What's Your Setup Like?

[stingx]

I always have interest in what others use to derive their sounds. I love the subtle, and not so subtle, differences. I have a very modest setup at home that does just what I need to get what is in my head out and onto media. I add to it now and again but the heart of it remains the same, for the most part. Here's a little visual illustration of my PC DAW setup. I don't have reference to any of my midi equipment or portable 8-track on it. This is strictly PC recording.

My PC Recording Setup

- Pete

[tot_Ou_tard]

Pete,

What do you think of the Art tube pre?

[stingx]

I think for the price I got it for, under $60 USD, it was worth it. I wouldn't spend too much $$$ on it. It does an excellent job on vocals but you have to be careful with it because it is very easy to introduce noise into the mix from it. Still, it has proven to be very useful.

[tot_Ou_tard]

Why do you have it between your POD & firewire box? Are you trying to warm up the signal with a little tubey glow?

[Lev]

Nice setup Pete!
How do you find the Line6 shortboard with the PODxt? I kinda thought I didn't really need one coz I use the POD only for recording so don't necessarily need a hands free operation. Do you think it gives extra flexibility?

Also what do you use to record bass (if you do)? I know there's some VST bass plug ins that can be used with cubase but I'm toying with the idea of buying a cheap bass to spice up my recordings.

[stingx]

Why do you have it between your POD & firewire box? Are you trying to warm up the signal with a little tubey glow?

Yup, exactly. It does add some warmth.

[stingx]

Nice setup Pete!
How do you find the Line6 shortboard with the PODxt? I kinda thought I didn't really need one coz I use the POD only for recording so don't necessarily need a hands free operation. Do you think it gives extra flexibility?

Also what do you use to record bass (if you do)? I know there's some VST bass plug ins that can be used with cubase but I'm toying with the idea of buying a cheap bass to spice up my recordings.

The shortboard is a great tool to have with the XT. I actually prefer having the floorboard separate from the bean. This keeps the heart protected from spills, etc. Even though the Live wasn't offered when I bought my XT, I would still go this route as I don't like having the entire unit+brain on the floor.

[tot_Ou_tard]

Yup, exactly. It does add some warmth.

I have also heard of people placing a valvulator there for the same reason.

[Riley]

If I use my amp, I have an SM57 mic going into Line6 Toneport interface USB'ed into my Laptop. I use Cool Edit Pro 2.0 or Samplitude 7.0 for my software. If I don't mic my amp I use Line6 TonePort Gearbox.

[Robert****]

I use my amps, SM57 and Tascam US-122. I use Cubase 2 to edit.

[FrankAxtell]

Gear I use in my home studio....

82 Fender strat with 62 pickups,
San Dimas Charvel strat,
Gibson ES 775 archtop
70's Gibson Les Paul Custom.
Taylor BZ 714
2006 Gibson ES 335

For amps I use
Fender Vibro King,
1970's Marshall JMP 50 with
Old Marshall 1970 4x12 Slant Cab with 25 watt Celestion greenbacks
Peavey 5150,
66 and 65 Fender Blackfaced Super Reverb amps.
Mesa Boogie Triaxis and Stereo Simul-Class 2:ninety
2 ADA 2x12 cabs with 25 watt Celestions greenbacks
Fender Deluxe Reverb
Peavey Special 130

Pedals
Xotic BB preamp
Xotic RC booster
TS9 Tube screamer
Maxon OD9
Electro Harmonix memoryman
Arion SC-1 chorus
Carl Martin compressor

for recording
Apple Dual 2.7 Ghz G5
Apple MacBook Pro 2.33 Ghz 17"
Logic Pro 7 (all mixing and effects are done in Logic)
Logic Express
Presonus Firepod
Motu Micro Lite
Mackie HR 824 monitors

As far as production goes every thing is recorded and mixed in Logic Pro 7. I sometimes sequence the drums from scratch or I use Apple jam packs which are pre recorded sampled drums. All other instruments I play live. Logic offers great keyboard and instrument sounds which I access using my keyboard controller.

[Lev]

Wow, amazing gear collection Frank. Now I understand how your recordings sound so polished.

[sunvalleylaw]

I am really interested in your recording via Macs. Those are the machines I have. Can you refer me to a good reference for learning the practical tricks besides the stuff on Apple's site? Something like the Missing Manual , or Dummies series?

[SuperSwede]

I am really interested in your recording via Macs. Those are the machines I have. Can you refer me to a good reference for learning the practical tricks besides the stuff on Apple's site? Something like the Missing Manual , or Dummies series?

http://www.apple.com/support/garageband/
http://www.macjams.com/
http://macs.about.com/cs/ilife/a/garageband_link.htm

Something to get you started... The Macintosh is a beautiful platform for music production!!!

[sunvalleylaw]

Thanks Swede for the links!

[Justaguyin_nc]

As simple as I am... Guitar into pedals.. pedals into Crate PowerBlock which sits right on the desk within reach... powerblock into computers Audigy card... Audigy into Audacity (Not pretty but free and easy on any platform.. now using it on Windows and Linux) or sometimes CoolEdit(Adobe Audition) ... cheap and easy.. its all thats needed for me..

[oldguy]

(Similar to Justa's)-- Guitar--RP-250--pedals as needed--USB into 'puter(windows)--Audacity.

[stingx]

I am really interested in your recording via Macs. Those are the machines I have. Can you refer me to a good reference for learning the practical tricks besides the stuff on Apple's site? Something like the Missing Manual , or Dummies series?

Check out this piece of software:

Motu Digital Performer

[tot_Ou_tard]

Yup, exactly. It does add some warmth.

I've got the the art tube pre (thanks Spud for the $30 MF Stoopid deal heads up) but I'm a bit confused about how it works.

It has an input level & an output level.

My guess is that the the input level controls a solid state gain stage & the the output level controls the gain through the tube.

But I'm equally convinced that I've got it backwards. The manual is no help at all.

The magic 8-eight ball sez: I dunno, ask The Fret.