Setting up a Recording studio
Content
How much does it cost to set up a studio?
A guide to the equipment used in setting up a recording studio from Learning Ideas Limited February 2007
Thanks to the technological revolution and the increase in computer processing power over the last five years a high end recording setup is now within reach. What was once just a dream for the average garage band, home recording hobbyist, church or high school music department is now very much an affordable reality. Before I outline some specific equipment according to three different budgets you need to ask yourself one very important question: What kind of music will I mostly be recording? If you answer hip hop, electronica, techno or demo's then you don't need a huge set up. Rather than spending lots of money on microphones that you don't need you should invest in software and maybe one really good microphone. On the other hand, if you are going to record lots of bands, ensembles and the like you will want a system with lots of microphones and lots of inputs (although if you want to record orchestras, choirs and chamber groups probably a well placed stereo mike is suitable). As you will see from the following three budgets to record groups with lots of microphones costs more. Before we jump straight into outlining the equipment and costs I want to offer one really useful piece of advice: SHOP AROUND! Just because a particular store may say they offer the cheapest prices in New Zealand doesn't necessarily mean that they actually do. Before you buy any piece of equipment get quotes from every music store in your town/city and make your decision based on price and customer service. If maintenance of equipment is not such a worry then don't forget to investigate stores on the internet like B & H Photo & Video, Sam Ash and Sweetwater. If you can save thousands of dollars by buying through them then it may be worth the inconvenience of not having local support for your purchases. While this document lists some suggested packages there is nothing to stop you mixing and matching products from the different packages to create a list of equipment that suits your unique budget and needs (particularly if you already own some equipment such as a mixer or microphones). You will notice that every budget option is based around an Apple Mac computer. A studio can be based around Mac or Windows systems, but the Mac is particularly easy to set up and comes configured with excellent starter software for recording. Often a Windows system will require careful configuration of the audio setup, and software to be loaded, which some musicians may find daunting. What you choose will depend on what support you have at your school (e.g. are you allowed to connect a Mac to the internet at your school?) and how much you can support the system yourself. Either way, the prices indicated here for Macs will be indicative of what you need to spend to get a comparably configured Windows system. Fortunately most of the external hardware will connect to both Mac and Windows machines (you should avoid internal audio cards), so it is not too hard to change later. All the prices listed here are correct as of February 2007 and exclude GST. Many prices are special educational prices available to schools only. Note that Learning Ideas does not sell any equipment listed here. However, we are more than happy to refer you to reputable firms that do sell this equipment.
Learning Ideas Ltd., PO Box 21246, Christchurch 8143, New Zealand Web: www.learningideas.co.nz Email: [email protected]
1
How much does it cost to set up a studio?
A guide to the equipment used in setting up a recording studio from Learning Ideas Limited
Option One - The under $1500 option
Apple Mac Mini computer with 1 Gb RAM
1.66 GHz Core Duo processor Ability to dual boot Mac OS or Windows Includes iMovie, iDVD, iWeb, iTunes & iPhoto
$1110
Apple Garageband recording software
Record up to 8 tracks at once Includes large set of free plugins Edit & loop audio and MIDI Includes comprehensive loop library Ability to create movie soundtracks
FREE with Mac
Shure SM-58 microphone
$168
Industry standard vocal and instrument mic Excellent response, even at high sound levels Rugged and versatile, hard to break (good for schools)! Note that an XLR to mini jack cable is required to plug into the Mac Mini
M-Audio Keystation 49e
Compose using the the virtual instruments in Garageband
$215
TOTAL Upgrade options
Rode NT2-A microphone High quality condenser microphone Audacity recording software
Free recording software for use with Microsoft Windows or Mac
$1493
$621
FREE $450
Pro Tools LE with Mbox mini interface
Good quality preamp and industry standard recording software
M-Audio Studiophile monitors Sennheiser HD 280 PRO headphones
$350 $120
This is an excellent system for creating many modern styles of music. This would be great for the student who creates music by manipulating loops and samples along with some basic keyboard parts. They are then able to record vocals or live instruments using the microphone plugged into the audio input on the Mac Mini (or via an A/D converter like the Presonus Firebox or Pro Tools Mbox mini).
Learning Ideas Ltd., PO Box 21246, Christchurch 8143, New Zealand
*Prices correct as of February 2007
Web: www.learningideas.co.nz
Email: [email protected]
2
How much does it cost to set up a studio?
