** Already picked mics for home studio...NOW WHAT ABOUT ...**

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shAkEz_gk

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Ok, I just had a thread about mics under $500.00 because I have a very small home recording set-up.
I found the mics I wish to use for that, but now is time I look for bigger because....

Some friends and I had a small studio before, we sold it when I moved out of state, but since Im back, we're gonna re-open it.

SO

We have a budget of $11,379.43 between the 5 of us.

Here's what we need.

Computer
Mic(s) for vocalists, hip hop/r&b/rap
Pre-amp
Soundcard


Now, if you had my budget, what would you buy that would give best sound quality?
 
shAkEz_gk said:

We have a budget of $11,379.43 between the 5 of us.



man...is that all laying on the bed in one pile right now??!!:eek: I'd be willing the chip in another $.57 and make it an even $11380.00.

save 4/5ths of that, and get some basic stuff, that Gidge will correctly advise to get, and see what your equipment limitations are after recording for a month.
 
c7sus said:
Any Dell running faster than 2.4gHz, loaded with as much ram as possible and an Echo Layla sc.

That should still leave you about $9000-9500 to play with.

I have a PII 233 with a 20 bit Layla... Probably could get both for under $400 for the pair nowadays. Runs CoolEditPro just fine with 20 tracks and 8 outputs without "too" much struggle..

I'd say that leaves you with about 11 grand.
 
For your computer check out Dawbox.com. Talk to Justin he's a good guy and will optimize a computer for audio for you.
 
Avalon AD 2022 Pre-Amp $2,695

Brauner Phantom $1,500
MXL V69 $295.00
Studio Projects C1 $199.99
Studio Projects T3 $500.00
Sennhieser MD 441II $629.99
Sennhieser MD 421II $299.99
Shure KSM 32 $499.99
Shure SM58 $99.99

Aardvark Q10 $789.99

That is what we have came upon that we all agree would give us the sound we are looking for.

We would spend the rest on a comp, studio monitors, Mogami cables, stands, headphones, pop filters, and any additional cables.
 
C7sus I'll have to disagree here. The Layla has not the best clock and doesn't have preamps. Also I bet it doesn't have half the functionality.

It has ability to a headphone mix, and the preamps aren't too bad. They go up to 75db gain and are very quiet. Not bad. Also there is inserts and phantom on the first 4 channels. Lastly, the rounting is very flexible and easy to use.

I have my "studio" based around one and get some great sounds.

Mics-
Skip the Brauner. Get a Lawson L47. It is very similar to a Neumann U47

Lawson L47 - $2000
Matched pair - Josephson c42's $900
3 Sm57 - $240
1 Shure Sm7b - $300
3 Sennheiser 421 - $900
AKG D112 - $200
Beyer m160 - $500
2 Studio Projects B1's - $160
-------------------------------------
$5200 (This mic list kicks major ass and has most everything you'd need)

Computer
----------------
$2000

Aardvark Q10
------------------
$800

Total = $8000 so far

After this I would get:

DAW Software
Univeral Audio UAD-1 DSP card
Headphone Amp
Headphones
RNC
Cables

That should cover the rest of your money easy :)

Beez
 
I like Beezoboy's mic list. I'm assuming that you're going to be recording a few mic channels at time and don't need quantity more than you need quality. IF that's the case, I'd suggest a few changes. The main thrust of my suggestions is for a few great channels of mic and pre, bypassing mid-level quality, but considering your budget limits.

I agree with the Lawson L47, but you also need another high caliber large diaphragm condensor. I'd suggest the Soundelux U195 (Mercenary has it for $1150). I just trimmed Beez's list, assuming that you won't be recording many channels at a time.

With the computer, buy the parts and have it put together or take it to a local shop and pay $75 to have the parts put together. There's no way that a good solid computer costs $2000. No way! I've done it for a quarter of that price. Check www.pricewatcher.com Buy a good barebones and add quality parts.

