Help planning my studio

Anwar · 4th June 2006

Hi everyone. First of all i just want to say that this community seems like a really nice place and even though i come with alterior motives (i need help) i am looking forward to strangle a lot of sleepless nights on this particular forum.

I am currently working on building a studio here in Sweden where i currently reside and since my technical insight to studiogear is puny compared to most guys on this forum i am sure i have come to the right place.

Obviously the music i produce is hiphop (might be of relevance) but i am looking forward to expand my 'portfolio' and start focusing on more organic productions, which might make it all a fusion between different styles like reggae, soul and funk. Therefore i need to be able to record live instruments in a simple, flexible and yet a smart way; which takes me to my first problem - choosing the right mixer.

I have been looking on different sollutions like the digidesign for example but i will be using Cubase and not Pro tools.

Anyhow, now that i notice how much i have written and how little information i have really come up with i'll post a list of the gear that i am absolutely sure i want in the studio and if anyone can be arsed i would really appreciate some advice and tips for further equipment to buy.

My studio budget is exactly 21,039.47 USD (all hail the currency-converter) and the following gear is on the list:

- Triton Extreme

- Rhodes Mark I

- 2xTechnics 1210+just about any functional turntablist mixer

- Minimoog voyager (not sure though since i have heard that recording analog synths puts different demands on your mixer etc.)

Well that's about it so far. So what i need is good solid advice on which mixer, microphone, monitors, soundcard, preamps and so on to invest in. I would really like a sweet sounding hardware reverb aswell. Any ideas?

Please take into note that i live in Sweden and any US-only merchandise is out of reach for me since i can not go through the hassle of ordering all of the gear from overseas.

Again, thanks for reading this far

Peace

Polyphony · 5th June 2006

Soundcraft ghosts are pretty cool mixers....

preamps....the regular...

Neve
API

Mics...

U87
U89
U67
SM57's
I also really like the Lawson mics(call gene up)
451/452
KM84
sm7

Converters...

Apogee

clock...

Big ben

thats a good start...You should hit up Tony if you want equipment....really cool guy...he will have some really experienced suggestions...just make sure you talk to him....

Anwar · 5th June 2006

Oh, cheers for the advice mate.

About the mixingtable, i think i am looking for something a bit smaller than the soundcraft ghost.

Big ben clock was very interesting. I never knew what clocks did so i looked it up after your post. Looks like something well worth investing in.

Who is Tony and how do i get a hold of him?

Again, thanks for your help. If anyone else has got a few minutes to spear please don't hesitate, i am really in need of some pro assistance.

For mic and monitors i am looking to invest about usd 4000-5000 each, what could i get for that price? are there any equipment that hiphop producers prefer within that price-range?

Peace

Polyphony · 5th June 2006

Tony own's a studio consulting business

http://www.highprofileaudio.com/

he is also the moderator for this forum....

Polyphony · 5th June 2006

KRK V8 series 1
Yamaha NS10

And there is no specific monitors to hip hop..... frequency range will always be frequency range..it just comes down to what you prefer......Hip Hop didn't invent anything as far as mixing / recording is concerned....

andrewj · 6th June 2006

The recommendation to contact Tony is a good advice. Als o a good advice would be to visit his website Highprofileaudio.

Also I would recommend to look at the lists of Goldenagemusic
I think they have alot of important stuff i their saleslist. They are in Sweden and you will get what you want!

I am also developing my recordingpossibillities and want to work in similar areas as you wish, so I can tell you what I have found out so far:

Are you sure you need a console? Of course a good console would be a nive investment, but when I see the bucks you are able to spend, perhaps it would be the better idea to start without a mixing desk, mix inside the box and invest the money in some more micpres, comps and other outboard! For me a lot of different flavours available from multiple outboards are worthier than a mixing desk!

Then of course you should invest in great microphones, superior monitoring, unbelievable converters and a DAW of your taste!

