How much budget (US dollars) should I set to put up an excellent recording studio?

Question

I intend to record vocals and instruments. These are band type recordings. Basic rhythm section only, not Orchestra.

Answer 1

Greetings,

I just happen to have an excellent studio that can pretty much record anything minus an Orchestra (though I'm trying to acquire the building next to mine for that purpose).  

You could probably accomplish that goal for about $250,000.  

You'll need about 50k of that to do your build out.  Keep in mind that you'll be building structures inside of other structures so try to find a place with pretty high ceilings.  It is also really wise to invest in an electrical engineer to help you plan for your power distribution.

Next, 150k should get you the equipment that you need.  I would set aside about 30k for microphones.  That may seem excessive but some of the microphones you will have to have are in the 2 - 4k range so you can see that that budget will go fast.  

My Protools rig, to include the Intel Mac, ran me about another 30k.  I would suggest getting those items new because if they go down and you do not have a warranty then your whole operation is down.

I dropped another 25k in my monitoring system.  All the fancy equipment in the world wont do much if I can't hear what is going on.  Professional monitors cost a small fortune - get ready.

You'll need to spend an additional 15k for software and plugins.  I would look at MCDSP, WAVES and Sony Oxford.  The Mercury bundle alone will run you close to 10K.  You'll also need things like Drumagog, Native Instruments, Reason, etc.

You'll also need EQ's, Compressors and Mic pre's.  I keep 17 different assortments of mic pre at my place.  API's are great for drums, Neve's are great for vocals.  UA610 are perfect for female vocals, Empirical Labs for Bass, Tangent for Kicks and toms, Avalon for Guitar, A Design for drum overheads, SSL's hats and room mic's - you get the idea.  You've got to have an assortment because no one pre can do everything.  I also have at least 10 different kinds of EQ here because I like different EQ's on different things.  Some of these modules are in the 4 - 5k range.

The last 50k is for overhead, advertising, etc.  Overhead isn't that bad but at 4k a month, it can quickly drain your bank account.  You need to have at least 6 months of overhead in the bank.

The problem that you will run into is that you can't go cheap in any one area.  You have to pair a great microphone with a great mic pre into a great compressor into a great eq into a high end converter.  The chain will only be as strong as its weakest link.  You'll then need great monitors to listen back to your great microphone.  Oh yeah, your room better be professionally designed and treated or all that great stuff wont sound great at all.

250k is all ya got to pony up.

Good luck.