Building a Studio

[OldGeezer]

This is the only form that I think fits this question, if not, I will move it, if possible. Okay, I've been working with a local, Nashville, TN, engineer and construction contracter in designing a studio, full fledged to recording. It is now ready and paid off. I have an estimated 10,000 left from the money I spent in building the set-up. So what would you buy with it? I don't really have anything, I sold all of my old analog gear to add to my saving for a digital set-up. I want the ability to track full bands live. Mastering isn't something I plan on, but would like to be able to if a band can't afford a full mastering house. So with $10,000, what would you do. Please help, this is truthfully a real life situation for me. Thank you so much! Oh, well I do have a computer, Apple G-5 customized.

 

[Dom Franco]

HMMM 10 Grand?

While $10,000.00 is a large chunk of change, especially to a simple guy like me, You could easily spend that much on just a few good microphones and pre-amps!

But back to reality...

I would buy several Shure Dynamics and a couple of good medium cost condensor mics.($2,000) One excellent stereo mic preamp. ($2,000) A good medium quality 24 channel board ($3,000) a few out board effects units ($1,000) and that only leaves about two thousand dollars for your choice of recording device. Tascam, Alesis, Fostex and others make some very good digital hard disk recorders for around this price range.


You could of course invest in software and plugins, but I personally have no experience or desire to record using a computer. Others on this forum may be able to suggest a shopping list using your computer and software to record.

Sincerely;

DOM FRANCO

 

[fitZ2]

Hey Dom, looks like you spent at LEAST that on your place and gear.
fitZ

 

[Ethan Winer]

Geezer,

> So with $10,000, what would you do <

Maybe get some good acoustic treatment?

--Ethan

 

[mshilarious]

If you want to track full bands live, that's a lot of tracks at a time. Probably easiest to use a 24 track HDR with a 24x8 console. There, that's $5K gone. You'll need at least $2K in mics (say 3 SM57, MD421, D112, 2 SM81, RE20, 4060, KSM44, M160. hmmm I think I spent more than $2K). You can do editing and/or mixing on your PC, let's say $1K for software and a soundcard upgrade. You need $1K for good monitors, and the rest for cables, stands, odds & ends.

You are still missing outboard gear (a few killer pres and a few channels of compression) and as Ethan said treatment. And a lava lamp.

If you relent to recording one or two instruments at a time, you could go with a smaller console and record direct to computer, saving quite a lot, which would build up your mic locker a bit and get that outboard you need.