At all: Hearing is believing. I would recommend you what I was told: Rent as much gear as possible to hear if it fits for you! If not, forget the stuff and try something different!

And look at Tony's Top 5s! They are a good reference, but sure there are also other good tools out there!

Polyphony · 6th June 2006

hhmmm....I somewhat disagree with mixing ITB....I wouldn't do it if some one had a gun put to my head....but that's just my opinion....

andrewj · 6th June 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyphony

hhmmm....I somewhat disagree with mixing ITB....I wouldn't do it if some one had a gun put to my head....but that's just my opinion....

Please do not misunderstand me. I prefer consoles, too. But with the amoount of money you are able to invest you should think about the other way also! It is more useful to have 10 or 12 spices than only one kilo of green pepper!

dussel · 6th June 2006

Hi,

I do not want to recommend you anything, since I believe that online recommendations are missleading and dangerous. So double check and listen yourself.

But if I were in your situation I would:

Take a Snus,
Think about treating your room first, its the most important money you'll spend!
Buy a pair of ADAM P22a monitors,
Buy an Apogee Rosetta 800,
Buy a RME HDSP9652,
Buy a SM PRO AUDIO M-PATCH 2,
Buy a copy of Cubase.
Buy a GTQ, and an API 3124,
Buy 2 SM57, 2 SM58, 1 SM7, a RE20, ev. 2 RB500, ev. 2 RM700, and if you have some more money a decent LDC, e.g. a good u47 clone (Wagner), a nice vintage Neumann/Gefell (e.g. UM57) or another flavor in this league (I do not want to suggest anything cheap since I do not know a good&cheap LDC.)

I have not calculated if you stay in your budget that way, but it should fit more or less. This would put you in the position where you can record 8 channels of audio in a professional quality (and you wont have to get rid of junk gear when you extend your setup). You'll have a excellent monitoring chain and some very versatile mics. I second the Idea that nowadays a mixing desk in your price range is not a very good choice.

Remember that the above reflects what I would buy based on my experience. Do not buy anything that you only know from recommendations by people you do not know (like me :-)) This is perhaps the most important thing I learned in the last years.

best
Dussel

P.S. In the above list I assume you already have a decent PC/Mac.

Nahuel · 6th June 2006

I'm far from being an engineer. I know that souncraft ghost is not bad (a friend own one) but I think my amek bc2 is better, less tracks but better pres, better eq, and a nice 2bus comp. I read good things about the midas.

Polyphony · 8th June 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by lpuma

I'm far from being an engineer. I know that souncraft ghost is not bad (a friend own one) but I think my amek bc2 is better, less tracks but better pres, better eq, and a nice 2bus comp. I read good things about the midas.

stick with the Amek...lol

4th June 2006	#1
Anwar Gear interested Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2 Thread Starter	Help planning my studio Hi everyone. First of all i just want to say that this community seems like a really nice place and even though i come with alterior motives (i need help) i am looking forward to strangle a lot of sleepless nights on this particular forum. I am currently working on building a studio here in Sweden where i currently reside and since my technical insight to studiogear is puny compared to most guys on this forum i am sure i have come to the right place. Obviously the music i produce is hiphop (might be of relevance) but i am looking forward to expand my 'portfolio' and start focusing on more organic productions, which might make it all a fusion between different styles like reggae, soul and funk. Therefore i need to be able to record live instruments in a simple, flexible and yet a smart way; which takes me to my first problem - choosing the right mixer. I have been looking on different sollutions like the digidesign for example but i will be using Cubase and not Pro tools. Anyhow, now that i notice how much i have written and how little information i have really come up with i'll post a list of the gear that i am absolutely sure i want in the studio and if anyone can be arsed i would really appreciate some advice and tips for further equipment to buy. My studio budget is exactly 21,039.47 USD (all hail the currency-converter) and the following gear is on the list: - Triton Extreme - Rhodes Mark I - 2xTechnics 1210+just about any functional turntablist mixer - Minimoog voyager (not sure though since i have heard that recording analog synths puts different demands on your mixer etc.) Well that's about it so far. So what i need is good solid advice on which mixer, microphone, monitors, soundcard, preamps and so on to invest in. I would really like a sweet sounding hardware reverb aswell. Any ideas? Please take into note that i live in Sweden and any US-only merchandise is out of reach for me since i can not go through the hassle of ordering all of the gear from overseas. Again, thanks for reading this far Peace

