home setup suggestions

[guildchild]

i've done the searches...just looking for some specific suggestions.

goal: record DECENT quality tracks for sessions i get hired to do; and record my own material
platform: all the people i work with run PT...so, PT makes the most sense.
computer: as of this moment, i'm looking at a used macbook with the mbox 2 +factory bundle
experience: i've been to recording school and feel comfy working with sound / PT etc. was using a VS-1880 until i just couldn't take it anymore. i sold the entire system and have been "borrowing" time at friends' / local studios on PT.
budget: trying to eek this out on $1500 or less.

questions:
1. it seems getting a macbook is the way to go for this budget and my needs. any other suggestions? are used macbooks going to be relatively stable or is that a giant gamble?
2. is the factory bundle worth it?
3. i will NEVER track a full drum kit at my house. at most, i can foresee some stereo micing. so, the mbox 2 seems the most logical choice. will i instantly limit myself too much though?
4. anything else you can suggest? i'm not a recording newbie, but i haven't ever had my own fully computer based rig before.

lastly, am i crazy for thinking i can pull this off on this budget? since i already have a strong PC, should i just grab a more simple and cheaper program? bottom line is that i'd love to start doing sessions at my house on my own time.

and...go!

[mccreadyisgod]

Well, it definitely sounds like you should stick to ProTools. Any other software is going to give you trouble when you try to work with imported sessions that originated in PT.

I'd say a used Mac laptop would do the job, although I don't know why you specifically want to go the laptop route... I'd be looking at a used iMac or even a Mac Mini with the proper specs. Make sure you have room in your budget for any necessary upgrades, like if the Mac is low on RAM or needs the OS upgraded. Regardless, when purchasing a used computer, I'd plan on wiping the hard drive and doing a complete OS re-install, even if you don't need to update the OS.

Do you already have mics, or are mic purchases in addition to your budget, or are you needing mics within your budget as well? Have mic ideas (if you don't have them already)? If you're just doing electric guitar session work, an SM57 or e906 would probably get you by. A nice large-diaphram condenser would make a nice 2nd mic/room mic. And I'm sure a lot of folks will recommend a Heil PR mic (they get a lot of love around here). If you're doing other instruments, then other mic/DI's may work better.

If you aren't mixing the tracks, then there's no real reason to have the factory bundle. If you want the extra plug-ins, then they're nice to have, especially for the little they cost extra. But you don't need them for session work.

[guildchild]

thanks!

i was looking at the laptop for convenience. in reality, i want this to just be a stable system and the price point of the mini's might push me to that instead. i am keeping any upgrades in mind for the budget.

as for studio gear, i have all (yeah right) that i need / want for now. i'm basically just replacing the 1880 with a computer rig, all peripherals will stay the same.

you're right, the extras aren't needed for sessions, but i definitely want to record my own stuff that i've neglected for too long. and i LOVE to mess with fx...so, for the coin, i think i'd have fun with it if nothing else.

i think you've changed my mind about the laptop.

[mccreadyisgod]

i think you've changed my mind about the laptop.


Laptops are great if you need to do mobile recording, but if you're setting it up in one spot and leaving it there, it doesn't really make sense. You'll pay more for a laptop with the same specs as any desktop, which eats into your budget. If you can find a screaming deal on a laptop, then go for it... but I'd bet you'll find a better deal on an iMac or Mac Mini.

[johnwtuggle]

If you're going to be in one place, why do you want to mix on a small screen? 19" is ok, but 22 inch screen and you really can fell comfortable with no eye strain.

The mbox IMO is horrible. You can get a 002r used for cheap. Then add a used Apogee Mini Me and connect it spdif to get good AD conversion.

For 1500 you will have to get a PC to get a decent setup.

$700 Dell PC
$600 002r
$700 Mini Me

That's 2000 which would smoke the Mbox sound by far. You could get pretty awesome results with that setup if you know what you're doing.

I had an MBox and it just sounded bad. The preamps just were not good.

[WyrmCracker]

With your budget, you need to forget about getting a mac. Their cost/performance ratio is x2 that of PCs. They are all intel based now anyway.

You can get a cheap Dell computer and a Pro Mic Preamp for the same price as a Mac.

Dell has been selling decent Core2 Duo + 22" monitor systems for $400. I dont know much about Pro tools, but I would guess that upgraded mic pres would gain you more than upgraded AD converters.

Good luck.

[tedm]

I'd consider low power dual core processors like the 45W AMDs (BE-2350/BE-2400s). Should handle 24+ tracks of i/o with plug-ins, and cool enough to not need loud fans, big passive heat sinks can keep them cool enough.

Also, try to get a power supply with Active PFC for higher efficiency, lower fan noise.

[guildchild]

interesting.

ok, so, does it change anything to know that i just got a brand new PC that is fairly stable? my brother in law is the computer geek in the family and i gave him the specs to build it to. despite asking 3,000+ times to keep vista off of it, he set it up with xp but with vista happening as a "peripheral". admittedly, i don't understand that.

i could certainly have him wipe it clean and only load xp. should i go this route and just see how well it works?

[tedm]

check with the vendors of the hardware and software you'll be running. You may be ok.

interesting.

ok, so, does it change anything to know that i just got a brand new PC that is fairly stable? my brother in law is the computer geek in the family and i gave him the specs to build it to. despite asking 3,000+ times to keep vista off of it, he set it up with xp but with vista happening as a "peripheral". admittedly, i don't understand that.

i could certainly have him wipe it clean and only load xp. should i go this route and just see how well it works?