Tips for buying new producing equipment

zsazsa · Post by **zsazsa** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 3:48 pm

monitors are the most important for your sound. If you don't record audio I wouldn't be too bothered about the soundcard.
There is difference in sound but all sound pretty good. Latency is an issue when you record/ monitor stuff.
RME would be best but that's way out of your budget.

Can't help you with keys, don't have much experience. I do really like the feel of the CME's.
They are not that portable because they are pretty heavy.

i personally have good experiences with m-audio (audiophile 2496, TriggerFinger, FastTrack Pro, midisport 2x2).
I'm not too sure about the audiophile usb though.
As far as I know in the past there were a lot of troubles with drivers on macs. But you're on PC anyway.
Emu makes good sounding cheap cards but I read about quite a few that break.

I would look into ebay if I were you. I have a pair of KRK V4's at the same price as the rokit 5's. They are nice.
For monitors it would be good if you could check a couple at some store. Taste is also an issue.

Motu would be nice for an interface, but do you need all the i/o?

just my 2c's.

Tone Deft · Post by **Tone Deft** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 4:52 pm

scrap the midi controller for now. nothing is more important than a soundcard and monitors.

the soundcard dictates your latency and overall processing power. don't cheap out on it.

monitors are essential, who cares what you do if it sounds like crap.

get a good sound card now. then save up and drop a chunk of money on monitors.

all the while look for anything used that sends midi as keyboard controller.

or if you just want to get going, look for whatever you can get used, it'll make your money stretch much further. guys are always upgrading and ditching old gear.

heavensdaw · Post by **heavensdaw** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 5:11 pm

This is all good info...

Don't rush.. Do a lot of research.. Think really carefully about your needs..

IMO soundcard and monitors are the most important for you.. the krk 5 are good, but it really depends on your taste, how big your room is, and what kinda sounds you're into .. Try shit out in the stores.. keep your eye out for secondhand gear, check here http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewforum ... 35ba6a495b and http://www.bigbluelounge.com/forums/vie ... 024bbb3efd

Good luck.. keep at it

Hd

lauschepper · Post by **lauschepper** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 8:02 am

eddie-h wrote:Still not sure what to do with the keyboard,seems to be mixed opinions but my fiend has one about 3 years and its still going strong.

why don't you go for a korg microKontrol? it's way up my list and after buying it i'll ditch my m-audio stuff (triggerfinger, oxygen49)!

LeifonMars · Post by **LeifonMars** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 8:37 am

heavensdaw wrote:This is all good info...
Don't rush.. Do a lot of research.. Think really carefully about your needs..
Hd

...the only problem is that noobies rarely know their needs. But therefore research is good. And experimenting until you're no noobie anymore and know your needs.

A lot of people stress here the importance of good monitors - and they are right - but they forget the fact that if your studio room is acustical disaster, decent monitors won't help you that much, that the investment would be reasonable. Then again I'm only IMOing.

I think the OP should investment to a decent audiointerface (for example the Motu Ultralite), but not only because of sound and latency, but also because the decent ones have a habit working. For a noobie I'd think there's nothing more frustrating than solving click, pop and crackle issues all day long.

spkey · Post by **spkey** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 9:14 am

Like everyone has said... M-Audio is not a good choice.

I think you can get good equipment with 600 Euros. I have personally monitored a few speakers for the pricerange you specify (including KRK's, Tannoys, Yamaha HS80M and others) and can honestly say I am truly impressed with the Fostex PM-1 (http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/nov03/a ... texpm1.htm). They cost around 250Euros.

You can then spend another 200-250 on a soundcard such as the Presonus Firebox as it has really good preamp or maybe an alesis interface such as this one http://www.imuso.co.uk/ProductDetail.as ... de=ST00482 or the EMU0404 (though beware that it really has horrible drivers for VISTA).

You can then spend the rest on the controller

amigo · Post by **amigo** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 11:52 am

One thing to consider and I think people never give it a thought is to get your self a good keyboard synth that you can use as a controller.

I have a Yamaha AN1x and coupled with a Faderfox LV1 I have an adequate number of knobs and sliders along with keys and a killer synth.

djfm · Post by **djfm** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 3:11 pm

the only problem i had with m-audio was the fast track sound card would drop out at any time
stay away from m-audio
the keyboards seem ok but everything else is shit