Dream a little....

  • Thread starter Thread starter sonusman
  • Start date Start date
sonusman

sonusman

Banned
So, let's say you happened upon $15,000, and your goal is to put together a ADAT editing/mix mastering suite. This money only covers buying gear, not room treatments or anything like that. You have to build from the ground up. You need everything.

How would you spend it.

Ed
 
Damnit doc, stay on target!!! :)

Yeah, his budget dropped a little eh? LOL...

Ed
 
One thing I hate to spend money on are high quality cables/wiring and every other thing like connectors which will make a mastering/mixing suite noise free. But if you want to take this serious that's what you need (I've been told). My guess is that it will eat some 10-20% of the budget (the price of a PC ). For the rest, the fun part, I will follow my ears and this BBS.

BigBee
 
Big Bee, at least Monster Studio Pro 1000 is a given, maybe even some better stuff if budget allows. But for this type of thing, 15-20% of the budget is a little excessive. More like 5-7% will cover it.

TrackRat, the ADAT's are covered. Actually, only need 1 20 bit, and forget the BRC in this case (maybe).

I like the idea of the MOTU, but, I need analog processing, and an eye on really high end converters. I don't think MOTU converters are quite in the ballpark for this. Think at least Apogee's... :)

This is actually a for real scenario. I was just hired to put together a suite, with that budget. The studio owner also wants me to run the room. Very good pay, and a decent amount of work! :D

Ed
 
Hey, good news, sonus! You gonna take him up on the offer to run the studio?

Anyway, why do you need analog processing? Isn't everything moving toward digital so fast that it's just about pro level now or very very soon?
 
Here's what i did-->

1) ADAT $2000
2) mackie 1604 vlz pro $800
3)frontier design wavecenter (uses adat lightpipe so you don't need a separate d/a/d converter. $300
4)AT clip-on drum mic package. $600
5)AT 4044 large diaphragm mic. $400
6)Shure sm-57's (4 x $90). $360
7)4 RNC's (real nice compressors). $600
8)Cakewalk Pro Audio 9. $429
9)SEKD's RedRoaster. $300?
10)DSP-FX fx plugin suite. $300
11)Antares Auto-Tune. $229
12)450 mhz PC with 384m RAM, 2 9g HD, CD burner $800 (faster system costs more)

Total: approx $7000

if i had the extra $8000, i'd upgrade the mixer, get a second ADAT, and get the frontier design Dakota which is 16 tracks whereas the Wavecenter is 8.
 
Ahhhhhhhhh....crossstudio, ummmmmmm...we sort of have an eye towards bringing the the suite into the realm of stuff that is inline with what Bob Ludwig might use, or Bernie Grundman. Your setup sounds pretty good for a little project studio, but most of that stuff is not going to attract the clients we want.

I am seriously considering a Sonic Solutions, or maybe a Sadie system. Although, just their starter stuff will eat a third of my budget!!! Damn....

dobro, why analog processors? Good question.

We are talking about about possibly a Crainsong compressor, or possible something in line with Manley Veri Mu. For eq's, I really haven't set my mind on anything yet, except that I want it to be tube. Possibly a Summit Audio... :)

Analog processors are used quite extensively on the professionally mastered CD's by big time artists in the mastering stage. They allow you to bring in the audio to the hard drive with some stunning results that even the best digital boxes cannot quite get. We are talking about $2500-5000 boxes here that are some of the best processing on the planet. By being able to eq and compress the audio as it is being transferred to the hard drive, I don't have to deal with DSP issues for compression and eq, a big definate plus!!!

The gears are grinding here. This is something that is going to happen, but probably won't be up and running fully untill around October at the latest. But, it is going to be cool.... :)

Ed
 
I've got another question. In the world of recording musicians, it's difficult to attract the attention of a major until you've got a proven track record - a fanbase, a touring network, a CD that sells locally at least. Then they'll take you seriously.
Now, here's my question: is this sort of what's happening with you and this deal right now? Is it that you've done enough respectable work at a high enough level to attract the attention of someone with more money that you can scrape together? And is that how it often works in your racket? Did you know this might happen?
 
Just surfed on. Great site. I may have a fresh outlook on this. Look closly at the Mackie D8B and HDR 24/96 harddisk recorder.
Or even the Tascam MDX 2424. I like the mackie better(from the limited amount of info). Dont believe the misinfo regarding the incompatability between the Mackie and Pro tools. The sound quality kills adat. plus there is no tape to buy. You can back up to CD (cheap) and the recorder is made to interface with the D8B.
I am a little partial to this format over adat just because adat is unreliable and sounds cheap. If anyone has used the Otari Radar II, you know what I am talking about. These recorders are going to make the adat format completely obsolete. plus they are cheaper (per track). the D8B runs about $9500 and the recorder is $3750 The bord has great Comp/Lim and Effects built in. This is PRO stuff. NOT adat. Check out mackie.com Lots of good info.
 
Ed, here's what I'd get:

1) An all-tube mic stand.
2) An SM57
3) A Slackmaster Solutions Volume Knob Plugin
4) An NMMM. You still have your beta right?

Total Price: $14,950, or $65 without the tube mic stand and the VK plugin.

Slackmaster 2000
 
Ed,

I won't give you a complete list, because the more I think about $15k for a "high-end" editing/mixing/mastering room, the more the price tag increases.

I'm with you on high end converters. I'd suggest the Apogee Rosetta as a minimum. (~$1,700 for 96k version or $1,100 for 48k version). The AD-8000 would be even better if you can afford it for transfer of 8 channels (not sure how much it goes for).

You spoke of a "high-end" analog eq. My first guess would be a Manley Massive Passive Tube EQ. This piece will set you back a few thousand ($4,500).

For analog compression/limiting, perhaps a Summit DCL-200 ($3k) or the Manley vari Mu (< $4k). The Cranesong compressor is also >$4k.

Another ADAT (20 bit). I assume that you can use your current multitrack software for audio editing.

After buying this stuff there doesn't seem to be anything left for the Sadie system. See what I meant?

Rev E
 
how come no one is mentioning speakers in their wish list?...wouldn't that eat up half the budget?...or are people just scrunching up close to a pair of Mackies?
 
RevE, yup, a little searching around this morning produced about a $25k equipment list! :(

If the owner didn't have a requirement for ADAT editing, my worries would be little on the computer side. But I have yet to see software, other then ProTools of the like that will handle the 24 tracks of audio I would need to be messing with in an editing environment in a professional way.

I am seriously looking at the Requisite L2M Mastering Limiter/Expander. About $4500, but is more in line with my prefered L1 Ultramaximizer plug in for limiting. Check it out http://www.requisiteaudio.com/rcomps.html#compressors

I have played around with the Manley PulTec Mastering EQ, but not the Massive Passive, as it is fairly new on the market. I just need to find someone who has one now and go hear it... :)

Rossetta converters for sure. I already have my sound card which can take 24/96 bit perfect AES/EBU, so I am covered there.

I like Wavelab, but, well, it is still a PC software deal. It just may have to do for a couple of years until the suite makes enough to think about Sonic Solutions or something... :)

Now just have to really think hard about the ADAT deal. Probably the MOTU, but then there is the software issue. Once again, not much out there that is really cool.

About monitors. I already have that covered. The ADAT XT 20 is covered.

Ed
 
Sonus, you do know that Waves now has the L2... a hardware version of your beloved L1? Real knobs and Waves' algorithms in a sexy looking rack unit: $2400. Makes me wish I had the dough. You really might wanna check that one out, if you haven't already.
 
It is a thought, and a good one. It was actually one of my first thoughts. But then the studio owner stated that I MUST have a high end analog comp/limiter deal, instead of a digital box. So, the L2 is out for now.

Ed
 
Dobro,

Perhaps sometimes "good business sense" may also mean knowing the limit of how much to risk, before expecting a payback.

Ed,

No I haven't checked out the Tascam 24 bit DAT Machine. I'm familiar (and reasonably fond) of their DA-30 MkII (aren't most people?), so I expect great things from the DA-45. I haven't found anyone in my circle who has bothered to make the upgrade. I wish you success with this business venture/partnership.

Rev E
 
Ooh Wee Ed,

I just saw the link for the L2M Mastering Limiter/Expander.... I'm gettin' excited for you already! If it sound like a better version of the LA2, as they claim, then you're going to have a dandy of a piece! Now if I could only stumble on some rich audio sugar daddy to drop $15k in my lap to build him a studio that I'll get to play in..... I'd be set!

Esmond
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top