Challenge: Build The Ultimate Recording Studio

Off-Topic
1

Here’s the challenge:

I don’t have much of a budget, but I got about $1000 (US) freed up. I am not a professional musician, but I take my own work seriously. Plus I just offered my services up for a film (I am doing this for free of course… nobody would pay me), and I want to do a good job.

Currently all the equipment I have is no good and not reusable, with the exception of Renoise, my headphones, and I can live with my speakers since I normally stick to the headphones. I have a laptop now, but I don’t want one, and am happy with a desktop. Since the soundcard in my laptop is a PCMIA card, I can’t reuse it. I am selling my Roland XP-80, to raise some of the money, since I don’t use 99% of the features.

What I need:

  1. A desktop computer
  2. A soundcard: I rarely record from any audio inputs, but I want to start recording vocals and guitar playing.
  3. A microphone to record vocals
  4. A preamp (can I use the same for a mic and a guitar?)
  5. A midi controller like a keyboard (can be cheap)

I’d probably need more software too, I started using audacity, and importing my tracks from Renoise. But maybe that ain’t good enough. So replacement software for Audacity can be an optional component (I’m not going to pirate any software).

2

What spec is your laptop and what PCMCIA card do you have?

Most people I know produce from Laptop no problem. It is the same thing as a desktop but in a different case. I am typing this now on a Laptop.

You can get a USB2.0 or Firewire Audio interface with Pre amp, a second hand Mic and a midi controller for well under a $1000.

You cant do all this and get a poweful enough desktop unless you are going to roll and old lady down a dark alley and rob her purse.

Stick with the laptop if it decent enough. If not, upgrade the ram and hard disk

3

I’ve seen addon cards, to use PCMCIA in a desktop system, so if you’re satisfied with your card, it should be possible to reuse it.

4

Yeah thats cool, but maybe it will send the bill over $1000 for DDtMM

Get the spec of your Flaptop up here lad. Might be good enough…

Also…

I could get you some cheap gear from my local shop if you like… The Yen is being slaughtered (i had to do that :) ) at the moment so you could get a very cheap deal, especially on Korg and Yamaha gear…

(sorry)

5

My laptop is 3 years old, is 1.4Mhz AMD, 512 mb of RAM, 40 MB hd. I don’t feel interested in upgrading it, though I know is needs more RAM. The HD is a big limitation, and I’m not interested in an external drive.

Womjar, I like deals, but if I can’t order online from your local shop, how can I purchase things?

6

Sorry for the bump on this post, but I didn’t want to start a new one? What should I look for in buying a computer.

  • More RAM
  • Faster RAM
  • Faster Processor
  • Faster Hard Drive
  • Video Card

Thanks

7

more ram, faster processor, larger hard drive

8

“Since the soundcard in my laptop is a PCMIA card, I can’t reuse it.”

“I’ve seen addon cards, to use PCMCIA in a desktop system, so if you’re satisfied with your card, it should be possible to reuse it.”

http://www.pci-to-pcmcia.com/index.php

I use one of these things in my desktop for my pcmcia soundcard and it works perfectly with renoise.

9

EMU 1212M £129.00

Pro tools convertors for £130 :dribble: and much much more
Found here

Sure SM58 mic,around £80-£120