Gear you can't live without

Tell us about your studio and post some photos no matter how modest or robust it is!

Moderators: admin, mdc, TAXIstaff

Laurassound
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2019 9:16 am
Contact:

Gear you can't live without

Post by Laurassound » Mon May 13, 2019 6:47 pm

I am in the process of rebuilding my studio. I am a singer/songwriter doing a lot of vocal and acoustic guitar stuff. Which of your toys is the most valuable to you? I mean, the ones in your studio.

User avatar
markismusic
Impressive
Impressive
Posts: 130
Joined: Wed Apr 25, 2018 5:21 pm
Gender: Male
Contact:

Re: Gear you can't live without

Post by markismusic » Thu May 23, 2019 1:15 pm

Unfortunately this is a bit of a loaded question...
It can be difficult to narrow it down to a single piece of gear since in reality it is more about the quality of your entire signal chain combination.
Your signal chain might look something like this.

Performer/Instrument ~~> Microphone ~~> Preamp ~~> Interface/AD Converter ~~> Mixing

Think about it like this.
If you have a low quality instrument, played by a low quality performer, through a lower priced microphone, preamp, interface/AD converter and mixed poorly you are guaranteed to have a sub par signal.
Everything in your signal chain should assist the quality of the next in line. Your mixing will be easier and better with a better microphone and preamp. Your microphone should capture the nuances of the performers voice and the right preamp can give the right voice the "breathiness" that brings it to life (If that is the sound you require).

If I had to pick a single piece of gear I would say spend your money on a high quality interface since they usually come with preamps that aren't too bad in quality (RME or the Apollo are great examples).
That way you get two for one as far as quality. Next in line would be a good microphone... I've heard bad mics through good preamps and its listenable but good mics through bad preamps affect the quality more IMO.

Hope that helps!
Mark

User avatar
andygabrys
Total Pro
Total Pro
Posts: 5567
Joined: Sun Jan 02, 2011 10:09 pm
Gender: Male
Location: Summerland, BC by way of Santa Fe, Chilliwack, Boston, NYC
Contact:

Re: Gear you can't live without

Post by andygabrys » Fri May 24, 2019 2:12 pm

definitely electricity.

Kidding / not kidding.

User avatar
markismusic
Impressive
Impressive
Posts: 130
Joined: Wed Apr 25, 2018 5:21 pm
Gender: Male
Contact:

Re: Gear you can't live without

Post by markismusic » Sat May 25, 2019 8:16 am

andygabrys wrote:
Fri May 24, 2019 2:12 pm
definitely electricity.

Kidding / not kidding.
:lol:

User avatar
Razor7Music
Impressive
Impressive
Posts: 487
Joined: Wed May 19, 2010 2:05 pm
Gender: Male
Location: Irvine, CA
Contact:

Re: Gear you can't live without

Post by Razor7Music » Thu May 30, 2019 2:26 pm

I posted a similar thread once, but it was more like, if you had a fire in your studio, and could only grab one thing, what would it be?

Answers were all over the place, to -- you just made my heart stop!
Thanks,

Stephen Davis, Songwriter
Music: here
For Daily Progress Reports on Twitter: @razor7music
Facebook: @r7mStephenDavis

“If everyone likes you, you're doing something wrong” --Jenna McMahon

NoegoStudios
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 9
Joined: Mon Sep 30, 2019 3:30 pm
Gender: Male
Location: Vancouver Island Canada
Contact:

Re: Gear you can't live without

Post by NoegoStudios » Sat Jan 11, 2020 12:28 am

Laurassound wrote:
Mon May 13, 2019 6:47 pm
I am in the process of rebuilding my studio. I am a singer/songwriter doing a lot of vocal and acoustic guitar stuff. Which of your toys is the most valuable to you? I mean, the ones in your studio.

My guitars and all my vintage microphones......anything else can be duplicated or have exact replacements.
Microphones put you there!

User avatar
eeoo
Serious Musician
Serious Musician
Posts: 3693
Joined: Tue Dec 08, 2009 9:26 pm
Gender: Male
Location: NorCal
Contact:

Re: Gear you can't live without

Post by eeoo » Mon Jan 20, 2020 9:38 am

If the room you record in doesn't sound decent nothing else matters.

User avatar
cosmicdolphin
Serious Musician
Serious Musician
Posts: 4447
Joined: Thu Feb 18, 2010 1:46 pm
Gender: Male
Contact:

Re: Gear you can't live without

Post by cosmicdolphin » Mon Jan 20, 2020 12:34 pm

Scrollwheel Mouse

Ovation67
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 4
Joined: Mon Apr 20, 2020 2:22 pm
Gender: Female
Contact:

Re: Gear you can't live without

Post by Ovation67 » Wed Apr 29, 2020 12:23 am

Hi Laura,
Really keen to know this too. Going from writing songs to recording with the right gear are two different things. I know there's alot of tutorials online but it would be good if we can be directed on the right path with the gear we've got so far to take us further would be awesome 😁
So appreciate the forum. A bit foreign in language for me (newbie) until I get used to it.

jwamusic
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 17
Joined: Tue May 26, 2020 4:55 pm
Gender: Male
Contact:

Re: Gear you can't live without

Post by jwamusic » Wed May 27, 2020 6:46 am

I would have to agree with Markismusic. To me it's mostly about the mic and preamp. In fact I prefer using external preamps as opposed to one in the audio interface. Those internal preamps are generally (but not always) inferior. I use a MOTU interface which does not have built in preamp, just line ins.

If you can afford a nice condenser mic and a Grace Designs preamp (M101), you will have excellent results!

That being said, I believe it's the writing and performance MUCH more than the gear you use! :D

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests