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Building a Home Studio... your opinions please

L

lloydpalmer

Guest
Hi there,

I am about to build my own home studio to start some imaging work from home. I am only looking to spend 2k or so. any suggestions on what is needed to get up and running?

so far I have thought about

R0DE NT1A mic
KRK Roket 5 monitors
DBX 266XL Limiter
Mackie 1402 Mixer
Echo Layla 3G 8-Channel PCI Audio Interface (new to the Layla models... are they good. They have balanced inputs! Thats a plus)

That's all i've got for now. Any input would be much appreciated.

Thanks
 
> I am about to build my own home studio to start some imaging
> work from home. I am only looking to spend 2k or so. any
> suggestions on what is needed to get up and running?
>
> so far I have thought about
>
> R0DE NT1A mic
> KRK Roket 5 monitors
> DBX 266XL Limiter
> Mackie 1402 Mixer
> Echo Layla 3G 8-Channel PCI Audio Interface (new to the
> Layla models... are they good. They have balanced inputs!
> Thats a plus)
>
> That's all i've got for now. Any input would be much
> appreciated.
>
LOTS and LOTS of XLR wire, as well as spare 1/4 inch and RCA. It sounds like I'm joking but I spent a lot of unwanted trips to Guitar Center and Radio shack. Ask whoever you're buying your equipment from if they can throw in a couple since you're spending a decent amount of $$.

Also, shop EVERYWHERE for prices including Ebay. Look for the best price, of course, but don't skimp out on the essentials. As for the mixer..... Do you need a Mackie? Maybe a Behringer would suit better. I also use a M-Audio Delta soundcard that I love. <P ID="signature">______________
-DK</P>
 
> Hi there,
>
> I am about to build my own home studio to start some imaging
> work from home. I am only looking to spend 2k or so. any
> suggestions on what is needed to get up and running?
>



You have focused on the equipment, the electronics. In this day and age of "close micing" the room seems a lot less important, BUT
if you want some suggestion and some information on how to make your room work with you rather than against you, take a romp through

http://johnlsayers.com/

Granted, he is normally designed for musical recording but the acoustis principles are the same.
 
> > I am about to build my own home studio to start some
> imaging
> > work from home. I am only looking to spend 2k or so. any
>
> > suggestions on what is needed to get up and running?
> >
> > so far I have thought about
> >
> > R0DE NT1A mic
> > KRK Roket 5 monitors
> > DBX 266XL Limiter
> > Mackie 1402 Mixer
> > Echo Layla 3G 8-Channel PCI Audio Interface (new to the
> > Layla models... are they good. They have balanced inputs!
>
> > Thats a plus)
> >
> > That's all i've got for now. Any input would be much
> > appreciated.
> >
> LOTS and LOTS of XLR wire, as well as spare 1/4 inch and
> RCA. It sounds like I'm joking but I spent a lot of unwanted
> trips to Guitar Center and Radio shack. Ask whoever you're
> buying your equipment from if they can throw in a couple
> since you're spending a decent amount of $$.
>
> Also, shop EVERYWHERE for prices including Ebay. Look for
> the best price, of course, but don't skimp out on the
> essentials. As for the mixer..... Do you need a Mackie?
> Maybe a Behringer would suit better. I also use a M-Audio
> Delta soundcard that I love.
>

I like it. I would go for a Mackie over Behringer. Behringers tend to be engineered in a more sloppy fashion in order to keep prices down. As a result, I've had problems with crosstalk and higher noise floors. The Mackies are much better. The VLZ series is rock-solid.

Remember the Rode NT1A microphone is a condenser, so if you don't have an adequately sound proofed room you will run into major problems, even with the best proccessing and gating. I personally use the 266XL so I can vouch that it's a great sounding unit. Again, much better than some Behringer clones. However, as with any unit, gating only works to a certain extent. A tightly gated microphone is ok for a CHR studio where the jocks shout over the music. But for V/O you'll probably need a better dynamic range. I've seen cheap auralex-type material at Guitar Center for about $20 a sheet. Auralex also makes a microphone baffle kit for $40, which you set up on the microphone stand around the mic itself. Haven't used it personally, but from what I hear it works great. You might also want to look into a dynamic microphone like the RE27 N/D or RE20 by ElectroVoice.

