29. "Hmmmmmmmm" In response to In response to 0 Wed Jun-11-03 02:22 AM
No one seems to have asked this question but...Why do you need 8 outputs? What type of music will you be doing. Even if you meant 8 inputs that seems like a bit much for an all PC based production. (Turntable 2 inputs, Mic 1 input.) I also agree with the cat who said to PURCHASE your fruity loops... the upgrades and tech support make it worth the money. And stealiing it when it only cost 99 bucks seems like such a ho move. But then lol I dont use Fruity Loops.
As for the PC I would goto audio related sites like audioforums.com, or musicgearnetwork.com forums and ask about current mobo and chip combos that have specific advantage for computers. Juat going on a site like Tom's hardware.com or some other tech website to get mobo info wont cut it. There are certian AUDIO related capabilites that you want to be able to take advantage of. I frequent prorec.com when I need to know about the latest. Chipsets are verrrrrrry important when building a PC. Dont buy cheap shitty componets!!!! Your computer will crash. WinXP PRO is the most stable by far. Win98se is easier to use and has more working drivers available for it.
Soundcards: Your reqirements make it hard. STA Audio C-Port. Same converters and drivers as the M-Audio Delta 1010 but cheaper. Delta 1010lt has the same converters as the Delta 44/66 series but has 10 inputs and outputs. Apparently the Asrdvark Q10 still has driver issues with WinXP that its trying to work out. RME Multiface would be the best way to go converter wise on your budget but it will eat up most of your cash. Other choices would include the ESI Waveterminal M or X 4 input 8 out and 2 input 8 out respectively with 192khz converters (if that even matters at such a inexpensive price point). If you can deal with 4 inputs/outputs then the Delta Omni Stuido has excellent preamps for the money with its soundcard.
Speaking of preamps. Get one. If your soundcard has decent ones cool. (Most dont) If not....M-Audio DMP-3 is very clean and excellent for the money. Presonus has a 1 ch deal for under a hundred. If it sounds like its 2 ch older brother....then just turn the tube drive crap all the way down and you will have a pretty clean sounding 2ch preamp for the money. Some people use the lil ART Tube MP. It has a tube in it also which I am not to quick to suggest a tube amp as your ONLY preamp. You can always add tube efx later with plugins.
Get some decent studio monitors: You could try the new Events or if you wanna go tried and true cop the PS8's. The M-Audio ones in theory alone are crap. (moving tweeter come on man.....lol who is gonna fall for that shit) I hear the Behringhers sound ooooo kay but again Behringher has a bad rep so enter at your own risk. You said computer based "studio" so this is why I suggest real monitors. If you had said home recording setup. Any cheap pr of monitors could have been suggested or even Nicolay's computer speaker idea. I am under the assumption that you are looking for a more professional setup. With stuff you can learn and keep for yrs to come...
Me? I would add about 500 more bucks to your budget and blow 1400 on the Mackie HR824 monitors get one of the aforementioned soundcards and a SM57 microphone. With that setup you know for a fact the montors you will grow into and probably be able to use for the next 10 yrs. SM57's a classic you will never throw it away either. Even if later you get a better vocal mic. You can use it on Snare drums, Guitar cabinets, toms, bongos etc...
All in all....if you are cheap with your music, your music will sound cheap. You could spend countless hrs trying to mix around the shortcomings of your setup, but WHY? Buy less stuff that costs more and get a basic setup that you wont want to upgrade in the next few yrs. And wont have you coming back to the forums asking questions like....."How do I make my vocals sound professional." "Why do my mixes sound like mud in the low end" "My mixes sound great on my Terbocrumpus 1.4 home stereo speakers...but when my friend plays the CD it sounds like crud! Help!!!" If you are gonna spend money...be smart with your purchases. And whatever you end up buying...dont fiddle around with the tech shit too much...have fun and make dope music.
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