Portable Studio Setup, The best options for portable studio Options

[DEVIOUS]

I know that there are many discussions on this topic but I am still uncertain what is the best option for an affordable compact studio solution. I intend to use it for recording both 'real' instruments (guitar, vocals) and midi. I record a variety of different types of music but wish to concentrate on the more dancy/electronic type of music.

So far this is what I've come up with to add to my Powerbook G4:

Tascam US-122 (I only need 2 channels recording at once so I think USB should be ok)

Midiman Keystation Radium49 Keyboard (I need something I can actually play stuff on- can't accept the tiny keyboards. I intend to use portability only for the guitar and vocal recording)

Reason 2.5

A good all rounder microphone (does this exist? I want to be able to record both vocals and acoustic guitar through this)

I wish to later add Cubase Sx to this but currently money is of prime importance.

Does anyone have any alternatives or opinions on this?
Nearly all the posts tell people to spend more and more until it's all costing too much to be a hobby. I wish for quality like anyone else but don't expect to do more than neatly develop my ideas on this setup.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[Dasa Soul]

samson CO3 mic condenser duel 19 mm it a 3 in one $68. on ebay ,but u need phanthom power for it. aloha!!!! joseholz@earthlink.net

[lionelw]

i am a pc user so i guess now that i outed myself my opinion doesn't count. but i get along very well with this asus 1,6ghz centrino laptop.
512 mbram isn't alot but i've programmed tracks with up to 20 VSTI's.
as an audio interface i musst agree that the nu usb-tascam box is super, but i really wanted firewire and went ahead and purchased the motu 828 mk2.
it's big it's heavy but all fit into a small suitcase on wheels it works out fine.

All i'm waiting for is a firewire-interface with preamp but also compressor.
cause it's a real bitch when those singers decide last minute on extreme dynamics..... ah well so far so good i'm really happy.

if your not looking into recording audio but just arranging i strongly advise purchasing the echo indigo card. there's one that has two stereo outputs so that two people can listen too your track at once and it's got a volume knob and supports asio drivers which is all you need really. besides it's pci-mcia so it's tiny and always there when you need it.

hope my ludicrously bad grammer and spelling doesn't take away from the quality of this article....

lioNel

lionelw@gmx.de

[Barb]

Personnally, I am not a fan of Tascam products. Please check out the MBox by digidesign. For $400 you get the interface AND the software.

I have had terrific luck with the AKGC3000 as an all around mic for many applications. I use it with choruses for live sound, recording vox and guitar. They sell a package with the C1000 although I don't like that mic as much but it is a good starting place for the $. I have recently started using some of the Sennheiser mics and I like them very much but I haven't found an all around mic. See if you can go to a store and listen to them.

Good luck!

[td3k]

I'd have to agree w/ Barb, the mBox is a great value and it is portable. For a portable compressor try Presonus Comp 16, at $99.00 this thing is a great compressor. I have one and I just throw it in the gig bag, coupled with a SansAmp it is a great combination, I use one for bass with an mBox. (Which incidentally has inserts [post pre] for outboard gear).

Cheers
TD

[kolo]

I use a rode nt 1a condenser mic. It has gotten lots of praise as a great sounding studio mic, at any price.... I happen to think it's best for vocals and acustic instruments. . . LIke guitar.. bkut it's really a studio mic...needs phantom power too....

[DEVIOUS]

Thanks for the responses. Regarding the Mbox- if I got one of these could I do midi through my mac? Is it possible to rig a midi setup by pluging in a usb midi keyboard alone? Does the mbox provide a 'midi' interface?

Also, what is the Reason Adapted software like? How does it compare to the full reason. I mainly want to create rhythm sections using reason, and then, if I got the mbox use protools Le for audio recording. The mbox has phantom power doesn't it- is this sufficient to mic up my guitar and vocals?

Also the firewire question still puzzles me. If I am recording a maximum of 2 inputs at a time USB has a wide enough bandwidth doesn't it- If this would cause problems please tell me. I plan to have about a maximum of 8 tracks of audio and a load of midi.

Thanks

D

[Barb]

I have used the Rode N1 but don't own them. I am very impressed with the NT4 &5 which I own but I find these Rode mics to be very bright and I need to eq the crap out of them in live situations. Not a great choice for vox or guitar because they are small diaphram condensers but I mention them because I am very impressed with Rode for the$ so check out the N1. Best to go with the large diaphram mic. As I said, I am a big fan of the AKG C3000: smooth, round & warm but if you can go for the $ I have heard nothing but good things about the new Rode mic with variable patterns. hey, get one of each and mix and match!

Keyboards: Which one do you have or plan to have? There should be no problen using the two USB inputs. You may need to put either one in the first slot to make it work better. I have found that I need the keyboard in the first slot when I was in OS 9.

MBox : no sweat, it has phantom power. It uses USB so there is no firewire issue. I really don't think you can go wrong for the $ with the MBox. ProTools has its quirks but you'll need to have some experience with it if you plan on going into a big studio someday. You can always add another program to you computer, like Logic or Digital Performer as $ allows. I know Logic works with the MBox.

Good luck and take the plung!

[Barb]

Check this out: http://www.coolbreezesys.com/cbs/products/...qs-mbmovie.html

Just the sample off the CD Rom should give you great info!