Help me installing my Home Studio

[DjoWie]

I want to create Home Studio. I am beginner in this area, but I will prefer a computer. I am dreaming of home studio with keyboard controller and computer only. Although it is small configuration, I hope I can make it powerful studio. I hope "everything" can be realized in my studio. [Just for sound producing, not for sound recording. All will be recorded in digital form using my keyboard controller.]

As I am only an undergraduate student, I will not ask my parent to buy me expensive equipments just for my hobby. But, about 2 or 3 years later, I will be worked as Software Engineer (hopefully). And when I have more money, I don't want my gears now will be useless as I buy new equipment. I don't know how to decide... Should I buy the expensive ones? or the middle range? or the cheap ones? Although I am just getting started, I think I will not buy the cheap ones if my home studio will have poor sound.

I think my first problem is choosing the right soundcard. As I need good quality sound just from my computer, I don't really know what can software do in producing sound. Can you explain to me about the requirements? I hear about sampler... Do I need sampler? If I use computer, is it called softsynth? If it is softsynth, how sampler (as software?) works? How about sound modules? Can it replaced by software? (or it is really replaced by sound card?) Can you help me to find the right sound card? Or maybe you have a better configuration for me to get started?

I am just a beginner, so I hope you don't mind to explain about those things. I hope my home studio will be realized at the end of August.

 

[DjoWie]

Waiting...

nobody reply yet?

 

[king]

hey dj wannabe. i'm as clueless as u are. but i suggest you go to our local sites fer the answers.
try: bts.webjump.com or www.soft.com.sg.
hope dat can help you out. cheers bud!

 

[mano 1]

OK LET ME HELP YOU!


If you want a configuration with a computer and a MIDI controller only, you CAN. If I were you I would build my home studio as following:


THERE YOU GO:

. computer (512M RAM, TRUE INTEL MOBO+CPU, large screen)

. Steinberg Cubase VST/32 5.0 (sequencer, VSTi host for software instruments)

more info here: http://www.steinberg.net/products/ps/cubase/pc/vst32/index.phtml?id=03010103&sid=00686031

. GOOD AND CHEAP soundcard with LOW LATENCY ASIO support... My suggestion is the HOONTECH DSP24, with a few milliseconds of latency: http://www.hoontech.com/english/products/dsp24ve/index.html about $130 It also has a MIDI I/O port, very nice for a cheap price

. good and cheap MIDI controller: I recommend the FATAR CMK37 look at it here http://www.musiciansfriend.com/ex/shop/home/010804100103064167091125121723?pid=701298 for $90 only

VST INSTRUMENTS:

(they open from within Cubase, no need to open several programs, you save your projects as ONE file)

. Steinberg HALion (sampler, very nice actually)

more info here: http://www.steinberg.net/products/ae/plugins/halion/index.phtml?sid=00686031

. Native Instruments PRO-52 (nice software synthesizer)

more info here: http://native-instruments.net/index.php?pro52_us

. Native Instruments BATTERY (superb software drum machine)

more info here: http://native-instruments.net/index.php?battery_us


YOU MAY ALSO NEED:

. speakers/monitors (but for now you can plug your PC to your hi-fi if you dont have enough money)

You don't need a mixer if you have everything as VST instruments... The mixer will be on the screen... if you need to control "by hand" the faders on your mixer or even the software synthesizers, get a SLIDEMADE

more info here: http://www.encoreelectronics.com/cont_knob3.html


I AM SURE this post will help you!

You get yourself a really sweet home studio for your money.


.................... IN CASE:
BUT... If you only have 500 dollars to spend and nothing else, then get yourself the midi controller mentionned above, and the program called REASON.. its a all-in-one studio, pretty good for the price.
read a review I wrote here:
https://www.futureproducers.com/articles/reviews/reason/page1.shtml


that was a long post! use it wisely, and don't underestimate it!