kayDUB
So what recording interface do you use and why? What do you use it for?
Think it will be interesting to see what different people are using. Feel free to expand on your full recording setup! Pictures welcome too!
I'll start ?
Presonus FP10 - because I got a good deal on one at the time, did not really research or anything...
The only real use I've got out of it aside from recording some ideas and playing around is for recording scratch tracks to save time in studio. Hoping to spend a lot more time recording shortly - there's a lot to learn!
It's hooked up to KRK VXT6 monitors and Audio Technica ATH-M40fs headphones.
Using Reaper at the moment running on an i5 3.1ghz, 8gb RAM PC running Windows 7.
Mics: SM57 and Rode NT2a.
ftcl
I use a Presonus Firebox. Pretty much for the same reason that kayDUB mentioned ?
I also use Reaper, on a Macbook Pro 13".
Sound wise I have a set of B&O Beovox C40's running of an old Sansui home theatre amp along with a Wharfedale 10" sub.
I use Sennheiser HD202 headphones, and a crappy Behringer mic (really need to upgrade that...)
I mostly just record using the DI on my amp (as this is the easiest) but since acquiring a second amp, I now record in stereo! ? One DI, on mic... Currently I just record little licks and riffs as they happen, and I hope to one day sift through it all and perhaps finish some songs. If only I wasn't so damn lazy!
Here's an old pick of it all (all there I promise...):
MNM7
As I have only started to dip my toes into the world of recording I don't have much yet, but I use my POD HD500 as my interface for all instruments. Still working on getting decent monitor speakers, but I use my pc speakers and they work perfect for now. I also use my isolating in-ear headphones so that I don't disturb the rest of my people in the house. I have an desktop pc with an I5 3.1 also i think, 4gb ram with win 7 and I use Cubase to which my POD links as an ASIO interface via USB.
I also have recently acquired a new iPad and will be either using Amplitube or Ampkit with an iRig Plugin.
deefstes
Audio Interface: M-Audio FastTrack Pro
Software: REAPER
VSTs: Have downloaded a few but so far I've only really used Toontrack EZ Drummer
Microphone: Røde NT1-A (recent acquisition from fellow forumite Ray, haven't recorded anything serious with it yet)
Amp: Roland Cube 80X
AlanRatcliffe
My hardware is fairly modest these days as I DI most things and use a lot of softsynths.
Interface: Focusrite Liquid Saffire 56.
Monitors: KRK V8 II
Mics: Rode NTK (valve LDC), AKG C535 (MDC), 3 x Shure SM58, 3 x Shure SM57, Shure SM10A, 2 x SE Electronics SE1a (SDCs)
Drums: Roland TD-12K
MIDI controller: Roland EP7 II
Recording software: Cakewalk Sonar
Other Software: It gets a bit silly here - for a decade I spent more on software than anything else, but I've been trying to simplify it to a few bundles that I know work and play together nicely instead of a thousand single software packages.. At the heart of it all are the Native Instruments Komplete and Waves Platinum bundles alongside Toontrack EZ Drummer and many of the add-on kits. I have a lot of pianos (Bosendorfer 109, Steinway A, B C, and D, Estonia and Yamaha), choirs and orchestral sample libraries (most converted from Gigasampler formats to Kontakt, so I've had some a while). Then I have a lot of small software VSTs and VSTis and sample sets for specific tasks like specific ethnic instruments or classic keyboards (Lounge Lizard FTW!) and classic effects.
On the shopping list is a Shure SM7 LDD. Wishlist includes things like a U87 and Vienna symphonic library, but I don't think either will happen soon.
Big-G
I'm currently in the process of setting up my setup, and only started building my home studio up from scratch a few months back, but this is what I've managed so far.....
Monitors are Event ALP 5 actives.... Great little monitors with unbelievable bass response for such a small speaker, but only usable as VERY nearfield.
Presonus Inspire 1394 Firewire interface. Soon to be sold off if all goes well? Great starting point, but limited ins/outs at 2 mics and 2 instruments (simultaeniously), plus a phono/RCA input on back.
Digidesigns 003 Rack firewire interface. Recent purchase from Mr Alan here, but not had time to set it up yet amongst all other 'life' activities currently happening, but this will be the reason that makes the Presonus go 'For Sale' shortly if all my software works fine with the 003.
Current mics are... Avantone CK-1 (superb little mic), Avantone CK-6 (yet to be used) and a Rode NT1a, which is about to be sold.
