I'm starting to build my studio, and I need some help and ideas. HELP!!!

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abrahamstokley

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Hello everyone. I'm a newbie, of course. I'm about to build my studio, and I have a $2500-$3000 budget. I don't need to buy everything right away, but I'd like to get most of it. I will probably wait and get Monitors down the road, since I have a pair of really nice headphones. I have mics and instruments and cables already. Everyone that helps me, I want them to realize that I want a VERY PROFESSIONAL SOUND QUALITY! I realize that having good equipment doesn't automatically mean that It's going to sound good. I want the best equipment and software I can afford. I want a very professional sound. I don't need nor want it to be portable. It will stay where it is. I know I have three options. PC, Mac, or PC with Digital Workstation. I really want to use a PC, because I know them inside out. I have experimented with demos, so I kinda know what I want. The computer will just be for the studio. I'm not going to use it for anything personal. I've read and read and read many many articles, reviews, suggestions, and setups, and there are so many options, I came here for expert advice. I don't nessecerily want to know your setup. I just want to know what I need to get the most HIGH END PROFESSIONAL SOUNDING SYSTEM within my budget. I have my eye on a computer system: Athlon XP 2200 MHz, CD burner, 512 DDR Ram, SoundBlaster Live 5.1 Sound Card (Will this do a professional job or not? Or does it depend on my software), 80 gig hard drive 7200 rpm, etc, etc, etc. I want to know if that soundcard will work, or should I upgrade? And what input system or preamp should I use? I've got software in mind, but am very flexible. CEP 2.0, Cakewalk, Fruity Loops, what else? I am going to record country music, if that helps. I won't be using a bunch of star wars effects or anything. I need a system, where if I knew what I was doing, it would be professional enough quality to sell. And, I also know some people are recording on digital workstations dry, and then putting into the computer. Regardless, I really want a PC. So, I guess I have 2 options. PC for recording, editing, mixing, mastering, or have a digital workstation for recording, and PC for the rest. What's the best for ME? I am willing to change everything if nessicary. I just need some help. I've tried to get people to help me elsewhere, and they think I'm doing it for sh*ts and grins. That's why I came here. I am SERIOUS about recording. I'm willing and wanting to learn all I can, but I want a system that will record VERY PROFESSIONAL Stuff when I get to that level. And, I'm sure I'll build on to it once I learn more. So, I guess this is just the beginning, but I want a great system. I don't want to blow $3000 on a system that won't have a clean and smooth sound. I know it will take time to learn, but I realize this. I think most of you know what I'm saying and can help me. I appreciate it. Thanks in advance.


Abraham
 
At your budget your pretty limited if you want truly professional quality. Some will say I am being elitist but that is the truth. You can get very good quality with 'home' gear it really takes pro gear to get pro quality.

With that said the PC will be fine but that soundcard won't. You would need at minimum a Delta card but preferable Motu or RME if you want pro quality.

You dont say what type of music you are doing and what your channel requirements are. That would determine what mics and preamps or possibly mixer you should use.

Keep in mind that home gear is usually around $100-500 per component while pro gear is usually around $1000+. A true pro quality single channel preamp, EQ or compressor can easily be $1-2K.
 
Well, I did mention that I would be recording Country Music. More Traditional than Modern. I will be recording all the instruments, but I'm very capable. I don't play drums, though, so what do I do about that?
 
Definitely upgrade the sound card. Tex is right, you will be limited by the budget, however, I believe you can get professional results with todays consumer gear. You can always upgrade one piece at a time. Personally, I would start with the PC, get Samplitude software (excellent sound quality), this software also does tracking, mixing, mastering, and CD burning. $600 I think. It is truly complete, however, down the road you will need some DX plugins for effects. I would get an Aardvark sound card, either a Q10 ($700) or a Direct Pro 2496 ($500), (people will argue, but the one constant I hear about these cards is that they sound great). These cards have mic pres built right into them, plus they come packaged with Cakewalk Pro Audio which would be great to start with, get the Samplitude later. Then I would start on the microphones. You can get a wealth of info from the microphone forum here, but you will need, at the very least, 2 small diagphram condensors-I would recommend the Octava MC-012 at about $100 each, 1 large diagphram condenser, either a Marshall V-67 or a Studio Projects C-1 (either are around $200). For the drums, I would suggest a kit that comes with what you need. Shure make a good one that comes with the Beta 52 for kick and 3 sm-57s for snares and toms, the kit is about $500 I think. You can use the Octavas for overheads and you will have a complete and professional drum mic set up. Ofcourse, you said you didn't play drums, I assume you have a drummer, if not you will need a drum machine or some type of midi drum kit. I am not too familiar with the midi stuff but I do know some of it sounds fantastic. The Alesis SR-16 drum machine is about $200 and is easy to program and sounds pretty good.
So: PC $1,200, Aardvark $500, Octavas $200, Studio Projects or Marshall LD condensor $200, Shure drum mics $500. Total is $2,600, you are within budget and this is a system that will sound great and you can grow and upgrade from there. The next purchase after that is your monitors. Start saving.............
 
Thanks you so much, blinddog, that's exactly the kind of advice I needed. I think this is what I want!!!! I don't have a drummer, so I'd have to use a drum machine or a MIDI thing. But, that means I have some extra money. Is there anything else I can get or change to make it better, if I hold out on the monitors? And, would it be ok to buy some of the software and hardware used, or does it really need to be purchased new? I just think, if I save money that way, I'll have more money to make it better. You can help me even more!!! I must say, you've saved my butt! Thanks, man! You've saved me money, time, and effort.

Abraham
 
Abraham, you can definitely buy some of the stuff used. The alesis sr-16 drum machines are going for about $125 on ebay. The Aardvark 2496 is going for about $400. Since you won't need the shure drum mic kit, you will still need to buy at least one sm 57 ($80 new or $60 on ebay) to record electric guitar. I bought a pair of Event 20/20 BAS monitors on ebay for $600, they are very nice monitors and appear to be going for far less than that right now on ebay. They are powered so you don't have to buy an amp. With all the money you will save not buying the drum mics and buying a few used pieces, you might be able to get the monitors right away. I would recommend it if possible because you will never get a true picture of what your recording sounds like using headphones, no matter how good they are. OK. now we're at: PC $1,200, Aardvark $500 (I would probably buy that new for the extra $100), SD condenors $200, LD condensor $200, Alesis SR-16 $125, SM57 $80, Monitors $500 tops, total $2,800 and you've got a very nice rig. You might consider a used Aardvark if it comes with a basic version of Samplitude. They used to package it that way, now its Cakewalk. It has only 8 tracks but is probably the best sounding software out there and if you have the basic version, you can upgrade to Samplitude 6.0 (99 tracks) for a small amount of $. Either way, you will have a nice set up for the price.
 
i think they've got you on the right track with the Aardvark.

I have a Q10 (basically the same as the 2496 but with 8 inputs instead of 4)...and it does sound fantastic. I couldn't be happier with anything overall.

Having the pretty nice mic pres that it comes with, (PNMP :) ) is great for me, becuase i record drums and such...and I don't have to fool with an external mixer.

Even though I don't use cakewalk....it's nice software...certainly can do a lot with it.
 
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