What is your current recording rig?

[2saddleslab]

My favorite recording rig.

 

[Sonoma Bass]

My chain is simple: bass --> Noble tube preamp/DI --> Focusrite 8i6 interface --> PC/DAW (Studio One).

Bass volume on full, no EQ, everything set flat. This provides a strong, clean signal for processing in post as the song requires.

 

[Bob_Ross]

I made a pretty significant sea-change in my "current recording rig" over the last two years: After running a full-service tracking/overdubbing/mixing facility in New York City for the previous 20+ years, I retired my audio engineering hat and decommissioned the studio...sold almost everything off, then moved the few remaining pieces across country, where I set up a miniscule recording room that serves one purpose only: I record my own remote bass tracks for projects by other musicians. I won't record anyone else here; in fact, I have barely enough room for myself much less anyone else, and the only equipment I kept is optimized for tracking bass parts as overdubs. Under duress I could probably cut vocals, voiceovers, or (direct) guitar parts, but frankly I'm kinda hoping to avoid that sort of work. I've got just enough kit here so the occasional producers and artists who still want me to play bass on their album will be happy with the results...and even happier that they don't have to pay my airfare to get to wherever they're cutting basics.

So, in addition to all my basses and a couple bass amps, I have:
- a Demeter VTMP-2b two-channel tube microphone preamp
- a Countryman Type 85 DI
- an AudioArts 1200 compressor
- an Aphex Compellor 300 compressor/leveller
- a Lucid AD9624 analog>digital converter
- a MOTU 2408 audio interface
- a Yamaha 01V digital mixer
- an ancient Macintosh running MOTU Digital Performer software
- a pair of Mackie HR824 monitors
- a pair of Sony MDR-7506 headphones
- a very tiny handful of microphones...mostly ones that didn't sell when I decommissioned the old studio! The only one I kept explicitly for cutting bass tracks is the Heil PR40.

That's it. And tbh the monitors aren't even plugged in, I've been using headphones exclusively for the 4 or 5 projects I've played on since making this change.

 

[Engle]

Computer: HP all in one, whatever the max stats were.
Interface: Behringer XR18
DAW: Reaper
Signal chain for bass: Usually a Focusrite Isa428 MK1 set to Isa 110/Warm Audio WA76
I have my SGT-DI running in front of my Darkglass MT900 V2 post DI with a cab sim. Sometimes I bypass the SGT.
I got tired of fighting bleed, acoustics and general non existent treatment in my room. I made my set up completely DI. I have my home studio set up for everything set up and tracked DI, even went Electronic drums. Only thing within the room that makes noise is the vocals. I can play everything through my studio monitors or we can all wear head phones.
Drums are Simmons Titan 70 going stereo into a WA273EQ into a Warm Bus Comp.
Guitars either the DI of a Line 6 Catalyst 100 into a API preamp or a Boss IR200 stereo going into the Focusrite Pres/API have a couple other bits of gear that I patch in and out as well. Have a Korg MS2000 and a Casio CT401 that gets thrown in the mix sometimes.
Vocals are an SM7B, Neat King Bee, or a U87 clone into a Warm WA73EQ into the newish Warm Audio Tube Tech clone.
I just got a 500 series chassis so I’m currently itching to fill that bad boy up.
My whole set up is based around the ability to plug into anything in the room and it’s ready to rock and roll. All I have to do is arm the track. If it’s for my band, I have a template already set up to where all I have to do is press record, it’s getting tracked already pre mixed.
I got KRK Rokit 8s with the 10.2 sub, going to a presonus monitor controller which has 4 headphone amps built into it.
For mixing I have a bunch of plug ins or come out into outboard gear and back in. I control my Daw with a Behringer XTouch and an extender, which I can also toggle to control my interface, which I don’t typically have to anymore, I have everything pretty well dialed in on the front end.
I’d like to eventually start recording stuff for other people, but it’s been pretty much just jamming by myself or with my friends and whatever band I’m currently playing with.
It’s been unbelievably fulfilling to be able to capture ideas in real time.
I’ve been cobbling this set up together through trial and error for years at this point, Rome definitely wasn’t built in a day!

I've had the XR18 for years using it as a PA mixer, but just set it up as an audio interface last week. (Finally retired my 2101 iMac!)
Also running Reaper, now on a Dell 5060 SFF with 2 SSDs.
I had this aha moment when I realized if I hardwire the XR18 to my main network, I can run Xair on the same machine and not have to switch networks. Previously I was accessing the XR18 using a dedicated wireless router.

 

[bass-shy]

Computer: MacBook Pro

DAW: StudioOne

Interface: Tascam Model 12

Variety of mics from AKG, Aston, Sennheiser and Shure. (Love the Shure Beta 57a for bass!)

Headphones: Audio-Technica ATH-M50X for tracking drums and bass. Shure SRH840 for tracking guitars and voices. Sony MDR-7506 and Sennheiser HD599s for mixing.

Monitors: Bowers and Wilkins DM602 S2 speakers powered by a vintage Marantz 2226 preamp and a vinrage Kenwood 150 wpc power amp.

None of this stuff is particularly exotic or desirable but it all works well enough together to make recordings that I'm happy with.

 

[Aloe]

Curious to hear what folks are recording with these days. Tell me about your...
- computer

ARM Macbook Pro

- DAW

Studio One

- interface

Clarett Thunderbolt

- recording chain up to interface

of what? of a bass? bass -> DI -> interface or bass -> tuner -> amp DI -> interface

- monitors / cans

closed-back sonys for a person under a mic, semi-closed AKGs for the engineer and a bunch of different ones as spares.

Eris E4.5 and Eris Sub for mixing. other devices and headphones for crap-testing.

- room treatment

not really.

What are your use cases?

mostly vocals, drums, percussion, electric guitar and bass.

What is the next problem to solve?

my laziness and other stuff I'm busy with.

What is the one lesson you'd share about your journey?

if you're recording something miked, a good mike matters. it takes some time to pick one that really shines for what you're doing. it depends on your material and your mic pre, even on a mic cable.

in fact, we re-did the vocals on old tracks after getting the one as no processing really can substitute a good mike.

 

[TOOL460002]

Computer: 2022 Mac Studio (M1 I think; first Mac).
DAW: Logic is my favorite but I also have Ableton Live, Reason+, and I uninstalled Studio One because it brought nothing to the table.
Interface: Presonus 1824C
Chain: PT Pro with a bunch of stuff.
Cans: Senheiser HD 280 Pro.
Room treatment: Corner of my bedroom. So, none.

I just use it for fun and classes, which are just for fun. It's that or read the manual. The next thing I "need" are monitors, but where I'm set up would require one to be mounted to the wall and one on a stand so I have procrastinated. Gear I love: Korg PadKontrol and DJ Tech Tools MIDI Fighter Twister.

Advice: Try every DAW. They'll all get it done but some just feel right. I find Pro Tools and Reason and Studio One to feel "left-handed," if that makes sense. Ableton is just a chore in arrangement view, but that's not really what it's about. I took a year of Cubase years ago and recall it being great for MIDI editing (the right mouse click changes the tools, which is slick). That's the only one I never used at home. May remedy that next year. Logic feels right. So far that's my winner.

 

[kevplaysbass]

Computer: Macbook M1
DAW: Reaper
Interface: Focusrite Clarett+ 8Pre + Clarett+ Octopre
Chain: MXR Thump, MXR Bass Compressor, Eventide H9, Radial JDI
Cans: Senheiser HD 600
Room treatment: None - I record bass direct and go to a studio for recording any vocals. We use a drummer who has a decent basement setup for recording, though I do lug our Clarett+ stuff down there so that he doesn't track with an X-Air

 

[brianrost]

- computer
Currently an Apple M1 MacBook Air, looking to replace it with a Mac Mini soon

- DAW
Logic Pro
Ableton Live Lite

- interface
MOTU M2 2x2 audio and MIDI

- recording chain up to interface
Mikes:
Heil PR40 dynamic (RE-20 wannabe)
EV ND757 dynamic
MXL V63M stereo condenser
Studio Project B1 condenser
Preamps:
Hughes and Kettner Blues Master tube guitar amp/preamp

- monitors / cans
M-Audio BX5a
Sennheiser HD280

- room treatment
None

What are your use cases?
Mainly recording for fun at home, but I have done a few sessions for friends at their location

What works well for you?
Since Apple makes Logic, I avoid the usual issues with compatibility (OS, drivers, etc.) when upgrading the computer, the OS or Logic itself. It has very good native plugins so I don't need pricey third party ones.

What is the next problem to solve?
How to make better music

What are your desert island bits?
MacBook, Logic, MOTU M2 and one good mike

What is the one lesson you'd share about your journey?
Learn how to use what you already have before you waste money on more stuff

 

[brianrost]

Tascam 388.

Sweet!

How much do you pay for a 7” reel of tape these days? What do you mix down to?

 

[MuseChaser]

Computer: Macbook M1
DAW: Reaper
Interface: Focusrite Clarett+ 8Pre + Clarett+ Octopre
Chain: MXR Thump, MXR Bass Compressor, Eventide H9, Radial JDI
Cans: Senheiser HD 600
Room treatment: None - I record bass direct and go to a studio for recording any vocals. We use a drummer who has a decent basement setup for recording, though I do lug our Clarett+ stuff down there so that he doesn't track with an X-Air

I looked at the Clarett line and almost went for it, but decided to stick with the Scarlett 18i20 for the additional channels when I decided I needed a newer, more portable/powerful interface for my laptop. Were you able to compare the two different lines hands-on, and did you notice a difference in sound quality?

 

[kevplaysbass]

I looked at the Clarett line and almost went for it, but decided to stick with the Scarlett 18i20 for the additional channels when I decided I needed a newer, more portable/powerful interface for my laptop. Were you able to compare the two different lines hands-on, and did you notice a difference in sound quality?

