Best gear for hip hop?

[Weezyanna]

I am looking to create a hip hop based studio and I need some help with gear. I already have that I plan to use
-Pro tools hd system
-Maschine
-Motif XS6
-Stedman Proscreen XL
Things set in stone on my list
-Sony C800G
-Tc Electronic 6000 mkII
-Barefoot MM27
-Latchlake
For the rest I have about $70,000 to spend on other stuff.
Can I get some suggestions on other stuff to try.
Got a room all treated so please don't tell me to spend it on a room, it's been taken care of.
Thanks

[Hobbs_Won]

spend the extra $70,000 on video hoes

[Weezyanna]

Ha ha very funny but serious suggestions only please

[mikebailey92]

Maybe a C24 for Pro Tools.

[psycho_monkey]

Serious suggestion - stop asking dumb questions like this on a forum.

If you actually are serious that you want to start a commercial studio - stop. Don't spend a penny until you actually know what you want to spend it on.

Without wanting to boast, I've been working in pro studios for the better part of 10 years in one way or another.

Firstly, I wouldn't open my own studio, for hip hop or anything, in the current climate. Why would I - theres plenty of studios sitting empty that will give me the time for incredibly cheap - and I don't then have the stress of having to fill them the rest of the time. In the current climate, with a few notable exceptions, the best way for a studio to make money is for it to save another part of the business money. So a studio makes sense if you're a record label or management company with a large number of artists needing to make records - if you run a hip hop label, build your own "hip hop" studio. Employ or one from a pool of freelancers. Build the studio in your current office space. No worries about it sitting empty, or having to find clients. And you'll save money on outside studio costs. This is the exact setup I've been working in today, and I know of several rooms run like this.

The other time a studio is truly profitable is if it's not the commodity being sold. Hence a producer might find their own studio makes sense (although most producers only have mix/overdub spaces). A mix engineer will definitely find his own space to be profitable. But in both cases, you're not hiring the studio, you're hiring the person. Do you have an existing clientele? If not...why would anyone come to a studio, where the person in charge doesn't seem to have a clue about what gear is needed?

If you've never worked in someone else's studio, don't waste money trying to start your own. Find some acts to work with, hire a studio and work out for yourself if you can do it better, at a competitive rate, and how the whole thing actually works. If you can't find anyone to do this with, how are you going to get clients into your studio when you have one?

If you just want to be a studio owner, firstly - find something better to invest your money in. If you really have money to waste, find the person you want to be your staff engineer, then let him spec the gear he needs to bring his clientele there. Again, you're not selling the commodity, you're selling the skills.

Put it this way - if I did want to spend that sort of money on a studio, and were in a position to do so, I would not only know exactly what I did want, I'd know what I didn't want. I'd know what fellow engineers likely to book a room would like, and what never gets used in a studio (hint - if you're looking to sell the space to external producers, no one will use your Maschine setup. If they use Maschine already, they'll have their own setup. If they don't, they'll bring and use what they have. No one will come in, say "I need to do some programming, what do you have? Great, let's go!". People use what they know and own. And if it's your own setup, if you're expecting people to come in and hire you to program things for them, you should use what you know - and from a previous thread, you hadn't even bought Maschine yet, so why would anyone hire you to program for them when you don't know what tools you'll use?).

In addition to all this, I'd also know what little things make a studio great to work I, and what annoys people. Because I know what studios I like do, and what studios I don't like do.

In short, I think you're woefully under qualified to be spending the money you appear to have. If it's all fun, you're the son of an oligarch and money means nothing to you, go ahead and can I have a job please. If its a uni/school assignment, doesn't really matter what you put or if you passer fail, you're no nearer to learning anything about the business. If its anything else, please please please stop and think before you lose everything you have in a failed business venture.

And I mean all that with the best intentions - if I was just taking the p1ss I wouldn't have spend half an hour typing it on an iPad!

[psycho_monkey]

Ps more good advice here - How do we start an independent studio from nearly scratch?

