What Else Do I Need For My Setup?, I have a IMac G5 20", DP 4.5, .......... Options

[everybodysnobody]

Hi Everyone,

I currently have the new IMAC G5 20" with 2GB of ram. I'm using digital performer 4.5 and have recently bought a tascam FW1884 for my audio interface. I also have a Korg Triton Le-88 Workstation, Mackie hr824 monitors, 2 AKG C1000S and 2 AKG C3000B mics. I haven't really started recording anything but mostly just reading manuals and playing around with things in digital performer recording keyboard riffs and licks. I'm curious or kind of confused on what else I need as far as compressors, mic-preamps, additional hardware, possibly a midi controller to complete a basic set-up to where I can begin playing around and start to learn the ins and outs of recording live music as well as writing a lot of beats and electronic music. Any advice on how to improve my set-up and maximize my set-up is extremely appreciated. Thank you.

Ryan.

[CanadaRAM]

I'll chip in my $0.02:

Get a backup hard drive. Yer goin' to spend a month recording the most brilliant opus ever devised by humankind, and one morning there'll be a power outage or a cosmic ray will hit your hard drive or in a Hobnob-induced sugar daze you'll hit Delete by mistake and it'll be gone.

A good large external Firewire drive (or two) will give you room to have your data backed up in more then one location, and you can carry it away with you as well in case of flood, fire or tax collectors.

Also a good battery-backed up power supply will keep your machine safe from electrical dangers. Choose one that has 24/7 voltage regulation as well as battery backup.

DVD blanks, lots of 'em, for backing up projects as you go along. Can help with the "I don't like it any more. It was better last week before you ..." syndrome.

A cheap and cheerful boom box or a television with tiny speakers - so you can play back mixes on to see if they still sound good in mono on $#!**y speakers.

Some duvets, carpets, 1/2 plywood sheets, pillows, curtains or acoustical foam to adjust your recording and monitoring space.

(Plywood sheet? Yes, if you have carpet, put the plywood on the floor under the guitar player when recording acoustic guitars)

Comfortable chair that doesn't squeak when you recline or swivel. (reduces the incidence of spoiled-24th-take induced enginerricide by the talent..)

Dust covers for everything

Spares for perishible items like mic cables, mouse, computer keyboard, etc.

Electronic contact cleaner

Set up your Mac to turn off network access, bluetooth, WiFi. Energy Saver and all background processes like antivirus scanning while you are recording. Even better, have 2 user accounts, one configured just for recording.

Thanks
Trevor
www.canadaram.com