okay...starting over: how can I set a reasonable budget for a reasonable studio

FlametopFred · 20th December 2005

my funds are limited

I am starting over, the last format did not pan out

what are my options? what would I spend? to get something, some platform that sounds "good" ... don't have to be a Rolls Royce or Cadillac. Just has to be a Chevy. Don't have to be a Neon or a Geo. Just has to be a well-running Chevy.

where do I start? From the budget end, or the needs end.

If from budget, let us say "under $2000"
and from needs, let us say "sounds quite good, not a lot of bells and whitsles"
and say for recording acoustic guitar w/vocal, rest can be real instruments or sample

how little money can I get away spending to get a great gem ?

AlexLakis · 20th December 2005

Take your $2000 and invest it in Google. Then after 5 years, take out your earnings and purchase some good equipment.

How about m-powered Pro Tools? Never looked into it, but it sounds like it could be affordable and somewhat decent...

warhead · 20th December 2005

I suspect you are recording yourself based on your statement about doing acoustic guitars and vocals. If I were you:

CAD M179 and SM57 ($278)
2 mic cables ($14)
Presonus Firebox ($299 and comes with Cubase software and Firewire cable)
Safe Sound Audio P1 vocal pre / comp / limiter ($599)
2 TRS cables ($30)
2 KRK RP5 monitors ($299)
2 Monitor stands ($95)

Total: $1614

And if you really wanted to spend more I'd grab an ADK Vienna for a different (more present) sounding mic to complement the M179 (great, flat response condensor) and SM57.

War

AdamJay · 20th December 2005

on a budget? buy used when you can.

----
Audio Technica AT4050 - $400 - eBay
Shure SM-57 - $60 - eBay
DAV BG-1 Dual Preamp (great for Acoustic) - $680
M-Audio Delta 44 PCI - $100 - eBay
Pro Tools M-Powered - $250
Waves Musicians Bundle II plug-ins - $150
2 TRS cables - $30
2 KRK RP5 monitors - $225 - eBay (i like these better than the RP-5's)
2 Monitor stands - $95
2 mic cables $14

= $1,999

This gives you a great mic and fantastic pre-amps. your Mic and Pre are the most critical components to your sound. EQ/Compress in the box with plug-ins.

after that, save your money for a nice 2 channel ADC. as your weak point is your converters. a used RME ADI-2 can be found on eBay for $650. But in the meantime you will be able to record well with the above setup.

20th December 2005	#1
FlametopFred Gear maniac Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 221 Thread Starter	okay...starting over: how can I set a reasonable budget for a reasonable studio my funds are limited I am starting over, the last format did not pan out what are my options? what would I spend? to get something, some platform that sounds "good" ... don't have to be a Rolls Royce or Cadillac. Just has to be a Chevy. Don't have to be a Neon or a Geo. Just has to be a well-running Chevy. where do I start? From the budget end, or the needs end. If from budget, let us say "under $2000" and from needs, let us say "sounds quite good, not a lot of bells and whitsles" and say for recording acoustic guitar w/vocal, rest can be real instruments or sample how little money can I get away spending to get a great gem ?

20th December 2005	#3
warhead Jai guru deva om Joined: Feb 2003 Location: South Carolina Posts: 12,253	I suspect you are recording yourself based on your statement about doing acoustic guitars and vocals. If I were you: CAD M179 and SM57 ($278) 2 mic cables ($14) Presonus Firebox ($299 and comes with Cubase software and Firewire cable) Safe Sound Audio P1 vocal pre / comp / limiter ($599) 2 TRS cables ($30) 2 KRK RP5 monitors ($299) 2 Monitor stands ($95) Total: $1614 And if you really wanted to spend more I'd grab an ADK Vienna for a different (more present) sounding mic to complement the M179 (great, flat response condensor) and SM57. War __________________ Warren Dent, Owner - ZenPro Audio: Gear Now & Zen

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20th December 2005	#2
AlexLakis Lives for gear Joined: Mar 2005 Location: Annapolis, MD/Los Angeles, CA Posts: 3,631	Take your $2000 and invest it in Google. Then after 5 years, take out your earnings and purchase some good equipment. How about m-powered Pro Tools? Never looked into it, but it sounds like it could be affordable and somewhat decent...

20th December 2005	#4
AdamJay Lives for gear Joined: Aug 2005 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 2,825	on a budget? buy used when you can. ---- Audio Technica AT4050 - $400 - eBay Shure SM-57 - $60 - eBay DAV BG-1 Dual Preamp (great for Acoustic) - $680 M-Audio Delta 44 PCI - $100 - eBay Pro Tools M-Powered - $250 Waves Musicians Bundle II plug-ins - $150 2 TRS cables - $30 2 KRK RP5 monitors - $225 - eBay (i like these better than the RP-5's) 2 Monitor stands - $95 2 mic cables $14 = $1,999 This gives you a great mic and fantastic pre-amps. your Mic and Pre are the most critical components to your sound. EQ/Compress in the box with plug-ins. after that, save your money for a nice 2 channel ADC. as your weak point is your converters. a used RME ADI-2 can be found on eBay for $650. But in the meantime you will be able to record well with the above setup.