[Audio Child]

Originally Posted by Weezyanna

I am looking to create a hip hop based studio and I need some help with gear. I already have that I plan to use
-Pro tools hd system
-Maschine
-Motif XS6
-Stedman Proscreen XL
Things set in stone on my list
-Sony C800G
-Tc Electronic 6000 mkII
-Barefoot MM27
-Latchlake
For the rest I have about $70,000 to spend on other stuff.
Can I get some suggestions on other stuff to try.
Got a room all treated so please don't tell me to spend it on a room, it's been taken care of.
Thanks

Weezy is dat u ?
What happened to just the guitar

[JoRillo]

In regards to Pyscho Monkeys Repy:

As much as it might be hard to take in, and he might have come off kinda he really is just letting you know how it is and I agree with him 100%.

[psycho_monkey]

Originally Posted by JoRillo

^ As much as it might be hard to take in, and he might have come off kinda he really is just letting you know how it is and I agree with him 100%.

I'm more purr than ...

[KT1]

Originally Posted by psycho_monkey

I'm more purr than ...

MEEEoooowWW! Was about to post then read ---and could not agree more! Dropping that kind of cash - not a question of wether one can or not..we all have a different life situation..that doesn't mean we should dive in and potentially waste a lot of cash.

Is this for personal studio? Or a facility? Reason i ask is because thee figure you gave is a lot of money but could be for a personal set up? If that's the case I could spend it real quick! Need to know what your purpose is though..Mixing..recording..production?

Bless

[Killah_Trakz]

Wow shit loan a quarter of that so you can make a return back. Like if I can have that much money I'll be sleeping on ssl's and YouTube my every studio visit

[Audio Child]

API 1608 would be on my list!

[Red Mastering]

are you really hip hop'ers ???
c'mon lads,
best gear in hip hop :
b!tches,
benjamines,
weed&guns

[Weezyanna]

The studio would be for professional use, answering a previous question. And I understand the point of "Don't open a studio now" and don't spend that kind of money so quick" but these would be suggestions to try out, and the 70k I plan to spend will be spent over a long period of time. Also, forgot to mention, I do own a Dr Z Z Wreck, JMI 4, LP Standard, Fender CS Strat, Gibson CS ES 359, tons of pedals for the guitars, Rickenbacker High-end(Forget the name) bass, Warwick High end $$ (agian forget the name) base and a markbass amp for those two.
Thanks

[Red Mastering]

Originally Posted by Weezyanna

The studio would be for professional use, answering a previous question. And I understand the point of "Don't open a studio now" and don't spend that kind of money so quick" but these would be suggestions to try out, and the 70k I plan to spend will be spent over a long period of time. Also, forgot to mention, I do own a Dr Z Z Wreck, JMI 4, LP Standard, Fender CS Strat, Gibson CS ES 359, tons of pedals for the guitars, Rickenbacker High-end(Forget the name) bass, Warwick High end $$ (agian forget the name) base and a markbass amp for those two.
Thanks

seriously though, why you want to have 'hip hop oriented' studio ?
studio is a studio, if you record/track/mix/edit and mix staff there,
maybe fit mpc and maschine there to convince some 'producers',
but generally you need good acoustics, monitoring and d/a plus computer - as basics. If you want to record drums you need to have good room for recording and at least 2 sets of drums and a lot of mics.
Figure it out what you want do offer there,
maybe just basics - vocal booth and control room ?

[KT1]

Originally Posted by Red Mastering

seriously though, why you want to have 'hip hop oriented' studio ?
studio is a studio, if you record/track/mix/edit and mix staff there,
maybe fit mpc and maschine there to convince some 'producers',
but generally you need good acoustics, monitoring and d/a plus computer - as basics. If you want to record drums you need to have good room for recording and at least 2 sets of drums and a lot of mics.
Figure it out what you want do offer there,
maybe just basics - vocal booth and control room ?

Im not a tech kinda guy..im more of a turn this knob cause it sounds nice kinda guy. That being said i agree with this totally. I think it's sensible. If you want a professional spot that cash will not go very far if you dont think what the service will be that you offer..my opinion and i am not placed to advise on a matter like this..Ill just spout boxes i like

[daez]

For a "hiphop" studio The usual suspects are a neumann mic an avalon 737 a protools rig a mpc and a keyboard such as a fantom , motif or triton. If you want to be "BALLIN" a c800 g and neve 1073 but you still need the avalon for looks. I don't think you need to worry about genres and should just adress your studio need's as they arise.