One thing that no one has mentioned is acoustic treatment. If you don't already have a source, go to www.markertek.com Consider Markertek in-house cable. They use Canare cable (another brand name that is equivalent in quality to mogami).

I would also suggest a better sound card. Forget having pres on the soundcard. That's what outboard pres are for. For quality, you should consider an outboard converter or a card having great converters built in. RME makes a good relatively inexpensive converter (~$1600ish). Also, RME's Multiface card has moderately good quality conversion. The Lynx Two audio card has GREAT converters (low jitter)... on par with outboard converters (Apogee, Lucid, etc). The Lynx Two A is a 4 in 4 out card for (~$950). You may want to get one or two of these depending on the number of simultaneous inputs you need.

So Here's my stripped down list from Beez's list (assuming few simultaneous inputs):

Lawson L47 - $2000
Matched pair - Josephson c42's $900
2 Sm57 - $160
1 Sennheiser 421 - $300
Beyer m160 - $500
Audix D6 - $200 (optional depending on need; ATM25 or D112 also good choices)
2 Studio Projects B1's - $160
-------------------------------------
You need to specify what your priorities are here. If most recording will be vocals and music will be done via keyboards/samplers then you need a real nice set of vocal mics and you will need a small handful of vocal-related mics (that is you may want to scratch that set of Josephsons for a Soundelux U195 ($1150) and any other non-vocal mic). If you will be recording drums than your choices must then reflect that.

Mic Pres
--------------
Here you need to be more specific. How many channels do you want to record at a time (to start with) If four channels consider the 4 channel Sebatron vmp 4000 ~$1600 at (www.sebatron.com ). see the Kurt Foster review at www.recording.org on this pre. For something more well known, consider 4 channels of API 3124+ for $2500 at mercenary.com Consider also 2 channels of John Hardy M1 for $1650 (www.mercenary.com )... or Great River MP-2NV $2150 and others ... there's a lot of room here.

Computer
----------------
$600-$700

2 Lynx Two A
------------------
$950 each for 4 in, 4 out (2 for $1900 ) if you need 8 inputs.
See also RME products (e.g. Multiface is about $1000 for 8 channels, but the Lynx converters are likely better).

After this I would get:

DAW Software
Univeral Audio UAD-1 DSP card
Headphone Amp
Headphones
RNC
Cables
 
Hmmm. I don't see any mention of what you will be recording other than 'vocalists'.

I think that the first question is going to be how many simultaneous tracks do you expect to be able to record and what will they be.

I would reserve a whole bunch of your money for sonic improvements to the space. The idea of starting small and seeing what needs improving is solid.
 
regarding computer:

any standard Pentium IV 2.6 GHz with loooots of RAM (1-2 GBytes) and two hard drives will do. If you have the money get a dual-processor MAC. Or spend around 1500-2000 buxx on a pc. After all: it'll be the brain of your studio! You can optimize it yourself for audio. I'd recommend an HP or Dell coz they are reliable and robust. Just make sure it has enough Firewire, USB 2 ports and PCI slots and one AGP slot for a good graphics card. Also, I'd strongly recommend a dual head AGP graphics card with at least 128MB RAM ($100) and two flat screens! They are cheap these days ($300-400 for a good 17" flat panel monitor).
 
let me emphasis again: you can always buy another mic later if you think you need one -- but if your computer is not fast enough you will have a real problem soon, you will have to replace the entire system and migrate all of your projects to a new machine and get familiar with new software. That's a real pain and will cost you a large amount of time. The brain of your studio should at least be up to the task for 3-4 years. If I had to build my studio from scratch again, I'd invest a major amount of money in computing hard- and software. This will guarantee that you won't have to change your setup for a number of years. You will only be able to get your creative juices flowing if you are perfectly familiar with your setup.
 
"a dual head AGP graphics card with at least 128MB RAM ($100)"

what card is that?
 
Giganova said:
...The brain of your studio should at least be up to the task for 3-4 years.......

