Help Phillystres Build a Studio

Help me build a professional project studio for under $5000.00.

I need:

An Analog Track Board (16 Tracks)
Monitors (Alesis M1 for a good flat response?)
Rackmounts (maybe one or two)
a new Dj Mixer (Vestax or Rane??)
Shure or Ortofon Neddles
an EQ
a CD Burner
Dat Recorder (Possibly??)
a Mic Pre
and Possibly a Compressor (never used one before so keep that in mine!)

If you can come up with anything else I may (or may not need let me

know!) Keep in Mine I'm using a MPC 3000, Ensoniq EPS 16+(UpGrade to and ASR 10 soon Hopefully), Akai s950 and I'll be getting some analog keyboards too (Moog Voyager ,Juno 106 ,Etc)

Get at Me

[email protected]

What up fam.......
I know you can grab the board and them M1's from cintiolli's its up Oxford circle.....I dont have the number off hand but if you check the yellow pages you can get it.......I figure the board and the M1's should run you no more than like $500.00.

Good Luck

Baby steps man. Here are a few routes.

Mac- try to find a dual processor g4 with a ton of ram. 2000.00
Pro tools 002 rack (2 midi out/1midi in, 4 preamps, 8/8 analog, 8/8 optical, 2/2 spdif, and a good amount of plugs to make you dangerous) 1000.00
Alesis AI-3 400.00 (makes you be able to record 16 tracks at once)
Event TR8 500.00
Dj mixer? TTM-56 750.00 or PMC-05 (getting cheaper everyday)

Now you have some cash left over for that Juno and some vynal.

OR you can go OG!!
Mackie 1604 or allen and heath 16 (1000) or used mackie 24x8 (1200.00)
Event TR-8 or Yamaha NS-10s 500.00
Dj Mixers from above
DBX or RNC compressors for bused drum mix downs about 200.00
Tube Station compressor for final mix down 750.00
Thickest 2" tape reel to reel you can get your hands on ?? Depends on qualitity and conition and thickness than route that to a burner.
Still leave cash left over for effects and reverbs. (m3000- 200.00, M-one XL) TC electronics or Lexicons or that juno and some wax.

you need to give more info. Is your goal to make stuff that's compatible with other studios? Or just to make the best sounding stuff? Is this for just you or are you trying to make a business? Have you ever worked with software, if so, how do you like it, etc. etc.

oh damn I didn't read properly...

okay, I'd say check out an Allen and Heath Console, and some better monitors than the M1's. I have the Mackie HR and they're pretty good, I also have the M-Audio's with the 6" woofer, they are about $500 and pretty good too. Then for a compressor the RNC is a great choice and pretty cheap too. Don't forget to include the cost of cabling, this will probably be at least 3-500 bucks. Make your own cables to cut costs. Do you have a good mic?

Phillystres wrote:know!) Keep in Mine I'm using a MPC 3000, Ensoniq EPS 16+(UpGrade to and ASR 10 soon Hopefully), Akai s950 and I'll be getting some analog keyboards too (Moog Voyager ,Juno 106 ,Etc)

may i say you have fine taste in gear.

the only thing your missing from your want list is a recorder, how are you gonna track vocals.

the only thing your missing from your want list is a recorder, how are you gonna track vocals.

This is just to lay down beats. For now all the Actual recording will be done
@ the Studio.

TheMPCRipper wrote:Baby steps man. Here are a few routes.

Mac- try to find a dual processor g4 with a ton of ram. 2000.00
Pro tools 002 rack (2 midi out/1midi in, 4 preamps, 8/8 analog, 8/8 optical, 2/2 spdif, and a good amount of plugs to make you dangerous) 1000.00
Alesis AI-3 400.00 (makes you be able to record 16 tracks at once)
Event TR8 500.00
Dj mixer? TTM-56 750.00 or PMC-05 (getting cheaper everyday)

Now you have some cash left over for that Juno and some vynal.

OR you can go OG!!
Mackie 1604 or allen and heath 16 (1000) or used mackie 24x8 (1200.00)
Event TR-8 or Yamaha NS-10s 500.00
Dj Mixers from above
DBX or RNC compressors for bused drum mix downs about 200.00
Tube Station compressor for final mix down 750.00
Thickest 2" tape reel to reel you can get your hands on ?? Depends on qualitity and conition and thickness than route that to a burner.
Still leave cash left over for effects and reverbs. (m3000- 200.00, M-one XL)
TC electronics or Lexicons or that juno and some wax.

I'm trying NOT to use computers At all!! Maybe that will help you help me!
I'm trying to stay analog as possible!

Phillystres wrote:

TheMPCRipper wrote:Baby steps man. Here are a few routes.

Mac- try to find a dual processor g4 with a ton of ram. 2000.00
Pro tools 002 rack (2 midi out/1midi in, 4 preamps, 8/8 analog, 8/8 optical, 2/2 spdif, and a good amount of plugs to make you dangerous) 1000.00
Alesis AI-3 400.00 (makes you be able to record 16 tracks at once)
Event TR8 500.00
Dj mixer? TTM-56 750.00 or PMC-05 (getting cheaper everyday)

Now you have some cash left over for that Juno and some vynal.

