THINK INSIDE THE BOX
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM, By Jason Scott Alexander, John McJunkin and Markkus Rovito
Since the dawn of computer-audio recording, it has been prophesized that music studios would shrink to the size of a single machine. However, processor-hungry virtual instruments, effects plug-ins and other software have made it impractical to build a studio without some type of out-of-the-box DSP. Now, with 64-bit quad-processor machines, the age of the “studio in a box” may finally be upon us. The following scenarios break down studio setups that include only a computer, software, interfaces and controllers, and they are targeted toward cash-strapped pennysavers, mobile recorders/live performers and high-end studios that can afford to squeeze every drop of juice possible from a single machine. External DSP processing solutions and fully computer-integrated hardware synths are more numerous and affordable than ever before, and many users will want to consider them, but the good news is that today's computers have all the oomph you need to anchor your personal studio.
Note: The prices given here are list — not street — prices, and the actual selling cost for most of the items (besides the computers) will be moderately to significantly lower.
The budget rig is probably the most challenging system to develop because getting the maximum bang for the buck is easier said than done. But luckily, in this case, it's true that big things can come in small packages.
The Apple Mac Mini is a powerful computer that comes in a 6.5-by-6.5-by-2-inch case. For reference, a dollar bill is about six inches long. It's fast and has four USB 2.0 ports and a FireWire 400 port. The stock system here sports only 512 MB of RAM, so if you have any extra money, upgrading it to 1 GB or even the maximum of 2 GB is not a bad idea. Similarly, the additional Beyond Micro 250 GB USB drive is strongly recommended, not only for the fairly low price, but also because it yields 33 hours of record time at 24 tracks of 16-bit/44.1 kHz and even 10 hours or record time at 24 tracks or 24-bit/96 kHz. The Apple Keyboard and Mighty Mouse give you control over the computer, and $179 for the Acer AL1706AB LCD monitor is a smokin' deal.
One of the mini's USB ports is engaged with the system's all-important audio/MIDI interface, the Mackie XD-2, which when purchased as the Spike system, includes the powerful DAW Tracktion 2. The XD-2 is particularly nice because it has built-in SHARC DSP, enabling EQ and dynamics processing during the tracking process and eliminating monitoring latency. On the back end (during mixing and/or mastering), that same DSP can be used to apply EQ and a final two-bus compressor and/or limiting. In addition to the hardware DSP, Tracktion 2 hosts VST plug-ins, including VSTi instruments, and comes with its own suite of more than two dozen VST instruments and effects. Not only is Spike inexpensive and powerful, but it can be eminently more powerful by virtue of the myriad freeware, shareware and donation-ware VST plug-ins available via the Internet. Some such VSTs are great, and some just suck, but the point is that you can amass a large collection of formidable and functional tools on a budget. A great place to get started collecting VSTs is www.kvraudio.com.
This system features self-powered KRK RP5 Rokit monitors and AKG K-240 headphones for monitoring your music, and the Alesis Photon 25 MIDI keyboard controller gives you control over your project. The truly excellent Studio Projects C1 microphone yields incredible bang for the buck and enables you to record vocals with the greatest of ease. If you're a beginner, this system will be all you need, and if you already have a synth or sampler or two, you'll be able to work magic.
— J. McJunkin
STUDIO APARTMENTS: THE BUDGET RIG
Acer AL1706AB 17-inch LCD monitor: $179.99
AKG K-240 Headphones: $159
Alesis Photon 25 Controller: $249
Apple Keyboard and wired Mighty Mouse: $78
Apple Mac Mini 1.66 GHZ Intel Core Duo (including GarageBand 3): $599
KRK RP5 Rokit Monitors: $299
Mackie Spike, with Tracktion 2 DAW and XD-2 Interface: $319.99
Studio Projects C1 Microphone: $299.99
Total: $2,183.97
SUGGESTED ADD-ONS:
Alesis Photon X-25 (instead of the Photon 25): $299
Beyond Micro Speedano3 250 GB USB drive: $178
Extra RAM for Mac Mini: $ varies
ALTERNATE BUDGET SETUP 1:
Audio-Technica ATH-M40fs headphones; $150
Dell XPS 200 with 3 GHz Pentium 4 D dual-core, 1 GB RAM, 250 GB hard disk, Windows XP Pro; plus bonus 20-inch LCD included: $1,190
M-Audio Axiom 49 MIDI keyboard: $329.95
Yamaha GO46 audio/MIDI interface with Steinberg Cubase LE, Groove Agent SE, HALion SE, Amplitube LE, T Racks EQ; $439.99
TOTAL: $2,109.94
SUGGESTED ADD-ONS:
Dell 1GB extra RAM: $130
Propellerhead Reason 3: $499.95
Seagate Barracuda 250 GB internal hark disk: $125
Studio Projects B1 condenser mic: $149.99
Yamaha HS50M powered monitors: $249.50 (pair)
ALTERNATE BUDGET SETUP 2:
Apple iMac 17-inch 1.83 GHZ Intel Core 2 Duo (including GarageBand 3): $999
Novation XioSynth 25 audio/MIDI key board interface and controller: $549.99
Propellerhead Reason 3: $499.95
Sony MDR-7506 headphones; $130
TOTAL: $2,178.94
SUGGESTED ADD-ONS:
Extra RAM for iMac; $ varies
M-Audio Studiophile DX4 power monitors: $199.95 (pair)
Shure SM58S dynamic vocal mic; $196
Mobile musicians' needs will vary widely, and as a result, so will their computer setups. A low-budget laptop with FruityLoops, Reason or Garageband software and a pair of headphones is all you need to pound out some music on a plane, in the park, etc., but this system is designed both for mobile recording and live performance.