[pdiddy boy]

Originally Posted by Weezyanna

I am looking to create a hip hop based studio and I need some help with gear. I already have that I plan to use
-Pro tools hd system
-Maschine
-Motif XS6
-Stedman Proscreen XL
Things set in stone on my list
-Sony C800G
-Tc Electronic 6000 mkII
-Barefoot MM27
-Latchlake

Hiphop based studio ...ask 9th Wonder, one Laptop, a microphone, FL Studio and a hot producer/engineer and rapper/s ? The person behind the equipment is far more important than the equipment.

[daez]

Originally Posted by pdiddy boy

Hiphop based studio ...ask 9th Wonder, one Laptop, a microphone, FL Studio and a hot producer/engineer and rapper/s ? The person behind the equipment is far more important than the equipment.

Though somewhat true it's become the cliche answer. I would hope we are all working to be the best we can in our chosen fields but to perpetuate this idea that gear doesn't matter is misleading. I dont care how good your engineering skills are you will not get an at2020 to sound like a c800g. I'm not saying you can't get a good result with an at2020 but it has it's limits. Now when it comes to client's how comfortable will they be with your setup when they walk in and you have a labtop and a mic with some bookshelf speakers. I'm sure that will instill confidence in them and get there mojo going just as well as a real setup.

[Ace'Lo]

Originally Posted by psycho_monkey

Serious suggestion - stop asking dumb questions like this on a forum.

If you actually are serious that you want to start a commercial studio - stop. Don't spend a penny until you actually know what you want to spend it on.

Without wanting to boast, I've been working in pro studios for the better part of 10 years in one way or another.

Firstly, I wouldn't open my own studio, for hip hop or anything, in the current climate. Why would I - theres plenty of studios sitting empty that will give me the time for incredibly cheap - and I don't then have the stress of having to fill them the rest of the time. In the current climate, with a few notable exceptions, the best way for a studio to make money is for it to save another part of the business money. So a studio makes sense if you're a record label or management company with a large number of artists needing to make records - if you run a hip hop label, build your own "hip hop" studio. Employ or one from a pool of freelancers. Build the studio in your current office space. No worries about it sitting empty, or having to find clients. And you'll save money on outside studio costs. This is the exact setup I've been working in today, and I know of several rooms run like this.

The other time a studio is truly profitable is if it's not the commodity being sold. Hence a producer might find their own studio makes sense (although most producers only have mix/overdub spaces). A mix engineer will definitely find his own space to be profitable. But in both cases, you're not hiring the studio, you're hiring the person. Do you have an existing clientele? If not...why would anyone come to a studio, where the person in charge doesn't seem to have a clue about what gear is needed?

If you've never worked in someone else's studio, don't waste money trying to start your own. Find some acts to work with, hire a studio and work out for yourself if you can do it better, at a competitive rate, and how the whole thing actually works. If you can't find anyone to do this with, how are you going to get clients into your studio when you have one?

If you just want to be a studio owner, firstly - find something better to invest your money in. If you really have money to waste, find the person you want to be your staff engineer, then let him spec the gear he needs to bring his clientele there. Again, you're not selling the commodity, you're selling the skills.

Put it this way - if I did want to spend that sort of money on a studio, and were in a position to do so, I would not only know exactly what I did want, I'd know what I didn't want. I'd know what fellow engineers likely to book a room would like, and what never gets used in a studio (hint - if you're looking to sell the space to external producers, no one will use your Maschine setup. If they use Maschine already, they'll have their own setup. If they don't, they'll bring and use what they have. No one will come in, say "I need to do some programming, what do you have? Great, let's go!". People use what they know and own. And if it's your own setup, if you're expecting people to come in and hire you to program things for them, you should use what you know - and from a previous thread, you hadn't even bought Maschine yet, so why would anyone hire you to program for them when you don't know what tools you'll use?).

