Anyone feel like shopping with some imaginary money?

[cominginsecond]

What better way to distract yourself from a bad economy and a war than to dream up recording setups for different budgets! I'm going to set up five price restraints: under $1500, under $5000, and under $20,000. For those of you ultra-budget-minded recordists, I'll also award bonus points for coming up with a plausible under $500 recording setup. (Note: all prices include shipping.)

Here's mine:

Under $1500

Computer

Motherboard: ECS K7SEM B SiS730S MICRO ATX - RETAIL
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...tby=14&order=1
$56 from New Egg.

CPU: AMD Athlon XP 1700+ Thoroughbred /266 FSB Processor CPU 1700+/ 1.47GHz -OEM http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...alue=4159,3896
$50 from New Egg.

Case: PREMIER CP-TM-108-3X 300W ATX Case
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...tby=14&order=1
$34 from New Egg.

RAM: Crucial Micron 512MB 64x64 PC2100 DDR RAM, 184-Pin, CL=2.5-Unbuffered
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...tby=14&order=1
$70 from New Egg.

System Hard Drive: WD WESTERN DIGITAL EIDE HARD DRIVE 40GB 7200RPM MODEL # WD400BB -CAVIAR OEM, DRIVE ONLY
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...tby=14&order=1
$66 from New Egg.

Data Hard Drive: WD WESTERN DIGITAL EIDE HARD DRIVE 80GB 7200RPM MODEL # WD800BB -CAVIAR OEM, DRIVE ONLY
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...tby=14&order=1
$85 from New Egg.

Video Card: ATI XPERT 2000 PRO 32MB 4X AGP NO TV-OUT - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...tby=14&order=1
$34 from New Egg.

Modem: Creative Modem Blaster V.92 PCI DI5652 Soft Modem - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...tby=14&order=1
$19 from New Egg.

Monitor:
$70 used, if you look around.

Sub-Total - $484

Audio Interface

M-Audio MobilePre
http://www.m-audio.com/products/m-audio/mobilepre.php
$141.24 from Digital Pro Audio.

Sub-Total - $625.24

Microphones

2 Studio Projects B1s
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp...ry=Microphones
$160 from 8th Street.

Shure SM57
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp...ry=Microphones
$79.00 from 8th Street.

Sub-Total - $864.24

Monitoring

M-Audio BX5 Powered Nearfields
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp...ory=Monitoring
$299.00 from 8th Street.

AKG K-55 Headphones
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp...ory=Monitoring
$29.00 from 8th Street.

Sub-Total - $1192.24

Software

Cakewalk Sonar 2.0
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp...egory=Software
$279.00 from 8th Street.

Sub-Total - $1471.24

Cables

2 Blue Blueberry Mic Cables
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp...egory=Software
$50.00 from 8th Street.

Final Total - $1521.24

Ok, for that one I had to go over by 20 bucks.

Under $5000

Computer

Same as above.

Sub-Total - $484

Audio Interface

M-Audio 1010 LT
http://www.midiman.net/products/m-audio/1010lt.php
$263.44 from Digital Pro Audio.

Sub-Total - $747.44

Microphones

Rode NTK
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp...ry=Microphones
$499 from 8th Street.

Studio Projects C4 Small Diaphragm Condensors
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp...ry=Microphones
$369.99 from 8th Street.

2 Shure SM57s
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp...ry=Microphones
$158.00 from 8th Street.

AKG D112 Kick Drum Mic
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp...ry=Microphones
$199.00 from 8th Street.

1 Audix D2
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp...ry=Microphones
$129.00 from 8th Street.

Sub-Total - $2102.43

Mic Preamps

Toft Audio AFC-2
http://www.toftaudio.com/afc2.html
$799.00 list price. $699 assumed street price.

Sub-Total - $2801.43

Mixer

Soundcraft M8
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp...ategory=Mixers
$549.00 from 8th Street.

Sub-Total - $3350.43

Dynamics

3 RNCs
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp...dio_Processors
$525.00 from 8th Street.

Sub-Total - $3875.43

Monitoring

Event 20-20 Reference Monitors
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp...ory=Monitoring
$309.00 from 8th Street.

Hafler 1100 Amplifier
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp...ory=Monitoring
$189.00 from 8th Street.

