Home Recording Studio (Gear/Setup)

Mike Sommer · 05-10-2009, 01:19 PM

Exactly Greg.

Most of the prosumer mixers that are offered at the big box centers tend not to be the best quality or sound. The preamps are crud, and the routing is anything but professional -you get what they give ya and that's it. I like Soundcraft, as do a few VO guys in LA. These mixers (Soundcraft and A&H) cost a little more but are worth the extra expense when it comes to quality and sound of the unit.

Greg Houser · 05-11-2009, 12:25 AM

The only exception I've really found to your comment is with the Onyx mixers by Mackie.

Good preamps for VO.

However, they're really limited for use in a studio as they were designed for live music. I've got one in the Martini Lounge, and might keep it a bit longer, but its only used to connect the alternate studio monitors and phone patch (the signal is straight through the circuit for the monitors, and with the quality of a phone line, even a digital hybrid wouldn't allow you to notice the difference as the input channel goes over the Onyx preamp). Since my stuff goes into the DAW via an Aurora or HEDD, I don't need it for anything else.

Probably around Christmas time, I'll snag another A&H or Soundcraft (never used one of the smaller ones) for my desk.

Hopefully by that time, I'll have fully moved into a larger house (need to find one of those too).

Jay Stevens · 05-12-2009, 05:00 PM

Soundcraft sounds like a popular choice.

Which model would you fellas recommend?

Soundcraft vs. A&H, thoughts?

Jay Stevens · 05-16-2009, 04:06 PM

Well the home studio is coming along. I'm in the process of moving in. The sound engineered drywall is up, I got 2 coats of paint on the wall another coat going on tomorrow, I'm sealing holes and installing double pane glass windows, heavy curtains and thick carpeting followed by acoustical foam on the walls.

I have all my stuff - still have not yet decided on an interface or mixer.

I hear so much about Soundcraft on here, any recommendations on a specific model?

Jay Stevens · 05-16-2009, 05:15 PM

I'm taking a liking to the Soundcraft Spirit M4 Mixer.

If I was to take everything into the Soundcraft M4 mixer I wouldn't need an over the top interface, would I?

Just something that would make the connection to my PC via Firewire?

Mixer --> Interface --> PC

Mike Sommer · 05-16-2009, 11:10 PM

That would be the sound chain.

As for treatment for your studio, you are actuly better of with a hard floor then carpet
RealTraps - Recording Spaces

And before you haul off and spend a lot of money on foam read this.
RealTraps - Acoustics Articles
Foam is nice but you will get better results and more bang for your buck with bass traps and gobos made from Owens Corning 703, Johns Manville equivalent or rock wool. I kindly suggest you read these articles before you spend a lot of money on foam.

And take the time to read the post on accustics.
Studio construction & acoustics - Gearslutz.com

Your room acoustics are probably more important then the gear!!!!!

Jay Stevens · 05-26-2009, 10:46 PM

Ok, I finally made my pick. I got the Soundcraft M4 mixer, the Motu UltraLite MK3 Firewire Interface and Adobe Audition 3.0.

Jim McArthur · 07-27-2009, 07:31 PM

Hi...
I have a new computer, a new preamp, a new conderser mic, but cannot get any sound from a playback. What am I doing or not doing? I set the built-in mixer to Audacity, but still no sound. What's the secret?

Thanks!
Jim McArthur

Mike Sommer · 07-27-2009, 08:16 PM

Describe your set up what do you have be descriptive as possible: computer, mixer, interface, speakers everything.

More than likely it's very simple.

Jim McArthur · 07-27-2009, 08:21 PM

Great news! I have sound....but with way too much RE-re-re-VERB-verb-verb..any suggestions?
jim

05-10-2009, 01:19 PM	#61 (permalink)
Mike Sommer User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,158	Exactly Greg. Most of the prosumer mixers that are offered at the big box centers tend not to be the best quality or sound. The preamps are crud, and the routing is anything but professional -you get what they give ya and that's it. I like Soundcraft, as do a few VO guys in LA. These mixers (Soundcraft and A&H) cost a little more but are worth the extra expense when it comes to quality and sound of the unit. Last edited by Mike Sommer; 05-11-2009 at 03:27 AM.

