Building a Project Studio; Budget $10,000 - Help!!

natedog23z · 29th December 2006, 05:42 PM

Hey Guys,

I am new to the forum, but I have had a blast reading through many of the posts. With the knowledged gained from here, i have created a gear list for the project studio I building in this spring. My budget is $10,000. The room is 16*12*8, with hardwood floor. I want to be able to record a full drum kit, plus the ability to record a live band once an a while. Any input will help a ton...have i cut corners anywhere? Am I going overboard anywhere? Thanks!!

Interface - RME Fireface 800 - $1,129 (ebay)
Vocal Mic - Soundelux U195 - $800 (ebay)
Software - Cubase 4 - $350 (student version)
Monitors - Dynaudio BM5a - $850 (ebay)
Computer - PC Creation Station 2.6GHz dual core (sweetwater.com) - $1800
Plugins - UAD-1 Expert Pack - $1000
Preamp - RME Octamic D (8 channel preamp plus A/D) - $1,175
Compressor - RNC - $175
Acoustic Treatment - build my own using OC 703 fiberglass - $800
Computer Monitor - Acer 22" - $306
Cables/stands - $500
Piano Samples - Ivory - $320
MIDI controller - M-Audio Keystation Pro 88 - already own
Loops - Stylus RMx - already own
Synth - Atmospheres - already own
Kick - AKG D-112 - already own
Snare - SM-57 - already own
Toms - EV mics - already own
overheads - SM81's - already own

that puts me at $9,281 with $720 margin for shipping, increased price on ebay, ect. What do you guys think? Is there a better DAW interface out there? The firefacee 800 looked nice to me, but I haven't heard it yet. Also, should i save some more money and get a nice preamp? Thanks everyone!

nate

HudHudson · 29th December 2006, 06:24 PM

I think you can source a killer PC with the same specs for a lot less than Sweetwater's price.

And, yes, if you are serious about your sound, budget for at least one great preamp for overdubs, vocals, etc.

treymonfauntre · 29th December 2006, 06:50 PM

i'd definitely go with a non sweetwater computer. i also probably wouldn't get the octamic considering the fireface already has 12 analog inputs, but maybe you need 20?

Jonboy79 · 29th December 2006, 07:02 PM

You should just do a search for the other 3000 times this exact same question has been asked. At least you did do some of the work yourself. Definately have someone build you a better computer for less. If you don't know anyone who can pm me.

warhead · 30th December 2006, 04:45 AM

$10k, I would actually go a very different route.

Interface - Presonus Firestudio $700
Vocal Mic - Red Type B with R8 and R7 capsules $1350
Software - Cubase 4 - $350 (student version)
Monitors - Yamaha HS80M $700
Computer - Audeum AS-01 $1400
Plugins - UAD-1 Expert Pack - $1000
Preamp - Presonus Digimax FS $600 (ADAT to Firestudio)
Compressor - Safe Sound Audio P1 channel strip $700
Acoustic Treatment - build my own using OC 703 fiberglass - $800
Computer Monitor - Acer 22" - $306
Cables/stands - $500
Piano Samples - Ivory - $320

$8726

The Firestudio / Digimax FS are a deadly combo period.

The Red mic system gives you the benefit of swappable capsules to handle more vocals / sources by having completely different sounds at hand. R8 capsule = very all purpose and more even responsed for more sources, R7 capsule = darker top end and more forward detailed midrange (for sibilant singers = good choice many times). The R6 would be my next add.

Cubase = I like but software is a very personal choice.

The Yamaha HS80M are a good, full range 8" monitor period. They even look cool.

Audeum computers, yeah I'm biased but that model gets you a faster processor and everything you need for way less cash. Plus, Ladia builds them with love (Czech love at that...!).

UAD1 = good choice...great plugs.

The Safe Sound Audio P1 is simply the best value around in a tracking compressor period, just kills on vocals, bass, guitars, and would have a somewhat more beefy / robust / clean preamp as well. It's a killer DI also. The compression is clean and stealth, leave the coloring up to your UAD plugs during mix.

Anyhow, I admit this is a very biased group of suggestions but having used all this stuff and working with guys on a similar basis on a day to day basis...it's what I would pick anyhow. Plus you've got about $1300 more and by the looks of it you could likely stand some more mics to track a full band all at once.

?

War

natedog23z · 30th December 2006, 04:04 PM

Thanks for the tips! You're route looks good too. I'm all about saving some money too. Thanks!

