My choice would be.
Secondhand A&H GS3 ($800) Cheap, sensible mic pre's.
Good P4 computer with RME hammerfall card 17" Flatscreen ($2,500)
2 x ADAT AI3's AD/DA convertors ($900) 16 AD channels respectable quality and cheap!
Waves & Timeworks plugins ($2,500)
Logic audio 5.5 secondhand ($300) I know its no longer supported for PC, but it works and has great standard plugs.
Mic's (all secondhand)
4 x Sennheiser 421's ($800) Toms, BD, Guits, Perc
3 x AKG 451's ($800) Overheads, h/hats, accoustics etc.
1 x U47 fet ($1800) BD, Bass cab, Vocals, great all rounder.
2 x STC 4038's ($1800) Classic ribbon Brass, Oh's, Strings, BD, Guit etc..............
4 x SM57's ($300) Drums, guits, whatever!
2 x SM81's ($300) OH's, accoustics, Violins, percussion, guits
1 x Neuman 149 ($2500) a new Neuman that sounds as good if not better than the original valves.
12 secondhand mic stands ($300)
Pair of PMC TB2's plus secondhand amp ($1,000) workable pro speakers that translate, great for the money!
4 sets of Sony cans and cheap secondhand headphone amp ($500)
Good stereo compressor for around $2000!
I'd record in real spaces, so no studio rent!
My view is that the mics would make the greatest difference, so on tight budget no specialist pre's. 1 good 2 channel compressor for tracking. Enough plugs there to tailor the sound on mixdown. Needless to say I would mix in the box.
I would buy some of the esoteric goodies only after these basics. Probably swop the desk up to a Sony DMX-R100. Compressor to STC8. Then maybe another interesting compressor say a Summit TLA100, followed by pair of BK mics, then I would possibly look at other pre's. This would do me for rock/jazz recording, classical, I would gear up slightly differently.
Regards
Roland