AKG K-55 Headphones
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp...ory=Monitoring
$29.00 from 8th Street.

Sub-Total - $4402.43

Software

Cakewalk Sonar 2.0
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp...egory=Software
$279.00 from 8th Street.

Waves Rennaisance Collection
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp...egory=Software
$249.00 from 8th Street.

Sub-Total - $4930.43

Cables

OK, I guess my setup falls apart right here. To get the proper amount of cabling wil probably put you 150-400 over budget depending on how good of cabling you want.

This is taking way too long. I'm going to have to come back to do my $20,000 setup.

[cominginsecond]

OK, here's my under $20,000 studio:

Computer, Audio Interface, and Software

Carillon SONAR PRO STUDIO - FULL PACKAGE
http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/Carillon/prostudio.asp
$3349

Mic Preamps

Crane Song Spider
http://www.mercenary.com/cranspid.html
$7999

2BA-221 Tube Mic and Line Module
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/.../base_id/82272
$589

Control Surface

Mackie Control
http://www.audiomidi.com/common/cfm/...roduct_ID=2806
$999

Microphones

Soundelux U99
http://www.mercenary.com/soundeluxu99.htm
$2475

Blue Baby Bottle
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp...ry=Microphones
$499

AKG D112
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp...ry=Microphones
$199

(3) Shure SM57
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp...ry=Microphones
$237

Audix D2
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp...ry=Microphones
$125

AKG c451 Matched Pair
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/C451BST/
$959

Monitoring

Event 20/20 bas
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp...ory=Monitoring
$749

AKG K240 Headphones
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp...ory=Monitoring
$89

DSP

Universal Audio UAD-1
http://www.audiomidi.com/common/cfm/...roduct_ID=1024
$599

Dynamics

(3) RNCs
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp...dio_Processors
$525

Joe Meek MC2
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp...dio_Processors
$199

Cables

(8) Blue Blueberry Mic Cable
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp...ory=Microphone
$200

Miscellaneous Interconnect Cable
$100

For a grand total of $19,891. I guess you'll need a few mic stands as well, so that about does it for your twenty grand.

[James HE]

plenty bored huh?

[Fletcher]

Originally posted by cominginsecond

Crane Song Spider
http://www.mercenary.com/cranspid.html
$7999

Our price on that is $7,500... with the money you just saved you could pick up a Josephson C-42 microphone and find yourself a little extra joy.

[cominginsecond]

Originally posted by James HE
plenty bored huh?

Yeah, kinda. I just wanted to see what ideas everyone else would come up with.

[cominginsecond]

Originally posted by Fletcher
Our price on that is $7,500... with the money you just saved you could pick up a Josephson C-42 microphone and find yourself a little extra joy.

Ooops. Sorry.

[esun127]

That $20,000 setup is interesting... I would never spend that much money a few pieces of equipment that can all fit on a small desk.

I would go for versatility:

Computer: $2500
Dual Dell 19" flatscreen monitors, P4 2.0, 1 gig of ram, 200 gig WD hdd, wireless keyboard and mouse (i got my logitech duo for $40), delta 1010.

Guitar amps: not sure which I would choose, but they would be combo amps... probably $2500 for two amps.

Yamaha Motif: $2500

Bass rig: $2500
Ampeg 4x10, 1X15, and SVT4

Drumset: $1500... not all that fancy. I'd let the drummer bring his own cymbals. I'd supply 2 or 3 + a high hat... or maybe just the stands

Rackmount effects, compressors, patchbays, cables etc: $3500

$1000 for a good mixer, soundcraft or mackie

$5300 for mic pres, mics, monitors, headphones, headphone amps, etc, and anything I might've forgotten. Most of the mics would be under $200... SM 57s, MXL 603s, etc.

$1000 for TAX and SHIPPING charges for all this crap.

$200 to celebrate at Jack in the Crack. 200 jumbo jacks.

[cominginsecond]

Originally posted by esun127
That $20,000 setup is interesting... I would never spend that much money a few pieces of equipment that can all fit on a small desk.

I would go for versatility:

I think I have versitility up there. You have dynamic mics, SDCs, LDCs, tube mics, solid state mics, clean mic amplification, tube mic amplification, DSP driven effects, and all the free software you can find . My intent was not really to include instruments, but it sounds like you've dreamed up a good setup with lots of instruments, though I would be curious to see more specifically what you would get for your $5300 in mics and mic preamps.

