GigaHome CD Production Studio Free Cables

GigaHome CD Production Studio

Overview

This CD Production Studio is perfect for the home producer with the need to record multiple tracks at the same time and/or musicians recording acoustic instruments. There is enough inputs to record a full drum kit, multiple instruments, singers, you name it, while taking full advantage of multiple software synths as well. The software provides full-featured digital audio sequencing and the tools for editing and assembling master CDs. This bundle is mixerless on purpose for economy and space. You can, of course, add a control surface now or later to fully compliment the package. We did, however, include the use of outboard hardware units to handle things like talkback, along with monitoring, input, and speaker switching for convenience.

Command Central
The DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) is the heart and soul of the modern, digital studio. For this bundle we selected Steinberg's Cubase 5, with an impressive arsenal of high-quality VST effect processors...including EQ, Dynamics, Modulation, Reverb, Filters, Distortion and special effects. 8 virtual instruments, a sampler editor, VST Expression, virtual Control Room monitoring system, and a next generation audio engine that delivers a crystal-clear 32-bit floating-point resolution and 96kHz sample rate for optimal sound quality. The next-generation audio engine includes true surround capability throughout, with each track and channel offering up to six discreet channels of sound for 5.1 encoding.

Control, Control! You must learn control!
To control Cubase's virtual instruments, we opted for the M-Audio Oxygen 61. Providing you with plenty of knobs and sliders for tweaking plug-ins and virtual instruments, and 61-key synth-action keyboard, this controller will give you plenty to work with.

More Inputs than a Congressional Hearing
For the Audio Interface, we chose the MOTU 8pre FireWire audio interface. It provides sixteen inputs with eight microphone/instrument preamps (for both the XLR and TRS input,) a 24-bit/96kHz converter, individually switchable 48V phantom power, a 20dB pad and front-panel trim control, eight channels of ADAT optical I/O with two sets of optical connectors to provide eight channels of optical digital I/O at the high samples rates. Most importantly there is no channel sharing - the microphone inputs, ADAT optical I/O, headphone out and main outs are all handled as separate channels as well as the twelve outputs including separate headphone and main outputs. This will allow you to simultaneously record two guitars, a bass, and five tracks of drums to lay down your basic tracks. Also there are sixteen channels of MIDI I/O that is sample-accurate with supporting software, PLUS support for SMPTE time code sync via any analog input and SMPTE time code generation can be sent to any analog output.

Testing...1..2..3 Test Test!
The mic collection for this bundle is small but mighty. Your vocal mic not only needs to capture good sound, but needs to be versatile enough to accommodate a wide range of sound. To handle this task, we selected the AT-405 from Audio-Technica. With three switchable polar patterns, the large-diaphragm AT4050 exhibits a remarkable combination of qualities: high-SPL capability with transparent and airy uppers/mids complemented by rich low-end qualities. Its dual large diaphragms are gold-vaporized and aged for consistent, outstanding performance. A precision-machined, nickel-plated brass acoustic element baffle provides rock-solid element stability and exceptional sensitivity. For recording drums you'll rely on the Audix Fusion 7 kit. One F14 dynamic mic for the kick drum, three F10 dynamic instrument mics for snare and rack toms, one F12 dynamic instrument mic for floor tom, and two F15 condenser mics for overheads, all stored in a durable road case. You won't have enough inputs to mic all the drums at once because you are likely to leave at least two inputs for other instruments, but you'll have options for drum miking, depending on the situation. The F15s can also be used for tracking acoustic instruments during overdubs. Also in the mic selection is a pair of tried-and-true Shure SM57X2Us for other miking needs such as guitar amp cabinets.

Do you hear what I hear?
The monitor controller is a Mackie Big Knob which gives plenty of input and speaker-switching control. This studio is equipped with six pairs of headphones: one pair of AKG K240MKII is of studio-reference quality. The other five are AKG K77s, which are budget headphones but are of sufficient quality for musicians to wear during tracking and overdubbing. Amping the headphones cores is a PreSonus HP4, proving four headphone outputs with individual volume controls. You also have two more feeds from the Big Knob. For monitoring, we chose the Yamaha HS80Ms, bi-amplified, magnetically shielded near-field monitors with 120 watts of power, an 8" woofer and 1" dome tweeter, housed in a sturdy bass-reflex MDF cabinet.

Ready, Set, Burn!
When you are finished mixing and ready to prepare discs for mastering, you'll use WaveLab 6 from Steinberg. An all-in-one solution for professional mastering, high resolution stereo and multi-channel audio editing, audio restoration, sample design and complete CD/DVD Audio production. With a loudness-corrected SmartBypass system, outstanding DIRAC time stretch and pitch shift technology, Bob Katz System Metering and more. Support for a multitude of different audio file formats (WAV, AIFF, SD II, AU, MP3, MP2 (M.U.S.I.C.A.M.), RAW, Windows Media 9, etc.) and resolutions (8/16/20/24/32 bits with up to 384 kHz) and W64 and RIFF 64 file formats, AES-31 import and export of projects ensures you have every capability you need.

Package Contains:

M-Audio Oxygen2 61 USB MIDI Keyboard Controller

MOTU 8PRE Firewire Audio Interface

Mackie Big Knob Studio Command System

Yamaha HS80M 8" Powered Studio Monitor (Pair)

Steinberg Cubase 5 Audio MIDI Software

Steinberg WaveLab 6

PreSonus HP4 4-Channel Headphone Amplifier

3 AKG K77 Headphones

AKG K240 MKII Semi-open Studio Headphones

Audio-Technica AT4050 Multi-Pattern Condenser Microphone

2 Shure SM57X2U Cardioid Dynamic Microphones

Audix Fusion 7 Microphone Drum Pack

11 Hot Wires® 20' XLR Cables for FREE - a $220 Value!

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