Software.... Sonar X1 Producer (64-bit), Cubase SX-2 (32-bit), Protools 8 LE (yet to be installed, came with Digi 003) various plugins I've accumulated over the years.
Future expansion ideas?..... Art MPA II pre, Focusrite Platinum Voicemaster Pro, Focusrite Trakmaster Pro, TL Audio 5021 stereo Valve compressor, TLA 5051 Valve Channel strip, Tul T12 and F47 mics, Avantone CV-12 tube mic, 2nd mortgage to pay for everything!
I'll post some pics once I'm a bit more organised.
Items I most regret parting with in the past..... Too many to mention, but suffice to say the biggest regret was selling my old Joe Meek SC4 DaD stereo comp! That was a real special piece of kit! SOld it just before moving out here, as i didn't think it would be cost effective to get it here.... How wrong I was!
Regards
G!
kayDUB
Thanks for posting guys!
What exactly do you lose out on with ProTools LE vs full? Anyone have a link?
I know there are more people with recording setups! ?
greetings
Microphones: TUL f47, Shure SM57
Monitors: KRK V6 II
Headphones: AKG K240
Interface: Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 - want to get something with more inputs for drum recording, but I have access to other gear at the moment so it's not a priority
MIDI controller: Novation Impulse 49
Software: Reason 6, Logic 9
All into a Mac with dual monitors.
Jayhell
Audio Interface: Mackie Onyx Blackbird
Software: Cubase Studio 4 (Needs an upgrade)
VSTs: Amplitube and Groove agent 3 are my two main ones.
Microphone: 2x SM 57's, Samson C03 Condensor and a Samson Vocal mic.
Monitors: Mackie MR5 MK2
Midi Controller: AKAI LPK25
I mainly use my system for band practice these days as time for home recording has become so limited. It's great to have 8 mic pre amps, every one plugs in and we jam the night away with headphones.
Arno-West
I run 2 different set-ups: Fireface 400 and Maya 44 soundcards. Cubase SX3 and Cubase 6. Waves Mercury bundle plus a whole lot more plug-ins. EZ and Superior drummer with just about all the expansion packs. BFD2, Stylus RMX, a bunch of synths. 24 Channel Spirit Desk. For guitar - Rackmounted POD (old one), Pocket Pod and AxFX. For Bass - Trace-Elliot AHX-600 head - lined out post-eq into desk and a Sansamp. Mics: SM58, SM57 (x4), SM57Beta, AKG 494 (matched pair), Sennheiser E85, Sennheiser Cardoid, CAD, Samson CS1 and a Prodipe TT1. For monitoring I use a Jamo 5.1 speaker system with active sub and a Yamaha Cinema DSP amp to power the rest. Also 4 x Yamaha HD80's (active) for quadrophonic mixing and a pair of trusty old Yamaha NS10's (powered by a Cyrus amp) for final mixing. Headphones A few sets of Fostex cans, 4 sets of Sennheiser HD202 and another set of Sennheiser cans that cost me bloody 3,5k! Cant remember the model number.
Averatu
Traction by Mackie, discontinued as far as I know, but I know it backwards.
DrGonzo
Ooh yay i love posts like these!
Audio Interface: Steinberg MR816x, Presonus Audiobox
DAW's: Pro Tools 10, Logic 9, Cubase 6, Reason 5, Ableton Live Lite
VST's: Slate Trigger, Superior Drummer, Zebra, Albino, NI Komplete and many more
Monitors: Focal CMS 65
headphones: Senn Hd202 and Beyer Dynamic DT880
Mics: Shure SM57, Shure SM81, (LD condenser pending!)
Midi Controllers: Akai LPK25, Korg NanoKontrol, KMI Softstep, M-Audio Keystation
Processors: Fractal Audio Axe-FX Standard
8)
kayDUB
Thanks for the link Alan, should've known to check the Avid site... :-[
Interesting setups ?
DrGonzo, do you think going Pro Tools 10 is worth while? Seems like the 64bit version is due out soon?
ezietsman
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Audix i5
Monitoring (for now) Sennheiser HD380 Pro.
Hydrogen drums.
Bare bones, no frills.
All of it goes into Ardour in Linux. I got some fair but affordable stuff to learn a bit about recording and mixing and so on, and for the odd time I enter a GFSA comp and for that special occasion where I'll record a multi-platinum hit in my bedroom in 10 minutes ?
Big-G
So I just realised that I hadn't actually answereed the original question fully, and since I have some new additions to my studio, I thought I'd add it here....