A guide to the equipment used in setting up a recording studio from Learning Ideas Limited
Option Two - The under $5000 option
Apple iMac 17" computer $1800
Intel Core Duo 2.0 GHz processor 1Gb RAM 160 Gb hard drive Includes iLife suite & Garageband Upgrade option to the 24" screen version with faster processor is $3060 in total
Apple Garageband recording software Rode NT-4 stereo condenser microphone
FREE with Mac $750
Stereo microphone that contains two capsules within the one unit. Due to configuration of capsules it is very easy to get a good sound for ensemble, choir and orchestra recordings.
M-Audio Mobile Pre USB audio interface
$225
2-channel interface for connecting microphones and instruments with your computer.
M-Audio Keystation 49e
Compose using the the virtual instruments in Garageband
$215 $900 pair
M-Audio BX8a Active monitors
AKG K141 Studio headphones
$150
TOTAL Upgrade options
Extra 1 Gb of RAM for the iMac (recommended)
$4040
$170
The feature of this system is the stereo microphone. In a school environment where you want to be able to record compositions and performances with a minimum of fuss the perfectly in phase X-Y configuration of a stereo microphone is the way to go.
Learning Ideas Ltd., PO Box 21246, Christchurch 8143, New Zealand
*Prices correct as of February 2007
Web: www.learningideas.co.nz
Email: [email protected]
3
How much does it cost to set up a studio?
A guide to the equipment used in setting up a recording studio from Learning Ideas Limited
Option Three - The under $10,000 option
Apple iMac 17" computer $1800
Intel Core Duo 2.0 GHz processor 1Gb RAM 160 Gb hard drive Includes iLife suite & Garageband Upgrade option to the 24" screen version with faster processor is $3060 in total
Pro Tools LE with Digi 002 Rack interface
$2265
Industry standard software with high quality hardware interface. 002 hardware can also be used with other software.
Rode NT2-A condenser microphone
$800
High quality microphone for recording acoustic instruments & voice.
2x Shure SM-57 dynamic microphones
Great for recording drums, amplifiers and even vocals
$168 each
2x Rode NT5 condenser microphones
$585 for pair
Useful for drum overheads and acoustic instruments Like a stereo mic these are great for recording choirs & orchestras
Tannoy Reveal 5a Active Monitors
Hihgh quality reference monitors
$1035
M-Audio Axiom 49 Keyboard controller
$479
Provides many MIDI controllers for controlling many parts of your sequencer
TOTAL Upgrade options
Factory version of Digi 002 Rack
Includes an extra $3000 worth of plugins for an extra $649
$7132
$2914 $976
Presonus Digimax
Provides an extra 8 channels of mic inputs for your Pro Tools system
Waves Native Power Pack
Bundle of high quality plugins
$570
Learning Ideas Ltd., PO Box 21246, Christchurch 8143, New Zealand
*Prices correct as of February 2007
Web: www.learningideas.co.nz
Email: [email protected]
4
How much does it cost to set up a studio?
A guide to the equipment used in setting up a recording studio from Learning Ideas Limited
This third under $10,000 option package is great for recording full band situations. microphones and inputs to cover most ensemble needs.
It has enough
The software of choice here is Digidesign's Pro Tools. This is industry standard software and is relatively easy to learn so it is a great choice for many environments. However, you can have many of the benefits of this system if you decide to use the free Garageband software along with the Presonus Digimax instead of Pro Tools and the Digi 002. You get 8 channels of inputs so if you are happy with using Garageband instead of Pro Tools you can save yourself $2266 (this is often recommended for school situations as Garageband is probably the easiest piece of recording software to learn). If you are also not too concerned with fidelity you can also choose to stick with cheaper dynamic microphones (such as the SM58) rather than the condenser microphones. It is also worth mentioning that you could save a few hundred dollards by using other sequencing software such as Logic or Cubase along with the Presonus Digimax or similar interface. However, (in my humble opinion!) that software is much harder for students to get to grips with than Pro Tools.
Option Four - The under $20,000 option
While the full package listed here may be out of the reach of many schools, home recorders or churches there is nothing to stop you from including one or two items from it with one of the cheaper packages. However, to keep it still remotely affordable I've steered clear of considering Pro Tools HD packages as these are well beyond the requirements of most schools, home recordists or churches.
