List your home studio set ups here!

general questions, comments and ideas about recording, audio, music, etc.
smythology
audio school
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2005 11:05 pm

List your home studio set ups here!

Post by smythology » Tue Feb 15, 2005 11:15 pm

If this has been asked before, I apologize. But I've been dying to get a good analog home studio set up in my garage and have been looking heavily into the pros and cons of old school gear. I've learned a hell of a lot from TapeOp so far.

I'm into the late 60s and 70s worlds of sound recording. (aren't we all?) My budget is pretty healthy but not too big! I'd still get a better idea if you guys would list your studio gear. (multi-tracks, boards, effects, amps, pres, mics, hard-to-find stuff, etc.)

Thanks,

Robin

User avatar
jpmorris
gimme a little kick & snare
Posts: 79
Joined: Tue Feb 01, 2005 8:29 am
Location: Wales
Contact:

Re: List your home studio set ups here!

Post by jpmorris » Wed Feb 16, 2005 2:04 am

Another long post coming:

My setup can be seen in detail here: http://www.it-he.org/lab.htm

It was originally tooled for producing music for a computer game I've been developing, rather than hardcore 70's rock type-stuff.

My modus operandi is to sequence the entire song on Sonar first, and lay the thing down track by track (using an SMPTE timecode).
Since everything bar the vocals is controlled by the computer, I can layer several synthesizers on one track, grouped by their EQ profile (e.g. several bass sounds together). Owing to the reliance on sequencing and synthesizers, the album has turned out like 70's prog-rock may have done in the 80s if punk hadn't interrupted it.

A few examples here: http://www.jpmorris.force9.co.uk/music/

This is probably not the same as what you're doing, especially if you are a competent musician rather than a programmer.

The basic setup is this:

Tascam TSR-8 multitrack. This is the last generation of Tascam analogue multitracks. It is a microprocessor-based transport, which makes the model 32 seem positively rough with the tape. It can also be locked to an external signal: I intend to get another one, both as a spare, and perhaps to lock them together on occasion. I did have a fostex A8, but it was old and in poor condition. The fostex 1/4" format also has virtually no guard-bands, so you'll get crosstalk all over the shop. I've heard crosstalk approximately twice on the TSR-8. The TSR-8 has internal DBX noise reduction (which can be disabled 1-4,5-8 or just on track 8 for timecodes).
Production run ended around 2001, so hopefully spares should be available for a while yet.. Teac are pretty good about that.
It seems to use the same reel motors as the BR-20 which is still current.

two 8-channel mixers: a submixer for routing and mixing the synthesizers and other instruments, and a second unit for mixing the 8 tracks down.

Being inexperienced and poor, I chose a Behringer MX802a, which I used as the submixer at first, and then as the mixdown. It only has 6 pots, two stereo channels.
I use 1-4 as single channels, 5 as a stereo pair and 6 as a single channel. Track 8 is a timecode and never hits the mixer. My paranoia of frying my beloved TSR8 led me to disable the phantom power switch.

I mix to a 2-track Tascam 32. I got this cheap because it was broken, and managed to repair it. Regrettably it's aligned to some truly weird standard (an old Teac test tape I got on Ebay for ?4), but I'm not likely to want to do tape interchange at this point. I've just ordered a 24-bit external soundcard to digitise the final mixdowns.

I use a Zoom RFX-2000 for most of the effects.. I would have preferred an all analogue signal chain but costs don't allow. I have a cheap Danelectro phaser, which is a reasonable imitation of the MXR-90 used on keyboards by Genesis and Manfred Mann.
I do intend to procure a spring reverb and a tape echo at some stage.

Much as I dislike softsynths, I do use AAS Lounge Lizard for electric piano sounds, and Waldorf's PPG 2.V.. at least until I can get a MW1 (which is essentially a rackmount PPG).

User avatar
surf's up
pushin' record
Posts: 270
Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2005 12:34 am
Location: Texas

Re: List your home studio set ups here!

Post by surf's up » Wed Feb 16, 2005 2:15 am

Mine is really pathetic, but thats based mostly on financial constraints. I use ProTools with the Digi001. For pres I have a bunch of Blue Tubes (piece of crap) and a UA m610. My mics are: 3 sm57s, 2 sm81s, 3 beta 98s, Blue Blueberry, AKG D112, MXL 67, and a few others. Im in the process of selling a lot of it to upgrade/sidegrade. I also have a Fostex A-4, which I want to start using more, and I may invest in an 8-track reel to reel. Make sure you invest in some good monitors. Good luck.

User avatar
surf's up
pushin' record
Posts: 270
Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2005 12:34 am
Location: Texas

Re: List your home studio set ups here!

Post by surf's up » Wed Feb 16, 2005 2:15 am

double post :oops:

dynomike
carpal tunnel
Posts: 1651
Joined: Wed Jun 18, 2003 8:26 am

Re: List your home studio set ups here!

