Desperately Seeking Basic Advice on Home Recording Studio Setup

[dispatched33]

Looking to build a basement recording studio for around $2,000 or less.

What I'm looking for is flexibility, reliability, decent quality and ease of use.

Any help would be appreciated. Here are my questions:

1. I need a computer (my laptop has a Celeron in it, and, from what I gather, that ain't going to cut it). What are good standards for processor speed, RAM and hard drive space?

2. I need a way to translate analog to digital. I'm told I have some options. They seem to boil down to: A) buy M-Box or PreSonus interface or B) do some sort of trickery with a sound card, eliminating the need for an interface (don't know if this is correct)

So my question: What's the difference between the two options? Why would someone favor one over the other? (Incidentally, I have no recording gear, save for microphones and instruments.)

3. I need a way to record and mix tracks. I presume the software comes into play here. I'm told my options are the usual suspects: ProTools, Cubase, Sonar, etc. My question: I already own a copy of Adobe Audition (never used). Is Audition suitable? Or would I be better off not trying to learn it and instead dedicating my time (and money) toward one of the other software programs? I want to have some flexibility. And I didn't know if Audition offers this, or whether its a big pain in the rear.

4. Do I need good speakers? What specs should I look for (or, better yet, which speakers are good buys for the money?)

5. Same deal for headphones. Got any recommendations?

6. I'm probably missing something, probably a lot. Any suggestions?

Thanks a lot to anyone who offers some help. I really appreciate it.

[richiebee]

Are you going to be wanting to use MIDI?

That would be one of the biggest factors in the choice for me.

[brandondrury]

What are good standards for processor speed, RAM and hard drive space?

With unlimited budget, you'd want infinite computer power. As Richiebee said, the MIDI factor makes a big difference. I mixed many albums on computer that were top of the line in 2001. Having said that, those didn't use that many plugins and did not use any synths or samples....just wav files.

My current rig is an Athlon 64 2800 (certainly not top of the line now either). It does great for full blown productions of songs that I'm trying to compete with major labels (almost).

However, if I was trying to score a movie with a huge orchestra (using samples) my computer would not cut it.

I do create stupid little techno things and I've yet to run out of power for something like that yet. If was, I could just render a few of the synth / sample tracks to wav and that would free up quite a bit of power.

2. I need a way to translate analog to digital. I'm told I have some options. They seem to boil down to: A) buy M-Box or PreSonus interface or B) do some sort of trickery with a sound card, eliminating the need for an interface (don't know if this is correct)

I know of no way to do B. The right person could probably swap out some ICs in his stock soundcard, but it would probably take a million dollar machine to do it discrete surface mount technology was involved. You'd probably need a php in electrical engineering. I've got a feeling that going with A is the right choice.

Check out my home recording soundcard wizard in my signature. It'll help make your decision.

Do I need good speakers? What specs should I look for (or, better yet, which speakers are good buys for the money?)

You need speakers that are going to tell you what you need to know in order for you to crank out great mixes. This is a complicated question to answer.

So much of the studio monitor issue is based on room acoustics.

Also, so much is dependent on your personal tastes as well.

A lot of guys seam to like these M-Audio monitors. There are probably other options out there in the same price range. Some asshole will tell you that X monitor is going to BLOW AWAY another monitor of the same price. That's horsecrap. That's about like saying that X chick is the perfect girl for you. There is no way a person could guess that without knowing your VERY well, and it's still a guessing game.

In the end just grab a set of studio monitors that seam good to you and go with it.

Don't blow your money on some super expensive preamp. Put your cash into killer monitors and room acoustics. This is my rigs biggest weakness and probably the one thing holding me back from robo recordings.

Same deal for headphones. Got any recommendations?

Depends. What are you using them for?

Brandon

[DogpitStudios]

Originally Posted by dispatched33

Looking to build a basement recording studio for around $2,000 or less.

What I'm looking for is flexibility, reliability, decent quality and ease of use.

Ok so I'm assuming you want to be able to expand on your studio after you start up. I also assume that you don't want to be held up by a lack of organization options during tracking or mixing; this helps with some things but not everything.

I need to know:

How many tracks you want to record at the same time. Are you recording mostely bands or solo artists? If you are only recording one then will you want to expand to the other in the future. What size rooms or room do you have and would you like to treat them acoustically (most people would suggest you do that first). Are you recording in the same room that you listen in?

Once you answer all this we might be able to help you out with soundcards, mics, pres, monitors, sound absorbing material, ect. Just keep in mind that it will probably take more than $2,000 to start up and record right away, depending on your situation.

As for having decent quality, that all comes from your experience as an engineer first. Secondly I might say that your rig will have an effect on it, but any guy whos been doing this for 30 years is gonna kick your ass even on your own shitty rig; thats just the way it works.

Hope that helped,

Ben

[johnmcf]

I used a spare bedroom instead of a basement, but I started from scratch on a very limited budget.

I started off with a Zoom MRS-4 track digital recorder that has a few special effects. (Well for a week I even had a Radio Shack tape recorder, bad idea!)

Recorders like this are all in one studio's and are great for beginners. I still use mine to handle sound effects for two mics and for on the road. and like I heard someone say hear, I used the Guitar amp for my amp.

I then expanded year by year. And the main thing is I am debt free.