if you had 10,000 to add onto a studio

[Stevedresser83]

Hello currently i wouldn't even call what I have a studio but... I'm working with an 003 on a pimped out computer running XP that I built. I have roughly 10g's to spend and I need enough channels to do drums and hopefully 1-2 really high quality channels for vocals and other overdubs.

I thought about a rosetta 800 does that work with XP? or only mac..
Thought about a couple 500 series pre's
Maybe one real nice pre like a 1073 and then some 8 rack unit like a presonus digimax 96k?
I need mics to though...

I know its not a ton of money but any recommendation on what it should go into?

[PlugHead]

Without knowing what rounds out your collection (aside from the 003), it's a lot of speculation on anyone's part...

Importance of chain is:
1) mics
2) pre's
3) converters

If you don't have drum mics yet, you could blow the entire load on these alone. Suffice to say, having one GREAT mic, and a host of other useful ones (and some expertise!) should help get you in the ballpark.
One good LDC mic like a U87 or similar, trying to keep cost down to $2000 or so. List could include Peluso, Pearlman, etc. - only YOU can decide what mic works for you and your needs, so choose wisely...
Add one ribbon (cheap ones are alright, just not incredible) a pr. of SDC like Oktava 012's or AKG 451's, or Marshall 603's etc., and a couple of dynamics like a 421 and of course a SM57 - total budget for all mics - $3000

Pre's - again, you could blow your load on this alone - keep in mind, there is a budget issue on how many GREAT channels you can afford. Having a pr. of great pre's like the Great River, API, Hardy should run you the max of $2000. Add a Sytek 4 channel pre for another $700 - this brings the total to $2700

Converters - is 8 channels enough, or maybe having 16 so in the future you could track more channels? Getting a set of Lynx Aurora 8 channel should be about $2000, and 16 channels should be about $3000

So - total now sits at between 7000-9000 dollars.

Now I ask - what are your monitors? How is your room - treated or untreated? This is where I think priorities need to be. Gear means something, but good monitoring in a neutral space cannot be undervalued.

For the remainder of your funds, whatever that may be, spend it on low-cost bass trapping and diffusion for you listening zone. If you do it yourself, it should not cost you more than $1000. This will then leave you some funds to possibly upgrade monitoring - if you already have monitors you trust and enjoy, skip this, and plan on upgrading cabling, mike stands, etc. - this is never a cheap option and can easily absorb the remainder of your funds...

Hope this helps,

[Newcleardaze]

For $10,000, I'd stick to mid range converters... RME 800 (10 CHannels) and it has outs for headphones.
What about monitors?? These are a huge part of it too.
A pair of Adam A7 for about $1000
The Sytek for $700
Then I'd check Vintage King for a 4 ch. Shadow Hills Gama... awesome sound with tons of flexibility. $3300
Then you have more left for an assortment of mics, room treatment, etc.

my 2 shillings

[wildpark]

this is only my personaly view on it cuz i dont now what is your main biz

so

if you like digi stay with it.

if you can live without that extra tdm processing power then

go too black lion audio and make a 003 mod of the pres clock ...

or

buy a protools hd1 and a prism ada8 (second hand)

add some grace 801 or millenia pres 8 channel too your setup and your fine for most applications(of course used ebay..)

[Sigma]

for the PRICE and the sound the Shure drum system with the mini tom condensers can't be beat

vox mic if i had to pick 1 for a great price that is an all around workhorse i'd say ADK area 51..

1 good vox pre? the multi pourpose milennia td1 ..'cleanleness is next to godleness" when dealing with an all around pre..you can add "flavor" in you mix chain when desired

[Abel]

why this thread is in the High End section?

[Zep Dude]

Acoustics, man, acoustics

It's tough to shell out for something that isn't gear on a limited budget but I would put at least $1k into room treatment:corner fills, side wall foam and maybe a cloud above you head.

If you have poor vision you need to put on your glasses before you can paint, right? So many people try to record and mix without "focusing" their room first and end up wasting huge amounts of time doing things over and over again and never getting it right because they can't really hear what's going on.

Good Luck.

[sluttiedude]

Originally Posted by PlugHead

you could blow your load on this

damn straight.

doing as much DYI can save a lot of $

mics: $2050
an ADK Vienna (1k) for vox and an ADK s7 (300) for guitar/drums
the S7 is great for a lot of things.. it can handle up to 150db
maybe some Sennheiser e's (550) for drums MXL pencil's (200) for overheads
use the S7 on snare and Vienna as room mic

pres: $3300ish (whether you build shit or not)
If you can solder, Seventh Circle or JLM
or if you have time restraints, the 2 x Sytek MPX's (1800) will give you clean results. they are always on ebay
and if you go sytek, the one 'super pre' could be anything in the 1k range
depending on what you're recording..
I got an ADK AP-1 (900) as my 'super pre'; It's kind of a jack-of-all-trades since the opamp and transformer are swappable.. and opamps/transformers are pretty cheap.. so you can get new sounds w $100 upgrades here and there.

compression: $200
ah ****.. u can't get 8ch of good compression. allow some headroom and you can use compression plug-ins (at least you have a good computer)..
get an FMR RNC (200)for now.. but in the future go ****in ape shit..
get a Purple Audio MC77 (1700)
IMHO, sell yourself on craigslist (if you deem this ethical), or do some nude modeling to get serious $$ jk

converter: $2000
i 2nd the Lynx Aurora @ 2k.

subtotal = $7550

monitors/cables/room: $2000
assuming you have furniture..
Yamaha HS80's and HS10W sub (1200) they have a very flat/clear response. get diffusers/absorbers or DYI panels w rockwool and foam. Make your own cables.. Canare cables Neutrik connectors.

w that extra $450, get yourself one of those donald trump chairs
they are mad comfy

[dougb415]

Originally Posted by Abel

why this thread is in the High End section?

Where (in your opinion) should it be?

[Aurora T.]

2 x Api 3124
RME FF 800
SM7b
4 x Sm57
Beyer MC930 Stereo pair
Gefell UMT70s Stereo pair

Maybe you can get a good compressor also (distressor or something), if you get good deals.
You could also buy just one Api 3124 and build it from there.
Don't rush it take your time to find the deals!


Buy used !!!

With this setup you will have top quality, name recognition and all this within your budget. Maybe a little over.

Best wishes