We live luxurious times in terms of music production gadgets. We have access to loads of affordable outboard gear and microphones, amazing software that does beyond the imaginable, and DAWs that reduce the production chain to a man with a laptop. The music production business is technology driven, and from Fairchild to Zynaptic, we all seek for top notch products that allow for the best audio quality, although music quality seems not to have caught up that well.

Anyhow, what if you were stripped to the bare bones of technology on a budget?

Let's keep it the the box for the sake of simplicity. If you had to pick just one DAW, one third-party plug-in, one mic, and one audio interface without DSP, what would you choose? (With your current computer).

My choice:

- Pro Tools (version 9 and on)
- U-He Satin
- A Shure SM57
- Any MBox, Focusrite or presonus interface

I'm excluding outboard gear because one piece of gear could easily turn this into a boutique production suite.

What's your pick?

 

Reaper
I need two plugins, Amplitube and BFD
Shure SM57
Any MOTU interface



And really to have full functionality to make metal without a drum kit, I need BFD! Really don't think I could do it with one plugin. I need at least two minimum to make metal. Amp sim and a drum sequencer for metal. I guess some DAWs have drums built in, but I don't know of one that has metal drums built in? Does anyone? So I would at least need a sample pack or some sort of drum vst!

 

-Reaper
-Superior Drummer
-Rode NT1-A
-Steinberg UR44

I know that steinberg ur44 has DSP ('couse i own it), but i dont want anything else... :dancing:

 

Logic X- Great built in effects and even better built in instruments. Though i don't use them much/at all.
Sausage Fattner. Love that plug. Goes on everything.
Seinheiser MK4 (owned it)...never tried the sm57's but i'm sure they would do the job as well.
Presonus interface here as well. Owned the studiolive mixer and it was fine.

 

-Used Cubase, version 5 and up.
-Vember Surge
-Used CAD Equitek e200
-Used RME fireface 400 (or 800)

-Oxygen25
-AKG k271 II
-Samson Resolv RXA6

 

Logic X
Kontakt (including all available libraries!)
Large condenser microphone
Any interface with a good preamp, converters and low latency

 

You forgot one thing, how the hell do you plan on monitoring?

For just production:
-FL Studio
-Serum
-Axiom 25
-Presonus 22vsl
-KRK 8400s

For just recording:
-Studio One
-Plug and Mix bundle (most bang for the buck bundle)
-Presonus 22vsl
-Blue Bluebird
-KRK 8400s

 

With some dual-core-or-better Mac:

Garageband ($5)
ART two-cahnnel tube USB preamp (ca. $100)
NADY SCM-900 condenser microphone (ca. $80)
Melda Productions MFree AU Bundle ($0)
---------
ca. $185
(Shipping for ART and NADY = Free?)

 

Logic-X
Rode NT-1A
(1) plug ! a Hot Brunette, that will do the trick
Focusrite firewire
Alesis mk11 520 Monitors *yes*

Im Good

 

Right, I totally left that out. Well, I'd never make do without my Genelec 8020s and Shure SRH840. I know, I know, they're not budget stuff at all, but I'm spoiled in this regard and I've already defeated the purpose of the whole thread

Let's say I keep the Shure cans.

If we up the allowance to two, I'd get Steven Slate Drums Custom - No iLok (I don't mind it, but some people feel strongly about it).

 

Ableton live 9
Reveal Sound Spire
Kontakt 5
apogee Duet 2
Audio Technica M50x

 

You also forgot a MIDI controller...

Logic Pro X (DAW)
Focusrite Saffire (Interface)
Omnisphere (Plugin)
Gauge ECM-87 (Mic)
KRK or Genelec (Monitors)
Oxygen 61 (MIDI Controller)

 

You all forgot headphones. And as I am somewhat financially destitute, this list actually isn't too far from my actual setup... All cheap (I bought the virus on the used market for $400 USD, cans for $40 new on sale, interface for $170 new on sale), but it gets the job done. Can I swap a mic for a synth lol?!

PC = 3.8ghz AMD Quadcore
DAW = Cubase Pro 8
Interface = Tascam US1800
1 VSTi = Omnisphere
1 VST = MAGMA
Monitors = Alesis 520 mkii
Headphones = Audio Techinica ATH-M40fs
Controller = M-Audio Axiom49 mkii
Synth = Access Virus C

 

Actually not. Tidus favors AudioTechnica M50x and I love my Shure SRH840. My monitors of love are past budget gear, so they are left behind on my list.

 

Reaper
Kontakt
Any decent Dynamic microphone
Any decent single channel interface

 

Aight, subin my mic for another plug.

Fl Studio (and i know ableton, studio
one/2, cubase, etc But ALWAYS find myself back in fl somehow)

Audjoo Helix (fav vst by far)

Sugar Bytes Wow (really only use it for overdrive but boy do i use it on every track)

Focusrite 2i2 (when its just me)
Frite Safire (when others are over)

Ath-m50s (tryed and true as the sky blue)