The KRK Rockit monitors are the best availible without spending thousands of dollars -- great choice. And I've heard nothing but good things about the Echo sound cards. If it comes down to it and you need to spend a greater sum of money on soundproofing your room, the Maudio "pro-sumer" Delta cards that were previously mentioned are also good cards.

Good luck! <P ID="signature">______________
<a href="http://www.tim-clarke.com">
logo2.gif

Xtreme Weekends -- LIVE at 7PM EST on Saturday Nights.</P>
 
just a comment on the XLR cables comment... instead of spending so much on cables you should/could learn to make them yourself or have a friend who knows how make them... saves major $$



> > > I am about to build my own home studio to start some
> > imaging
> > > work from home. I am only looking to spend 2k or so.
> any
> >
> > > suggestions on what is needed to get up and running?
> > >
> > > so far I have thought about
> > >
> > > R0DE NT1A mic
> > > KRK Roket 5 monitors
> > > DBX 266XL Limiter
> > > Mackie 1402 Mixer
> > > Echo Layla 3G 8-Channel PCI Audio Interface (new to the
> > > Layla models... are they good. They have balanced
> inputs!
> >
> > > Thats a plus)
> > >
> > > That's all i've got for now. Any input would be much
> > > appreciated.
> > >
> > LOTS and LOTS of XLR wire, as well as spare 1/4 inch and
> > RCA. It sounds like I'm joking but I spent a lot of
> unwanted
> > trips to Guitar Center and Radio shack. Ask whoever you're
>
> > buying your equipment from if they can throw in a couple
> > since you're spending a decent amount of $$.
> >
> > Also, shop EVERYWHERE for prices including Ebay. Look for
> > the best price, of course, but don't skimp out on the
> > essentials. As for the mixer..... Do you need a Mackie?
> > Maybe a Behringer would suit better. I also use a M-Audio
> > Delta soundcard that I love.
> >
>
> I like it. I would go for a Mackie over Behringer.
> Behringers tend to be engineered in a more sloppy fashion in
> order to keep prices down. As a result, I've had problems
> with crosstalk and higher noise floors. The Mackies are much
> better. The VLZ series is rock-solid.
>
> Remember the Rode NT1A microphone is a condenser, so if you
> don't have an adequately sound proofed room you will run
> into major problems, even with the best proccessing and
> gating. I personally use the 266XL so I can vouch that it's
> a great sounding unit. Again, much better than some
> Behringer clones. However, as with any unit, gating only
> works to a certain extent. A tightly gated microphone is ok
> for a CHR studio where the jocks shout over the music. But
> for V/O you'll probably need a better dynamic range. I've
> seen cheap auralex-type material at Guitar Center for about
> $20 a sheet. Auralex also makes a microphone baffle kit for
> $40, which you set up on the microphone stand around the mic
> itself. Haven't used it personally, but from what I hear it
> works great. You might also want to look into a dynamic
> microphone like the RE27 N/D or RE20 by ElectroVoice.
>
> The KRK Rockit monitors are the best availible without
> spending thousands of dollars -- great choice. And I've
> heard nothing but good things about the Echo sound cards. If
> it comes down to it and you need to spend a greater sum of
> money on soundproofing your room, the Maudio "pro-sumer"
> Delta cards that were previously mentioned are also good
> cards.
>
> Good luck!
>
 
It's been two months since your original post. Just curious how it's been going? Have you set up your room yet? What equipment did you end up buying?

I set up my first home studio a little over a year ago, then moved...and got to do it again. It's been fun...and a pain all at the same time.

Hart


> Hi there,
>
> I am about to build my own home studio to start some imaging
> work from home. I am only looking to spend 2k or so. any
> suggestions on what is needed to get up and running?
>
> so far I have thought about
>
> R0DE NT1A mic
> KRK Roket 5 monitors
> DBX 266XL Limiter
> Mackie 1402 Mixer
> Echo Layla 3G 8-Channel PCI Audio Interface (new to the
> Layla models... are they good. They have balanced inputs!
> Thats a plus)
>
> That's all i've got for now. Any input would be much
> appreciated.
>
> Thanks
>
 
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