Room treatment. If your rooms aren't acoustically treated then you're probably going to want to get that done, no sense on spending dough on mics if you can't get a good sound.

If you've already done the treatment, then, you're right, a nice set of drum mics would be a good investment. You could stock up on the go-to mics (SM57's). Or, some outboard pres would work.

If you want a killer set of drum mics get the audix dp5's. It has great mics, and you can get the set for a killer price on ebay right now. by the way the i5 slays the sm57.

FWIW... you didnt say which versions of cubase and nuendo your going for... are you aware that they are virtually IDENTICLE???? yep... nuendo simply adds a bunch of post production features the audio/midi/vst/vsti's are the same... incedently steiny is also dropping the support for dxi standards so not sure i would put alott of money in waves until they do vst3 standards... or are you using cracks???

Thomas1096 wrote: Hi guys... and gals,

I am about to begin converting a building for a recording studio. I wanted to share my list of equiptment with you all to see what I am lacking, or if there is an area that I could improve upon.

My plan is to have 3 ISO rooms for vocals, Instruments....etc.... 1 drum booth. 1 main room. 1 control room.

Off the top of my head, I know I will need great drum mics. I will also need another vocal mic.

All suggestions welcomed... and thank you for them in advance....

Thomas,

Welcome to RO!

Well, here's a fun little list to contemplate... some REAL obvious, some maybe not, in random order, but none of it intended to offend... OK?

Blueprints/Plans
Permits/Inspections
Business Plan
Business Licence(s)
Good Attorney
GREAT Accountant
Understanding Banker
T1
Domain w/ftp/streaming capabilities
GOOD firewall
twice as many XLR cables as you can imagine needing
Rod Gervais' book (See Acoustics Forum two floors down)
Good Guitar Amp
Decent keyboard or three (Rhodes, B3, Triton)
Decent Bass Rig
Yamaha, Gretch, or Sonor kit
A couple of dbx 160XT's
Waves L2 or Maxx BCL
Decent Midfields/Bryston
A couple more 414's
Coles or DPA pair (A couple of decent ribbons)
421's - can't have enough.
Good Tube Mic
a pair of Bricks
Great River 2 channel Pre
Solid Patchbay w/Patch cables (Same qty as mic cables)
Coffee Maker - Bunns are the stuff!
a pair of U87's are always nice - (I wish I had a pair!)
3rd ADAT for when one dies
maybe an HD24?!? (Then you can use the ADAT's as backups)
4-6 SM57's (Never know when you might need a hammer)
PCM 91
Rev 7
D-Two or a 2290
300L or 480L
Orville or H3000
Cases of acoustic Caulk... and I mean CASES!!!
OC 702 and/or 704
Good drywall knife
Decent chop saw
10" Table saw... Delta, Rockwell... (2Hp should hold ya) Get a GOOD rip fence!
Plunge Router and Standard Router - at least 1.5Hp
Orbital, palm and belts sanders
Fire retardent fabric for asthetic treatment of absorbtion materials
2 Big heavy duty boom stands w/shock mount capabilities
1 each - D112, Beta 52, D6 and RE20
200-500 ft of #4 to #8 stranded copper ground wire
Greenlee punch set - get the hydraulic set, the hand turn is a PITA!
Drywall driver
Variac Lighting controls... they're really just as cheap as a high end SCR dimmer
Use good quality lighting fixures... less noise from the get go
Keg-er-ator if you feel brave - (get a key box for car keys)
2500-4000 microwave... don't wanna' keep replacing em' every 6 mos.
Nice wine glasses
Cheese board - get something with some flare, but not too fancy
Take out and delivery menus
X-Box 360
Poker Table/Pool Table/Ping-pong table (choose one)
Vonage and Skipe Accounts
Dozen packing blankets
1 case spiral notebooks
Paper plate holders
First Aid kit
fire extinguisher for each room - ABC rated
IceMelt/Rock Salt - Liabiliy Issues... JEBUS!! - besides... you can get an ice cream maker for the summer and REALLY have a treat!
DVD player
large screen TV/Monitor
Decent digital camera to document the build and to keep up with the clients who come into the studio

and finally...