If you're going to rely on a laptop for a demanding audio workload, you better go all out with the system you choose. Rain Recording's LiveBook Studio was optimized from the ground up for professional audio applications, and even comes pre-installed with a selection of music software (Cakewalk Sonar LE, Tascam Gigastudio Solo, PCDJ Be the DJ, Nero Express CD/DVD creator), as well as Windows XP Professional. It's 17-inch glossy display provides a generous mobile desktop view, and it has S-Video and VGA outputs for video expansion at home. Both FireWire (one port) and USB 2.0 (4 ports) are provided, as well as a handy memory-card reader for SD/MMC and Memory Stick flash cards.
The M-Audio FireWire 410 4-in/10-out audio interface is perfect for this setup. It's mobile in size, yet provides excellent 24-bit/96 kHz audio quality and two XLR mic/line inputs with preamps and phantom power for serious recording needs. It exploits the LiveBook's FireWire port, leaving the USB port open for controllers, hard drives, etc. Most crucially, the FireWire 410 supports Digidesign M-Powered 7.1 software, which provides the industry standard for multitrack audio recording, editing and a robust MIDI feature set as well.
As a software complement, Ableton's new Live 6 adds many exciting new features to what was already the most dynamic live-performance software. It's the best option for using a laptop for performing your own original music, live remixing and mash-ups. It's also popular for DJing and performances that blur the line between DJing and original production.
With its recent v2 update, the Novation ReMote SL 25 USB keyboard and control surface added automapping for Pro Tools, which means that when you have the board connecting and you launch Pro Tools, the ReMote automatically configures its generous array of knobs, sliders, transport controls and other tools for optimal Pro Tools control. The ReMote also supports automapping for Ableton Live, Reason and other popular software DAWs and instruments.
Depending on your personal needs, you may want to expand your microphone and monitoring options, but these choices will start you off right. For monitoring, the Sony MDR-V700DJ headphones provide the high audio quality and accurate response that Sony headphones are known for, as well as flexible positioning for the off-ear or single-sided monitoring that DJs and other live performers may need. As an all-purpose microphone for both live and studio vocals and instruments, you can't do much better than the Shure Beta 58A supercardioid dynamic mic. It's optimized with a high output for vocals, but it can be used to record other instruments as well until you expand your system.
— Markkus Rovito
LAPTOP LABS: THE MOBILE RIG
Ableton Live 6: $599
Digidesign Pro Tools M-Powered 7.1: $299.95
M-Audio FireWire 410; $399.95
Novation ReMote SL 25 v2: $599
Rain Recording LiveBook Studio 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo: $2,895.95
Shure Beta 58A supercardioid dynamic mic; $350
Sony MDR-V700DJ headphones: $149.99
Total: $5,293.84
SUGGESTED ADD-ONS:
Event Studio Precision 8 bi-amped monitors: $1,499 (pair)
LaCie 120 GB USB 2 Rugged All-Terrain Hard Drive: $169.99
ALTERNATE LAPTOP SETUP 1:
AKG K-240 Headphones: $130
Apple Logic Pro 7.2: $999
Apple 13-inch MacBook 2 GHz (with GarageBand 3): $1,299
M-Audio Oxygen 8 v2 Controller: $179.95
MOTU UltraLite Interface: $595
Total: $3,202.95
SUGGESTED ADD-ONS:
LaCie 160 GB Little Big Disk: $369.99
ALTERNATE LAPTOP SETUP 2:
Ableton Live 6: $599
Apple 15-inch MacBook Pro 2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo: $2,499
M-Audio Ozonic audio/MIDI interface and controller: $599.95
Pioneer HDJ-1000 closed live performance headphones: $189.99
TOTAL: $3,887.94
SUGGESTED ADD-ONS:
Glyph GT 050 250 GB external FireWire hard disk: $299
If it's a fully blown dream system you're considering, chances are you're planning on playing with the big-boys — producers and studios who work on the Pro Tools platform. This multiplatform spread of powerful high-end treats will add you to this club in style.
On the PC front, an incredible Dual Intel Xeon 5160 dual-core system was configured from pcAudioLabs.com. Based on the 64-bit server-grade Woodcrest CPU, the powerhouse offers four 3 GHz cores on a Supermicro motherboard outfitted with one 100 MHz and two 133 MHz PCI-X slots, eight SATA ports with RAID 0/1 support, FireWire 800 and PCI Express x16 slot. It includes 4 GB of Kingston RAM (upgradable to 32 GB), a Seagate 160 GB Ultra ATA/100 system drive and dual Hitachi 250 GB SATA II 7200 RPM drives configured using onboard RAID for a monstrous 500 GB of safe-guarded audio drive space, suitable for large sessions. There's also a 500 GB Seagate SATA drive for dedicated online sample-library storage and two Plextor 18x dual-layer DVD±RW drives for easy disc copying and simultaneous burning/backup. An ATI Radeon X300SE video card offers DVI and VGA dual-out support, and the “Silent Treatment case option of an Antec 550W power supply with a Zalman superquiet CPU and case fans keeps things cool.
