into the SUB). I also now have a pair of QUAD ESL 63s, being electrostatic, they are very articulate but don't like to go to loud. I sometimes run the SUB with them as well just help in the bottom end, and sometimes all together as the QUADs are very good in the midrange and help with the "hyped" factor.
I haven't tried the M-audio stuff. Some friends bought the Yamaha 2 in/out USB I/O, it came with Cuebase, it was ok ?? A/D D/A convertors are, for the most part, pretty ordinary. Then I still prefer tape, much finer granularity, obviously no where near as convenient though. My Digi001 (8in/out) I've liked but only works with Pro Tools. I wonder if Nakamitchi have any I/O devices. The D/A conversion in their/my CD player is very nice, when I A/B it with my CDC CD player the difference is quite obvious.
I'm sure some the others here have some decent experience with various I/O (and I/O is the heart of the whole thing).
Cheers Richard
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Zilthy, another thought that may help encourage more use of your MP1, the new ADA GCS-3 cab sim (http://www.adaamps.com/Products/ada-GCS/GCS.htm) works really well in the MP1 fx loop and then you have stereo cab simmed outs, there's a few posts on the board from when I did this with MikeB's MP1, and a new pair of tubes probably wouldn't hurt it >:D , my choice would be Mullard short plates (http://www.dougstubes.com/preamp-tubes/12ax7-ecc83-7025/mullard-cv4004-12ax7.html) I find them (I currently use the long plates in my MP2s) very 3D. But tubes are very subjective and lots of chat here about them.
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Nice Setup Zilthy 8)
I'll post my upgraded details when I've got it up and running O0
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Anybody with a Mac knows that you can do a helluva lot with Garageband and it's dirt cheap.
Too bad a mac isn't cheap ;)
Definitely not. But they sure are pretty!!! :D
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That Radial Engineering JD-7 looks very nice too bad it's so expensive.
The dude that designed the JD-7 is actually a friend of mine Marsh... ::)
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Anybody did some reamping with a mp-1 or mp-X,and how do you do it since the signal comming out of mixers and soundcards is line level?
You could use this (Radial Engineering once again...) :banana-trip:
http://www.radialeng.com/r2011/jcr.php (http://www.radialeng.com/r2011/jcr.php)
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Will check it out. :thumb-up:
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Spent an entire week cleaning up enough to post the pics I promised. Some are blurry, sorry guys, took it quickly with my phone. :P
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few more
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Nice Finstah :thumb-up: