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Complete n00b to DAWs need help...

Noetics

Noetics

macrumors member
Original poster
Nov 8, 2013
52
0
Hello guys

I will be buying my first mac before the end of the year and as my budget is on the lower end of the scale I've chosen to go with the late 2012 2.3GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 Mac Mini. I already have two pc monitors, keyboard mouse etc and a pair of KRK Rokit RPG5. I will be purchasing Logic Pro X imminently.

Now... as i am a complete novice to digital audio workstations i would like to buy everything I need right the first time, this is where you guys come in..

I want to buy a midi controller keyboard and an audio interface, but im having trouble finding something suitable and am hoping you guys can point me in the right direction. I'm wondering whether i should go all out on a full works keyboard but spend less on an audio interface?

http://www.samsontech.com/samson/products/usb-midi/keyboard-controllers/graphite49/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Korg-microK...d=1384360952&sr=1-1&keywords=korg+microkey+61

http://www.amazon.co.uk/ALESIS-QX49-USB-MIDI-controller/dp/B004JPSYZU

http://www.akaipro.com/product/mpk49

I want something fairly challenging but at the same time easy to grasp the basics so i can then move onto more complex projects. Mainly i will be used Logic for producing house and drum & bass, but also dabbling in other genres such as hip hop and jazz.

Any help is much appreciated, and feel free to ask for more info...
 
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Noetics

Noetics

macrumors member
Original poster
Nov 8, 2013
52
0
Macman45 said:
I went with the Novation M11. It works great with logic X and you also have the choice of two units...the smaller 40 key unit or the larger full sized one that i have.

Very good value for money:

http://uk.novationmusic.com/midi-controllers/sl-mkii
Click to expand...

Cheers! Any ideas for a good audio interface too?

And is there anything else I am missing, any other hardware that is vital to audio production?
 
Macman45

Macman45

macrumors G5
Jul 29, 2011
13,197
135
Somewhere Back In The Long Ago
I use a Yamaha USB mixer. Model is MW 10 C. Running through a pair if Genelec powered monitors. The board works out if the box with Mavericks and ML. The Genelec range isn't cheap and you could probably pick up a cheaper set of monitors apart from that you should be good to go
 
Macman45

Macman45

macrumors G5
Jul 29, 2011
13,197
135
Somewhere Back In The Long Ago
I don't know much about the Akesis stuff but it seems to get good reviews. The a ovation has a lot if mapping features that are useful in logic. If you want to save maybe buy the lower model Yamaha? It only has 2 phantom Xlr inputs but the rest if it is pretty much the sane as it's bigger brother. I wouldn't say the Aesus is a bad choice though and it's a good price#
 
Noetics

Noetics

macrumors member
Original poster
Nov 8, 2013
52
0
Which one is the lower model i cant seem to find it?

And whats the main difference between something like a Yamaha Mw10 and something like this http://www.decks.co.uk/products/Audio_Interface/akai/EIE_Pro - is it just the size and shape? Do they both offer similar functions? Or can you hook CDjs and vinyls upto the MW10?

PS. thanks for all your help dude, sucks being a complete newb
 
Macman45

Macman45

macrumors G5
Jul 29, 2011
13,197
135
Somewhere Back In The Long Ago
Noetics said:
Which one is the lower model i cant seem to find it?

And whats the main difference between something like a Yamaha Mw10 and something like this http://www.decks.co.uk/products/Audio_Interface/akai/EIE_Pro - is it just the size and shape? Do they both offer similar functions? Or can you hook CDjs and vinyls upto the MW10?

PS. thanks for all your help dude, sucks being a complete newb
Click to expand...

Yes. The Akai is different in shape and In my opinion, the pre-amps are poor. If you do a little research, people have not taken to them all that well.

I looked for the lower model Yamaha, but it seems to be discontinued. I can certainly vouch for the pre-amps in it. If it were me, I'd be inclined to stay away from the Akai stuff. Although it has a similar amount of inputs, apart from the preamp issues, It doesn't offer the same range of monitoring that the Yamaha gives you. Mine is connected to my iMac via USB, to a turntable via RCA jacks on one of the three spare output ports, and also to an Onkyo AV system. That way i can hear a real world sound through the Onkyo, as anyone buying a song or album would.

So it really is more versatile than many I looked at. Tascam were on my list, but they are really a bit too big for what I use. I rarely connect more than 2 guitars and a Rode mic at any one time....The Novation is USB, so Logic takes care of it with a little setting up....No harm in shopping around though....A couple of places that usually have good prices and stock:

http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk

http://www.gak.co.uk

Both have a pretty extensive range of MIDI and recording products so worth a browse to see what's new....I've had my setup a while now and new stuff is always being released!
 