Alternatively, there's a configured Apple Mac Pro quad-core with 4 GB RAM, 160 GB system drive, 500 GB audio drive, 500 GB sample and auxiliary-use drive, two 16x SuperDrives, and the Nvidia GeForce 7300 graphics card with dual DVI output.
For either system, dual Dell 2407WFP 24-inch widescreen LCDs ($799 each) offer enormous extended-desktop space for access to more windows, channel faders and plug-in real estate.
At any budget, Digidesign Pro Tools M-Powered 7 represents an incredible value. Version 7 brought about great advancements in MIDI handling and editing, making Pro Tools a truly well-rounded composition tool. Session files are cross-platform compatible and easily transferable, and the latest 7.1.1 is compatible with Intel-based Macs.
The M-Audio ProjectMix I/O provides the all-important entry point to Pro Tools M-Powered, as well as an amazing-sounding 96 kHz, FireWire audio and MIDI interface integrated within a moving touch-fader DAW control surface. Eight line inputs and mic pres with phantom power, ADAT Lightpipe I/O, S/PDIF I/O, Word Clock and a front-mounted hi-Z instrument input for guitar or bass ensure connectivity for demanding sessions. It's also compatible with Logic, Cubase, Nuendo, Cakewalk Sonar, Digital Performer and Ableton Live.
For MIDI control, the CME VX6 has multifaceted and expressive MIDI tools on a 61-note semi-weighted keyboard. Added to the usual Aftertouch, pitch and mod-wheel controls, you get nine motorized faders, 12 programmable Velocity-sensitive MPC-style trigger pads, a ribbon controller and nine endless rotary encoders for control over soft-synths and effects plug-in parameters.
For monitoring, the Sony MDR-7509HD high-def closed-back studio reference headphones deliver amazingly accurate and musical sounding bass response.
— Jason Scott Alexander
DREAM STATION: THE HIGH-END RIG
Mac: Apple Mac Pro Quad-core Intel Xeon 64-bit processor with 4 GB RAM, 160 GB system drive, two 500 GB expansion drives, Nvidia GeForce 7300 GT 256MB graphics card and two 16x SuperDrives: $5,224
OR
PC: Dual Intel Xeon 5160 dual-core 64-bit, 3 GHz processors with 4 GB RAM, 160 GB system drive, two 250 GB expansion drives, one 500 GB drive, ATI Radeon X300SE video card and two Plextor 18x dual-layer DVD±RW drives: $5,495
CME VX MIDI controller keyboard: $999.99
Dual Dell 2407WFP Widescreen LCDs: $1,598
Digidesign Pro Tools M-Powered 7: $299.95
M-Audio ProjectMix I/O: $1,599.95
Sony MDR-7509HD hi-def closed-back headphones: $265
MAC SYSTEM TOTAL: $9,986.89
PC SYSTEM TOTAL: $10,257.89
SUGGESTED ADD-ONS:
Chameleon Labs Model 7602 preamp w/power supply: $799
Dynaudio BM6A monitors: $2,095 (pair)
Dynaudio BM12S optional subwoofer: $2,245
Native Instruments Komplete 4: $1,499
Rode Classic II microphone: $1,999
ALTERNATE HIGH-END SYSTEM 2:
Alienware Area-51 ALX 2.93 GHz Intel Core 2 including a 24-inch LCD: $6,099
Digidesign Digi 002 Factory with Pro Tools LE 7.1: $2,495
Genelec 8240A active monitors with acoustic calibration: $3,190 (pair)
Neumann KMS 104 vocal condenser mic: $849.99
Novation ReMote SL 61 v2: $899
Propellerhead Reason 3: $499.95
Total: $14,032.94
SUGGESTED ADD-ONS:
Ultrasone Proline 750 headphones: $399
ALTERNATE HIGH-END SYSTEM 1:
AKG K-240 Headphones: $130
Apple Mac Pro Quad Xeon 2.66 GHz: $2,500
Blue Baby Bottle Microphone: $600
Event Tuned Reference 6 Monitors: $400
(2) computer monitors and keyboard: $450
M-Audio Keystation 88es: $300
MOTU 2408mk3 Interface: $950
MOTU Digital Performer 5.1: $500
Native Instruments Reaktor 5: $400
Total: $6,310
SUGGESTED ADD-ONS:
500 GB internal ATA drive: $400
Upgrade to 2 GB RAM: $300
However you can manage to save up for your own studio, where there's a will, there's a way. You may not be able to buy your dream studio now, but don't fret. Whether you go budget-style or hook up a studio with spinning rims, any of these configurations will get you kicking out tracks and making necks crack in no time.
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