The latest generation Scarlett stuff is sounding much better, but the Clarett+ does have better preamps and, most importantly for those who are doing heavy lifting which mixing and production, the output sounds significantly better - I believe this is a combination of better conversion and and higher quality analogue outputs, resulting in much better sound quality and improved perception of the stereo image. Going from a Scarlett to a Clarett+ sounding like a towel being lifted off from our studio monitors.

The latest generation Scarlett > Clarett+ when it comes to added features like loopback
Clarett+ > Scarlett for focus on sound quality.

To be honest, for someone who's just tracking and sending the material on to someone else to work on in a more serious manner the Scarlett ought to be fine.

 

[Smoove-Groove]

Sweet!

How much do you pay for a 7” reel of tape these days? What do you mix down to?

It about $75 Canadian. I usually mix down to a Tascam CD burner, but I’m gonna get an interface and try mixing into a DAW sooner or later

 

[brianrost]

It about $75 Canadian.

I looked up a 1200 foot 7” reel of RTM tape at Full Compass, a dealer here in the USA for $38 a reel. For a 10” 2500 foot pancake, it’s $61.

They have 2” tape for 16-24 track machines, too. 2500 feet is $375.

 

[Mcgiver69]

Computer : Dell Optiplex 7010
OS: AV Linux using Jack
Daw: Reaper, Mixbus 10
Interface: Focusrite 2i4
Cans: Audio-Technica M30x
Chain: I record and mix using headphones, bass & guitar direct to interface to amp sims.

Note: Yes I use Linux and don't have to re-configure every time I open my sessions like some would love to believe you do when using Linux; neither I spend my time using the command prompt, don't be silly.

 

[Markmann]

I'm running Reaper on an old HP 64 bit laptop and Win 7. Interface is a 16 channel Mackie Onyx FireWire mixer that doubles as a PA mixer. My gear is getting a bit long in the tooth but I go by the adage, if it ain't broke don't fix it, and what I have works flawless. My monitors are JBL 4408 and cans are Sony MDR7506. My room isn't treated but it's not lively either and my ears are used to it so it's not a big deal.

Use case: I record, mix, and master original music for release.

 

[LowendG]

I do a fair amount of remote bass tracking for people, and of course on all my own stuff. Have used a few different pieces for my front end over the years as far as mic pres and compression--some Summit stuff, Black Lion, a few others. I've tracked in plenty of nice studios with all the classic stuff as well--API, Neve, you-name-it.
I recently got an Empirical Labs Mike-E, and I am in love with this thing. Sounds fantastic, a truly awesome channel strip for bass(and well, most anything else you can throw at it). I don't usually do any EQ'ing when tracking, saving that for later, so the MIke-E is the perfect all-in-one for me. I need for nothing else with this baby - sounds so good, easy to use. Highly recommended.

 

[Stylee Mousse]

I use a hybrid setup in my rehearsal/ recording studio.

For composing, along with Bass, guitar etc.

Midi: Alesis MMT-8 recording and driving:
Alesis SR-16
Nord Drum module
Moog little Phatty
Roland Juno-60
Korg MS-2000

Those tracks are recorded analog via an Allen and Heath Mixwiz 16 and a 2 channel FET/ transformer coupled mic pre to an Otari MX 5050 1/2” 8 track. Usually I record a bass track and guitar part on tape as well.

DAW:
Usually I record the 8 tracks from tape to my 2012 MbP through a Behringer UMC 1820. These tracks are balanced, EQ’ed and compressed as needed so the basic mix is already in place in Logic Pro 9 that I use. There I overdub/comp as needed then mix.

Monitors:
KRK Rockit passive 6” powered by a Crown D150
Sennheiser HD-280 pro (which I have used forever and know exactly how they translate)

I don’t love mixing in DAWs so I try to keep it simple there. Level, panning, some feature plugins (like a delay on a synth lead), some automation.

I will have done the sound design on the front end so I’m not endlessly fiddling with plugins to “improve” my tracks.

Bass: direct through mic pre to tape or DAW OR mic’ed v-4b or Traynor bassmaster. Usually compressed a bit via a RNC compressor.

Room treatment: drapes on walls. Some gobos behind drums. Treated as a band rehearsal space so a mixture of live and reverberant. Larger good sounding room, flown PA, high ceilings

 

[Space Pickle]

Currently this. The laptop is a 2015 Macbook Pro that I inherited a few years ago but the screen just died. I am *this* close to biting the bullet on the M4 MBP but currently having a bit of analysis paralysis between the Macbook and Mac Mini.

I am in the process of building a home studio, and I think this setup with a laptop, the Claretts and the mic splitter will become my portable rig. I've been using Garageband for the past few years, but I'm debating Logic vs. Reaper when I get a new computer. Probably going to go with Reaper as I don't really need all the bells and whistles that Logic comes with.

Also gonna take a crack at building my own desk when the studio build is complete.