The costs to build a studio....

[Recon101]

Im startin to get more serious with music in general instead of just messing with my Hip Hop/Rap genre and now am seriously thinking on takin a jab at producing, mixing and mastering for other people work of all genres. I know this is an investment and what not, and was wondering what you all spent in total with equipment included, construction and set up and all that, how much in total was spent. And if there are any links or anything else that would provide more information on building a studio.

Thanks

~Recon

[madfresh]

Hey. What kind of hip hop are you making?

[Recon101]

I guess my genre is more so the Underground Conscious Rap, but I have a lot of boys that do the West Coast Gangsta rap which I get down in from time to time. But for the most part the music I make I keep an old school feel to, and have a lot on my mind. But like I said Conscious and Gansta Rap with some horror rap in it.

[Supercreep]

You can easily drop 100k on a home studio. Much, much more if you are creating a facility with multiple isolated rooms.

You'll need to be much more specific about your needs and your budget.

[Vagodeoz]

Yeah, the question usually goes like: I want to record XXX and YYY and maybe ZZZ, and I have X bugdet. What is the best setup I can get?

[TaylorEGO]

you could do it for maybe $500 if you already have an ok computer and an old mattress, and a closet you dont use...

or you could do it a lot better for $5,000

or you could do a fairly professional job for $50,000....

[gullfo]

many project studios cost $20K-$30K for a few rooms with reasonable isolation and good acoustics. a pro recording studio in your home is likely to be $75K-$100K before you even start buying equipment. a serious pro (but small) studio of say 2500sqft is likely to be $500K-$1M in building.

[Recon101]

Well first off thank you for those with there input now I know what I am looking to spend now, but in accordance to Vagodeoz reply, its basically like this I am looking to do Vocals for both rap and R&B and have a live room to record bands in, so most music genres with a mixing room, and the budget I am currently lookin out soon is about 50k. What would be the beginning steps to take in that direction?

Thanks again

~Recon

[Supercreep]

Own property or start negotiating a lease. If you already own, consult with a contractor and start having plans made to submit to the city for a permit.

[Recon101]

Ahh thanks I figured thats was where in essense it would start, so what about after like as far as the material needed to start buidling it, such as padding, tile, carpet, dry wall, plexi glass, insolation that is needed for it, and the wires needed to help make the studio. Tearing it all down is the easy part its the building up to it that I get lost in.

[MessianicDreams]

i would take a jump over to this forum and submit plans for the room(s) you're planning to convert, and your intended goal...

in terms of gear, major factors include how many simultaneous channels of i/o you want, whether you'll be mostly mixing ITB or with outboard...

in terms of studio construction i think the big factor determining how much you'll end up spending is how much isolation you require. taming acoustics is fairly easy and cheap to achieve, but isolation is the big bastard IMHO.

[Rod Gervais]

Originally Posted by Supercreep

Own property or start negotiating a lease. If you already own, consult with a contractor and start having plans made to submit to the city for a permit.

I would recommend against this approach - contractors are NOT the people you want designing your studios.

Check out some of the studio specialty design professionals and decide who you would like to work with - and then get some quotes from them for their services.

Once you have plans - that would be the time to bring a contractor on the scene (assuming you don't want to DIY) and get a quote on what they will provide (in accordance with the plans and specifications).

But everything begins with a realistic budget and a design to work with that fits within that same budget.

Rod

Rod

[Supercreep]

Originally Posted by Rod Gervais

I would recommend against this approach - contractors are NOT the people you want designing your studios.

Check out some of the studio specialty design professionals and decide who you would like to work with - and then get some quotes from them for their services.

Once you have plans - that would be the time to bring a contractor on the scene (assuming you don't want to DIY) and get a quote on what they will provide (in accordance with the plans and specifications).

But everything begins with a realistic budget and a design to work with that fits within that same budget.


Rod

/nods enthusiastically/

[Recon101]

Originally Posted by MessianicDreams

i would take a jump over to this forum and submit plans for the room(s) you're planning to convert, and your intended goal...

in terms of gear, major factors include how many simultaneous channels of i/o you want, whether you'll be mostly mixing ITB or with outboard...

in terms of studio construction i think the big factor determining how much you'll end up spending is how much isolation you require. taming acoustics is fairly easy and cheap to achieve, but isolation is the big bastard IMHO.

Thank your for the advice, but I think at this point I would be using a little more ITB than analog/outboard methods at the moment, but would hope to convert when the money decides to come that way lol.