Nothing personal, but computers are rarely good for 3-4 years. I agree that investing in a solid computer is a great idea. But I disagree with significant-break-the-bank investing in a computer. The truth is that 6 months from this monster purchase, that monster "investment" will be smoked as if standing still by the new computer on the block. Making that purchase practically pointless. I agree with performance, but a reasonable speed at a reasonable price is the one way to keep your hide in this day of doubling cpu speed every year.

If I had to build my studio from scratch again, I'd invest a major amount of money in computing hard- and software. This will guarantee that you won't have to change your setup for a number of years....

Yeah, but ... he WILL likely change his computer setup ... probably well before 3-4 years. Btw, these responses were just robust discussion/debate. Please don't interpret my directness as anything personal Giganova. Just my opinion.
 
shadowfax -- I am having a dual-head NVidia FX5200 which I got from Best Buy for $99. That card has 128MB and drives two ProView 17" monitors which I've got for $390 from Circuit City.

Rev E -- My experience with computers is that if you invest, lets say, 2000 buxx instead of 1000 buxx, you are likely to keep your computer 1-2years longer. I usually get a "state-of-the art system" and replace it every 3 years or so. A thousand buxx more is not a monster investment, and will give you more peace of mind for a longer period. That system will also allow you to upgrade to the lastest software-hogs. If you get a $600-700 system you can forget about upgrading from ProTools 6 to 7 in a year or so. It simply won't run. That's why I think its worthwhile the investment. No offense taken, of course, and its just my opinion ;-)
 
The Soundelux U195 is trying to emulate the U47. Same as the Lawson L47. That would be a bad purchase IMO.

Also if he gets the LYNX cards he has to buy preamps. I was trying to avoid that and give as many features as possible on the first 10k. Better A/D conversion and pres can come later down the road.

Just an opinion

Beez
 
Frankly the best price/longevity point of computers is one step behind the state of the art.

Two big flat panel monitors? I think that is a lot of money for little benefit.

Frankly we are WAY to quick to brand computers as being 'obsolete' simply because they are so much behind the best available or that they cannot still be purchased.

Obsolete means that they no longer can run well the software that you need to run on them.

Take a look at the box specs of the software you want to run. You may notice that it will run on some extrordinarily 'obsolete' hardware.

Next ask yourself what expected revolution in audio recording and editing software is going to exponentially increase the quantity of computing needed. I have trouble thinking of one.

If you think that your budget allows the best of everything you are going to get half a studio worth of great gear.
 
Originally posted by Beezoboy The Soundelux U195 is trying to emulate the U47. Same as the Lawson L47. That would be a bad purchase IMO.

Also if he gets the LYNX cards he has to buy preamps. I was trying to avoid that and give as many features as possible on the first 10k. Better A/D conversion and pres can come later down the road ...

Understand. But if I spent $11k+ and wasn't able to get at least 2 good audio channels (mic & pre) out of it, something is very wrong. Bottom line, I think shAkEz_gk needs to be a bit more clear about what his/her priorities are. Is this studio going to be mostly for vocals? What instruments will be generally recorded there? How many vocals and/or instruments will be recorded at the same time? What kind of physical space is the studio (how much treatment has to be done)? Once we get that info, I think we can go from there as to how many "gold" channels of mic and pre he/she needs. Personally, for that kind of money I think there should be a minimum of really great preamp and mic channels so that the sound in those "gold" channels are competitive with any commercial studio (1-2 channels minimum for $11k). From there shAkEz_gk could then get some decent channels, but eliminating a pre or pres from the equation is almost unfathomable for his budget IMO.
 
Beezoboy said:
Mics-
Skip the Brauner. Get a Lawson L47. It is very similar to a Neumann U47

The L47 is a very nice mic... much different from the Brauner and may or may not work for the brother's project... however, it's also a very different sounding mic than a U-47... and as those things go... most U-47's you find these days are different sounding mics than U-47's...

The point? Don't get caught up in the "it looks just like a Telefunken U-47... w/leather" crap... focus on the needs of the studio / the requirements of the project.

There are lots of great tools available... evaluate them on their own merit, not on the urban myths that may surround them.
 
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