13k for Startup Project/Semi Pro Studio. PLZ Help!!!

jb4play

Yoda
Hi all? Recently, an investor who wants to get into the music field contacted me about helping plan and run a startup Project/ Semi Pro Studio. The location is already soundproofed somewhat, has a vocal booth that is fully soundproofed, and has carpeted floors in the control room. I believe that it is a pretty nice location for a studio (even more so due to the fact that the previous owners ran a studio out of the location, so all of the wall wiring and soundproofing was done in the past). My question is... with a 13k budget to focus on equipment only, is the budget list that I have the best overall regarding a balanced, solid, studio to begin with? More can be added as clients are booked and money comes from their sessions. The genres of music will be primarily Hip Hop/Rap and R&B. Mixes will more than likely be sent from the studio to other engineers to mix/master, depending on the client. Tracking (vocal, guitars, and small percussion instruments), rough mixing/editing, and track production are the primary concerns of the studio. We are trying to stay in the digital realm for now; an analog console may be added in the far future if funds permit. We are looking for a clean, clear, yet somewhat warm, round sound (contradicting I know!) that can be manipulated afterwards and can keep up with and compete with radio/album material of studios in our area (Atlanta, Sandy Springs area). Pro Tools and Cubase are the software sequencers we will be running. Any help, comments, and/or feedback are wanted! Thx in advance. Here's the list:

Sandy Springs Studio Setup

Shure SM57 Cardioid Dynamic Microphone- $99.00 (75.95) 23.05

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--SHUSM57LC

Peluso 2247 Limited Edition- $1675.00

http://www.atlasproaudio.com/peluso.html

Focusrite ISA220 Session Pack Microphone Preamp and Compressor- $1,495.00 (1,464.95) 30.05

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--FOCISA220

Yamaha HS80M Active Studio Monitor (120 Watts, 1x8 in.) Pair, With HS10 Subwoofer- $1,099.00

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--YAMHS80M

M-Audio Project Mix I/O Control Surface/Interface- $1,249.95 (958.95) 291

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--MDOPROJECTIO

Mac Pro (Georgia Southern University Student Discount) - $3,146.00

NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT 256MB (single-link DVI/dual-link DVI)
Apple Keyboard and Mighty Mouse - U.S. English
2GB (4 x 512MB)
Two 2.66GHz Dual-Core Intel Xeon
160GB 7200-rpm Serial ATA 3Gb/s
One 16x SuperDrive
1 Apple Cinema Display (20" flat panel)
Mac OS X - U.S. English

http://www.apple.com/macpro/

Studio RTA Producer's Station- $499.99

http://www.guitarcenter.com/shop/product/buy_studio_rta_producers_station?full_sku=102460813

M-Audio Trigger Finger MIDI Controller with Pads- $199.95 (166.95) 33

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--MDOTRIGGER

M-Audio Keystation 88 ES 88-Key MIDI Controller- $199.00 (193.95) 5.05

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--MDOKEYSTAT88ES

Numark TTUSB Turntable with USB Output- $169.95 (125.95) 44

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--NUMTTUSB

Neutrik NYSSPPL 48-Point TRS Balanced Patchbay- $89.95 (69.95) 20

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--NTKNYSSPPL

Mackie Big Knob Studio Control Center- $299.95 (283.95) 16

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--MACBIGKNOB

Auralex MoPAD Isolation Pad (4 Pads) - $39.95 (28.95) 11

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--AURMOPAD

Yamaha MOTIF Rack ES Sound Module- $1,099.00 (800) 299

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--YAMMOTIFRACKES

M-Audio SP2 Sustain Pedal- $24.95

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--MDOSP2

QuikLok A346 Microlite Microphone Stand - Straight (Tripod Base with Telescopic Boom) - $39.95

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--QLKA346

Monster Cables- $600 (Estimate)

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/cat--Monster-Cable--3230

LACIE Design by F.A. Porsche 301103U 500GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache USB 2.0 External Hard Drive – Retail- $212.60

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822154150

Microsoft Windows XP Pro SP2b 1pk w/Upgrade Coupon for Vista – OEM- $144.98

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16832116175

Furman M8 Merit Series Spike Protector- $54.95 (38.95) 16

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--FURM8

OnStage ASVS6GB Microphone Pop Filter- $19.95

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--MUSASVS6GB

RaXXess SS36 Studio Monitor Stands- $119.95 (114.95) 5

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--RAXSS36

Auralex Deluxe Plus Roominator Kit ROOMDLXPLUS- $799.95 (684.95) 115

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--AURROOMDLXPLUS

Meinl Nino Conga Set- $199.95

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--MEININO

Meinl Nino Small Cabasa- $15.95

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--MEININO701

Rhythm Band True Colors Tambourine- $14.95

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--RHYTC40

Latin Percussion Studio Chimes (25 Bars) - $64.95

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--LBL449

2 Sennheiser HD280Pro Headphones- $199.90 (135.90) 64

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--SENHD280PRO

1 Behringer HPM1000 Headphone- $9.99

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--BEHHPM1000

Initial Total- $13,884.66

Initial Left- $-884.66

Save- $972.15

Actual Total- $12,912.51

Actual Left- $87.49

Thx once again!
 
