Building a Computer recording studio for under $2k

[Shaun SS]

I have a goal to build a decent computer recording studio for under $2k.. I have been working on the Actual computer system and through my connections I have I am getting what I feel to be a good deal for a little under $500. That leaves me with $1500 to spend.

Computer:
AMD Athlon 1.7ghz
512 meg DDR
80gig Cheetah 10k rpm hard drive 2meg buffer
CD burner
3 Open PCI slots
Fire wire / USB2


I need to be able to record 16-24 track at the same time.

I will be using Sonar as I already have it.

I will not be using a mixing board, I want everything to be software driven.

What can I do to get 16-24 channels of clean sound in to the system for $1500? What else do I need?

 

[jake-owa]

I don't see any monitors there, video or audio. Those will eat that $1500 like nothing.

 

[Shaun SS]

I don't see any monitors there, video or audio. Those will eat that $1500 like nothing.

I'm looking only at the recording portion of it. Getting it down to my drive being able to mix it from the computer, nothing more than that. Not worried about monitors right now as I have a place to use monitors, not worried about a mixing board and so on. Just the input to the drive.

Things I have been looking at:

MOTU 896
MOTU 828
Delta 1010

Expandability is my biggest thing. If I were to start with say 1 896 I have the option of adding another for 16 channels and yet another for 24 Ect..

I already have a video monitor

 

[dafduc]

You won't know if your mix is right without decent monitors. Guys on the list talk up Yorkvilles as good cheap ones.

Give up something else if you have to stay on budget.

Or you could try out Boray's crackpot cheap speaker approach. Let us know how THAT goes!

MOTUs make the loudest claim to stackability. I've also heard that some users have big problems on the PC - MOTU really targets the Mac market. Add to that you using Athlon instead of a P4 - I'd make real sure I got a week or two to try things out from wherever your going to buy.

I love my Delta 66, but I have no experience with a 1010, and don't know anyone who's tried to stack 'em.

Good luck.

 

[BeatDaddy]

shaun - dafduc is right, even though you have access to monitors, what if when you get there your recording sounds like shit? Before I'd go without, i'd recommend the Roland MA-8s. They aren't the best in the world, but for $100.00 on ebay you still will have a better idea of how your music sounds than on your computer speakers.

The only other interface unit I would suggest is the Aardvark Q10, it is in the same price range as the Motu 828, but I have heard better stories about it in a computer based setup.

You may also consider another HD of about 40GB for your recording, that way you aren't reading and writing to the same drive.

 

[wheelema]

I have to agree regarding the MOTU, really focused on Mac. Also, not too sure given the description of the PC, but firewire (req. by MOTU) is not USB2... just in case. I have heard of a lot more compatibility problems with AMD processors than I have heard with Intel processors, but I do not have any personal experience to share.