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What should I get first?
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| kadomony |
ready to make a new purchase for the studio, but on a budget. below are the things i'm wanting, but would like a couple opinions on what would be the best to purchase first. i'll give reasons for purchase with each item.
Desk ~$250
-Right now just working on a 1-level ikea desk. would be great to get my screen up higher so i'm not slouching and have some rackspace
Soundcard ~$350
-Currently running a soundblaster x-fi which gets a bit of noise crossover. definitely need something to have more control over my monitors and headphones as well.
Midi keyboard ~$300
-Old one (about $150) broke a long time ago, looking to upgrade. i have some projects to finish up that i wont need this for (just in arranging/mixing phase) but will be necessary whe i start working on new stuff again.
RAM ~$80
Have 4GB at the moment, a lot of which gets taken by Windows/programs.
Whatchu think? |
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| cryophonik |
Normally, I'd probably say to upgrade the soundcard first, but since you already have one (albeit not a great one), but don't have a MIDI controller, I'd say get the MIDI controller first, but replace that soundcard ASAP after the controller. The desk is more of a luxury IMO - you can make or buy a cheap monitor stand to get them up to a more comfortable height.
| quote: | Originally posted by kadomony
RAM ~$150
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That seems way high. Have you checked Newegg.com? |
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| kadomony |
| quote: | Originally posted by cryophonik
Normally, I'd probably say to upgrade the soundcard first, but since you already have one (albeit not a great one), but don't have a MIDI controller, I'd say get the MIDI controller first, but replace that soundcard ASAP after the controller. The desk is more of a luxury IMO - you can make or buy a cheap monitor stand to get them up to a more comfortable height.
That seems way high. Have you checked Newegg.com? |
Cool. Yeah the $150 is for 16GB, which I probably don't need. Will most likley go with another 8GB for about $80. Updated 1st post with that. |
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| echosystm |
| MIDI controller, for sure. |
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| Juan Paulino |
| From experience i that know is that for your soundcard don't go less than 500$ or higher than 1.000$. You won't hear that much of a difference with high-priced A/D D/A conversion. |
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| DJ RANN |
Wait, you made all those blueshift tracks without a midi controller and on a SB X soundcard?
FML. reason #264 for Rann to give up music production :( |
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| meriter |
RAM first imo
hey if youre working completely ITB does the soundcard actually matter? Doesnt seem like it would but ive been wondering |
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| Storyteller |
It does, in the sense that a better soundcard is better at translating the sounds from the digital to the analog domain so it works on them speakers/headphones.
From a $50 one to an old 100$ m-audio audiophile 2496 is already a huge quality increase (but that specific card has incredible value compared to most other ones I've seen). Cheaper 50$-ish cards usually have weird eq-curves built in to enhance the listening experience, or just because they've been producing as cost-effective (cheap) as possible - affecting its quality.
On every decent set of consumer level speakers/headphones (and even more on entry-level studio stuff) you should be able to hear a significant improvement when going for a decent audio interface. |
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| kadomony |
| quote: | Originally posted by DJ RANN
Wait, you made all those blueshift tracks without a midi controller and on a SB X soundcard?
FML. reason #264 for Rann to give up music production :( |
dont give it up! i did have a midi controller for most of those, but since it broke last year, it's been one of the main reasons i've been slacking on starting some new projects.
i should also clarify for this original post that i'm currently running mainly on headphones out of the X-Fi, and to use the monitors i have a 1/8" splitter cable from the X-fi to TS into the monitors. i have to reach back and swap out the headphone/monitor cable when i want to use either. |
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| Looney4Clooney |
| maybe a controller and soundcard ? some pretty cheap pcie interfaces that still work great. Like the old delta 44 or 66/ |
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| MSZ |
| A fleshlight is the most grand investment. |
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| clay |
save more money.
no reason to go mediocre with investments if you plan on going anywhere. either go all the way or dont go at all.
save for:
- proper monitors and stands (dont know what you have to begin with though).
- proper soundcard (whatever that is....)
- proper desk-environment + sound treatment
meanwhile id consider a midi piano but only if you have really need for it, i found myself not needing it and sold it. also you should reconsider putting your screens higher, it will wreck your neck and burn your eyes. rather put the rack synths in a wall mounted rack shelf above the screens, or left/right of the screens with the studio monitors on top. you dont want high screens. i thought you worked in Reason though so I do not know what rack gear you are talking about...
RAM doesnt cost much so that is a fairly decent upgrade if your cpu is good enough to worth doing any upgrade on, but in my own experience 4GB is more than enough for Reason, even in a project with 100s of channels and instruments (an entire album in one project shouldnt be a problem at all). |
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