Digidesign Mbox 2 - will it do?

[MrMusashi]

half volume on the bongo gives me good results. of course you can just turn the channel gain down by twisting the knob on the mbox if you want to run it flat out

MrM

ps: psychicpet was the nick i was searching for...

 

[Grand Wazoo]

Thanks MrMusashi it's just that by the way the digidesign people descived it, our basses (active basses like the Bongo with a an 18V power) are to them like demons that need to be exorcised. He was like... "9volts active basses - hmmm bad, what?? 18 volts you say? My goodness! Keep that thing away from me!"

 

[MingusBASS]

Thanks MrMusashi it's just that by the way the digidesign people descived it, our basses (active basses like the Bongo with a an 18V power) are to them like demons that need to be exorcised. He was like... "9volts active basses - hmmm bad, what?? 18 volts you say? My goodness! Keep that thing away from me!"

A lot of engineers feel so at home working with the 'ol P and J basses that anything that doesn't resemble a Fender scares them off. That is until they hear the Bongo and then they're hooked.

 

[oli@bass]

He was like... "9volts active basses - hmmm bad, what?? 18 volts you say? My goodness! Keep that thing away from me!"

Another urban myth?! I've never had any problem with any active bass going direct. If there were, you couldn't use the signal live as well. Maybe you have to put a mixer or DI in between the instrument and the sound card, but I've never had the need for that...

 

[strummer]

One of the things he told me in relation to recording bass, and I think someone else here mentioned it too, is that the best result is achieved by recording the bass from a miked amp, rather than direct because he is aware that most modern bass are active and unless they are passive switchable it is going to be hard work getting a clean volume from an active bass. So he said if your bass is passive then by all means you can go through direct but if it is active and you don't have a mike then keep the bass volume as low as possible. When I told him a Bongo has 2 x 9V batteries i.e. 18volts he said: "Oh dear"

The seminar might have been a good one, but if the above demonstrates the level of knowledge regarding general recording I'd say you are in trouble.
Mikes are used to record bass because you want a specific sound, not because it's "better" or because the bass is active.
Most normal sound cards accept the bongo even at full volume, though 1/2 to 2/3 will most often get you in comfortable territory input gain wise.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

Midi Keyboard and Monitors advice

Continuing on the above discussion regarding home studios / Pro Tools / Mbox2 etc, I have realized I am going to need a midi controller keyboard a set of monitors and I would appreciate some advices on both.

So far I have done a bit of search and these 2 seem to be the industry standard for a small home studio project.

Monitors: M-Audio Studiophile BX5A Deluxe Active Studio Monitors - Pair | Dolphin Music

Midi Keyboard: Absolute Music Solutions: M-Audio Axiom 49 controller keyboard

Looking forward to hear you advices

Thanks

 

[TheBassGuy]

The M-Audio Axiom is pretty good for a standard midi keyboard. For studio monitors I'd spend a little more and buy KRK's.

 

[MrMusashi]

buy more expensive studio monitors! the cheap ones are ok soundwise but i still havent found one that doesnt hiss.
event are changing their productline so you should be able to score one of the old models cheap
also if youre using a small room too big monitors might just make a mess.. so buy according to roomsize.

MrM

 

[Grand Wazoo]

buy more expensive studio monitors! the cheap ones are ok soundwise but i still havent found one that doesnt hiss.
event are changing their productline so you should be able to score one of the old models cheap
also if youre using a small room too big monitors might just make a mess.. so buy according to roomsize.

MrM

Yeah? how big is your boat?

Thanks MrM, that is why I thought max 70W per channel will be fine. I heard good things about the Tapco Mackie speakers and also abot the M-Audio ones. Any other you can think of?

 

[bassmonkey]

How about Rockit KRK speakers?

 

[Grand Wazoo]

How about Rockit KRK speakers?

I am open to all kind of suggestion, thanks bassmonkey, so what sets the KRK Rockit apart in your views? Thanks

 

[Grand Wazoo]

Are these KRK Speakers ok then?

Solutions eStore - KRK RP5 G2 Monitors (Pair)

anyone in UK seen them cheaper please?

 

[bassmonkey]

Are these KRK Speakers ok then?

Solutions eStore - KRK RP5 G2 Monitors (Pair)

anyone in UK seen them cheaper please?

A friend has them. He's a bassist/writer/producer and lives in New York. He is usually pretty spot on with his kit. I've personally never used them.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

thanks

Thanks pal, they have to be good for that price.

 

[Slingy]

I have those exact KRK's. I like them alot for my small room and needs. Very easy to get a good mix that still sounds good on other systems like my car stereo.

Before that I had some Tascams with a sub, and I was always struggling with the mix and remixing after hearing it on other systems, and those sounded horrid for multimedia like games and cd, just blah.

I think the sky is the limit as far as monitors go, but I'm very happy with these for now, and everything sounds good on them.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

ok I am sold! What more can I say?

 

[Grand Wazoo]

WOW!! Check this out!

Propellerhead Software - Products - Record

 

[Slingy]

Looks sweet! I'd love to demo it.

 

[Atomicunderware]

Propellerhead Software - Products - Record

That looks very interesting, if it's anything like as functional as Reason it will be a great tool. That being said, it would be hard to beat Pro-Tools.

 

[fidooda]

just to mix things up Capt....6 months ago i bought a pair of Mackie MR5. i bought them based on some reviews and my own testing. they really work out great and they can be ajusted for your room (bass and treble cut/boost). I prefered them over KRK when i auditioned them they felt more neutral for my ears.

I don't wanna say 'they sound great' since they are reference monitors which aren't supposed to "sound" great, just provide a neutral sound. Very happy with my purchase.