And Rod Gervais would using DYI would be more effective cost wise as well as efficient, as stated I have about $50k devoted to the construction of this project, so I would like to get as much bang for the buck as possible make everything as efficient as possible. And as for the ISO room I would like it as isolated as possible, being rap oriented I want to try to make sure the voice is captured as clear as I can possibly catch will little to no outside inteference. What would be some steps to adjust for this? Sorry if I am bugging, really trying to splurge and absorb as much information and knowledge as possible at this moment

Thanks again MessianicDreams for the link I will surely post as much info there as possible as the information comes. That site is real helpful.

[NL5]

Well, I have a pretty badass home studio. On par with a pro studio gearwise, just not as much gear. SInce it's in my home, I don't count the cost of the building, or the mortgage. Excluding that, I am in a bit over $100k, but I did the construction myself (not very much), and bought 90% of my stuff used. Then, factor in the fact that GC has everyone convinced they can make a hit record with an Mbox, "ProTools", and a couple mics, and you are looking at a near impossibility that you'll ever see a return on your investment, let alone make a living at it.

[Recon101]

Originally Posted by NL5

Then, factor in the fact that GC has everyone convinced they can make a hit record with an Mbox, "ProTools", and a couple mics, and you are looking at a near impossibility that you'll ever see a return on your investment, let alone make a living at it.

Agreed not sure what GC means lol but agreed. But I do have a decent amount of knowledge in mixing and recording, maybe not as much as most the people on here But that M audio set surely wont be it. I currently still go to a studio for my own recording purposes and been learning first hand how everything is done from my producer whos been teaching me for some time now. So I am confident in what I am able to do at the skill level currently handed to me and being a person currently going to school for it But I do take my financial steps carefully and do intense research along the way, thats why I turn to the people who are far more knowledgable and are in the position I hope to one day be in

[NL5]

Originally Posted by Recon101

Agreed not sure what GC means lol but agreed. But I do have a decent amount of knowledge in mixing and recording, maybe not as much as most the people on here But that M audio set surely wont be it. I currently still go to a studio for my own recording purposes and been learning first hand how everything is done from my producer whos been teaching me for some time now. So I am confident in what I am able to do at the skill level currently handed to me and being a person currently going to school for it But I do take my financial steps carefully and do intense research along the way, thats why I turn to the people who are far more knowledgable and are in the position I hope to one day be in

GC = Guitar Center

Big Studios are closing every day. The business is getting tougher and tougher. I'd freelance at a few high-end studios, get a couple hits under your belt, and then think about building a studio. Studio owners are in a world of hurt right now. Go over to GS and see Michael Wagners thread about building his studio. Dude has a ton of platinum records to his credit, and he can't justify building a studio anymore.........

[NL5]

Oh, and 50k wouldn't make the down payment on a "real" studio. We have a studio here in town that was designed by Russ Berger. 5 million just for the building......just to give you an idea. The guy running it now, leases it for almost nothing, and he is still struggling.......

[Recon101]

Well like all business's its suppose to be tough, and ya need that ambition for it of course. And aint sure what GS is, Im pretty horrible with abbreviations. But I wouldn't mind looking at that thread and reading it thats for sure. But I live in a pretty large community her in california with little studios under its belt for it being a well populated area, and I know a few artists who'd like to leave their home recording center to record professionally but aint got the knowledge or connections to accomplish this. But with a lot of thinking you are right about that it would prolly be wiser to build it in my home in my garage than paying for another location thats for sure. I would at least have the studio and only worry about mortgage instead of a mortgage and rent lol.

[NL5]

Originally Posted by Recon101

Well like all business's its suppose to be tough, and ya need that ambition for it of course. And aint sure what GS is, Im pretty horrible with abbreviations. But I wouldn't mind looking at that thread and reading it thats for sure. But I live in a pretty large community her in california with little studios under its belt for it being a well populated area, and I know a few artists who'd like to leave their home recording center to record professionally but aint got the knowledge or connections to accomplish this. But with a lot of thinking you are right about that it would prolly be wiser to build it in my home in my garage than paying for another location thats for sure. I would at least have the studio and only worry about mortgage instead of a mortgage and rent lol.

GS - Gearslutz

Why not Freelance? Seems the obvious choice to me. No risk on your part, but all the same reward.........Just a thought. You'd get way better results, and you can keep $50k in your bank account.


Best of luck to you.

[Recon101]

True, but I do expect 50k in construction to get me farther than a lot of studios I have been to. And if need be I can take a small loan of 25k to add to the construction.

Also as the freelancing subject goes, I do got a family friend who works for capital records. But if I dont get in theres little I can do about freelancing, as there aint much in my area as far as high end recording studios to go to. Id sort of have to take 1 1/2 hour trip to LA, but would need to be equipped with the knowledge of location and contacts .