5th June 2006	#2
Polyphony Gear maniac Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 262	hope this helps Soundcraft ghosts are pretty cool mixers.... preamps....the regular... Neve API Mics... U87 U89 U67 SM57's I also really like the Lawson mics(call gene up) 451/452 KM84 sm7 Converters... Apogee clock... Big ben thats a good start...You should hit up Tony if you want equipment....really cool guy...he will have some really experienced suggestions...just make sure you talk to him....

5th June 2006	#5
Polyphony Gear maniac Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 262	ohyea and your monitors KRK V8 series 1 Yamaha NS10 And there is no specific monitors to hip hop..... frequency range will always be frequency range..it just comes down to what you prefer......Hip Hop didn't invent anything as far as mixing / recording is concerned....

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6th June 2006	#6
andrewj Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hamburg (Wellingsbuettel), G-Many Posts: 1,244	The recommendation to contact Tony is a good advice. Als o a good advice would be to visit his website Highprofileaudio. Also I would recommend to look at the lists of Goldenagemusic I think they have alot of important stuff i their saleslist. They are in Sweden and you will get what you want! I am also developing my recordingpossibillities and want to work in similar areas as you wish, so I can tell you what I have found out so far: Are you sure you need a console? Of course a good console would be a nive investment, but when I see the bucks you are able to spend, perhaps it would be the better idea to start without a mixing desk, mix inside the box and invest the money in some more micpres, comps and other outboard! For me a lot of different flavours available from multiple outboards are worthier than a mixing desk! Then of course you should invest in great microphones, superior monitoring, unbelievable converters and a DAW of your taste! At all: Hearing is believing. I would recommend you what I was told: Rent as much gear as possible to hear if it fits for you! If not, forget the stuff and try something different! And look at Tony's Top 5s! They are a good reference, but sure there are also other good tools out there!

6th June 2006	#9
dussel Gear nut Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Switzerland Posts: 119	Hi, I do not want to recommend you anything, since I believe that online recommendations are missleading and dangerous. So double check and listen yourself. But if I were in your situation I would: Take a Snus, Think about treating your room first, its the most important money you'll spend! Buy a pair of ADAM P22a monitors, Buy an Apogee Rosetta 800, Buy a RME HDSP9652, Buy a SM PRO AUDIO M-PATCH 2, Buy a copy of Cubase. Buy a GTQ, and an API 3124, Buy 2 SM57, 2 SM58, 1 SM7, a RE20, ev. 2 RB500, ev. 2 RM700, and if you have some more money a decent LDC, e.g. a good u47 clone (Wagner), a nice vintage Neumann/Gefell (e.g. UM57) or another flavor in this league (I do not want to suggest anything cheap since I do not know a good&cheap LDC.) I have not calculated if you stay in your budget that way, but it should fit more or less. This would put you in the position where you can record 8 channels of audio in a professional quality (and you wont have to get rid of junk gear when you extend your setup). You'll have a excellent monitoring chain and some very versatile mics. I second the Idea that nowadays a mixing desk in your price range is not a very good choice. Remember that the above reflects what I would buy based on my experience. Do not buy anything that you only know from recommendations by people you do not know (like me :-)) This is perhaps the most important thing I learned in the last years. best Dussel P.S. In the above list I assume you already have a decent PC/Mac.

6th June 2006	#10
Nahuel Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 3,388	I'm far from being an engineer. I know that souncraft ghost is not bad (a friend own one) but I think my amek bc2 is better, less tracks but better pres, better eq, and a nice 2bus comp. I read good things about the midas.