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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 17
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OP
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 17 |
I'm not a professional musician and have zero knowledge about hardware. I just want to have fun doing some home recording and jam with Biab. I do appreciate good sound and I know that my Radio Shack speakers plugged into the Macbook speaker jack isn't going to cut it. If I had $500-1000 to spend what would you recommend to get the best sound quality from Biab?
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 812
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Hey Fiddle, OK, I'm going to assume that since you are using a Macbook, you have the Mac version of BIAB? Many people are using the PC version with Parellels, since the PC version has more features at the moment. There are many ways to go, and I've spent years buying and then selling Interfaces. Also software. You need two things to get a really great sounding result>A good interface and a good Sample sounds. As far as interfaces go, everyone I know that uses Mac uses Apogee. The converters and Mic Pre's are top of the line. Since you are using a Macbook, I would recommend the Apogee "One" USB interface. Very small (like a pack of cigarettes) Awesome sound, has Line in, Mic in and a internal mic that is fantastic. Zero Latency. Cheap ....$250. You can spend up to $1000 for a Steinberg interface with 8 Mic pre's, but you won't get better sound! Here is the link, make sure you read the customer reviews, http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/One/As far as Sample sets go, it pays to use the good stuff! Although RT's are great, when you do need midi instruments, you need convincing sounds. Here are a couple of tips> 1. Native Instrument Kontakt 4>This is the premier sampler/sample library. The only issue with this is that it is NOT GM compatible, in other words, you have to manually load each patch. Not a big deal, unless you are pressed for time. Sounds are great, it is a HUGE library (40 GB) so you might want to keep in on a portable Hard Drive. Here is the link, Listen to the sound Demos> http://www.native-instruments.com/#/en/products/producer/kontakt-4/2. Vir2 has a Product called "VI One". It is GM compatible, which means your sound patches will load automatically. Here is the link, you can listen to the Demos> http://www.vir2.com/4DCGI/vir2/products/vione/index.html?1198hope this helps you, Ed
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 483
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 483 |
Fiddle,
You don't mention your Mac setup. If you have the latest BIAB with real tracks and Garageband on
your MacBook you can do some pretty nice home recordings and jamming. I use a M-Audio interface to record sax or vocals into Garageband and then mix.
That's my setup and I play it through either a PA or high powered Onkyo stereo system
with floor speakers with 12" woofers.
You mention that you are not a professional musician so this type of set up should do you well.
I am a professional and I find few things to quibble about with this setup both at home and playing gigs.
Ernie
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Joined: Feb 2010
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OP
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Posts: 17 |
Thanks for the info. I recently have switched to the Mac. My PC was getting dated and in need of an upgrade so I decided it was a good time to make the switch. What attracted me to Biab was the realtracks and realdrums. I'm mostly interested in country and old standard songs and using realtracks and realdrums for a backup band sounds pretty good. That's why I'm asking for suggestions on putting together a system to get the best sound for jamming. I might be able to get a lambda computer interface for next to nothing. Would it do the same thing as the Apogee interface you described?
I have never done anything with midi an am just picking up bits and pieces on how it is used by looking through the forums. But am I right in thinking I need some sort of midi keyboard to use Native Instrument Kontakt 4?
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Joined: Mar 2006
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Joined: Mar 2006
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The Lexicon Lambda is ok, but it's nothing like an Apogee. You would hear a big difference even just playing mp3's in iTunes!
As far as midi and keyboards go, just remember that the keyboard you use will just send a command to the computer to play the "Patch" that you selected. Your choice is to either use a Keyboard with built in sounds and plug that into a mixer, or use a keyboard controller to play softsynth sounds in your computer.
One other option I recommend and should have mentioned earlier is a Program called "Reason" by Propellerhead in Sweden. It has taken the music world by storm. Wonderful sounds, you start with an empty virtual "Rack", and then you fill it with synths, samplers, drum machines, effects, mixers, etc. Go to Youtube and type in Reason 4". That should at least give you a chance to understand what it does. And, you can use it in your DAW program using a protocal called "Rewire". I know it seems I'm writing Greek Math, but by watching the videos you will learn quickly.
Ed
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,217
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,217 |
.
>>>...and I know that my Radio Shack speakers plugged into the Macbook speaker jack isn't going to cut it...>>>
I do my monitoring on Radio Shack speakers and they work great. They are Optimus 7 model, no longer made. They are flat as a pancake.
My criterion for a good mix in not based on how it sounds on my speakers, but rather on other people's speakers. I am making the recording for them, and I have no control over what they are going to use. So I mix on my rather modest monitors and then test on every configuration I can find - ipod, car stereo, boombox, distributed system, youtube. Each gives a different result. If my mix survives all of those tests I can be confident that whoever my listener may be will get a something reasonably close to what I intended.
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Joined: Feb 2010
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Thanks for all the comments. I have much to learn.
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Joined: May 2000
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If you are just looking for things to 'sound better' than the radio shack speakers, a set of powered nearfield monitors would help. Rockit, and M-Audio are a couple good ones for reasonable cost. http://www.samedaymusic.com/prodsearch?form=search/ppc&cat=2864&cat2=3170http://www.sweetwater.com/store/search.p...CFQsMDQod8XKUZQThat is for the 'output' improvement. There was a day when Radio Shack had some 'surprisingly' good monitors if you knew what to get, but that was a while ago. They had an underground following for a small set of speakers that were very heavy for their size sold as minimus brand (and also under the RCA brand name for a short period of time). Not powered though, required a separate amp. For input you can choose from many interfaces, and you already have good suggestions there- apogee, M-audio etc. Not sure which side of the equation you were looking for. For a 'semi-pro' quick setup I find M-Audio is usually a pretty good start. I personally like their monitors a lot, and use their input devices too. Both input and output can be had for less than the $1000 mark you mentioned. Shop around, they are common products.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Joined: Feb 2010
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Do these types of monitors require an amplifier?
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Joined: May 2000
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No
The amplifier is built into each speaker. Two of them actually, one for woofer and one for tweeter.
Get an 1/8" stereo to two RCA adapter to plug into computer, then run cables to each speaker. Quick and easy.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,992
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fiddle
i'm no great pro AE mixing bloke..
more a songwriter/singer/lyrics bloke..
but i'll pass on a likkle idea a pro AE once gave me.
viz..
"notice how even on junky tv speakers a good song still sounds good , and the
mix "etc.
so mebe yes..get a decent pr of monitors, but dont let it consume you.
get a speaker switch that lets you switch tween a nice pr of monitors n a crummy tv speaker.
cos sometimes mixes that wre mixed on expensive monitors can fall apart
on crummy stuff like tv speakers n boomboxes etc etc.
a boombox or stereo clock radio is also a good added check.
such often have a line input you can feed from stereo line out of sound device.
retired puter engr....powertracks on amd......NICE !
"what is the black art of audio engineering ?"
my silly songs...motagator.com/bmanning
see my tips in the tips section.
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