05-11-2009, 12:25 AM	#62 (permalink)
Greg Houser User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 218	The only exception I've really found to your comment is with the Onyx mixers by Mackie. Good preamps for VO. However, they're really limited for use in a studio as they were designed for live music. I've got one in the Martini Lounge, and might keep it a bit longer, but its only used to connect the alternate studio monitors and phone patch (the signal is straight through the circuit for the monitors, and with the quality of a phone line, even a digital hybrid wouldn't allow you to notice the difference as the input channel goes over the Onyx preamp). Since my stuff goes into the DAW via an Aurora or HEDD, I don't need it for anything else. Probably around Christmas time, I'll snag another A&H or Soundcraft (never used one of the smaller ones) for my desk. Hopefully by that time, I'll have fully moved into a larger house (need to find one of those too). __________________ Voiceovers by Gregory Houser Philadelphia based voice actor My Blog - A Man, A Martini, and A Lot of Microphones Last edited by Greg Houser; 05-11-2009 at 01:21 AM.

05-12-2009, 05:00 PM	#63 (permalink)
Jay Stevens The Voice of Choice Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 29	Soundcraft sounds like a popular choice. Which model would you fellas recommend? Soundcraft vs. A&H, thoughts? __________________ - Jay Stevens "The full expression of the voice depends on the mind, body, and soul" Last edited by Jay Stevens; 05-12-2009 at 05:14 PM.

05-16-2009, 04:06 PM	#64 (permalink)
Jay Stevens The Voice of Choice Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 29	Well the home studio is coming along. I'm in the process of moving in. The sound engineered drywall is up, I got 2 coats of paint on the wall another coat going on tomorrow, I'm sealing holes and installing double pane glass windows, heavy curtains and thick carpeting followed by acoustical foam on the walls. I have all my stuff - still have not yet decided on an interface or mixer. I hear so much about Soundcraft on here, any recommendations on a specific model? __________________ - Jay Stevens "The full expression of the voice depends on the mind, body, and soul"

05-16-2009, 05:15 PM	#65 (permalink)
Jay Stevens The Voice of Choice Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 29	I'm taking a liking to the Soundcraft Spirit M4 Mixer. If I was to take everything into the Soundcraft M4 mixer I wouldn't need an over the top interface, would I? Just something that would make the connection to my PC via Firewire? Mixer --> Interface --> PC __________________ - Jay Stevens "The full expression of the voice depends on the mind, body, and soul" Last edited by Jay Stevens; 05-16-2009 at 06:18 PM.

05-16-2009, 11:10 PM	#66 (permalink)
Mike Sommer User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,158	That would be the sound chain. As for treatment for your studio, you are actuly better of with a hard floor then carpet RealTraps - Recording Spaces And before you haul off and spend a lot of money on foam read this. RealTraps - Acoustics Articles Foam is nice but you will get better results and more bang for your buck with bass traps and gobos made from Owens Corning 703, Johns Manville equivalent or rock wool. I kindly suggest you read these articles before you spend a lot of money on foam. And take the time to read the post on accustics. Studio construction & acoustics - Gearslutz.com Your room acoustics are probably more important then the gear!!!!!

05-26-2009, 10:46 PM	#67 (permalink)
Jay Stevens The Voice of Choice Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 29	Ok, I finally made my pick. I got the Soundcraft M4 mixer, the Motu UltraLite MK3 Firewire Interface and Adobe Audition 3.0. __________________ - Jay Stevens "The full expression of the voice depends on the mind, body, and soul" Last edited by Jay Stevens; 05-27-2009 at 11:30 PM.

07-27-2009, 07:31 PM	#68 (permalink)
Jim McArthur User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 2	No Sound Hi... I have a new computer, a new preamp, a new conderser mic, but cannot get any sound from a playback. What am I doing or not doing? I set the built-in mixer to Audacity, but still no sound. What's the secret? Thanks! Jim McArthur

07-27-2009, 08:16 PM	#69 (permalink)
Mike Sommer User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,158	Describe your set up what do you have be descriptive as possible: computer, mixer, interface, speakers everything. More than likely it's very simple.

07-27-2009, 08:21 PM	#70 (permalink)
Jim McArthur User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 2	Great news! I have sound....but with way too much RE-re-re-VERB-verb-verb..any suggestions? jim

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