Manufacturer's Description for zZounds Recording Accessory Package 2
You've played a few gigs and your songs are solid. Now it's time to record. You could spend hundreds of dollars an hour at a studio, rushing through the takes to stay on budget. Or, you could get your own project studio and record whenever you like; working out all the details until your final product is perfect. This studio bundle has everything you need to record the whole band, right out of the box.
To keep the footprint small and lower the cost, this package is built around your home computer. PC users should have a P4 or Athlon processor of 900 MHz or higher, running Windows XP. Mac users need a minimum PowerPC/G4 800 MHz processor running OSX 10.3.5 or later. Either system requires at least 512 MB RAM (the more the better) and a Firewire interface.
To get your sounds into the computer, we've included the Presonus FP10 10x10 Firewire audio interface. You get eight high-quality microphone preamps with combo XLR-1/4 in. jacks, plus digital S/PDIF and MIDI I/O. Input channels 1 and 2 can be switched to take the direct output of your guitar or bass, right from the pickup. Channels 3 through 8 can handle line level signals from effects processors, keyboards, and DJ equipment. Onboard phantom power lets you use both dynamic and condenser microphones on all analog channels. The input signals are transferred to your computer through the Firewire interface at up to 24-bit/96 kHz quality. Input channels can be mapped to individual audio tracks for complete flexibility during mixdown. Boost the bass, pan the guitars, or add reverb to the vocals without changing any of the other sounds. The FP10 features ten output channels for routing custom mixes throughout your studio. Send a stereo master mix to the control room for overall monitoring, with a vocal-only mix to the onboard headphone jack for tighter tweaking. Additional mixes can be created for everyone in the band, to help them play their best.
Digital audio software helps you control your music while it sits in your computer. Fortunately, PreSonus includes some of the best music software available in their MegaStudio Producer Bundle. You get Cubase LE, a 48-track mixer and production suite, plus Sony Vegas Movie Studio for creating your own music video or film score. Everything you need to record, edit, mix, master, and distribute your songs is available in the box. The bundle also includes a ton of virtual instruments, effects plug-ins, and audio loops for added spice. You even get TuneCore for uploading your best material directly into ITunes. New to digital recording? Instructional videos and booklets are included to teach you everything you need to know about your hardware and software, and how best to use it.
Computer recording is powerful, but working with a keyboard and mouse can interfere with the creative process. We included the PreSonus Faderport to give you the hands-on feel of working with a hardware mixer. The Faderport acts as a single channel-strip for adjusting each track individually. All changes can be memorized and automated to sync up with playback. This way, you can make expressive adjustments to level, pan, and effects settings; building up your song as you go.
High-quality microphones are critical for capturing the most natural representation of your audio source. This powerful recording package features a pair of versatile condenser mics for your vocal and instrument tracks. First up is the Audio Technica AT2020 side-address mic. This large-diaphragm condenser microphone is perfect for warm, full vocal capture. The cardioid pickup pattern helps you focus on a specific sound source, rejecting unwanted ambient noise for a clean, isolated track. The large diaphragm produces a full dynamic range, which is helpful for expressive instruments such as pianos, strings, and horns. For higher-frequency pickup, the small-diaphragm Audio Technica AT2021 is just what you need. It is perfect for delicate cymbal parts and acoustic guitars, due to its enhanced sensitivity. You can use both mics together, blending the tight focus of an up-close signal with the airy quality of a mic placed farther out in the room. We've also added an adjustable pop filter to smooth out harsh 'P' and 'S' sounds on vocal tracks.
For high-impact drum sounds, we've included the Shure Drum Microphone Package. Inside the carrying case, you'll find a Beta 52 for the kick drum, and three SM57's for the snare and toms. Three compact clamp-mounts help position the mics so they don't interfere with the performance. We also added a special boom stand for the kick mic. All of the mics in this package are perfectly suited to record amazing rhythm tracks. The SM57 is the industry standard snare drum mic, and is also great for capturing super-hot guitar amps, as well. For maximum positioning flexibility, you get five tripod boom stands and six 20-foot XLR cables with the studio package.
It is hard to get a good mix if you don't have accurate monitors. We added a pair of KRK RP6 Rokit powered monitors for control-room playback. These two-way monitors use a soft-dome tweeter and six-inch woofer for a full-range sound at any mixing volume. They are small enough to sit on your computer desk, and magnetically shielded to protect your CRT monitor and hard drive from damage. For more personal monitoring, the package comes with five pairs of Sennheiser HD280Pro headphones and a PreSonus HP4 4-Channel Headphone Amplifier. The HD280 Pro's are super comfortable and provide superior sonic isolation, which is perfect for long late-night mixing sessions. They are also great for overdubbing. Performers can hear the reference tracks with no bleed into their recorded part. Dual 1/4 in. TRS cables are included for connecting the monitors and distribution amp to the interface.
This complete kit takes the guesswork out of your decision, with everything you need to record and produce your music. Even better, the system is flexible enough to grow with you as your needs change.
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