[Richard Monroe]

Yo Second! I think you have the cart pulling the horse. You're already spending $20,000 without defining the mission. Are we trying to be all things to all people, as in a major commercial studio? If so, $20,000 won't even remotely cut it. On the other hand, say we want to track one acoustic guitarist/vocalist, and outsource the mixing and mastering. That would make $20,000 a solid budget.
Before you choose tools, you must define the perameters of the job, or you'll be trying to drive nails with the best hacksaw money can buy. I built the current project studio to record one fairly serious CD. Before I bought a single piece of gear, I spent 8 months figuring out what instruments I was going to try and track, how many channels I would need at one time, and then bought the gear to do just that. I knew from the beginning that I wasn't going to try to mix this puppy, so I went cheap on the monitor chain and bought the best mics and pres my budget would support, selected specifically for this project. Every mic, every pre, right down to cables and pop filters has a dedicated mission, or it never got bought. So what the hell are you trying to record, in what setting, and what do you intend to do with the recordings once they're tracked?-Richie

[cominginsecond]

Originally posted by Richard Monroe
Yo Second! I think you have the cart pulling the horse. You're already spending $20,000 without defining the mission. Are we trying to be all things to all people, as in a major commercial studio? If so, $20,000 won't even remotely cut it. On the other hand, say we want to track one acoustic guitarist/vocalist, and outsource the mixing and mastering. That would make $20,000 a solid budget.
Before you choose tools, you must define the perameters of the job, or you'll be trying to drive nails with the best hacksaw money can buy. I built the current project studio to record one fairly serious CD. Before I bought a single piece of gear, I spent 8 months figuring out what instruments I was going to try and track, how many channels I would need at one time, and then bought the gear to do just that. I knew from the beginning that I wasn't going to try to mix this puppy, so I went cheap on the monitor chain and bought the best mics and pres my budget would support, selected specifically for this project. Every mic, every pre, right down to cables and pop filters has a dedicated mission, or it never got bought. So what the hell are you trying to record, in what setting, and what do you intend to do with the recordings once they're tracked?-Richie

The only purpose of this thread was to give people a chance to say what they would do if money dropped from the sky on their head. I could tell you exactly why I picked what I did, and why it would work well for me. However, I'm in school right now and I don't have time. I'll come back and do that later.

Anyway, that's all I wanted to do with this thread. Anyone want to spout off about what they'd do with twenty grand if they had to spend it on recording gear? Have at it.

[Richard Monroe]

Well if I had an extra 20 grand, I'd buy an Alesis HD24, a Pendulum Audio MDP-1, a B.L.U.E. Cactus, and spend the other 12 grand knocking out a wall and building a proper control station and vocal booth.-Richie

[cominginsecond]

Originally posted by Richard Monroe
Well if I had an extra 20 grand, I'd buy an Alesis HD24, a Pendulum Audio MDP-1, a B.L.U.E. Cactus, and spend the other 12 grand knocking out a wall and building a proper control station and vocal booth.-Richie

Sounds good to me, especially that Pendulum/Blue combo.

[Skysaw]

Twenty grand? I'm gonna use it as a down-payment on a house.

[Richard Monroe]

No problem, I just remortgaged the house to cover flying overdub staff around, legal, mixing, mastering, and production. That's about another 20 grand *after* building the studio. God, am I having fun! Beats a new Lexus all to hell.-Richie

[coloradojay]

Shit, I'd be psyched if I had an extra $1000 to get a 1010, some better cabling, a LD tube mic, and a kick mic... [sigh]

Oh well, I'm selling my car soon, so by fall hopefully...

If I had 5 Gs, I would definitly start by redoing 2 rooms of my basement for a bigger jam space, and a well insulated sound room that could adiquately fit my drum kit.

[cominginsecond]

Originally posted by coloradojay
Shit, I'd be psyched if I had an extra $1000 to get a 1010, some better cabling, a LD tube mic, and a kick mic... [sigh]

Wow, you must be getting some good prices if you can get all that in under $1000. Most times, you need more than a $1000 just for the tube mic.

[wes480]

tube mic yes. tewb mic, no.