OR you can go OG!!
Mackie 1604 or allen and heath 16 (1000) or used mackie 24x8 (1200.00)
Event TR-8 or Yamaha NS-10s 500.00
Dj Mixers from above
DBX or RNC compressors for bused drum mix downs about 200.00
Tube Station compressor for final mix down 750.00
Thickest 2" tape reel to reel you can get your hands on ?? Depends on qualitity and conition and thickness than route that to a burner.
Still leave cash left over for effects and reverbs. (m3000- 200.00, M-one XL)
TC electronics or Lexicons or that juno and some wax.

I'm trying NOT to use computers At all!! Maybe that will help you help me!
I'm trying to stay analog as possible!

Comps are where its at! There are sacrifices, but the ease of editing and using software to make up for your (hardware/artistic) short comings on a comp makes up for it. Why would you want to build a studio around obsolete technology? Chances are the studios you are going to go to will dump it in pro tools anyway, so its good to have and learn. I am not gonna try to sell you on anything, it is what you like to use ya dig.

Peep out the other route then- allen heath mixer, multi track reel to reel (sounds great but a real **** pain in the ass and expensive) or adat. The new alesis is hot and it has a firewire port so you can record on it, and then send it to a computer for editing, and then back into the ADAT. If you have a decent amount of cash though the Mackie MDR ADAT is where its at because it allows you edit like on protools with a VGA monitor and has a ton of ways to build your system around it! Def go for Mackie, Events or the NS-10 for monitors. RNCs or DBXs for your compressors, but if you want to step it up go for one of the Drawmers (the DS404 would be nice because you can put one on each of your buses with the allen and heath or one of the tube stations would be nice also). Maybe that will help.

TheMPCRipper wrote:Baby steps man. Here are a few routes.

Mac- try to find a dual processor g4 with a ton of ram. 2000.00
Pro tools 002 rack (2 midi out/1midi in, 4 preamps, 8/8 analog, 8/8 optical, 2/2 spdif, and a good amount of plugs to make you dangerous) 1000.00
Alesis AI-3 400.00 (makes you be able to record 16 tracks at once)
Event TR8 500.00
Dj mixer? TTM-56 750.00 or PMC-05 (getting cheaper everyday)

Now you have some cash left over for that Juno and some vynal.

OR you can go OG!!
Mackie 1604 or allen and heath 16 (1000) or used mackie 24x8 (1200.00)
Event TR-8 or Yamaha NS-10s 500.00
Dj Mixers from above
DBX or RNC compressors for bused drum mix downs about 200.00
Tube Station compressor for final mix down 750.00
Thickest 2" tape reel to reel you can get your hands on ?? Depends on qualitity and conition and thickness than route that to a burner.
Still leave cash left over for effects and reverbs. (m3000- 200.00, M-one XL) TC electronics or Lexicons or that juno and some wax.

cosign on this one.......protools all the way, and id go for a powerbook...the 15" around 1500.

btw. just realized you dont like the computer...well i agree, if i could i wouldnt use it, but for the recording end, its just the easiest way and you get tons of power....i use to own a DPS16, loved it, but always ended up using the computer. Ive got a friend who just uses a DAt and a standalone cd burner, and he always asks me to record his stuff. LOL.


Ohhh...and this morning i was reading about the MOTU 826 HD, you can use it with or without your computer........gotta check that one out still, but sounds interesting.

Id definately like to see others suggestions.....as soon ill be in your shoes, cause im gonna start up a small production company at the end of the summer.....still payin bills

man **** i love my digi001, but stil likes and fiends for dps' and roland vs's. i like not looking at screens but when it comes to trackin vocals a screen cant be **** wit.

ok to much hen for dove.

LOL ^^^... Funny story.... a few months ago I asked "Whos' sellin a Digi001?" Dove was the first to step up talkin bout how much he don't wanna use computers no more.... Good to see that you're coming back to ur senses DOVE!! Computers do it man, it's the greatest, u got soooo much stuff all wrapped up in one... and theres almost no limit on what u can add or upgrade too.... don't knock it till u research it

Stress;
Using your computer and DAW for tracking and mixing could be very effiecient. Save your money and time. However, it's up to you.

Comments:
The Mackies are hard to beat as monitors.

The Allen Heath Mixer is a good idea. So is a Soundcraft board.

DATs are very cheap on Ebay now. The Panasonics SV series are great.

ADATs are also cheap too.

You can get the DAT and ADAT(s) tweaked by Jim Williams at www.audioupgrades.com for very cheap and they will be serious high quality gear!!!

Good luck.

Peace.

MistaMike4u wrote:LOL ^^^... Funny story.... a few months ago I asked "Whos' sellin a Digi001?" Dove was the first to step up talkin bout how much he don't wanna use computers no more.... Good to see that you're coming back to ur senses DOVE!! Computers do it man, it's the greatest, u got soooo much stuff all wrapped up in one... and theres almost no limit on what u can add or upgrade too.... don't knock it till u research it

hahaha, the only reason I like Pro Tools is casue Ive been comping vocals lately, when i comes to getting raw and some recording some bullsh!t with it sounding good id go for a VS or DPS.

if u get a asr, what do uw ant fo ya eps +??