EXCELLENT divorce lawyer on retainer... you never know when/if you may need it, right?
(Especially when you spend all your time in the new studio playing with all the new toys!)

Good luck!
Max

wow max..nice list.

bored?

stickers wrote: wow max..nice list.

bored?

Not really... actually in quite a good mood! (Just scored an RCA 44B for $CHEAP!)

That and Thomas just made me think of the everything it really does take to get a studio up and operational... it really is soooo much more than just the gear...

...is it really that bad to note all of it?

I'm going through it right now and I'm pretty amazed at all of the things I've gotten or need to get/do... kinda' mind numbing at times trying to keep it all straight...

seriously... the fire extingushers are a for real item! It can save you almost 15% on the insurance premiums!

For everybody BUT MadMax, thank you for your replies..

MM, Just kidding.... Thank you too.

dementedchord wrote: FWIW... you didnt say which versions of cubase and nuendo your going for... are you aware that they are virtually IDENTICLE???? yep... nuendo simply adds a bunch of post production features the audio/midi/vst/vsti's are the same... incedently steiny is also dropping the support for dxi standards so not sure i would put alott of money in waves until they do vst3 standards... or are you using cracks???

Well, It so happens that I have had both for sometime. I remember my first setup... still have the disk and dongle (green)...... been with them since cubase 3.7 r2. So no, I do not use cracks.

And no it is not true that they are the same. I know my products. At one point the audio engines were different. Midi too.

Thomas1096 wrote: For everybody BUT MadMax, thank you for your replies..

MM, Just kidding.... Thank you too.

Thomas... hmmmm... yeah man, you're welcome 8-)

Sure, some of the list is in fun, but I'm really serious about most of it being the stuff you find out about once you decide yer' just crazy enough to actually want to do this!

Like the poker table/pool table/ping pong table... I wish I had room for a pool table in the studio, but I think the table in the lounge will have to double as a poker table and if I can ever scrounge enough money to afford a pool table for the house, I might try to put one in the basement.

I've searched all kinds of studios' websites, and seems like just about all of the "bigger" shops have a darned X-Box! Guess that's part of the gig an' just somethin' else I oughta' plan on gettin' at some point... It's all about keeping the client happy!

Looks like you've got a good start on the gear front, though... so, go for it!! I'm pretty sure your own list of insanity will develop... I took cues from [[url=http://[/URL]="http://forum.studio…"]Paul Woodlock's studio build[/]="http://forum.studio…"]Paul Woodlock's studio build[/]... and yup... it's happening to me too!

MadMax wrote:

Thomas,

Welcome to RO!

Thank you..... glad to be here.

Well, here's a fun little list to contemplate... some REAL obvious, some maybe not, in random order, but none of it intended to offend... OK?

Thank you again

Blueprints/Plans........ Am working on that
Permits/Inspections... not needed where I live
Business Plan............ Already done with that and understand it's value
Business Licence(s)... will be LLC... waiting on getting that back
Good Attorney.... Mr. Wade
GREAT Accountant.. Mr. Strout... go to church with him
Understanding Banker Not needed

T1 cable will have to do
Domain w/ftp/streaming capabilities Yahoo small business account already in place

GOOD firewall check
twice as many XLR cables as you can imagine needing You know it
Rod Gervais' book (See Acoustics Forum two floors down) on it's way and posted down there several days ago

Good Guitar Amp most players I have work with from nashville bring their own set up

Decent keyboard or three (Rhodes, B3, Triton) This is a purchase I know I will have to make in the future, after baby grand

