Producing on a dime

[MoonQuake]

Hi Justin,

I wish you all the best for 2012. Hope everything's not too bad with your studio and like you said, that it won't be representative of the year to come.

I was wondering what gear you'd go to if you were producing a track on a budget for recording vocals, guitar, bass and a programmed drum track.

What would be your preamp, EQ, Comp and software of choice.

Thanks


Mark

 

[wonderjosh]

What is your budget? $100's? $1000's? $10,000's?

 

[MoonQuake]

Ahhh good point lol.

I realised I didn't express myself correctly and clearly. Sorry about that.

I'm not going to buy the gear but rent it cause it's for just one song. All I have to do is record vocals, bass (clean through amp and miked cab) and distorted through NI Guitar Rig to act as an electric guitar and the drums are programmed using a mix of Kontakt and Arturia Analog Library.

Here's what I was considering renting :

Mic : AT4050
Preamp : Pacifica
Comp : Distressor

Would that be able to cover it all? Is there a better setup or something I've overlooked?


Mark

 

[jmjbassplayer]

Ableton Live, Apogee Duet, probably. Great bang for buck, and nice sounds.

For budget styles, how about a Golden Age Pre73 and an ART ProVLA II comp?

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J

 

[pbass2]

I'll chime in with my budget 2 cents for a pre and comp to look at:

Summit 2BA-221 and TLA-50:

Summit Audio 2ba-221

Summit Audio - TLA-50

The two together make a killer strip for around a grand-ish.

EDIT: reading about Golden Age......man, my wallet might have just got a tad lighter . . .

 

[JimmyM]

Ya, that preamp got my attention, too. Been using my old ART Dual MP preamp and it's served me well for the past 11 years, but I could stand to Neve up this crap glorified computer I call a home studio Anyone ever hear the stock version vs. the fully modded version?

 

[Dan Bozek]

I know I definitely love my two channels of Pacifica, and you can't go wrong with a Distressor. Those seem like pretty solid rental choices. I'm a big fan of API stuff too. Maybe the rental co has a lunchbox with a variety of 500 series pres and EQs too.

 

[jmjbassplayer]

Oh I didn't know the budget was getting up in THAT level!

Yup - Summit stuff is super sweet and always under-rated. Pacifica - use them all the time, Distressors are great.

Everyone should just get an API lunch box and get collecting. You will get so much practical use and value out of that format!

J

 

[analogcabin]

A big +1 for Ableton Live. Having used most every DAW I still say Ableton's work flow and GUI ahead of the pack.

 

[BogeyBass]

trying to mic and use the bass signal from a software signal, will cancel out and give you weird EQ's.

Sometimes you get lucky and toggle the phase in your Daw

Otherwise Guitar rig is easier and should give you a good mix for both clean and dirty.

Otherwise having owned Guitar Rig and Amplitude

I will say IK multimedia's endorsed products are a little better than Native instruments simulators. for the most part the same IK's cabinet emulations are a little better.

Ik Multimedia's [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] is nothing to sneeze at either its good.

Vocals....your Daw should already have basic compression and soft limiters.
I record with a really light soft limit then add compression and light reverb/delay during mixdown.

All yah need is a Good Mic, AKG's aint to bad for the money
I just picked up a Perception 120 with the fancy mic clip and case Used for 75 bucks. Most likely the same or cheaper than renting.

 

[JimmyM]

trying to mic and use the bass signal from a software signal, will cancel out and give you weird EQ's.

Not if you know what you're doing. Just have to get complimentary tones that don't phase with each other. People have been blending bass signals for decades.