Post by dynomike » Wed Feb 16, 2005 5:11 am

Making Efforts and Forging Ahead Courageously! Keeping Honest and Making Innovations Perpetually!

teamdresch
alignin' 24-trk
Posts: 61
Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2003 3:21 am

Re: List your home studio set ups here!

Post by teamdresch » Wed Feb 16, 2005 5:43 am

Multitrack: Studer A-80 1-inch 8-track.(Also a Digi 002R - shh)
Console: DDA 'S' series.
Monitors: Event TR-8.
Outboard: Drawmer 1960,Joe Meek VC6,WEM Copicat Tape Echo.
Microphones: Oktava ML-52 / MK012 / MKL5000, Akg C1000
SM 57, SM 58, AKG D112, SE 2200, Gefell DM 622, Senn E604 / E835.

I'll be getting a pair of SCA N72's as soon as I rob another granny for the cash.

User avatar
I'm Painting Again
zen recordist
Posts: 7086
Joined: Wed May 07, 2003 2:15 am
Location: New York, New York
Contact:

Re: List your home studio set ups here!

Post by I'm Painting Again » Wed Feb 16, 2005 5:55 am

this is my home studio :

www.gingerbird.net

60's and 70's sounds may be more in the band and room you record in than you might think..

User avatar
theshaggyfreak
gimme a little kick & snare
Posts: 98
Joined: Sat Jan 29, 2005 4:41 am
Location: Centreville, VA
Contact:

Re: List your home studio set ups here!

Post by theshaggyfreak » Wed Feb 16, 2005 6:13 am

http://pureshift.com/equipment.php

That's my little setup, and it works pretty well for me.

User avatar
A.David.MacKinnon
ears didn't survive the freeze
Posts: 3818
Joined: Wed May 07, 2003 5:57 am
Location: Toronto
Contact:

Re: List your home studio set ups here!

Post by A.David.MacKinnon » Wed Feb 16, 2005 6:57 am

I've also got the all anolog studio in the garage thing happening.

Recorders are -
Tascam MSR-16s 1/2" 16track
Otari MX 5050 1/4" 2 track mixdown deck
Revox B77 1/2" half track/high speed deck - my old mixdown deck, retired to tape echo duties.

The board is -
Allen and Heath 16x4x2 (only really used for mixing/monitoring)

Pre-amps-
6 channel McCurdy broadcast console modded for direct outs (mid 60's. It's the shit)
1 channel of old Ampex tape electronics/pre (don't know the model # but it's solid state)
8 channel SM Audio pre

Monitors -
Alesis Monitor 1's
Auratones
Cerwin Vegas (big m.f. home stereo speakers)

There's a bunch of mics and outboard gear as well but nothing too special, the usual Oktava condensers and DBX comps talked about on this board so much.

The space was origanaly built as a practice/recording space for my own band but I've done a bunch of records for other people here as well.

mjau
speech impediment
Posts: 4022
Joined: Mon Sep 29, 2003 7:33 pm
Location: Orlando
Contact:

Re: List your home studio set ups here!

Post by mjau » Wed Feb 16, 2005 7:14 am

REAL simple...suited mostly for my needs:

1 x sm57
1 x AT4033
1 x ADK v51s
2 x ADK sc2

Toft ATC-2 dual pre/comp/eq
Peavey tmp-1 modded w/ NOS tubes
Rocktron 310 rack mounted comp
Alesis microlimiter
Alesis microverb II
TC m300

...into Sonar 3.1, with a few choice plugs (PSP, Voxengo, and OhmBoys stuff is mostly what I'll use). BFD drum module, DR008 sampler, some good soft synths, and still using a couple soundfonts here and there. Fender Nashville tele modded w/ duncan '57 in the middle, Fender mexi p-bass modded w/ Vintage '61 pickup, a couple of cheaper acoustic guitars, xylaphone, sleigh bells, a crappy Hammond that looks cool, and a few guitar pedals here and there.

mjau
speech impediment
Posts: 4022
Joined: Mon Sep 29, 2003 7:33 pm
Location: Orlando
Contact:

Re: List your home studio set ups here!

Post by mjau » Wed Feb 16, 2005 7:19 am

double post...sorry
Last edited by mjau on Wed Feb 16, 2005 8:25 am, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
bannerj
re-cappin' neve
Posts: 625
Joined: Sat Apr 17, 2004 3:40 pm
Location: Holland, MI
Contact:

Re: List your home studio set ups here!

Post by bannerj » Wed Feb 16, 2005 8:01 am

Otari 5050 1/2 inch 8 track
Metric Halo 2882 +DSP
UA 2108
Great River MP-2NV
one 414 TLII
two Shure KSM44s
two Oktava MK012
three SM57s
Event TR8s
DP 4.0
Reason 2.5
some other odds and ends...
I am saving up for a compressor.

my best asset is my old house built in 1924. High ceilings. Bare walls. The rooms are all connected and open. It sounds amazing for what I am trying to do. I want to put up a website soon.