Noetics

Noetics

macrumors member
Original poster
Nov 8, 2013
52
0
Macman youve been an enormous help, and very enlightening!

Thanks mate
 
Fishrrman

Fishrrman

macrumors Penryn
Feb 20, 2009
28,343
12,459
Since the Mac Mini has firewire, I would suggest looking for a firewire-based interface instead of USB3.

Yes, I know that firewire as a technology looks to be "on its way out" insofar as _other_ Macs are concerned, but it's still VERY handy for audio production. And be aware that for $30, you can buy Apple's "thunderbolt-to-firewire adapter", and still use firewire.

The two most important reasons to consider firewire are:
1. drivers (nearly all firewire interfaces don't need any drivers at all to work with the Mac -- hence, no "driver problems" in the future), and
2. latency

If you don't mind buying used, you might keep an eye out (on ebay or other locations) for either an Echo "Audiofire8" or "Audiofire4". You won't go wrong with these.
(note: the "Audiofire8" is a slightly older model, different from the "Audiofire Pre8"; you can tell the Audiofire8 right away because it has 2 XLR inputs on the front panel)

You might also keep an eye out for used "FMR RNP" mic preamp (2 channels). Very nice quality preamp that "bridges the gap" between those on many interfaces and the "high-buck" mic preamps that sell for $1,000 a channel....
 
S

SimonUK5

macrumors 6502
Nov 26, 2010
476
7
Unless your a piano/keys player and want a weighted Midi Keyboard, then anything will do really. I'm using a MAudio Oxygene and its fine for everything i use it for (mainly sequencing bass/chord patters to jam to) I record everything through a mAudio Delta rack interface.
 
Boyd01

Boyd01

Moderator
Staff member
Feb 21, 2012
7,685
4,570
New Jersey Pine Barrens
Macman45 said:
Yes. The Akai is different in shape and In my opinion, the pre-amps are poor. If you do a little research, people have not taken to them all that well.
Click to expand...

I've had the Akai EIE Pro for almost a year and am very pleased. Have used it with dynamic mics, condenser mics and an electric guitar. The built-in USB hub is kind of handy too, I need the extra ports since I'm using a MacBook Air and this eliminates the need for a separate hub.

I just do this stuff for fun, so I haven't noticed the "poor preamps". ;)
 
Noetics

Noetics

macrumors member
Original poster
Nov 8, 2013
52
0
SimonUK5 said:
Unless your a piano/keys player and want a weighted Midi Keyboard, then anything will do really. I'm using a MAudio Oxygene and its fine for everything i use it for (mainly sequencing bass/chord patters to jam to) I record everything through a mAudio Delta rack interface.
Click to expand...

I'm thinking of getting the M Audio Axiom 61 Key 2nd Gen

http://www.amazon.co.uk/M-Audio-Axiom-61-2nd-Generation/dp/B003V3C5Z6

And the Focusrite Saffire Pro for an audio interface...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Focusrite-Saffire-Firewire-Audio-Interface/dp/B0045CPQ8K

koban4max said:
if you could...I mean...IF you could....get UAD apollo quad core audio interface....

:D cause..i just got that....it's great...

http://www.amazon.com/Universal-Aud...TF8&qid=1384466644&sr=8-1&keywords=uad+apollo
Click to expand...

Hahaha holy **** dude, i would need a mortgage in order to buy that thing!!!!!!

:p
 
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K

koban4max

macrumors 68000
Aug 23, 2011
1,582
0
Noetics said:
I'm thinking of getting the M Audio Axiom 61 Key 2nd Gen

http://www.amazon.co.uk/M-Audio-Axiom-61-2nd-Generation/dp/B003V3C5Z6

And the Focusrite Saffire Pro for an audio interface...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Focusrite-Saffire-Firewire-Audio-Interface/dp/B0045CPQ8K



Hahaha holy **** dude, i would need a mortgage in order to buy that thing!!!!!!

:p
Click to expand...
HAHA yeah..i kid you not...this is one of those almost future proof....well...it's more like..once you get...you don't need to upgrade anymore...for at least 7-10 years...

----------
Noetics said:
I'm thinking of getting the M Audio Axiom 61 Key 2nd Gen

http://www.amazon.co.uk/M-Audio-Axiom-61-2nd-Generation/dp/B003V3C5Z6

And the Focusrite Saffire Pro for an audio interface...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Focusrite-Saffire-Firewire-Audio-Interface/dp/B0045CPQ8K



Hahaha holy **** dude, i would need a mortgage in order to buy that thing!!!!!!

:p
Click to expand...

but once you get money...i would invest on this apollo..it has mixers and many plugs ins that sounds...freaking real...

MAIN REASON why this is expensive is due to zero latency or near zero...less than 2ms and it doesn't make your computer work hard due to dsp technology.
Dual is good too... about 2000 bucks...
 
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