I’m setting up a small home studio in a 20 foot by 20 foot space, with the intent on learning how to compose songs for the first time and I’m likely going to be using Ableton on a Mac. Here is the gear I have: one mic for vocals, six string guitar, bass guitar, Juno 106, Oberheim OB-6, Roland MC 707 Groovebox, Novation 49SL MkIII MIDI Controller, Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 Interface, and a Boredbrain Patchulator V2 8-channel Patchbay.

I’m looking for recommendations on 2 monitors, a mixer and brands of cables to connect everything. I don’t want to go cheap, but I don’t want the most expensive gear out there. I’m sure in time I’ll swap out certain things as I learn, but for now mid-grade+ gear would be good.

Many thanks for the feedback!

 

you have to supply more info about the mixer and monitors. Budget for each, digital or analog mixer, and genre of music can help with your monitor selection. Or you will get many useless replies.

Cables don't all need to be Mogami, but do yourself a favor and buy some decent stuff. Not HOSA. They are probably the most widely used maker of cables and sold by big retailers. they are just a notch above complete junk.

 

I used an analog mixer for years but now its all in the box mixing. I have a clarett+ 8pre with a behringer ad8020 for extra inputs.
I've got 3 synths, mic and guitar, a turntable, mpc live II and my 43" tv/monitor all plugged in and i can roughly mix levels on the clarett+ before it gets to the computer.
No idea about cables nowadays, i'm still using ones i made myself with neutrik connectors and Van Damme cable, most of them are over 20 years old.
One thing about the clarett+ is it has 2 independent headphone outputs which can have just about anything routed to them.

 

Don't underestimate what I'm saying here, the room is the most important piece of gear in your setup, period. Monitors are only ever as good as the space they are located in. Think of it in terms of the space as essentially a large speaker cabinet. If your space is 20x20 you're going to really struggle with monitoring due to the square dimensions. The room modes could be VERY problematic so spend less on speakers and more on acoustic treatment. Don't be fooled into buying those crappy lumps of foam that everyone likes to stick on the walls, they're all but useless and only really of use for killing flutter echo. Go read a bit about room acoustics, in particular about dimensions. Also do yourself a favour and buy some calibrated headphones from Sonarworks along with the SoundID reference software, that'll be invaluable help in a square space.

 

You only need a mixer if you have a lot of outboard hardware synths and samplers. If you have outboard compressors and fx you can use your audio interface's I/Os. It wouldn't be a bad move to buy a better audio interface with more I/O like Audient iD22, 44, EVO8/16. These are not very expensive and stellar quality.

Regarding the room, don't neglect what Haze said. Deal with acoustics and get rid of at least some early reflections at the earliest possible time. You will be very glad you did it. Start with corner absorbers, then left and right wall absorbers, diffusors in the back <-- a big shelve full of books, CDs and stuff can do instead. You probably need a shelve for stuff anyway.

 

If you can afford it get Audeze headphones and call it a day.

 

THIS IS CORRECT and to help futhr my point, buy the best headphones you can afford. Looks like you have money going by your words so go with Audeze.

 

Like SineWave mentioned, an interface with more dedicated in and outs might be the better way to go if you have multiple multiple output hardware units playing simultaneously. If you had or if you were thinking of using output compressors, equalizers, reverb or delay units as part of your workflow then a patch bay might be a thing for routing things around.

 

Thanks for the reply! Budget for mixer $1000.00. Budget for 2 monitors $1000.00. Analog mixer would be ideal. Genre of music = Wide range. Boards of Canada, Radiohead's Kid A album, Talk Talk, Depeche Mode, Tame Impala, Daniel Lanois, Massive Attack.

 

Thanks for the info!

 

Thanks for the info!

 

Thanks for the info!

 

I agree. I'm lucky to have some local friends who can assist with the room and will do it right.

 

Thanks for the info!