What do I use the studio for?.... Currently, its a two fold thing.... Firstly, I'm using it to create and record any ideas for songs that I may have. I tend to get lots of ideas, but then forget them, so I wanted to have the means to record them and remember them. I also wan to have the ability to develop the ideas, and make them into semi decent workable songs in the longer term. Secondly, I moved out here about 8 years ago, and became a stay at home dad, so no longer spent any time in the studio. 8 years is a long time to be out the game for, so I have been slowly building up a home studio to help me get back into the game, with the intention of perhaps getting back into the industry at some point once my youngest boy is old enough?
Why did I choose the gear I have?.... I originally bought the presonus inspire as a package with the Rode NT1a mic and Event monitors for a rediculous price, but when I saw Alans Digi 003 Rack, I thought this would be a much more versatile solution, and gives me a way back into 'Protools'.
What new gear do I have?.... Since buying the Digidesigns 003 Rack, I have added a few extra 'toys' to the collection.... I have been looking for some Pre amp/channel strips that are affordable and reasonable performance, and I managed to pick up a Focusrite Platinum Voicemaster Channel strip and a Presonus Tube Studio Channel. These I am sure will assist with enhancing my signal chain. Although, the Focusrite I got off eBay, and is sitting at my folks house in the UK awaiting my next visit. I also picked up a Boss GT-Pro rackmount FX unit, which is great for recording guitars direct. The other little gem I picked up was an Orange Micro Terror head. Its a 20w 'valve pre' amp, thats the smallest thing I've ever seen, but still produces a very usable guitar tone! Its the kind of thing that would make people laugh at you if you walked on stage with, until at least they hear it growl! Its totally unbelievable!!
I'll try and post some pics when my internet is behaving itself!
Regards
G!
deanBailey
I use a RME fireface 800 upgraded from two firestudios projects..
Even though I'm 5 inputs less I needed an AD/DA upgrade and something more reliable.
Had syncing problems on the presonus...
The difference between the two interfaces are mixes and music in general sound (put simply) more spacious and there's an increase of depth. Almost like you can feel the space between the instruments panned out and/or moved back.
The difference might be dismal to non existent for some people but when you mix on one setup for years you notice the slightest differences.
Another problem was moving from 16 preamps on the firestudio to 4 on the RME...
which led me to getting two external mic pres, Great River Mp-2nv and API 3124 to cover the 10 inputs...I'm really enjoying the upgrade. ?
DrGonzo
kayDUB wrote:
DrGonzo, do you think going Pro Tools 10 is worth while? Seems like the 64bit version is due out soon?
Hey kayDUb, hmm well, yes i suppose it is, it depends if you really rely on 64bit compatibility for the time being (i know i don't), but yeah it might be worth waiting it out, i suspect Pro Tools 11 will be released beginning of next year...
i am feeling a little weary of AVID to be honest, it seems they not sure what they want... they have just sold off M-Audio and all of their consumer related brands and products, and say that they will be now focusing on the Professional Market only... i wouldn't even be surprised if they decide to go non-native again!
but yeah anyway, i digress... What software are you using at the moment?
kayDUB
DrGonzo wrote:
kayDUB wrote:
DrGonzo, do you think going Pro Tools 10 is worth while? Seems like the 64bit version is due out soon?
Hey kayDUb, hmm well, yes i suppose it is, it depends if you really rely on 64bit compatibility for the time being (i know i don't), but yeah it might be worth waiting it out, i suspect Pro Tools 11 will be released beginning of next year...
i am feeling a little weary of AVID to be honest, it seems they not sure what they want... they have just sold off M-Audio and all of their consumer related brands and products, and say that they will be now focusing on the Professional Market only... i wouldn't even be surprised if they decide to go non-native again!
but yeah anyway, i digress... What software are you using at the moment?
Thanks man. I'm using Reaper now. In the process of upgrading my rig (see first post) and seriously considering going pro tools. But I also have this niggling feeling it might be a bad idea for some reason. Actually I think I know the reason - its a lot of $$$ and I don't want to get locked in now and regret it; precisely for the reasons you mentioned above. Don't want to invest the money and then have to move to something else anyway.
deefstes
kayDUB wrote:
Thanks man. I'm using Reaper now. In the process of upgrading my rig (see first post) and seriously considering going pro tools. But I also have this niggling feeling it might be a bad idea for some reason. Actually I think I know the reason - its a lot of $$$ and I don't want to get locked in now and regret it; precisely for the reasons you mentioned above. Don't want to invest the money and then have to move to something else anyway.
While we're discussing differences; Could someone explain please what you can do with Pro Tools that you can't do with REAPER?
