(Part 2) Best products from r/MusicBattlestations

> Is that Midi controller any bit decent? from what i've read, the main selling point is the included software and it's not very responsive in Ableton Live.

I like it...mind you, I'm not a synth player, so it's not the most critical piece of gear I own. I don't much worry about things like key feel and weight...I just need something to plunk out notes. I bought on features, overall design (lots of wonderful twiddly bits) and yes, the bundled software. Those softsynths are how it beat out an Axiom or something similar.

> PS: your studio is great, I'm mad jealous of your Bass 6.

Thank you! Hopefully I do it justice and crank out some badass tracks here soon! The Bass VI is the Squier version...they are nice and cheap and a lot of fun! I may still have to get a "real" bass someday, but this should get the job done for awhile!

> PS PS: your backpack is cute

Thanks! It's this one!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IRWOKIQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I <3 it so much! It's got plenty of room for my gigantic 17" work laptop and lots of other goodies, and yeah, it's super cute!

Try out Reaper as a DAW. The free version is, IIRC, fully functional. The discounted license is also only $60. I haven't had much experience with it, but I've only heard good things.

As far as hardware goes, I'd highly recommend checking out some thrift stores. Keyboards and MIDI controllers are a fairly common sight in my experience, and are generally heavily discounted compared to ordering a new one online. You can also find some inexpensive used speakers as well. Ideally you'd want to go for some studio monitors, but those are typically pretty expensive for a decent set. Headphones might be a better budget option. You can pick up a pair of ATH-M50Xs for a little over $120, and I certainly think they are well worth it. I'd suggest conducting your own research though when it comes to headphones. Each pair is like a slightly different flavor, and different brands and models appeal to different people.

I can't really help you with desk setup/layout. I have no idea what your room will be like in terms of size and layout. I don't think you'll really need more than just a sizeable desk to have your computer and accessories on. Since you are on a fairly tight budget, you won't be able to afford a whole lot of accessories anyway. Keyboard, mouse, monitor, headphones/speakers, and MIDI controller should get you going.

I really have no beef with AMD, but have always been the guy who wanted to invest in what shows the results; and Intel has always done that in my opinion (Not to knock AMD).

Interface wise, I have the perfect solution for you. It's what I have, as well as many others and it's very affordable and reliable. The Focusrite 2i2

Small, sexy looking, and great audio quality. I suppose you can say it doubles as a soundcard, because I just run all my audio through it, meaning when I launch Live, I select the Scarlett as my audio device, and it takes care of everything for me. No latency, and great audio. Check it out man!

Here's a few pics.

shot 1

shot 2

shot 3

shot 4

So basically it's a cheap way to cram everything into a small space and still have it usable.

The JDXI is sitting on 2 IKEA Laptop stands which get it up enough to put either the beatstep in front or my launchkey49 if I need that. Only downside is it puts it at a little too steep on an angle for my liking and with the mixer that's there it's too close to the headphone jack so some knobs are not optimally placed. (currently using my old belkin iPod recording dock as a mixer since I packed my actual mixer away during the last move and can't find it for the life of me.)

I made the Volca stand from some scrap wood I had after making my drum kit riser. It's not expert carpentry by any means but it works.

The keystep is tucked away on a pullout computer keyboard tray I got off Amazon.

The mixer and mininova are on a clamp on multi-tier laptop stand I also got off Amazon.

I can also thank Amazon for the cheapo "monitors" and headphones which actually have great sound quality for being under $200 altogether. For what I need in this temporary apartment, they get the job done.

Also notice most of it isn't plugged in, as the baby finds cluttered cables irresistible and rips everything off the desk. (Hence the now permanent "baby jail" surrounding my entire setup.) More for her safety than anything since she likes to use the drums as a jungle gym and has whacked her head on it without learning it is solid and unforgiving.


Hope this is what you were looking for!

That mic is great, but you can get something like an SM57 much cheaper, if she's recording acoustic guitar.

If you want a pretty good vocal mic, that will also be cheapish you can get something like this.

Or just buy an sm58 which is a cheaper version of the other one you just showed, and is good for doing live stuff if you want to do that.

You can also get a 4x4 input thing so that she can multitrack into a daw, or just a smaller one if she's only ever going to record like 2 tracks at once.

I got something like this.

The SM57 and SM58 are pretty much standards in the music world.

That being said, IIRC the SM7b (the mic you're looking at) is what Micheal Jackson recorded a lot of his stuff on ( the bad album at least), so it's def pro level.

So full disclosure I did the whole sketch from memory and didn't actually look up an amp stand, drew what I thought they looked like but apparently they don't make them with the legs facing forward like that. I was hoping to have space to easily tuck away my pedals under the amp when I'm not using them.

That being said I found this on amazon that gives me something close to it and it has the bonus of having an optional mic arm attachment for recording. I wish it elevated the amp a bit higher off the ground though.

I had one of these previously and it got the job done.

Both stands should definitely hold your 2x12, I used a Fender Twin from the 70's (those were heavy as hell) on it the one I had before and the there are pics of the first one with a Twin on it.

I splurged on this stand but I love how easy it is to adjust in a pinch (no more tightening as tight as you can).

