Additions to my recording studio/live rig - Happy Birthday to me!

Well, it was my birthday on 4/20, so I naturally had to get myself some gear

First up was a mic, an SE 2200a MKIIc to be precise.

[Blocked Image: http://i1363.photobucket.com/albums/r704/jimmyrage/854C44C5-C18D-49C6-BD65-3395BB7C5523_zpsm6q19adx.jpg]

Came with the shock mount and a pop filter, which was quite nice.

How did it sound? I think the question is more like how did I sound haha. After some initial testing, I was like , I sound like that? Hahaha

Made me give up smoking though, wish me luck, guys.

Next up is something that I think a lot of guys would debate as a necessity in this age of computer magic.

[Blocked Image: http://i1363.photobucket.com/albums/r704/jimmyrage/E9D173F9-65F7-467E-80D3-B9A6F0C473D9_zpsipoxpm7k.jpg]

As you can see, it's a TC Helicon VoiceLive rack. Not the latest and greatest, an older model that is still in production.

What do I plan to use it for? Live vocals primarily, I have a couple of situations where I need chorus or doubling effects with multiple voices, and for a few songs I have in my head, settings like the megaphone will be particularly nifty to be able to use.

It's got a really nifty hardtune feature as well, absolutely unusable at higher settings unless you want to sound like Cher. A better way to use it is to lower some of the settings, then you plug your guitar in and it will shift your vocals to match the chords you are playing on the guitar.

The way I intend to use it is even more fascinating, at least theoretically. I intend to programme note changes using midi and feed those to device. This should make for some very tight performances, I imagine. It will integrate very well with my rig.

Last but not least in my birthday splurging spree is this device:

[Blocked Image: http://i1363.photobucket.com/albums/r704/jimmyrage/Akai%20MPC1000_zpstdqjyuad.jpg]

It's an Akai MPC1000. This thing is going to be the brains of my live set. I bought it used.

It has the ability to store up to 32 midi tracks in a single sequence, with a maximum of 99 sequences - more than enough for most musicians with less than 100 songs.

Other than the 32 midi tracks, you can have 32 audio tracks loaded as well. A total of 64 tracks basically.

It has two midi outputs so that you can use each of those 32 midi tracks on one of 16 channels on each output. Audio can be routed to either the stereo main output, or four additional individual outputs.

Also has SPDIF coax in and out.

Here's a rear view of the device:

[Blocked Image: http://i1363.photobucket.com/albums/r704/jimmyrage/Akai%20MPC1000%202_zpslgczwxwh.jpg]

I'm sure it seems a little bit excessive, but I'll give a simple example of using almost all the channels on one of the midi outputs. A synthesiser in multi-timbral mode, i.e. multiple sounds simultaneously, which is how most keyboard users make use of their instrument.

I plan on getting a rack synth module in the near future (patience, Arvind, patience :P), which I will be using for live performances, rather than recording audio files to the Akai. Till I do so, I plan to record stuff using Halion Sonic 2 in Cubase and then just copy that to the Akai.

For the other midi stream? Control my Kemper and control the voice processor (four channels for main voice and three harmony voices) at present. Assuming I manage to find some musicians to play with, this will be used to synchronise their gear for each performance as well.

One of the advantages of this device are a steady midi clock to feed to all the devices, keeping them in sync.

Amazing the needs we fabricate as musicians. I'm now thinking of buying a rack to house it all in. Might include the toaster in the rack as well, not the ideal form factor. Does it require 4 or 5 rack spaces? That might make getting a rolling rack very difficult, they come with a maximum of 8 spaces from SKB. Any other options?

Also, tell me why you think what I bought was , or haha!

That way I can either get pissed or very happy with my decisions in hindsight

One shot of the "studio": I sleep in here haha (a bit of a mess, apologies)

[Blocked Image: http://i1363.photobucket.com/albums/r704/jimmyrage/B25DEC1C-BEF2-4208-BC6E-EF5A7F799F1C_zpsv8h6xplv.jpg]

What!?? I come here looking for criticism and all I get is "Happy Birthday"?

Lol! You guys are too kind. Thank you

I think for a tearing down about how much money I'm spending on a hobby that has gotten me no returns and will get me nowhere, I will have to rely on my brothers... Or maybe even Mom!

Nice, I think the 3 has a few more features than the Rack, which is basically a 2. I actually saw the 3 in the store and it was just about $80 or so more. But I needed the rack configuration, since I didn't think it was viable for me to control my Kemper as well as voice FX simultaneously from floor units.

They seem to get a lot of use in guitar duo setups, but I haven't seen them used much in metal. I suppose because most metal vocals are Cookie Monster style.

Quote from PETERFR

Happy birthday!
Another VL3 user here but since I got the kemper I am only using it for vocals

Yes, I would never use it for guitars, I'm thinking. Still, can it serve as a backup rig in the event that something goes awry at a show? I've heard the tone is crap, but it'll be better than having no tone at all, I'm thinking.

Quote from Netheravon

I use my acoustic through it with one of the body Rez 'amps' but wouldn't choose to use the other amp blocks. But then again as a back up I'm sure it'll do the job.

How does the guitar modelling sound with an electric? Passable? I should obviously check it out and create some patches if I want to use it as a backup, but was fooling around with the sequencer, have some very cool ideas of how to structure performances with it. It can send sysex messages too, which should uncomplicated things when it comes to activating the looper and other Kemper functions, which I am very grateful for.

Quote from Monkey_Man

Happy Birthday, Arvind!

To celebrate, you can give me your drum kit. Been GASsing for something just like that for... 22 years...

Hehehe, like a reverse birthday present? Not sure it would fit in one of those doggy bags that we used to give out as kids! Do they even do that nowadays? I haven't been to a kids' party in at least 22 years!

Seriously, now that you have the Kemper, you can avoid spending money on guitar-related stuff. That's what I did, haven't bought anything guitar-related since I got one! The Roland is stupid expensive though, and it wasn't even top of their line. If I could do it differently, I'd go for a 2Box kit, should work just as well and better onboard sounds. I'm still paying for the e-kit, btw.

@Zappledan @apr13st @Zapman Thank you kindly for the wishes!