Gear Recommendation for setting up sort of "studio"

Dorkas · 18th February 2005

Hi, folks. I have got a small budget of money to spend on some new gear. I know there have been a lot of people coming up with the same question, but I would like to kindly ask you to recommend me some stuff. Due to this limited budget - around 5 to 6K - I carefully and precisely will have to coose from a huge variety of good products. In order to provide you with some more info, here is what I would like to do.

- digitally record, mix and master music in good quality in order to publish (I know it might sound like a joke to you with a budget of 5 to 6K)

- especially record drumset and other "non-synthesized" instruments, e.g. guitars and vocals (minimum of 4 simultaneous inputs required)

- nevertheless, still work with virtual instruments or sounds, respectively

Unfortunately, one is not always allowed to hang around in stores all day and to really test each devices. Furthermore, I have been in so many stores lately, but I have my suspicions that the guy behind the desk does not really know what he is selling...

I hope that I don not bother you with my request.

Thank you very much, indeed.

max cooper · 18th February 2005

The fact that you want to record drums means that you'll want to record several channels at once (at least two but possible eight). If your studio is going to be built around a DAW, you'll need to select one first. If you ask around here, I'd imagine just about all the contenders will be recommended at some point. Ultimately, if you can't try them all, you'll have to make the decision based on specs and capabilities. Obviously, it would be ideal to be able to get your hands on the gear first, but as you say, it's not always easy. I bought a DIGI 002 rig after doing lengthy reading, and it's been fine...since then I've used Nuendo and Digital Performer and I've had my hands on Logic a couple of times. I'm pretty convinced that I'd be making good recordings if I'd chosen any of those. The "best DAW" debate can rage on and on, and if you do a search here at GS you'll find that it has many times. Obviously, a DAW will require a fast computer. I'm not gonna touch the Mac/Win debate except to say that I use a Mac but I'd still be making good music if I were using a Win machine.

You'll also need an interface, which may or may not include some mic preamps and converters. I'm using a Rosetta 800 with my Digi 002. If you don't go with ProTools, you'll have options as far as the interface is concerned.

There are some good four and eight banger mic pres for not too much money. With a limited budget, one of these might be the ticket. Also you're gonna need a few mics. Consider dynamics instead of cheap condensers (IMHO at least). If I were gonna start from scratch, I'd put together something like: Shure SM7 for vocals etc, a couple or three Sennheiser 421's (toms, etc), and a couple of SM57's for guitars and other stuff. For drums, you'll probably want some overheads too. Overheads are a real personal preference thing; I recommend a search at this forum...you'll need to do some reading to set off in the right direction unless you already have some idea of what you like.

You'll want to save a little for some plugins. With a budget of $5,000, outboard compression and EQ will probably have to come later. You can get started without it.

A list of the gadgets you'll need will help you figure out which brands and models are gonna work and fit you're budget. Then you can ask specific questions about specific units.

Don't forget...it's got to be fun or it's not worth doing. Hope that at least helps you get started.

rwhitney · 18th February 2005

There will be a lot of different opinions, but I'll just brainstorm a little. I'd say to get...whoa, as I started this reply, max cooper's came through and it's almost exactly what I was going to suggest. One modification I would consider is to add a large diaphragm microphone (Maybe a Rode, or SE, or Studio Projects), for vocals and other things where you might need more sensitivity. Essentially, I concur with max.

Dorkas · 18th February 2005

Thanx very much. Unfortunately I forgot to mention that I already have a bit of experience in DAW's, but never owned one by myself. I sometimes worked on them in several studios or at my friends' house in the past. Right now I tend to get me a brandnew Win machine with SX3 on (got the old VST 3.5) and Wavelab for mastering. But since I did not have the time for longer experiments with current devices like AD converters, outboard mic pres, comps, eqs, and so on, I thought that you could give me some infos on what you use and why you do. Ten years ago, for a short period of time, I had been working as an assistant for the pool of sound-engineers at Deutsche Welle, a German radio station like VOA, where we mainly recorded journalists on old Telefunken M15 machines with excellent outboard equipment like Studer, Revox, DBX, etc. At that time, affordable DAW's with acceptable quality were still in the manufacturer's pipeline. Only Pro Tools or Sadie were mentioned when it came to high end digital recordings. I just say that because I do not have long time experience with and never owned digital stuff. I don't even know which AD to buy. Because I take a look at the specs of each converter and find out that the upper model has significantly better dynamic range, less THD, or copes better with things like jitter, etc. You know, the only thing is that I want to save me from sitting in front of the computer and not getting the sound I want, althoug I spent a lot of money for it.

Dorkas · 18th February 2005

Hi, Max. Hi, Ross. Sorry that I could not immediately reply to what you have said. Thanx for your Mic recommendations. I already got one Neumann U87Ai, three Neumann KM 88, one SM 58, and a Sennheiser MD 431 II. Do you got any idea which brand to go for in terms of dynamics, mic pres, ad converters? Thank you.

TyRip · 19th February 2005

I can throw out a few good cost effective suggestions.

Sytek 4 channel mic pre with Burr Brown option in 3&4 - $850 or so.

A lot of people seem to find uses for some really inexpensive compressors too. Two I have seen a few times are the ART Pro VLA (with an NOS re-tube it is supposed to open up more), and the FMR RNC. The VLA is $230 at MF and the RNC is about $175 or so at different places.

I would HIGHLY recommend picking up a Shure 545d or 545sd Unidyne III microphone on ebay. They go for under $40 or $50 all the time and sound much smoother and more open than an SM57 IMO. I would think you could skip out on the $400 or so for the SM7 and get a 545. Also, with just a little more money you can pick up a much different flavor of condenser with an Audio Technica AT4047 which you should be able to find used for $350 or so.

