Is pro tools what I want? What else do I need?

[Emcha_audio]

Originally Posted by Area57

Why do I need speakers if I have headphones?

So my plan of starting out buying pro tools, an audio interface and mic (ok, not the line 6) a program of synths isn't good enough to start?

Beause headphones will never have the same balanced frequency registry as a good speaker. And also because of stereo imaging. When you have head phones on even the slightest panning will almoat aound as if its coming out of one ear foing only left center or right. It will not give you a complete and precise stereo field.

It is enough to learn but what we are saying is that if you start with the minimum rught away (speaker and room treatment) you will be able to get better result a lot faster and learn more rhan if you have to fight your room mods, flutter echos etc.

[Area57]

Couldn't I budget something like

Pro tools $600
Kontact 10 $500
Good mic $500
Stands $150
Focus rite interface $200

Speakers $500 for a pair

That's right at $2500. I can swing that if that's what I need to do. What would I be missing besides room treatment which is really only for the vocals anyways?

[Emcha_audio]

Room treatment is not only for the vocals but when mixing also. Example, smaller rooms will have a lot of troubles with low frequencies mods. Meaning that in part of the room the low frequencies will be boosted and in other part it will wanish. This will have an effect on how much you will either boost or cut out the low frequencies when you mix because the room will fool you into thinking it needs more or it needs less. That will also apply to the rest of the frequency spectrum.

Early reflection or flutter echos will play a role into how much reverb you will be adding. Example a room without treatment produces a lot of rebounding echos when the sound wave bounce from wall to wall, ceiling to floor, floor to wall etc. This can fool you to think that you have to much reverb and you will put much less than you actually intend in your mix and then when you listen to your mix somewhere else you will find it dry. Same way with the frequencies. When you will listen to your mix somewhere else you might find it bass heavy or ear screeching because theres too much compensation in the highs. That is what we are calling a mix that will translate well. If your room is well treated then when you listen to you mix somewhere else it will sound close to what you were hearing it in your room while mixing.

[Darryl Ramm]

That will work. Get something like a 4i2 or higher interface that has MIDI ports built in, and that saves needing a separate MIDI box.

Budget for some books, courses, videos.

You very likely will want monitors. Just much easier to mix on to start with. Say something like these to start with. http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/HS7 (that is $300 each=$600/pair and you need stands). And they may just be nice to play your keyboard through.

Again I'd just start with garage band and understand basic virtual instruments bundled in that. Once you actually have MIDI working and recorded some things you'll have an idea what you might want. I'd not just assume Kontakt, there are many options out there, depending on what exactly you want to do. If your interests are mostly MIDI/keyboard/VI Apple Logic may be a better choice than Pro Tools.

Toss the Beats headphones, just on principle. The Sennheisers should be OK for monitoring while tracking (closed back design so they don't leak into the mic,... but there are probably better over-ear designs for this).

[Area57]

Well, the Beats are just to impress the ladies.

[amagras]

Area57, this is not the best place to about that, I'd start here: therecordingrevolution.com

[SpinningDisk]

I think you would be happy with Reason 8 by Propellerhead.

[Area57]

Should I get reason 8 as a do all program? Are any of the DAWS going to come with a lot of sounds? I guess that is one thing I am having a bit of trouble understanding, is how many sounds come with each program, what kind, and how many I need to make a song.

[Shan]

I'd recommend checking out Garage Band to start learning the basics and then have a look at Studio One, which would be better for your specific needs.

Shane

[SpinningDisk]

Reason 8 comes with a lot of loops and sounds. You should check it out. Also, garage band would be a good starter DAW.
Why is everyone pushing the Studio One?