I would'nt recommend spending all but $87.49 of a $13,000 budget. That is a recipe for disaster in my opinion. Try to have a 'contingency' fund left out of the budget as there will almost certainly be things after which are missed/forgotten/needed/required/compulsary e.t.c e.t.c.....

Also, mail your whole gear list to different retailers & get lots of quotes. Then get them to keep trying to beat one another on price till you get the cheapest. You should be able to whack quite a bit of money off.

Good luck :)
 
1st off, thx for the replies thus far! Yea, the actual budget is 15k, but i'm leaving 2k in reserve just in case... so 13k is the limit for any equipment. Also, the investor has gotten in touch with a guitar center rep. so we're going to take the final list to him and see if they can beat the prices as well!
 
fam u sure u wanna use that focusrite as ur first preamp ?....y not a avalon vt 737?
 
Yea, I know the 737 is warmer, but I've never used it and I've heard that it's compressor lacks... I've used the ISA 220 before and I liked how clean it was on vox and the comp and eq on it got the job done. I'm looking for "clean" in a preamp, I don't want anything that will color the sound too much, I'll add pieces that do that when I gain more experience and know what sound I want. Something clean, so I don't have to commit to a certain sound or color is key, alot of the material won't be mixed by me. Anyone have any other suggestions for a pre in that range?
 
jb4play said:
Yea, I know the 737 is warmer, but I've never used it and I've heard that it's compressor lacks... I've used the ISA 220 before and I liked how clean it was on vox and the comp and eq on it got the job done. I'm looking for "clean" in a preamp, I don't want anything that will color the sound too much, I'll add pieces that do that when I gain more experience and know what sound I want. Something clean, so I don't have to commit to a certain sound or color is key, alot of the material won't be mixed by me. Anyone have any other suggestions for a pre in that range?
u could probably find a neve clone somewhere in that price range


off the topic of preamps ......but have u thought about a/d converters yet ???.....
 
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^^^Yeah we have. Slipped the budget somehow.

what do you think about the Appogee MiniME to get started with?

I see ya Rel!
 
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Do you know of any clones in that price range? I still have a fmr audio rnc from my homebased studio so if I can find a nice pre (I don't eq much going in) I could be set just as well. I was thinking grace 101 into fmr audio rnc... but the isa just seems a better overall choice. Not at all, lol, I've never used any convertors outside of the soundcards going into the software daw, i've heard apogee makes top shelf stuff, but since I've never used them, I don't know how much of a difference (I've heard huge) they'd make in the sound. Do you know how a convertor would go into the chain with the project mix running everything? Let me know!
 
(OFF TOPIC)

So you go to Georgia Southern. Well HAHAHAHAHAHA, they lost their last season game today against the Central Arkansas Bears!!! In overtime. Im from hinesville and i went to see the game. Actually i like neither of the teams but whatever.

Other than that, I think you have a NICE setup going there. I wish i could afford that.
 
Yes sir! Mane, I don't attend any of the games there, I be too busy working on music. Thanks, just trying to get those final pieces together that will finalize it.

cinnay_4 said:
(OFF TOPIC)

So you go to Georgia Southern. Well HAHAHAHAHAHA, they lost their last season game today against the Central Arkansas Bears!!! In overtime. Im from hinesville and i went to see the game. Actually i like neither of the teams but whatever.

Other than that, I think you have a NICE setup going there. I wish i could afford that.
 
jb4play said:
Do you know of any clones in that price range? I still have a fmr audio rnc from my homebased studio so if I can find a nice pre (I don't eq much going in) I could be set just as well. I was thinking grace 101 into fmr audio rnc... but the isa just seems a better overall choice. Not at all, lol, I've never used any convertors outside of the soundcards going into the software daw, i've heard apogee makes top shelf stuff, but since I've never used them, I don't know how much of a difference (I've heard huge) they'd make in the sound. Do you know how a convertor would go into the chain with the project mix running everything? Let me know!
ill find out the neve clones in that range ....... u would hook up the ad converters thru lightpipe ....i mean im just sayin as far as sound quality that converter will keep u from losing sound quality from ur gear to your project mix i/o....its just a thought playa...(smart investment)....i mean the converters on the project mix is ok ....but that aint really what that is ....
 
ey u kno any good places to cop some vynil around here? I mostly sample and i havent been able to find any record stores here in or near hinesville. The only place ive been able to get records is kellers flea market. Well just askin.
 
jb4play said:
hmmm, after doing a lil research, the apogee rosetta 200 and Vintech X73i are looking pretty damn good... maybe throw the rnc behind the vintech to tame jumps here and there...
thats wsup
 
also check with sweetwater before you do any thing they may shed some extra light oops just read someone else also postd that sorry
 
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revise that list a little...make room for these two items, im confident it will be worth it - this spoken from direct experience:

473.jpg

Vintech 743 (4 Channels of Neve 1037 + Essential EQ)

aurora.jpg

Lynx Aurora 16 A/D Converters
Ideal front end.....they have an 8 channel version for cheaper if you aren't concerned about near future expansion.
 
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