I have not used them, but have heard really good things about the Metric Halo preamps and converters. They are supposed to be sweet interfaces, and I think run somewhere around $1200 for an 8 channel with 4 mic preamps and an ADAT option for 8 more channels.

18th February 2005	#1
Dorkas Gear interested Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 7 Thread Starter	Gear Recommendation for setting up sort of "studio" Hi, folks. I have got a small budget of money to spend on some new gear. I know there have been a lot of people coming up with the same question, but I would like to kindly ask you to recommend me some stuff. Due to this limited budget - around 5 to 6K - I carefully and precisely will have to coose from a huge variety of good products. In order to provide you with some more info, here is what I would like to do. - digitally record, mix and master music in good quality in order to publish (I know it might sound like a joke to you with a budget of 5 to 6K) - especially record drumset and other "non-synthesized" instruments, e.g. guitars and vocals (minimum of 4 simultaneous inputs required) - nevertheless, still work with virtual instruments or sounds, respectively Unfortunately, one is not always allowed to hang around in stores all day and to really test each devices. Furthermore, I have been in so many stores lately, but I have my suspicions that the guy behind the desk does not really know what he is selling... I hope that I don not bother you with my request. Thank you very much, indeed.

18th February 2005	#3
rwhitney Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 1,035	There will be a lot of different opinions, but I'll just brainstorm a little. I'd say to get...whoa, as I started this reply, max cooper's came through and it's almost exactly what I was going to suggest. One modification I would consider is to add a large diaphragm microphone (Maybe a Rode, or SE, or Studio Projects), for vocals and other things where you might need more sensitivity. Essentially, I concur with max. __________________ Ross Whitney (non-professional) rwhitney@uci.edu

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Need a recommendation for a "LEARN TO PLAY PIANO" DVD or book...	HeatWAVS	So much gear, so little time!	14	17th August 2010 07:12 PM
Metric Halo Channel Strip- "SSL comp setting"???	snappydad	Music computers	5	5th May 2006 07:19 PM
How about a boxing ring at AES show's to sort out "gear copy" & money owed disputes?	Jules	So much gear, so little time!	3	2nd March 2005 10:59 PM
Top Recommendation: Dirtbombs "UltraGlide in Black"	David Herbert	The Good News Channel	0	11th January 2004 11:22 PM

18th February 2005	#2
max cooper Lives for gear Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: tx Posts: 8,802	The fact that you want to record drums means that you'll want to record several channels at once (at least two but possible eight). If your studio is going to be built around a DAW, you'll need to select one first. If you ask around here, I'd imagine just about all the contenders will be recommended at some point. Ultimately, if you can't try them all, you'll have to make the decision based on specs and capabilities. Obviously, it would be ideal to be able to get your hands on the gear first, but as you say, it's not always easy. I bought a DIGI 002 rig after doing lengthy reading, and it's been fine...since then I've used Nuendo and Digital Performer and I've had my hands on Logic a couple of times. I'm pretty convinced that I'd be making good recordings if I'd chosen any of those. The "best DAW" debate can rage on and on, and if you do a search here at GS you'll find that it has many times. Obviously, a DAW will require a fast computer. I'm not gonna touch the Mac/Win debate except to say that I use a Mac but I'd still be making good music if I were using a Win machine. You'll also need an interface, which may or may not include some mic preamps and converters. I'm using a Rosetta 800 with my Digi 002. If you don't go with ProTools, you'll have options as far as the interface is concerned. There are some good four and eight banger mic pres for not too much money. With a limited budget, one of these might be the ticket. Also you're gonna need a few mics. Consider dynamics instead of cheap condensers (IMHO at least). If I were gonna start from scratch, I'd put together something like: Shure SM7 for vocals etc, a couple or three Sennheiser 421's (toms, etc), and a couple of SM57's for guitars and other stuff. For drums, you'll probably want some overheads too. Overheads are a real personal preference thing; I recommend a search at this forum...you'll need to do some reading to set off in the right direction unless you already have some idea of what you like. You'll want to save a little for some plugins. With a budget of $5,000, outboard compression and EQ will probably have to come later. You can get started without it. A list of the gadgets you'll need will help you figure out which brands and models are gonna work and fit you're budget. Then you can ask specific questions about specific units. Don't forget...it's got to be fun or it's not worth doing. Hope that at least helps you get started.

19th February 2005	#6
TyRip Gear addict Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Canton, OH Posts: 320	I can throw out a few good cost effective suggestions. Sytek 4 channel mic pre with Burr Brown option in 3&4 - $850 or so. A lot of people seem to find uses for some really inexpensive compressors too. Two I have seen a few times are the ART Pro VLA (with an NOS re-tube it is supposed to open up more), and the FMR RNC. The VLA is $230 at MF and the RNC is about $175 or so at different places. I would HIGHLY recommend picking up a Shure 545d or 545sd Unidyne III microphone on ebay. They go for under $40 or $50 all the time and sound much smoother and more open than an SM57 IMO. I would think you could skip out on the $400 or so for the SM7 and get a 545. Also, with just a little more money you can pick up a much different flavor of condenser with an Audio Technica AT4047 which you should be able to find used for $350 or so. I have not used them, but have heard really good things about the Metric Halo preamps and converters. They are supposed to be sweet interfaces, and I think run somewhere around $1200 for an 8 channel with 4 mic preamps and an ADAT option for 8 more channels.