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View Full Version : How to start your home studio



callmeeddie
07-11-2003, 04:53 PM
Alright, I think a good topic for new home studio starters, like myself, would be how to start a low-budget studio: what to buy first, what to buy second, what not to waste your money on, important overlooked items, where to find info, good books to read, and other general information on starting a home studio and "breaking into the business."

I just started my home studio a year or two ago and basically made money by recording local bands and then invested that money into more and more equipment.

I started with the Digi001 (bought for $799), which seems to be great for anyone starting a home studio. Pro Tools is relatively easy to use and can produce remarkable quality for less than $1000.

I also used a Mackie 1604 16-channel mixer (bought used for $300) to pre-mix the drums before going into the Digi001.

I used a SM-57 ($80) on the snare, two AKG C1000s on the cymbals ($199 each), and a generic drum mic set on the toms and kick ($299). I also used the same AKG C1000s one the guitar and bass amps and used an SM-58 ($100) for vocals with a pop stopper ($25).

I eventually bought some M-Audio MX-5 ($299) monitors to go with the Sony MDR-7500 headphones ($99) that used as monitors.

Just recently I bought a D112 kick drum mic ($219) to replace the previous one which sounded like someone hitting their head against concrete and also a Behringer DI-100 direct box ($29).

Alright, so now that I have some more money saved up, I'm wondering what to buy next or what key parts I'm missing to my low-budget home studio.

:classic:

eddie

Vajeeta
07-13-2003, 01:48 AM
I would grab a large diaphram mic for recording and a low priced tube mic pre for starters. I personally use the C3000B with a SM58 and Aphex 107 dual tube pre.. I love the warmth from the vocals and guitars, snare and bass drum. I have some cheap audix fusion series drum mics (1BD,3tom&2overhead mics). Tho I'm buying myself the D112 and a couple SM57's and another dual tube pre for my B-Day. I use an 1880, tascam 688(mostly as a pre-mixer for my drums) and my favorite purchase I've made this year The Masterlink Classic. I also plan on adding a 8 channel digital mixer to my set-up. and one more pair of monitors (the 824's) but then I'm done. only other thing is I eventually want another VS recorder added to sync up with my current whether it be only 8 tracks or 16. Alas no puter set-up.

jed655
07-19-2003, 05:01 PM
I'VE PICKED UP A PAIR OF STUDIO PROJECTS B1 MICS THAT I USE FOR VOICE, ACOUSTIC GUITAR , AND MIKING OFF AMPLIFIERS, ALSO ON MOST ACOUSTIC INSTRUMENTS.. THEY ARE GREAT AND FOR ABOUT 8O BUCKS EACH A TREMENDOUS VALUE.. A LONG TIME FRIEND THAT OWNS TEH SOUND LAB STUDIO IN AMHERST NH RECOMENDED STUDIO PROJECTS TO ME .. THEY ARE CURRENTLY USING A PAIR OF C1'S AND A PAIR OF C4'S .. THEY HAVE BORROWED MY B1'S A FEW WEEKS BACK FOR A LIVE REMOTE SESSION THEY WERE DOING AND WERE PLANNING ON USING SM 57 BETA'S AND THEY LIKED THE B1'S MUCH BETTER.. THEY WOULD HAVE SENT OUT THE C1'S THEY HAVE BUT THEY WERE IN USE IN STUDIO AT THE TIME WE BOTH FIND THEM TO BE THE EQUALS OF NEUMANS AT A BETTER PRICE.. THEY ALSO RECOMENDED TO ME THE STUDIO PROJECTS PRE AMPS..

guitarjoe
07-19-2003, 08:11 PM
I would buy one really good preamp

Ernest828
07-21-2003, 09:06 AM
G4 (Dual)
MOTU DP3/4
MOTU 2408
MOTU MTP AV
AVALON 737
NEUMANN TLM 103
ROLAND 5030
ROLAND FP3
MACKIE HR824s
HEADPHONES: SONY 7506, BEYER DYNAMIC DT990, AKG 240s, SENNHEISERS HD280