Decent Bass Rig same as guitar player

Yamaha, Gretch, or Sonor kit thank you
A couple of dbx 160XT's thank you
Waves L2 or Maxx BCL already have 'em
Decent Midfields/Bryston that is a must...
A couple more 414's can you believe I lost one? since the move it is nowhere to be found.... seriously
Coles or DPA pair (A couple of decent ribbons) ok
421's - can't have enough. ok
Good Tube Mic in the future. will not spend money on a cheape mic
a pair of Bricks would that be red or blonde??? ;)
Great River 2 channel Pre that is one area that I am looking at now. Was thinking Avalon, but many here don't like them

Solid Patchbay w/Patch cables (Same qty as mic cables) any brand??
Coffee Maker - Bunns are the stuff! vanilla bean only for me and my Bunn
a pair of U87's are always nice - (I wish I had a pair!) LOL.... future
3rd ADAT for when one dies NO!! Not really using them anymore. firewire and computer set up
maybe an HD24?!? (Then you can use the ADAT's as backups) Why?? I have unlimited tracking to the computer system
4-6 SM57's (Never know when you might need a hammer) agreed
PCM 91 why? again, I have the 80 and it syncs to the computer, then I have purchased a lot of plugs for the computer system??
Rev 7 again why???

Cases of acoustic Caulk... and I mean CASES!!! just so happens I have that... along with saws, drills and all the construction things I would need to build a house.... that's what my family does

Fire retardent fabric for asthetic treatment of absorbtion materials had it in my previous studio... I understand

2 Big heavy duty boom stands w/shock mount capabilities should have mentioned that... got those
1 each - D112, Beta 52, D6 and RE20 your choice for drum mics??
200-500 ft of #4 to #8 stranded copper ground wire LOL explain this one too

Use good quality lighting fixures... less noise from the get go making note

2500-4000 microwave... don't wanna' keep replacing em' every 6 mos. just so happens I have one. When we purchased this home, it already had one..
Nice wine glasses I don't drink, and no one will in my studio

Take out and delivery menus have not thought of that, but will get them

X-Box 360 no sir...
Poker Table/Pool Table/Ping-pong table (choose one) nada
Vonage and Skipe Accounts just so happens!! I am already there
Dozen packing blankets making note, but explain your use please
1 case spiral notebooks am there too
Paper plate holders got it
First Aid kit got it
fire extinguisher for each room - ABC rated got it
IceMelt/Rock Salt - Liabiliy Issues... JEBUS!! - besides... you can get an ice cream maker for the summer and REALLY have a treat! LOL... not where I live....no snow

DVD player check
large screen TV/Monitor ok
Decent digital camera to document the build and to keep up with the clients who come into the studio... got it along with a complete photography place. Medium format cameras and a new digital Canon 20d with about 20 lens for all cameras... strobe lights and back drops. Also have a computer that runs only photoshop CS with many plugins for graphics and photo editing for doing things like this

And then turning it into something like this:

Good luck!
Max

Thank you for taking the time to think of all of those things. While I know some of them may seem odd to some, and me for that matter, you bring up very valid points.... the one of a business plan is a great one.

I hope you responde to the ones where I asked for more about why that certain thing....

MadMax wrote: [quote=Thomas1096]For everybody BUT MadMax, thank you for your replies..

MM, Just kidding.... Thank you too.

Thomas... hmmmm... yeah man, you're welcome 8-)

Sure, some of the list is in fun, but I'm really serious about most of it being the stuff you find out about once you decide yer' just crazy enough to actually want to do this!

Like the poker table/pool table/ping pong table... I wish I had room for a pool table in the studio, but I think the table in the lounge will have to double as a poker table and if I can ever scrounge enough money to afford a pool table for the house, I might try to put one in the basement.

I've searched all kinds of studios' websites, and seems like just about all of the "bigger" shops have a darned X-Box! Guess that's part of the gig an' just somethin' else I oughta' plan on gettin' at some point... It's all about keeping the client happy!

Looks like you've got a good start on the gear front, though... so, go for it!! I'm pretty sure your own list of insanity will develop... I took cues from [[url=http://[/URL]="http://forum.studio…"]Paul Woodlock's studio build[/]="http://forum.studio…"]Paul Woodlock's studio build[/]... and yup... it's happening to me too!

