Setup check before I start spending :)

I'm trying to piece together a something that will allow me to DJ and make some electronic tracks. Here's what I have in mind but I'm open to advise from those more knowledgeable.

Macbook Pro w 2gb ram
Firebox
Xone 62
Xone 1d
Axiom 25

And just to make sure I have the connections right; the 1d and the Axiom connect to the MB via USB and the firebox connects via FW with the Firebox outputs going to the Xone 62. Can the firebox output 5 lines so I can have the 4 channels of the 1d and the Axiom going at the same time?

 

All I know is, get 4 GB of ram while your @ it.
Don't settle for less on ram.

-- Blen

 

but not from the apple store

it's much cheaper elsewhere, i.e. eBay

 

I wouldn't buy a Macbook Pro yet, unless it's refurb...

Check this out:

http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/


So you're going to be using Traktor to mix, what do you want to use to make tunes?

 

that's right

you'll need Logic, Ableton Live, Cubase or a similar audio sampler/sequencer to do that...

 

Sorry I forgot the software! I'm planning on using Traktor and Ableton Live.

As for the Mac, I already have 3 in the house so it's just a matter of setting one up with the rest of the gear. Does anyone know about my 5th output question? Are the outputs/inputs of the firebox configurable in that manner?

 

Good man.

Not sure about the Firebox specs, so I couldn't say for sure. As for the startup studio, definitely consider spending a good chunk of change on a good set of monitors, though. Nothing makes for a decent mixdown like a quality built set of ear-thumpers. Some other studio must-haves include at least one backup/ghosting source (i.e. an external running Norton Ghost or equivalent backup program), a MIDI clock if you can afford it, monitor isolation foam (for decoupling your speakers from the surface they sit on, run around $30-$40 US), and a wall clock to know how late you are for work.

 

In terms of monitors for your studio I love my Blue Sky Mediadesk system. Lotta quality for the money.

 

Thanks everybody for the feedback. The tips on the peripheral studio equipment has been helpful. I have the Xones on the way, but I'm still undecided on the audio interface. I think I'm going to need something other than the firebox since it only has 6 analog outputs. I'll search the forum alternatives.

 

Where do you plan on playing? Really, if it's just at home, all you really need is two outs for the main mix, and a headphone out so you can cue.

If you're going to be in a club, maybe six is all you need.

I'm sure that the PreSonus Firebox is all you need, possibly more than what you need.
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Question: Why Ableton?
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For the cheapest solution, and a hell of a deal, I recommend Logic Express.

$200 dollars for an incredible amount of power (instruments & effects).

Ableton is at least $500, and i don't think as far as production goes, that it can compare with Logic Express. You'll get Operator with Live, a really nice FM synth, but Logic has it's own FM synth that sounds great, another synth (ES2) that not only does FM synthesis, but is an analog emulation at heart. And with Logic, you also get a load of other instruments that are amazing. You get a really awesome (can't toot this horn enough) drum machine/sample player/sequencer in Ultrabeat... You get a few other Analog synths that sound great, and I think the effects that come with Logic are better than in Ableton.

I would recommend Live if you're going to have the whole Ableton Suite($700 or so). And then if you decided to go that way, there is talk that Ableton might be announcing the new Live 8 soon enough. I would wait a few months for them to announce the new version (or a better deal that what they have now).
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That being typed, I do think Traktor and Live work really nice together.
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Oh yeah, and if you bought Logic Studio ($500), you'd get an amazing reverb (space designer) and Sculpture, which is going to create some of the coolest sounds you've ever heard. Sculpture is a physical modeling synth.
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I have both Logic Studio and Ableton Live, but I own Logic for production, and Live to mess around (play my tunes in a different way than Traktor offers). But... Nothing in Logic, or anywhere else, really compares to making tunes in Ableton's Session View.
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The Axiom does come with Live Lite, so you'd get a discount to upgrade... You could mess around with it there, or download the whole thing for 14 days to try out.

 

I was going under the assumption that the outputs on the firebox are mono so I would need 2 per deck. If they're stereo than the firebox would be more than I need for a while. I'm only planning on playing at home for now. I DJed from 93-2000 so I've had a really long break from things and things have changed a lot! The flexibility that the new gear and software allow got my interest back & I'd rather invest in top gear now than dealing with upgrading later, since I know my collection will only grow now that I've got the ball rolling ;-)

I focused on Ableton since, like you said, it works well with traktor, but I'll give logic a look as well.