In addition to all this, I'd also know what little things make a studio great to work I, and what annoys people. Because I know what studios I like do, and what studios I don't like do.

In short, I think you're woefully under qualified to be spending the money you appear to have. If it's all fun, you're the son of an oligarch and money means nothing to you, go ahead and can I have a job please. If its a uni/school assignment, doesn't really matter what you put or if you passer fail, you're no nearer to learning anything about the business. If its anything else, please please please stop and think before you lose everything you have in a failed business venture.

And I mean all that with the best intentions - if I was just taking the p1ss I wouldn't have spend half an hour typing it on an iPad!

Best post ever

[pdiddy boy]

Wise f**kin words from psycho_monkey, no disrespect to the OP but why spend $70,000 on Hiphop Studio Equipment in the middle of a global financial crisis ? Its your money no doubt and we can help you spend it... but surely you're not spending 70 G's for fun right ? It's all about doubling ya Dollars right ?!

[Weezyanna]

More then just hip hop will be done at this studio, and that part I have covered. I just wanted to fill the holes for the hip hop side as I am kinda lost in the jumble of gear. I would just like to get some recommendations for gear I could try out. Sorry if I bothered you.

[Gax]

Originally Posted by Weezyanna

More then just hip hop will be done at this studio, and that part I have covered. I just wanted to fill the holes for the hip hop side as I am kinda lost in the jumble of gear. I would just like to get some recommendations for gear I could try out. Sorry if I bothered you.

Look for gearlist of any pro facility that has big rap oriented client base...Like Paramount Studios Encore Studio B

[crescentmoon]

Look at the Studio Electronics SE-1 or ATC-1. Great for earth shaking bass.

[pdiddy boy]

...ok if you insist, heres a few to check put:

Neve 1073 - Classic
GTQ 2 - Awesome stereo Pre-amp for that out the box punch !
Api 7600 - lovely single channel vocal mic Pre, I heard T.I. Uses it
U87ai - with the right preamp this is one clean mic on vocals
Beats By Dre Headphones ( to impress clients)
Akai MPC 2000XL old school but still used by many hip hop greats
Autotune plugin - no generic hip hop song would be complete with out the T-Pain effect !
UAD2 plugins

[Goa-Dubs]

Shure sm57 and Emu SP1200!!!!

I wont lecture you about what you should be thinking and doing bro.

[Chris Lago]

If you have money to blow get that c800g, it's fking incredible I tell you! I'm currently recording my album in my home studio and I'm always amazed everytime I listen to the playback. Holy shit! That's the sound I was looking for all along!

[fooloof]

For a hip hop studio you need a macbrook pro and logic. done

I just saved you 68K

[pdiddy boy]

This is hip hop right ? Bigger is better right ? We got money to blow, Ok then...

50 inch 1080p hd monitor connected to the studio computer so clients know what's going on within your DAW. And please get a Protools board with the flying faders and have a little test program on the ready when the client steps in. You know, the one that makes the faders do the little snake dance. That's sure to impress.

[psycho_monkey]

Originally Posted by Weezyanna

More then just hip hop will be done at this studio, and that part I have covered. I just wanted to fill the holes for the hip hop side as I am kinda lost in the jumble of gear. I would just like to get some recommendations for gear I could try out. Sorry if I bothered you.

It's not "bother", it's amazement that someone is willing to drop this much cash into something when they clearly don't have commercial experience. IMO the qualification for running/opening a studio is knowing what you need and how to operate. Asking opinions on one piece of gear is one thing - asking for someone to spec your studio for you is quite another.

More than anyone else, you should be buying used. Then when you need to sell it all at the end of your misadventure, at least you stand the chance of getting most of your cash back.

Again - I don't want to stomp on anyone's dream, and maybe there's more to this than you've said, but given the information supplied I think you're in a very weak position to start a business. At the very least, you should be hiring an engineer with a track record to pull clients and spec the studio properly, and a marketing/studio manager also with extensive experience and contacts to sell the studio. Without these in place, doesn't matter what gear you have. If you DO have these in place, ask those people what you should be buying!