TTR Recording Studio

Sargeant Preston

Sargeant Preston

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For the sake of imagination and discussion what would be among your best recommendations of equipment to equip a recording studio with?

DAWs, stand alone recorders, preamps, compressor/limiters or more.
 
I used to own about $85,000 worth of flying faders and blinking lights. It impressed my clients and sounded great, and I did have a few capabilities I don’t now. But I’m getting really good results with a fast computer and a lot of RAM, a simple digital interface and a pair of decent monitors.

I work in a DAW, and think all musicians should, because of the ease compared to stand-alone recorders… everything, like editing, mixing, storage and backup, is just easier.

All I really need now is my computer (which, to be fair, is loaded with virtual instruments and samples), a Focusrite Solo, a MIDI keyboard, and my favorite recording amp of all time, the UAFX Enigmatic. It does not take a lot of gear to make music anymore.
 
I posted this photo a while back…. Mostly making light of my own setup. It’s just a laptop. Not in the photo is a Focusrite Solo. Learning to use Reaper. I do also have Abelton Live Lite loaded, just never use it. Don’t have a MIDI keyboard. I do have GuitarRig loaded. Have no idea how to use it, but our friend Robert seemed to use it from time to time in his recording. Super simple. Bare bones. And still more than I’m capable of using. But I’m getting there.

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Sargeant Preston said:
For the sake of imagination and discussion what would be among your best recommendations of equipment to equip a recording studio with?

DAWs, stand alone recorders, preamps, compressor/limiters or more.
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While I’ve never really had a ton of pro level gear, I’ve done some minimalist iOS stuff and up to some large track count interface stuff. Stand alone analog and digital multi trackers and PC/Mac based DAW stuff.
For computer stuff, I’ve landed on Reaper for my DAW of choice.
For iOS, it’s been MultiTrack DAW by harmonicdog. I guess you can buy the ability to do up to 32 tracks now…I have it at 24.
I can move tracks between the two with a little effort and forethought…via WiFi.

As far as outboard goes…I like the ergonomic flow of a mixer. I like the one I’ve been using for a few years, Soundcraft Signature 12 MTK, now discontinued, but there are others that share similar workflow.
If I’m recording an actual drum kit, I like to have the input availability of 10-12 mic’s at a pass.

For interface duties, I’ve done mostly budget stuff, ranging from a single channel of a/d conversion, up to 16 channels of a/d conversion(using outboard preamps - like from an analog mixer line level direct outs or inserts etc).
Nowadays I’d be happy with 6-8 channels of a/d, could get along with 4. If I had a drummer, or a full band, to record live…12-16 would make life pretty easy.

As a singer, I have come to appreciate having at least one “money channel” preamp and compressor for vocals(at least). My choice for that has been the UA 6176.(To be clear, I was very patient/fortunate to find very good deals) I wanted it for multiple duties though, and it has been good for me for bass, and drum bus compression(I picked up second, to make a pair, and a stereo link box after I realized how good it was on drums).
I would love to find another smokin’ deal on a UA LA610…but I’m in no real rush these days.
I have used the 6176 units into a few different interfaces for analog to digital conversion, and they’ve always performed perfectly.
Can you find great software emulations of these? Yes.
Can you achieve the same results? I have not been able to. The handling of dynamic levels, pre-digital recording, can be difficult when dealing with dynamic source material. Low level/quiet stuff is not taking advantage of possible headroom, while the louder bits may do more than approach digital clipping. Dealing with it after recording hasn’t been as easy as dealing with it at input for me…though I’m probably just “not right”. But, as a singer, it’s easier for me to “play” a mic/compressor, and mind the level, than to get as solid a result in post. The quiet stuff loses its immediacy, and the loud stuff…well…digital clipping is an ugly beast, and will ruin an otherwise good take. The 6176 helps to eliminate the distraction and allows me to just play my part.
There are other “channel strip” options out there, the 6176 was my choice, @BFT Gibson has a couple of outboard boxes that I am sure that I could have fun with(he’s got an old JoeMeek that I’d like to try out, amongst other things)…but there are choices, both hifi and lofi.
I’ll shut up now.
 
@Thatbastarddon No doubt the simplicity was what i was looking for. You literally walked me through this back in 2020 & saved me a fortune in going to the studio.

