Gearing up again after ten years away...

You can do an awful lot with *just* that now a days.


best regards,
mike

I'm a knobs 'n faders guy, too. Like you, I'd been away for awhile before getting sucked back in, in 2005. 

It began innocently enough. At first, I just used SONAR as a tape replacement, still with the familiar mixer in front of me and hardware synths. Then I discovered the joys of automation, something I'd never had at home before. From there it was all downhill. Next came samplers and software synthesizers and a too-large collection of plugins. 

I went from owning one midrange compressor and one crappy reverb to having a dozen of each - virtual ones, of course. Before I knew it I had a serious G.A.S. (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) problem. That's when I found this place, somewhere I'm not alone, where I can commiserate with others similarly afflicted.

Cerberus, turn back while you still can!

It becomes a vicious circle.  I'm finding that vsti stuff, which I love and can't make all kinds of great sounds leaves a little something to be desired, sonically.  I started out on tape and analog synths.  I still through in some analog when I bother to get it out.  But recording virtual stuff through a good analogue chain gives me the air, tone whatever I miss, sonically.

So yes, a digital system is wondrous compared to our old, cobbled together home analogue systems.  Compressors/EQ on as many channels as you can shake a stick at.  Layers to the max.  Synths that can mimic acoustic instruments, classic synths, and sounds that one could never get on old analog synthesizers.  there is a convenience w/ mixers that is missing, of course, but that is balanced out w/ repeatability and saved settings.  But at some point you still need a good to golden front end if you want the sound you remember from the good ole days.

@

I had not touched anything musical in 25 years and about 12 years ago got back in the game. I went the purely digital route because of convenience and cost for the first 4 years. I have to say it was a struggle trying to get the results of a mixer and tape. Eventually I started moving away from plugins except piano and synths which, once you pass them back through a decent preamp, move in a positive direction. Also a good collection of modest microphones can be all the EQ you need except for maybe a plugin or hardware EQ for the occassional need.

In the last 8 years I have moved to a hybrid system, searching for hardware deals wherever I can find them. I can't impress enough the results of a couple of transformer & tube based hardware pieces for preamp, compression and EQ. Also if you can afford at least one decent digital/reverb/fx box, you can do a lot.

Don't get caught up in the plug in fascination. You can pour a lot of money down that well with no recoup on your investment. A lot of times the basic plug ins that come with your DAW are enough. I have found that no plug in does hardware compression as well as a good box. They are fine for minor coloring and slight compression but they can kill your sound fast. Some reverb plugins are adequate.

Depending on your budget, you might find hardware summing something you want to explore. I love knobs and dials and having gone a full 360 on digital still prefer them.

I still use my mixer for input and then monitor control. They are still very useful for that, but there is no point using one for mixdown anymore.
I still have a bunch of hardware synths and processing stuff that I keep because it is worth nothing if I sell it. It looks cool piled up in the racks and when people come in they expect to see that kind of stuff. 

Don't sell your old gear keep it. But you might find yourself never having to use it again. 
One thing I'd recommend is a hardware compressor which  is a valuable tool for inputting.  

The cheap rack items made by ART, Alesis, especially Behringer, etc will never increase in value and if you like them in your signal chain going into your computer, they might be handy.  Otherwise, they've become only something to look at nowadays.

Actually, in some circles they probably will.  There's stuff on Ebay that I thought was garbage in the 60's, but getting a decent dollar because of its' age.  A Silvertone and cheap Hagstrom or Tiesco guitar back then are good examples.  I actually sold a fuzzface about 5 years ago for $350 that was from the 60's.  Never really liked it either, but Eric Johnson and Hendrix are the only people I've heard make them usable.  It was missing the knobs and the bottom plate as well.
Here's even a funnier example... go look and neck backing plates for guitars.  An old rusty one off a 50's Strat might sell for $400 on Ebay...seriously.  That's just stupid, if you ask me.  Even if you're looking for "original parts", it won't be off the "original" guitar.  Just even the toggle switches are getting crazy money, not to mention a complete wiring harness.
As we speak, I'm digging out all my 60's equipment catalogs.  Maybe get a new ADK computer with the sale of a couple of them! 

I've been predicting that SONAR 8.5 will become the first "vintage" DAW.

Looks like we lost Cerberus already. And bapu hasn't even stopped by to totally derail the thread!

Nope!  I'm here, just slow on the uptake, and watching you guys reminisce and commiserate!

Of all of my old gear, I've only got my keys, my road amps, mixer, and one or two old sound modules left, of dubious reliability...  I was really looking forward to gearing up from scratch again, designing myself a nice workstation desk with plenty of rack space, seeing as I don't gig anymore.  Fill the rack up with plenty of things to turn and slide, and plenty of lights.  Rack space that now looks to be unnecessary, sadly.

I should be setup with Sonar in the next day or so, so it'll be fun playing with that, anyway.  Then I'll see if soft synths have gotten any better since the 1990s!

Just make sure your USB interface has lots of knobs and lights, all will be good!