I will not have room in my studio for the pool table or things like like. I will be working with a space that is 20 x 34. I do have a pool table though.. If I had room, it would be there. In fact, I don't have space for it in the house!!

Also, I know Paul and followed his venture. Know him from the Cubase forums.

The ground wire is exactly what its named for. Ground EVERYTHING groundable. To a single copper bus located at your service point. Dont take this stuff to the inside of the panel. Mount a busbar outside of the panel and run a good-sized wire from the panel to this. Also, Isolate this bar from anything it might come into contact with that can carry current. Any high end electrical wholesaler will know what all this is. I dont know where you live, but sometimes the soil conditions of your area will require you to add a driven rod or two at 6' intervals. If you are pouring a slab then add a continuous piece of rebar that is not tied to the rebar used in the forming. The reason I say this is there can be too much earthing in some cases...A 20' section , isolated and then turned up to your service point will be what the equipment is going to want to 'see'. Its really amazing how much noise you can eliminate like this. As well as the safety part of eliminating 'potentials'...

An outboard reverb unit can come in handy when your tracking vocals.. Even if you dont record it, some vocalists get much better tracks if they hear a polished sound in the phones.

The packing blankets can be a great sort of portable sound control. Packing quilts and office dividers are very cheap and efficient ways of deadening sections of a live drum area. This sort of separation gets you a lot farther along on sound quality than many thousands of dollars spent on gear ever will.

Thomas1096 wrote: [quote=dementedchord]FWIW... you didnt say which versions of cubase and nuendo your going for... are you aware that they are virtually IDENTICLE???? yep... nuendo simply adds a bunch of post production features the audio/midi/vst/vsti's are the same... incedently steiny is also dropping the support for dxi standards so not sure i would put alott of money in waves until they do vst3 standards... or are you using cracks???

So no, I do not use cracks.

And no it is not true that they are the same. I know my products. At one point the audio engines were different. Midi too.

glad to hear you dont do cracks... surprising how many do... as to the differences... you'll have to argue with steiny on that one man because they say it's the same.... and has been for a while... btw if you dont need the extra features of nuendo they've got a crossgrade offer of any version of nuendo to C4 (mine was 2.268714+687168716841981) that's only good to the 15th if youwant to take advantage of it.... i recommend it highly... only $199.... havent decided yet if i'll make the N4 jump when it comes out (probably at namm)

Davedog wrote: The ground wire is exactly what its named for. Ground EVERYTHING groundable. To a single copper bus located at your service point. Dont take this stuff to the inside of the panel. Mount a busbar outside of the panel and run a good-sized wire from the panel to this. Also, Isolate this bar from anything it might come into contact with that can carry current. Any high end electrical wholesaler will know what all this is. I dont know where you live, but sometimes the soil conditions of your area will require you to add a driven rod or two at 6' intervals. If you are pouring a slab then add a continuous piece of rebar that is not tied to the rebar used in the forming. The reason I say this is there can be too much earthing in some cases...A 20' section , isolated and then turned up to your service point will be what the equipment is going to want to 'see'. Its really amazing how much noise you can eliminate like this. As well as the safety part of eliminating 'potentials'...

An outboard reverb unit can come in handy when your tracking vocals.. Even if you dont record it, some vocalists get much better tracks if they hear a polished sound in the phones.

The packing blankets can be a great sort of portable sound control. Packing quilts and office dividers are very cheap and efficient ways of deadening sections of a live drum area. This sort of separation gets you a lot farther along on sound quality than many thousands of dollars spent on gear ever will.

Thanks man.. In fact thank you to everybody for all of the information....

It is ashame that my Lexicon PCM 80 is not doing much these days....

got you on the packing blankets......

