Starter Studio

Capricorn

Just for interest's sake I want to know how much a basic studio setup
costs and the equipment needed.

Neps

That is quite a difficult question to answer.. The reason being, you'll have to know what you want to do with the setup, and if you'll want to be able to expand on it.. There are a number of setups you can look at.

Hard Disk recording, like a Yamaha, Fostex or Tascam recorder.. Even Boss makes one. These are about 12k for 16channels. Depending on the exchange rate and the retailers markup.

On the PC sie, you'll have to buy a PC, Soundcard (a.k.a the interface) like a MAYA, Edirol, M-Audio, E-Mu and quite a few other brands, monitors/headphones, and dont forget the software.

This can be quite an expensive thing to get into!!

I can't give you an estimate on how much a setup will cost, cause I've not built a small set up in ages, so my prices might be quite skew.

Heath

depends really what you want to do with it , imo i would say a decent machine , a small 8 - 10 channel mixer , a decent soundcard (no ac97 or realtek cards) something like a creative (waits for alan's beating) , a decent set of speakers and perhaps a midi keyboard / controller . some headphones and maybe a decent mic. all this you can easily do for between 8 - 10 K .

Personally i use a p4 machine (2.6ghz HT) with 160gb hdd,2 gb ram , creative audigy 2 sound card , creative speakers , yamaha 10 channel mixer and a creative prodi keys midi keyboard. phillips headphones, a few mics , and a light snake . running ubuntu studio ( has full multi track recording software , FX modules , and fairly decen midi) which is all free , and on the windows side , reaper , hydrogen , guitar fx box all of which is free software . i am not RP studios, but i can do what i need todo and get my ideas across , an i will admit most recordings sound very good.

Riaan

My estimate, having recently bought a few things:

PC - whatever the cost of a new PC, say R5-R10K
Edirol soundcard - when Bothners had a special: R2500
Edirol MIDI keyboard which includes Sonar LE: R2500
Monitors: I would guess R3K-R7K (I'm using a HiFi amp and speakers at the moment)
Mikes at R1250 each (Bothners in Somerset West now has Shure SM58 for this price on special)

I guess if getting everything from scratch including the PC, you're looking at about minimum R18K to R20K for starters.

themanthatwalks

If you only want to record yourself for practice reasons or just to fiddle. this is what I did.

Bought an apple Imac 2.4 GHz. added some extra ram, (Payed R13k). Plug guitar in directly and the speakers are fine. I connect my wifes keyboard with a small edirol midi to usb. and I am getting logic studio from a friend. Will get a fire wire interface later. Ad some decent earphones. This setup is great if you only record to hear you ideas and not for production purchases. The mac comes with all the connections (like the fire wire) that you need.

I say again only for creative purposes not recording: If I want to record i'll just phone neps.

neps jysi beste hoor ?

Neps

themanthatwalks wrote If you only want to record yourself for practice reasons or just to fiddle. this is what I did.

Bought an apple Imac 2.4 GHz. added some extra ram, (Payed R13k). Plug guitar in directly and the speakers are fine. I connect my wifes keyboard with a small edirol midi to usb. and I am getting logic studio from a friend. Will get a fire wire interface later. Ad some decent earphones. This setup is great if you only record to hear you ideas and not for production purchases. The mac comes with all the connections (like the fire wire) that you need.

I say again only for creative purposes not recording: If I want to record i'll just phone neps.

neps jysi beste hoor ?

Hahaha!!

free2rhyme

plus don't forget that you may need a recording program like Sonar, Cubase or Pro-Tools

Martyr

it's not exactly a cheap thing to get into....i've been doing alot of research on it and asking lotsa questions(sorry neps ?) you will need:

PC - here is a link to what about you looking at http://www.soundz.co.za/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=STUDIOPCBUDGET you will also need to get a LCD screen,old screens interfere and make feedback.

soundcard - i'm using a Maya 44 USB soundcard,retails for R1800,i got it before the price increases ? http://www.soundz.co.za/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=ESADT016

Mixer - i'm using a Behringer mixer at the moment,they are really inexpensive and they work really well(one of the only things i would use from Behringer) i have a Behringer XENYX 1002,i got it before the price increase for R800 http://www.muz.co.za/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=197_350&products_id=1369

Midi Controller - i still haven't gotten one of these,no cash at the moment,they are about R200 or so

Midi Interface - if you want a midi controller you need to have a interface,you can use the old game pad port if you have one on your PC,you get cables that go to that type of connector

Monitors - R3k or so for decentish ones,Neps cost R30k

Headphones - i paid R300 for my Sennheiser ones

Mic - different mics are for different things,most versatile is the Shure SM57 then the SM58,you need more than one mic as it will sound better to use certain mics for certain things,but to start off a Shure SM57 would be best(IMO)

Recording/editing programs - these are alot,you will need Cubase,Pro Tools,etc. you do get free programs like Audacity,Reaper,but they really don't compare....

Cables - these seem cheap,but in the end add up to quick a bit,you need decent cabling to make a good sounding recording,guitar cables,mic cables,even audio splitters(so the person doing the recording can here what they doing through headphones while you listen through the monitors)

Other bits and pieces - Pop Filters,stands,etc. all these add up in the end. even acoustic treatment,etc all adds up

hope this helps,and hope i didn't for get anything ? *alot of the credit goes to Neps for putting up with my shit ?*