Studio from Scratch w/ $1500

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ChrisCabz

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I've been recording demo's for the past 3 years with a Boss BR-8 and it has served me well, but my needs have grown. I'd like to create a project studio in an extra room in my house, and this beginner needs help.
I want to set-up a small studio with a modest budget of $1500. I'd like to know what YOU would buy to get the best sounding results with the equipment that fits my price range. I need all the advise I can get. Should I go to a computer based system, or stick with a stand alone recorder? I have a Gateway Pentium III 40GB PC 126 RAM using ME operating system. I know that needs upgrading, but to what? Other than music instruments and a few mics & cables, I need everything else. Preamps, compressers, ect. What do you suggest I use and get?
I record live instruments for rock bands and would like to expand to incorporate MIDI sequencing (I know very little about MIDI set-up). Thanks.
 
I'd upgrade to no less than a P4 2.8Ghz with a minimum of a gig of Ram. at least 2 Hard Drives. Then visit ebay and grab a used Digi 001 or a motu 828. Cubase is a decent (cheap) software pkg, although i am a mac guy. Cakewalk is useable and I know the guys arund here have their fav's. As I am not a PC guy (save for my Giugasampler PC I built) I cant truly comment on the software. So Guys......
 
First you're gonna have to define your needs:

- What instruments to you need to record? All at once or one at a time?

- How big is your room? (see previous question)

Those two answers will tell you how many tracks you need to record, how many input channels you need to your PC and in your mixer, how many mics you need, etc.

Then you need to know if you want to run softsynths, plugs, and other things that chew up CPU time. Your PC right now can't mix down a ton of tracks with a bunch of plugins, but if you don't need that, your money might be spent better elsewhere.

Sequencer software, a good HD, & soundcard are all good in a new or old PC. So get those and then if you can't do what you want, upgrade the box. I still use a PIII . . .
 
To answer that question...

Thanks for responding so soon....
I need to record guitar, bass, vocals, and drums mainly. I would prefer to have the option of recording a live band, but it's not a necessity. For this, I was looking at some of the all-in-one units like the Korg 1600 or Boss BR-1600 that record 8 inputs at once (and record on CD). My room isn't too big 13'x12.5" about, but it fits a full band.
The computer based systems also interseted me, but the learning curve I hear is big. So, how about a mixer, hard disk recorder, and some preamps and compressers? Any ideas? I just want to spend my money the wisest for my needs. Also, I have a Tascam US-122 sound card for my computer, but the software actually doesn't work with ME, so I do need to upgrade to XP right away. If I do go with let's say pro tools 001 or 002, do I need anyting else? Specific items would be awesome to know!
 
editing on stand alone units is a real chore i say best bang for the buck go with a daw i love my 001 setup and its expanadable as your budget increases the motu is the only real compition to the 001 in the price point
 
Learning curve is not THAT big unless you buy extrememly complicated software. Hmm tuff one there. Go to the local music store and try them out once you get the "how do I record and get sound to play" the rest is academic.

Going PT. They come with an interface and the software. the rest is mics/stands and cables. :)
 
With only $1500 to work with, I would go for a used Korg D1600 or Yamaha AW16G, and spend the rest of your money on a mic pre or channel strip. Obviously you're already used to stand alone units with the Boss 8 track, so the learning curve would be minimal. I've had a Korg D16 for about three years, (and a D8 before that), although I've upgraded recently to a PC rig for more serious tracking. I have to say though, that other than basic tracking, I'm much more comfortable still working with the Korg. (Even with editing). Mind you, I'm pretty green with computer recording, but I find I spend a lot of time troubleshooting with my PC, and/or forever trying to figure out how to do something that would take me 5 seconds on my Korg. One day I know I'll look back and see how simple it all is ... but for now ... I would call it a learning curve for sure! :-) Having said that, the audio quality is definitely higher with a good soundcard/computer rig, and the possibilities are virtually unlimited. My .0001 of a cent.
 
I'd like to add my .0001 of a cent too --- for the price it's very hard to beat the Yamaha AW16g.

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--YAMAW16G

Your $999.95 will buy you a first class system with up to 8 tracks of simultaneous recording, built in effects and a CD burner for both production and backup. I have one and it's the best $1200.00 I ever spent (I've had mine for a while...) and with your $1500 budget you'll have some money left over for a few of those new Chinese microphones and a set of cables.

You could go the computer route, but if it's just recording you're after and not to become a computer whiz you'd be foolish not to at least look at the next level of multi track recorders.
 
Complicated

Thanks for the responses.

I like the sound of sticking with the multi-track recorder for the ease and simplicity from start to finish of recording. I think that's my best bet because I have no patients with computers.

Next Question though: What Mutli Track Recorder is best for $1500 and can incorporate MIDI easily, as well as live sound?
 
The closest you're going to get to being able to 'incorporate midi easily' with a dedicated recorder is using the midi out to sync a midi sequencer. The AW16g has a very good midi spec and I use it in this configuration every time I switch it on.

You mentioned having a Tascam US-122 which will work a treat to lock the hard disc recorder of your choice together with a midi sequencer running on your computer. Midi takes very little processing power so your current computer is powerful enough, and there are plenty of shareware and freeware midi sequencing packages that will let you run midi tracks in sync with your audio.

But as you say, that's something that you don't know very much about right now, so don't let any lack of the light dawning on the whole midi world keep you from getting what you need.
 
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