[wes480]

hrmm, my ideal thing right now would be to get a Radar24 system, a Soundcraft Ghost, a great River MP4 (or whatever it's called) and a great River MP2NV.

of course, I'm saying that stuff in addition to the tools i already have. (of note being...)

rnc, rnp, vtb1 (hey i like it), hr824s, ntk, various shures, re20, drawmer dl241..eh...on and on.

[cominginsecond]

Originally posted by wes480
hrmm, my ideal thing right now would be to get a Radar24 system, a Soundcraft Ghost, a great River MP4 (or whatever it's called) and a great River MP2NV.

of course, I'm saying that stuff in addition to the tools i already have. (of note being...)

rnc, rnp, vtb1 (hey i like it), hr824s, ntk, various shures, re20, drawmer dl241..eh...on and on.

That Radar/Ghost combo sounds great. If I didn't care about complete recallibility of mixes, I do something similar.

[wes480]

Originally posted by cominginsecond
That Radar/Ghost combo sounds great. If I didn't care about complete recallibility of mixes, I do something similar.

Ya, I hear ya. I look at it like, most of the albums that I cherish in my collection weren't made with complete recallability of mixes..

I want a system that gets me more in touch with having to make decisions...

I don't know a whole lot about digital mixing consoles, but like, that new high end Yamaha one...maybe something like that really would be better than Ghost.

[wes480]

http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/...%253DN,00.html

that's what I was referring to.

Dunno how it sounds. Skeptical I guess, though I know a lot of pros do use it.

[cominginsecond]

With a digital console, you'd miss out on analog summing, which is a big deal, from what I hear.

(It must not be a big enough deal for me to give up mixing in Sonar, though. )

[drum bum]

Under $1500

Computer - $566.84
-CG 6039L Mid-Tower Case
-MSI K7N2-GL Socket A Motherboard
w/ onboard GeForce 4 MX video
-AMD Athlon XP 2000+ CPU
-512MB PC2100 DDR RAM
-WD 80GB 7200rpm Hard Drive
-Sony 52x24x52x CD-RW
-Microsoft Wireless Optical Keyboard & Mouse
-Teac 1.44MB Floppy Drive
-Sony HMDA240 17" Trinitron Monitor
-Microsoft Windows XP
M-Audio Audiophile 2496 - $149.97
Alesis Monitor One MK2 (pair) - $199.95
Peavey RQ200 Mixer - $189.99
N-Track Studio w/ Compressor Plug-In - $89
Studio Projects B1 (pair) - $159.98
Shure SM-57 - $79.97
(2) AKG K-55 Headphones - $59.98
Total - $1495.68

Under $5000

Computer - $619.86
-4U Rackmont PC Enclosure
-MSI K7N2-GL Socket A Motherboard
w/ onboard GeForce 4 MX video
-AMD Athlon XP 2000+ CPU
-512MB PC2100 DDR RAM
-WD 80GB 7200rpm Hard Drive
-Sony 52x24x52x CD-RW
-Microsoft Wireless Optical Keyboard & Mouse
-Teac 1.44MB Floppy Drive
-Sony HMDA240 17" Trinitron Monitor
-Microsoft Windows XP
Digidesign Digi 002 - $2195.00
Event 20/20 BA Monitors - $749.95
Studio Projects C1 - $199.99
Blue Baby Bottle - $499.00
Studio Projects C4 (pair) - $369.99
Shure SM57 - $79.97
Audio Technica Pro 25 - $79.97
(2) Sony MDR-7502 Headphones - $98.00
4-Space Rack - $95.00
Total - $4986.73

$20,000 to come later

[cominginsecond]

Those are both real good uses of imaginary money. Good job.

[SteveMcB]

Hmmm... under $500
- Computer - whatever you're sitting in front of right now (assuming you're not at work like I am) - You already own it so it's free
- Soundcard - M-audio Audiophile 2496 $149 (or mobilepre $149)
- Software N-track $45 (or $69 for 24 bit version)
- Mic - SP B1 $79
- Mic pre - Audio Buddy - $80 (you co00
- Compressor - Behringer composer pro $89
- Monitoring - AKG K55's $30
- Misc cables $28
Total $500 - and you got at least a mic and a soundcard that are keepers longer term. I know leaving out the computer is cheating, but there are a ton of people out there with decent spec computers who want to record.

So, do I win, or am I disqualified for cheating?

Steve