I was interested in 1 thing, capturing what i heard in the room or at the cab. Here is my simple rig into Steinberg UR22 mkii. I only Use the the bottom Left red Neve style left Channel & Joemeek 6Q right channel. Got the other stuff but once i had those 2 working. It has been set it and forget. Same 2 Mic's on same speaker location. Sometimes a room mic.
 

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BFT Gibson said:
Tracking Vocals(or placing words where they belong.no doubt not a singer) today, Blue Mic into JoeMeek 6q into Steinberg UR22 into reaper
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Boy do I get that. I'm a decent backup singer. Sang bass pretty much since my voice changed. But I cannot sing lead. I may be able to hit the notes.... just never sounds quite right.
 
I have not used this but it looks interesting. Analog tube to digital.

Freqport Freqtube FT-1

Freqport’s innovative desktop box makes adding valve warmth to your DAW mixes as easy as loading a plug‑in.
www.soundonsound.com www.soundonsound.com
 
I’m with Seamus on getting a powerful PC. I bought a high end Dell desktop with 64GB of DRAM and 6TB of disk space. Large monitors also make life easier. For the interface I bought a 12 input RME Fireface UFX+. We record 2 guitars, a bass, stereo drums and 4 mics. For ease of use I ran everything into 3 patch panels.

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For simplicity I usually use an all in one. Also great for multi track live band off the floor recordings. Can mixdown on the unit as well.
Zoom Livetrack L20. 6 headphone or monitor mixes as well.


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Jethro Rocker said:
For simplicity I usually use an all in one. Also great for multi track live band off the floor recordings. Can mixdown on the unit as well.
Zoom Livetrack L20. 6 headphone or monitor mixes as well.


images
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I sat behind a board for our system at church for awhile. Only 8 channels and basically just volume and EQ controls. That was enough fun for me on a Sunday morning.
 
iblive said:
I sat behind a board for our system at church for awhile. Only 8 channels and basically just volume and EQ controls. That was enough fun for me on a Sunday morning.
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Have to play in major keys about once a month with the sheet music handed to me right before on Sunday morning. No drummer, keys & WL strumming with capo being moved around . I am like, wut ?! Little do they know, i dont read music. We manage, sorta havin fun tho, actually becoming a bass/drummer & hitting down beat on the low e to create some kind of root note down blast on the progressions to compensate for no time keeper. Have no clue what these songs are on this contemporary worship stuff., never heard half of em before. But its good
 
BFT Gibson said:
Have to play in major keys about once a month with the sheet music handed to me right before on Sunday morning. No drummer, keys & WL strumming with capo being moved around . I am like, wut ?! Little do they know, i dont read music. We manage, sorta havin fun tho, actually becoming a bass/drummer & hitting down beat on the low e to create some kind of root note down blast on the progressions to compensate for no time keeper. Have no clue what these songs are on this contemporary worship stuff., never heard half of em before. But its good
Click to expand...
If you're having fun with it....it's all good.
 
BFT Gibson said:
Have to play in major keys about once a month with the sheet music handed to me right before on Sunday morning. No drummer, keys & WL strumming with capo being moved around . I am like, wut ?! Little do they know, i dont read music. We manage, sorta havin fun tho, actually becoming a bass/drummer & hitting down beat on the low e to create some kind of root note down blast on the progressions to compensate for no time keeper. Have no clue what these songs are on this contemporary worship stuff., never heard half of em before. But its good
Click to expand...
I can read music. Had to learn. Six years in band. But when it came to playing guitar on worship team, I much preferred just the words and the chord chart.
 
iblive said:
I can read music. Had to learn. Six years in band. But when it came to playing guitar on worship team, I much preferred just the words and the chord chart.
Click to expand...
I just need to know major, minor or what scale or key, said WL thinks he is in and away we go. 2 Kids last year that were College music/worship major graduates had me play bass with them, Drums & acoustic, man we had a blast cause they could say what the progression was and i could run all over it. It was such an upbeat service that day. It was literally a power trio session cause we "enhanced" the norm. Congregation loved it.
 
iblive said:
I can read music. Had to learn. Six years in band. But when it came to playing guitar on worship team, I much preferred just the words and the chord chart.
Click to expand...
I just need to know major, minor or what scale or key, said WL thinks he is in and away we go. 2 Kids last year that were College music/worship major graduates had me play bass with them, Drums & acoustic, man we had a blast cause they could say what the progression was and i could run all over it. It was such an upbeat service that day. It was literally a power trio session cause we "enhanced" the norm. Congregation loved it.
 
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