Davedog wrote: The ground wire is exactly what its named for. Ground EVERYTHING groundable. To a single copper bus located at your service point. Dont take this stuff to the inside of the panel. Mount a busbar outside of the panel and run a good-sized wire from the panel to this. Also, Isolate this bar from anything it might come into contact with that can carry current. Any high end electrical wholesaler will know what all this is. I dont know where you live, but sometimes the soil conditions of your area will require you to add a driven rod or two at 6' intervals. If you are pouring a slab then add a continuous piece of rebar that is not tied to the rebar used in the forming. The reason I say this is there can be too much earthing in some cases...A 20' section , isolated and then turned up to your service point will be what the equipment is going to want to 'see'. Its really amazing how much noise you can eliminate like this. As well as the safety part of eliminating 'potentials'...

An outboard reverb unit can come in handy when your tracking vocals.. Even if you dont record it, some vocalists get much better tracks if they hear a polished sound in the phones.

The packing blankets can be a great sort of portable sound control. Packing quilts and office dividers are very cheap and efficient ways of deadening sections of a live drum area. This sort of separation gets you a lot farther along on sound quality than many thousands of dollars spent on gear ever will.

Thanks man.. In fact thank you to everybody for all of the information....

It is ashame that my Lexicon PCM 80 is not doing much these days....

got you on the packing blankets......

Thomas1096 wrote: Understanding Banker Not needed

Ain't you discusting!?! :P

T1 cable will have to do

Yeah... where I'm at right now too, but I'm really gonna push for the extra bandwidth.

Rod Gervais' book (See Acoustics Forum two floors down) on it's way and posted down there several days ago

Saw your post-n-pix... I'll comment there to save space/topic here.

Good Guitar Amp most players I have work with from nashville bring their own set up

True here too, but what I found is that their's will take a dive at the worst possible moment, or they want something just a bit different that their amp. e.g. if most of em' are bringin' twins, get an AC30 or a JC120... heck I ended up with a little Marshal hybrid... get's used quite a bit.

Decent keyboard or three (Rhodes, B3, Triton) This is a purchase I know I will have to make in the future, after baby grand

I hear ya! I've got the Rhodes and and an RT3... the Baby Grand's a ways away.

A couple more 414's can you believe I lost one? since the move it is nowhere to be found.... seriously

OUCH!!

a pair of Bricks would that be red or blonde??? ;)

??? both???

Great River 2 channel Pre that is one area that I am looking at now. Was thinking Avalon, but many here don't like them

Been seeing those Avalon comments too. Haven't used one, but I do like the Great River I have. Super clean and tons-o-gain.

Solid Patchbay w/Patch cables (Same qty as mic cables) any brand??

ADC

PCM 91 why? again, I have the 80 and it syncs to the computer, then I have purchased a lot of plugs for the computer system??
Rev 7 again why???

DD already hit this

1 each - D112, Beta 52, D6 and RE20 your choice for drum mics??

Yup, Kik mic's... Variety is the spice of life!

200-500 ft of #4 to #8 stranded copper ground wire LOL explain this one too

Again, DD addressed.

IceMelt/Rock Salt - Liabiliy Issues... JEBUS!! - besides... you can get an ice cream maker for the summer and REALLY have a treat! LOL... not where I live....no snow

Mississippi... probably not... (I'd STILL do the Ice Cream maker though!!!)

Decent digital camera to document the build and to keep up with the clients who come into the studio... got it along with a complete photography place. Medium format cameras and a new digital Canon 20d with about 20 lens for all cameras... strobe lights and back drops. Also have a computer that runs only photoshop CS with many plugins for graphics and photo editing for doing things like this

You too?!? Dang Thomas, we seem to have a bit in common!! (I'd be afraid if I were you!)

Nice work!

Hope I answered some of your questions.

Max

Edit: DUPLICATE Post

LOL... MM, It's been great man. Thanks for all the advice. Dad always told me that 2 heads are better than one.

I am going to print this out so that I can hang on to it....

They have electricity in mississippi??

only in certain places...... lots a folks still have outhouses too...

:roll: