setting up studio for high school

  • Thread starter Thread starter boogle
  • Start date Start date
B

boogle

New member
I am building a studio for a high school. We have roughly a budget of 30000. I am in the middle of a major moral battle. From years of pro tools usages, and years of cubase usage, and years of digital performer usage I really do feel like cubase is a better program. I know we could open a huge post on what everyone thinks but that is not what I am looking for. We could buy the protools rig, and cubase and run cubase off the digi hardware but the problem is I do not feel like we have the time in the curriculum to effectively teach both. Do I teach the better daw, that is more affordable to the kids and at the same time help either remove pro tools as the major format used or at least make digi realize they need to start being more innovative instead of comfortably resting on an effective monopoly. Or do you teach pro tools to give them a start in the industry, which might not even be what we think of it now by the time they are ready to enter it.

Not to mention cubase being more advanced, means that if they know cubase it is much easier to pick up pro tools than vice versa.

Obviously I am leaning towards cubase but I want others opinions. The benefit of the kids is what is most important to me.
 
Last edited:
I work technology for a district of 23,000 students. I wish I could get $30,000 for an audio program. :)

Unless you have a direct connection with several recording studios for students to move into after graduation, I think the best that you can hope for is that the students can learn "generally" how everything works. Any good brand of software will help you teach the basics and the theory. Most all brands of software have similar functions. They just differ in what they are called, what they look like, and what key combination you use to activate them.

IMHO, I would not worry about the brand name on the box. But, of course, be sure the software does all the things needed to support what you want to teach. Cubase LE probably won't do. ;)
 
i wish my school did that..

we have off site BOCES audio engineering, but they are gay. they split the class rap/rock, rock uses Cubase (im not sure of the hardware) and rap uses pro tools with mbox's and korg triton keys.

either way..

i would say stay away from pro tools. punks shouldnt be allowed to use it!

are you goin PC or mac? if you do PC i say get sonar. tis' good stuff, and im a pro tools/mac user myself.

be conscious, do they have drum set and guitars etc for use already? you need mics too, and computers, software licenses and interfaces are gonna run you a few bucks, especially as you are going to have multiple setups, correct?
 
nah. i'ld say you only need one set-up. then have the kids be able to use studio time in their study hall or something.


I would say use cubase. This is for learning. I don't know the limitations of Cubase LE, but if its just tracks...who cares. Get a cheap system. Spend the money on learning. Let their ears learn about monitors, mic application and technique...

I'ld say get stuff that will help with learning the meat of recording: monitors, mics, plugins, maybe some outboard rack stuff.

after, you see what you've got left, then decide what you can get for software.

(side note. you may want to invest in a security camera in the mic closet/equipment area. before my school (a christian college) got security cameras/ID swipe entry, stuff was stolen a lot.)
 
It is a private school, I am going to use pc's I like them because of the customization. I really do not like pro tools. I am wanting to run either off of sx or 4. If they release the developer kit soon for 4 I will definitely go with 4. We have a piano several instruments and amps already. I have a good selection of pre's mic's, and plugins selected. We also are turning an old gym into the studio so we will have to spend a significant amount of money on acoustic treatment. It seems like if for no other reason cubase would be great do to how much money I could save to go towards other gear.
 
Ok, I'm sending my kids to your school now, but they prefer Sonar, as it's an American made product. How about THAT for an arguement!!??!!
 
oooh its like a studio for an after school type thing/spare time.

i was thinking that you guys were creating a class for it as well.

yeah so the hell with that, get one setup, a nice board and somethign like a motu 24 i/o and sonar.
 
Last edited:
Ford Van said:
Teach them with Reaper! :)
Click to expand...

Good point Ford, why not use Audacity, it's free, and they can have their own copy for homework.
 
even better idea.

use audacity, so you dont have to hear, 'yo i got dat sonar producer last night on a torrent!' and help cut back on piracy.

seriously, a pretty good idea.
 
yeah do it with reaper, pay my gas money up there and let me raid your fridge, and Ill be glad to be teacher's assistant!
 
My school had a similar question in mind several years ago but with a much larger budget. They went with cubase because when you learn the technique of digital recording, the actual interface doesn't really matter. One can spend a half hour learning a new software program as long as he/she knows the underlying structure of how it all works. Plus, the money can be spent on better sound cards since the ones in a protools rig aren't really the greatest (at least they weren't about 6 or 7 years ago).

I wish my high school had a studio. Oh well, doesn't matter to me now. Unless they want to pay me to build one.
 
I could not agree more. Half the cost, equal knowledge, double the power, seems obvious.
 
I would teach them with whatever yoiua re the most comfortable teaching them with. If you prefer Cubase than you will probably be able to teach them much better in Cubase than anything else. The process of recording is much more important than the software medium it is done in.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top