I want to make a recording studio but i don't know what i need....?

Question

WHAT ARE THE MOST NEEDED FOR A RECORDING STUDIO AND CONTROL ROOM

Answer 1

Wow, it depends on how far you're going to go - how professional it's going to be, what your budget is, etc.

You should clarify this.

Is it a home studio, or a completely, 100% pro studio?

I'm guessing not the latter...

It also depends on if you're doing this just for yourself, or if you plan on recording bands, etc.?

I have no idea of your experience level also, so I'll assume you have some, but not a lot of experience.

1. You need obviously the recoding device, which I'm assuming is going to be your computer.

This involves a kickass computer with a shitload of HD space (over a terabyte probably).

2. Software. The standard in the industry is ProTools. You will need this, and probably (at least eventually) some plugins. This is expensive stuff!

Also, ProTools only works with certain mixers/control surfaces, so look for bundles or requirements online (websites listed at the bottom).

3. A good mixer/control surface. Not a "SoundBlaster" audio card, or whatever, but a real, honest to goodness digital mixer/control surface, which again, is expensive.  There is a gigantic quality difference between even the best consumer soundcards, and professional devices I'm talking about, so don't think you can get away with using ANYTHING that you buy from a computer store type place for this. Seriously.

4. You need at least one, 2-channel compressor/limiter. Probably more, if you're recording drums.  My favorites are made by DBX.

5. Good microphones. Again, which mics, depends on what you're recording. If you're recording drums, you need a lot of mics.  At least one serious high-end, large diaphragm condenser mic, for recording vocals.

For guitar, snare drum, and if you're micing any speaker cabinets (bass) get some Sure SM57's.

A few good medium end condenser mics, for cymbals, or other instruments is needed. A killer mic for drum toms, is the Electro Voice RE-20.

Micing is an art form. DO NOT just stick a mic at something, and think you're going to get a good sound, there is a lot of art, science, and voodoo involved in proper micing.

Read up on it. Get your hand on every recording book you can, including (and maybe especially!) older ones.

6. A good reverb, either a hardware reverb, or a good software reverb. Most are not good, so pay attention here.

7. Direct boxes. Get one or two. You use these usually for things that you want to go directly into the mixing board, like bass guitar.

8. The room and control room acoustics.

This would be GIANT long post if I touched on this. Again, an art and a science.  Stapling egg crates, blankets, or whatever is NOT the right thing to do!

Get a book on acoustics and recording studio design.

You can get all the gear I've mentioned at one of these two places (I've bought a lot of gear from both, they're great companies, and as cheap as you can get the stuff).

www.musiciansfriend.com

www.sweetwatersound.com

Answer 2

what is your budget?  what will you be recording?  check out gearslutz.com and for competitive prices (below m.a.p.)  of recording gear check out http://www.northernsound.net/

Answer 3

You shouldn't even begin to consider going into this business unless you can answer this question for yourself.

I would advise you to go to work in another studio so you can learn exactly what a studio needs to run.  If you lack the talent to be hired in a local studio then I would suggest paying someone at a local commercial studio to teach you what you need to know.

You can easily drop $250k for a very small working facility and you'll need to charge at least $60 - $75 per hour in order to make any profit.  Are you currently worth that much?  Remember, the gear is worthless unless you can master it.  So, again, are you, as an engineer, worth $75 per hour?  If the answer is "no" then you are no where near opening your own place.

It might sound mean but 90% of the people working in the music business never make so much as a penny.  85% of the artists signed with major labels didn't make any money last year.  Studios are even worse with 9 out of 10 closing within the first year.

I've got a close friend that is signed with a major label and has a gold album and does stadium tours.  When he isn't on tour, he works at Friday's as a dishwasher because he doesn't have enough money to eat.  Yeah, it is that tough.

Go ahead and open your place without any idea as to what you are doing because I'll be buying your gear on ebay within a year.  No kidding.