For vocals I prefer the round weighted base cuz it’s easier to avoid tripping on. But I got a boom attachment for reach (can’t find the link sorry!)

I haven’t taken the plunge to actually bring a full keyboard onstage, but I have two of these - great for my Bass Station and Octatrack, and unobtrusive on a stage.

I put other gear on this keyboard stand, which is nice because the height and length are both adjustable, and it collapses quite easily.

At home I have a Pyle Z-stand, but I haven’t even thought about putting it in my car since I got it - kinda intimidated by the packing implications tbh :)

I would recommend [Auralex] (http://www.amazon.com/Auralex-Studiofoam-Inches-Wedgies-Charcoal/dp/B0002D05KA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1396896193&sr=8-1&keywords=acoustic+foam) if you don't have a tight budget.... but if you do, I'd go with [this kind] (http://www.amazon.com/2x12x12-BURGUNDY-CHARCOAL-Acoustic-Soundproofing/dp/B00ATP5KF6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1396896193&sr=8-2&keywords=acoustic+foam). I have both types in my set up and they work quite wonderfully together. The colors are nice accents as well!

Also, you will want to pull your table out from the wall a bit... and make sure you have the monitor tweeters at an equilateral triangle with your ears!

Somewhere down the line you can invest in bass traps as well. [Here are some yoga blocks as well] (http://www.amazon.com/YogaAccessories-TM-Foam-Yoga-Brick/dp/B000OFBC12/ref=sr_1_7?s=exercise-and-fitness&ie=UTF8&qid=1396896353&sr=1-7&keywords=yoga+block). Just make sure they will adequately support your monitors (aka being large enough).

If you have any questions, pm me whenever.

Like /u/PowderedWigMachine mostly already covered, it is an audio interface. Brand specific, it is a UAD Apollo Twin DUO.


The bass guitar is plugged into it to record directly into my software rather than going through an amp. When I do this, I use VST plugins to take the place of the amp; specifically Native Instruments Guitar Rig Pro 5 and occasionally parts of the SoundToys 5 Bundle for electric/bass guitar.


Sometimes I prefer to plug the bass/electric guitar into the amp (that is sitting sideways just under the bass guitar) and mic it with a Shure SM7B microphone; in which I would then record THAT into the audio interface to get the more natural sound of a physical Amp. Regardless, everything gets recorded and input through the Apollo Twin rather than just using let’s say a USB mic or something like that.


Everything is output and monitored through the Apollo Twin as well to the speaker monitors (KRKs) and headphones (Audio Technica ATH-M50s).


Lastly, the Apollo Twin holds all my UAD plugins that are build mostly around mixing and mastering.


Anyways, I hope that answered your question and wasn’t too confusing. I would totally recommend looking into an Apollo Twin if you’re interested in an audio interface as I can’t recommend it enough.


Best of luck man!

This was the book we read in one of my intro classes in college. I haven’t read this edition but I assume the information is still good. If you’re new, it’s a great starting point.


Understanding Audio: Getting the Most Out of Your Project or Professional Recording Studio https://www.amazon.com/dp/1495028755/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_r73ODbEFWR352

Edit: just asked my friend. He also recommends Aural Architecture, and the free material Auralex has available.

There's tons of information online on how to properly set up your room for good acoustics, so I'll just tell you what to Google.

• 38% rule
  
• Equilateral triangle speaker placement
  
• DIY acoustic panels
  
• Overhead cloud acoustic panel
  
• Bass traps
  
• Damping vs diffusion
  
• DIY acoustic diffuser
  
• First reflection points acoustics
  
  And yes, you absolutely want to set up your room properly. It makes an enormous difference in clarity and stereo separation that you will absolutely benefit from, even if you consider yourself a beginner.
  
  And for the most part, setting it up is almost free. It just takes some preparation and basic equipment.
  
  Here's some examples of how acoustic treatment can help:
  
  
• https://youtu.be/cp56A6TcL1E
  
• https://youtu.be/LTAtp7CUIvs
  
  If you want to make some panels, here's how various insulation types compare: http://www.bobgolds.com/AbsorptionCoefficients.htm I recommend UltraTouch. It's denim, which is a lot less nasty than fiberglass, and is just about as effective, too.
  
  If you haven't already, I'd get some speaker stands while your mirrors are being shipped. They're not expensive. These are mine: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0154G1AQM/ref=ya_aw_oh_bia_dp?ie=UTF8&psc=1
  
  There are tons of DIY panel designs out there. This is what I built: https://m.imgur.com/gallery/TG2xT
  
  Please let me know if you have any questions!

It's great that you want to support your son, but think how much you'd be spending on things like sports or other hobbies he could have. Yeah music is expensive, but the great thing about gear is that it can be resold without losing too much of its value. If he seems serious then I think spending the extra money would be worth it. I'd get him something like this if he has a computer to plug it into that you can download some software on. Worst case you return it to Amazon if he gives up that quick, or sell it on ebay for $75. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M13A6JT/ref=ox_sc_sfl_image_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER.

I'd get the Shure SM58 if you're on a budget.

ZENY Pair of Studio Monitor Speaker Stands Height Adjustable Concert Band DJ Studio Floor Stands w/Stable Triangle Base, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0154G1AQM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_vpGXDb2FVJCQB