JASIII
george martin
Posts: 1418
Joined: Fri Dec 26, 2003 8:59 am
Location: On the Tundra

Re: List your home studio set ups here!

Post by JASIII » Wed Feb 16, 2005 8:09 am

Otari MX5050MkIII 1/2" 8 track
Yamaha AW16G

Yamaha MX 20/6 mixer

Outboard Gear:
2 X Bellari MP105 (w/Black Lion mod)
ART Tube MP
Meek VCQ3
DBX Provocal
DBX 163x
RNC
Ashly SC50
Alesis microlimiter
Yamaha REV 500

Mics:
AKG 414
AKG C3000
AKG C1000
2 X AT 4033
AKG D770
AKG D880
CAD M179
AKG C5900
AKG D112
SM57
"If you will starve unless you become a rock star, then you have bigger problems than whether or not you are a rock star. " - Steve Albini

janusmusic
pushin' record
Posts: 275
Joined: Tue May 13, 2003 9:35 pm

Re: List your home studio set ups here!

Post by janusmusic » Wed Feb 16, 2005 8:48 am

tsr-8
ev sentry 100a monitors
tascam m312b board
mackie cr1604
mics:
421
sm57
mxl603
c300b
ev desktop mic with the hold down button-actually a sleeper on lots of things...
outboard:
dbx 163x
symetrix sx202
audiobuddy

weird stuff:
plastic echo mic
electric kazoo--this thing will take you to the promise land it has a 25 ft cord so you can really get physical whilst kazooing.
various useless crap.

wow!! kinda pathetic when you write it out and look at it. geesh I should have more than that. I borrow alot...

User avatar
buzzaudioguy
gettin' sounds
Posts: 141
Joined: Wed May 07, 2003 12:41 pm
Location: little rock, ar
Contact:

Re: List your home studio set ups here!

Post by buzzaudioguy » Wed Feb 16, 2005 9:04 am

I'm actually about to move my studio so I've shut my website down. Not to mention it was TOTALLY out of date anyway! But here's a basic rundown.

Tascam MSR16 Analog Deck
Tascam DM-24 Digital Console
2 Motu 2408 Mk II's
Motu Midi Timepiece AV
Digidesign M-Box
Mac G4 933 w/1.5 gigs of RAM, 2 120 gig work drives & 1 300 gig backup
DP4 & Protools (various plug in's for both)
Pentium II 350 w/Lexicon Core 2, 2 10 gig SCSI work drives & 20 gig backup
Cool Edit Pro, Sound Forge, CD Architect, T-Racks & WAVES Gold Bundle
Avalon 737sp Mic Pre
Toft ATC-2 Mic Pre
Joe Meek VC-1q
Joe Meek VC-1
2 Joe Meek VC-6q's
Presonus Eureka
SansAmp RBI Bass Pre
Johnson J-Station
TC Electronics M-One
Lexicon MPX 500
Oz Qmix Headphone amp
Event 20/20p monitors w/20/20/15 sub
Alesis QS6.1
Neuman U87
6 Shure SM 57's
2 Shure SM 58's
Alesis AM 61 Tube Mic
Alesis AM 51
2 Alesis AM 11's
2 Octava MC012's
Shure SM33 Ribbon
Audio Technica 4050
2 Sennheiser 421's
Sennheiser 441
AKG D12
2 AKG C3000's
2 SansAmp Classic Bass Di's(no pre or eq's)
Assortment of other odd ball mics

Then there's the amps, guitars, drum set and whatnot... JEEZ!!!
'79 Marshall JMP 50 watt combo
80's Marshall JCM 50 watt head
Mesa Dual Rectofier Tremoverb combo + 2x12 Ex cab
'76 Fender Super Reverb
Line 6 Duoverb Combo
Vox Valvetronix AD30vt
'83 Ampeg SVT Head & 810 cab

'83 Fender Tele Elite
'86 Gibson SG
Gretsch Electromatic Double Jet
PRS Santana w/P-90's
'78 Electra 335 copy(setneck)
2 '70's Aria Pro Les Paul copies(setnecks)
Fernandes Strat
Pan Hummingbird acoustic copy
Erinie Ball Stingray bass
'76 Fender P-bass
Yamaha BB5000 5 string bass

'70 Slingerland 4 piece drum kit with various snares & cymbals
1920's Johnson Upright Piano(kinda funky playing, but cool)

That about wraps it up. Yes, I am OCD. Can you believe I started out with a Kramer Focus 1000, a Peavey Backstage Plus(oh yeah, still have that too!) & a Vestax 4 track recorder? YIKES!!!

Locked

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 32 guests