But I am pretty stubborn on my goals, cause if all else fails the studio would be for my own personal recording, being a recording artist myself, and currently attempting at taking the roll as a beat producer, then do some client/recording work on the side, then so be it. But I dont see why I couldn't do both of course get knowledge and build a client base as I go along with it.


Also let me ask if you dont mind, do you feel your work into your studio was a waste and find yourself having to work a job on the side, or you successful enough that you think you are in a nice position for yourself?

[NL5]

Originally Posted by Recon101

Also let me ask if you dont mind, do you feel your work into your studio was a waste and find yourself having to work a job on the side, or you successful enough that you think you are in a nice position for yourself?

Ummmm, mine is mainly a hobby. I work a full time regular job. I would never even consider building a studio for profit. It's impossible around here. Seriously. There are a ton of studios that I could go and freelance at, that I could negotiate a severely discounted rate because they are hurting.

Live the dream man. If you are building a studio for you self, and to make some side money, I say go for it. If you want to make a living as an engineer/producer, find a studio to freelance at. I guarantee there are some closer than you think. It's a tough gig to make a living at. Look how hard it is to be a successful musician. For every successful eng/prod there are probably 100 successful bands. Pretty slim odds. Don't let that stop you though. However, there are fewer and fewer successful studios. Times are a changin............

[chugheshc]

hey recon,
if you can afford the time, 50K ought to see a really nice set up. Especially if it is at your house, and you do a lot of the construction yourself.
I guesstimate a year of research on this and simliar forums + books recommended by the folks here, + 6 months to a year of thorough planning, during which you can hang out on ebay and craigslist and pick up equipment cheaply, followed by a year or so of construction.
That would be the approach I followed, albeit with a much, much smaller budget.
i started with a USB 2 channel interface one mic and an acoustic guitar, now it's 16 channels with all sorts of instruments, and the equipment obviously outweighs my talents.
If you are looking to get it done quickly, with all brand new stuff, then I get the feeling that 50k is not going to go very far at all.
Like I said, a years worth of research (at least an hour a day) will go quite a long way in finding out what is involved in building a studio space - one thread in one forum is not really going to get you the information I think you are asking for.
Best of luck,
Chris

[Recon101]

Originally Posted by chugheshc

hey recon,
if you can afford the time, 50K ought to see a really nice set up. Especially if it is at your house, and you do a lot of the construction yourself.
I guesstimate a year of research on this and simliar forums + books recommended by the folks here, + 6 months to a year of thorough planning, during which you can hang out on ebay and craigslist and pick up equipment cheaply, followed by a year or so of construction.
That would be the approach I followed, albeit with a much, much smaller budget.
i started with a USB 2 channel interface one mic and an acoustic guitar, now it's 16 channels with all sorts of instruments, and the equipment obviously outweighs my talents.
If you are looking to get it done quickly, with all brand new stuff, then I get the feeling that 50k is not going to go very far at all.
Like I said, a years worth of research (at least an hour a day) will go quite a long way in finding out what is involved in building a studio space - one thread in one forum is not really going to get you the information I think you are asking for.
Best of luck,
Chris

Ahh understandable definately didn't expect it would I was just looking for a gross summary of it. And the 50k its just for construction not the equipment, but I would prolly still hire a company that can at least suite the needs to build it once I get the skematics and plans for it. And electricity and wiring work Im covered I got plenty of friends who know a lot about wireing and went into the military to do it and what not. So we could make a strong weekend out of it and buy up some beer for us lol.

But thanks for the pep talk if there any more info please spare it, Im trying to absorb everything I can at the moment.

[newatthis]

I did almost all the work myself...and I never built anything before,,,,started footers last April, and it turned out great and only cost me about $35K +/- for a 1150 sq ft - 2 story studio. (this included a 13x21 Control Room, a 17x21Live Tracking Room, an ISO Room, a Bath Room, a 15 x 12 1st Floor Lounge, a HUGE 21 x 28 2nd Floor Lounge and a Mic Closet.

And that included all the double sheeting, double drywall, Green Glue, double doors, double windows, etc etc.

Go to the thread called "Show me your Studio" as I just posted pictures there today of the finished project.

It pays to shop prices on everything, and do as much as you can by yourself.

I am one of those who is convinced that you DONT need a million dollar studio to make a great recording. Just a decent room, good gear and a great engineer,,,and the job will get done.

Just my opinion as a newbie to the biz.

Peace
AJ