Home studio from scratch

[BakersMan]

Just decided to turn 1/2 of my basement into my music room/home studio, and am looking for suggestions on what to get to build a basic home studio from scratch - specifically, what kind of recording interface I should be looking out for:

Should I get an iMac installed with Logic or LogicExpress, or a digital workstation?

What about those home-recording studio packages, like this one? Or one that's designed for your computer, like this one?

OR, should I just keep an eye out on Craigslist and compile a bunch of used stuff over the next few years until it's all put together?

I have a very musical family, and we always play together. Just thought it'd be nice to have my own ongoing "Basement Tapes."

Thanks!

[woodman]

if you're starting from scratch on a Mac, i'd strongly suggest getting your feet wet with Garageband -- comes free with your computer and it's insanely easy to get going. as for choosing an interface, do a lot of homework before deciding. lots of good products on the market, but you gotta make sure what you buy is right for you.

[winny pooh]

Standalone workstations only come into their own when recording full bands or drummers and moving about. As for home usage they are not so flexible when you do not have a computer rig to mix on. Start with garageband and branch out from there, get the best possible interface for the money as the preamps and converters make a big difference, have heard the RME stuff is good but obviously decide your price range and read reviews. In any bundled protools compatible rig (this includes m-powered) you are also paying for the compatibility.
If you do not need to swap files between different computers or do commercial work then you will get better value for money using Garage band, Logic later perhaps and spending the difference on a good firewire interface and better mics. Starter mics? many! Rode,AKG,SE,MXL.

Monitors? Adam, KRK Rokit, Tascam? these are brands in your price range, best is to try in person of course.

[beep.click]

I say, start small, and think modular. If possible, use your current computer to begin with, at least to check out various software packages.

Some people hate recording on a computer. My friend, for example, likes having all the faders on a standalone digital recorder.

I always have an eye on the future, so I'm asking myself questions like, "What happens when the software company goes out of business?" or "What do I do when the operating system becomes obsolete?" or "What happens when the standalone recorder breaks, and no one knows how to fix it?" So, I want to know how to get my work OUT of the thing I recorded it into. In software, that means I look for some way to "export" individual tracks into a format some other software can use. With a standalone recorder, I look for some kind of USB hookup, and a way to get the individual tracks onto a computer.

[chemikiller]

my studio consists of a PC with Reaper (recording), Acid (to build drum trax) and a Line 6 Tone Port interface.
Simplicity is the key.

[abraxas]

Originally Posted by beep.click

I say, start small, and think modular. If possible, use your current computer to begin with, at least to check out various software packages.

Some people hate recording on a computer. My friend, for example, likes having all the faders on a standalone digital recorder.

I always have an eye on the future, so I'm asking myself questions like, "What happens when the software company goes out of business?" or "What do I do when the operating system becomes obsolete?" or "What happens when the standalone recorder breaks, and no one knows how to fix it?" So, I want to know how to get my work OUT of the thing I recorded it into. In software, that means I look for some way to "export" individual tracks into a format some other software can use. With a standalone recorder, I look for some kind of USB hookup, and a way to get the individual tracks onto a computer.

This is a great post.

That's the way I see things also. Try not to depend on any one company or method of operation, be flexible and open to change.

In that light, a PC or Mac based system is a no-brainer. There are some incredible free or low cost DAW software solutions out there to start out (and perhaps you'll never see the need to change from them).

What interface to use depends on your budget, your needs in terms of concurrently used inputs/outpus, any other gear you might already have (e.g. preamps) that you want to use, etc. There are solutions from $100 to more than $1000, in any case, buy something that's being on the market for a while and had stable software drivers.

You'd need a couple of mics if you wish to record voice, acoustic guitars or other ac. instruments. A low cost dynamic (like the SM57) and a wide diaphragm condenser mic (like the Studio Projects B1) will go a real long way.

There are several excelent low cost studio monitors these days; you can also do what I did for a long time, while on a budget: use some spare hifi amp and pair of speakers the "sound" of which you know well. And use a pair or good semi open studio headphones (plenty of those in the $100-120 range) for more detailed work.

Other than that, don't get cheap on the cables you'll need. Buy only good quality, balanced XLR or 1/4" cables for your mics and other connections.

Also don't bother with cheap external preamps, compressors or other gizmos. With very few exceptions, they are not worth the effort, on the long run. For instance, you can do better work with a free software (virtual) compressor plugin than with a $100-$150 external device.

If you already have the computer in order (a good sized HD, for example, is a must), I believe that, today, you can build an awesome home studio for less than $1000, if you shop smart.

Wish you the best!