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29th December 2006, 05:42 PM	#1
natedog23z Gear interested Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 2	Building a Project Studio; Budget $10,000 - Help!! Hey Guys, I am new to the forum, but I have had a blast reading through many of the posts. With the knowledged gained from here, i have created a gear list for the project studio I building in this spring. My budget is $10,000. The room is 16128, with hardwood floor. I want to be able to record a full drum kit, plus the ability to record a live band once an a while. Any input will help a ton...have i cut corners anywhere? Am I going overboard anywhere? Thanks!! Interface - RME Fireface 800 - $1,129 (ebay) Vocal Mic - Soundelux U195 - $800 (ebay) Software - Cubase 4 - $350 (student version) Monitors - Dynaudio BM5a - $850 (ebay) Computer - PC Creation Station 2.6GHz dual core (sweetwater.com) - $1800 Plugins - UAD-1 Expert Pack - $1000 Preamp - RME Octamic D (8 channel preamp plus A/D) - $1,175 Compressor - RNC - $175 Acoustic Treatment - build my own using OC 703 fiberglass - $800 Computer Monitor - Acer 22" - $306 Cables/stands - $500 Piano Samples - Ivory - $320 MIDI controller - M-Audio Keystation Pro 88 - already own Loops - Stylus RMx - already own Synth - Atmospheres - already own Kick - AKG D-112 - already own Snare - SM-57 - already own Toms - EV mics - already own overheads - SM81's - already own that puts me at $9,281 with $720 margin for shipping, increased price on ebay, ect. What do you guys think? Is there a better DAW interface out there? The firefacee 800 looked nice to me, but I haven't heard it yet. Also, should i save some more money and get a nice preamp? Thanks everyone! nate

29th December 2006, 06:24 PM	#2
HudHudson Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Austin, Texas USofA Posts: 1,183	I think you can source a killer PC with the same specs for a lot less than Sweetwater's price. And, yes, if you are serious about your sound, budget for at least one great preamp for overdubs, vocals, etc. __________________ "The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." - Hunter S. Thompson www.myspace.com/steventoddhudson

29th December 2006, 06:50 PM	#3
treymonfauntre Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 567	i'd definitely go with a non sweetwater computer. i also probably wouldn't get the octamic considering the fireface already has 12 analog inputs, but maybe you need 20? __________________

30th December 2006, 04:45 AM	#5
warhead Jai guru deva om Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: South Carolina Posts: 8,328	$10k, I would actually go a very different route. Interface - Presonus Firestudio $700 Vocal Mic - Red Type B with R8 and R7 capsules $1350 Software - Cubase 4 - $350 (student version) Monitors - Yamaha HS80M $700 Computer - Audeum AS-01 $1400 Plugins - UAD-1 Expert Pack - $1000 Preamp - Presonus Digimax FS $600 (ADAT to Firestudio) Compressor - Safe Sound Audio P1 channel strip $700 Acoustic Treatment - build my own using OC 703 fiberglass - $800 Computer Monitor - Acer 22" - $306 Cables/stands - $500 Piano Samples - Ivory - $320 $8726 The Firestudio / Digimax FS are a deadly combo period. The Red mic system gives you the benefit of swappable capsules to handle more vocals / sources by having completely different sounds at hand. R8 capsule = very all purpose and more even responsed for more sources, R7 capsule = darker top end and more forward detailed midrange (for sibilant singers = good choice many times). The R6 would be my next add. Cubase = I like but software is a very personal choice. The Yamaha HS80M are a good, full range 8" monitor period. They even look cool. Audeum computers, yeah I'm biased but that model gets you a faster processor and everything you need for way less cash. Plus, Ladia builds them with love (Czech love at that...!). UAD1 = good choice...great plugs. The Safe Sound Audio P1 is simply the best value around in a tracking compressor period, just kills on vocals, bass, guitars, and would have a somewhat more beefy / robust / clean preamp as well. It's a killer DI also. The compression is clean and stealth, leave the coloring up to your UAD plugs during mix. Anyhow, I admit this is a very biased group of suggestions but having used all this stuff and working with guys on a similar basis on a day to day basis...it's what I would pick anyhow. Plus you've got about $1300 more and by the looks of it you could likely stand some more mics to track a full band all at once. ? War __________________ Warren Dent Email: warren (at) frontendaudio (dot) com Front End Audio Sells Gear Tuesday Testers: Hear the Gear Shootouts Product Videos on YouTube: Overviews of Gear

29th December 2006, 07:02 PM	#4
Jonboy79 Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: St. Louis MO Posts: 2,202	You should just do a search for the other 3000 times this exact same question has been asked. At least you did do some of the work yourself. Definately have someone build you a better computer for less. If you don't know anyone who can pm me.

30th December 2006, 04:04 PM	#6
natedog23z Gear interested Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 2	Thanks for the tips! You're route looks good too. I'm all about saving some money too. Thanks!

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