Apple Mac Pro
2x 2.66 GHz core duo processors (effectively four processors) 250 Gb hard drive 1Gb RAM NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT graphics with 256 Mb memory
$3870
Apple Logic Pro
Professional recording software that contains a large suite of plugins
$853 $2280*
Mackie ONYX 1200F Firewire Audio/MIDI interface
Premium quality A/D converter with 12 Mic inputs
JBL LSR4326P Reference monitors
Monitors that can adjust themselves for inadequately treated acoustic environments
$2639 pair
M-Audio Sputnik
$854*
Condenser microphone winner of the Electronic Musician Mic of the year for 2006. Reminiscent of the Neumann U 47 and the AKG C 12.
Learning Ideas Ltd., PO Box 21246, Christchurch 8143, New Zealand
*Prices correct as of February 2007
Web: www.learningideas.co.nz
Email: [email protected]
5
How much does it cost to set up a studio?
A guide to the equipment used in setting up a recording studio from Learning Ideas Limited
AKG D112 Kick drum mic
$377
3x Sennheiser MD421 dynamic mics
Industry standard amplifier and tom microphones
$697 each
Shure KSM 109 condenser mic
Condenser microphone superb for recording cymbals
$375 $1358 pair
2x AKG C451 condenser mics
A pair of these work very well as drum overheads Great for recording orchestras and choirs
Waves Platinum Bundle
32 essential plugins for a professional environment
$2380
Melodyne Studio
The best in pitch correction software - edit audio as easily as MIDI
$1000
Novation ReMOTE SL 61 TOTAL Some extra special items for a big budget Focusrite Liquid Channel premium channel strip
$1200 $19,277
$4726
Precisely replicate any mic-pre/compressor using Dynamic Convolution
Neumann M 149 condenser microphone
One of the best mics on the planet!
$6421
Learning Ideas Ltd., PO Box 21246, Christchurch 8143, New Zealand
*Prices correct as of February 2007
Web: www.learningideas.co.nz
Email: [email protected]
6
How much does it cost to set up a studio?
A guide to the equipment used in setting up a recording studio from Learning Ideas Limited
$19,277 may seem like a lot of money but with a year or two of fundraising and a friendly Board of Trustees this amount of money could easily be found. Keep in mind that you will also need to buy some essentials such as mic and instrument leads (allow probably $400-$500), mic stands (don't buy cheap ones, you'll regret it after a year or so when they start to break!) a UPS for keeping all electrical equipment safe and some studio foam for treating the walls and ceiling of your recording and control room. A real key point that I think needs to be made for all the setups is that you don't have to buy everything in one go. For example if you think that Pro Tools or Logic may be too complicated then don't buy them (or at least defer buying them until you know you really need them). Garageband or Audacity can do most of what any school or church requires and they can be learned in under half an hour. In school situations where students are trying to record compositions it is better that they can sit down and start recording quickly rather than spend a long time trying to figure out the software. You may also find that you do not require all of the high end software such as the Waves plugins or Melodyne. If this is the case it may be be better for you to spend the money you save on acoustic treatment for your recording room. One last consideration is portability. These studio setups are really for a fixed room situation. Although they are reasonably portable it could be inconvenient transferring them to a live venue. This is where a laptop based setup or portable recorders such as the Zoom H4 or the Edirol R09 can come in handy as all audio can easily be recorded to these and transferred to your studio computer via Firewire or USB for mixing.
Educational materials
There are lots of amazing books, CD and DVD resources available for teaching effective recording skills. For a series of resources specifically related to gaining unit standard qualifications from NZQA the best (and only!) option is the Music Technology range from Learning Ideas Limited. For a detailed rundown of each unit standard, free samples and ordering information please go to www.learningideas.co.nz
Thank you for taking the time to read through this ebook. Music technology is an exciting and rewarding area of study. We are so privileged to live at a time that technology has made it so affordable to produce such high quality musical recordings using great equipment. If you have any questions or would like a referral as to where you can buy this and other equipment both in New Zealand and overseas please don't hesitate to email me on the address below. Duncan Ferguson Learning Ideas Limited February 2007
Learning Ideas Ltd., PO Box 21246, Christchurch 8143, New Zealand
*Prices correct as of February 2007
Web: www.learningideas.co.nz
Email: [email protected]
7
How much does it cost to set up a studio?
A guide to the equipment used in setting up a recording studio from Learning Ideas Limited
Glossary of manufacturers cited
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/ http://www.sweetwater.com/ http://www.samash.com/ http://www.apple.com/nz/ http://www.apple.com/nz/ilife/garageband/ http://www.m-audio.com/ http://www.rode.com.au/ http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ http://www.digidesign.com/ http://www.shure.com/ http://www.tannoy.com/ http://www.presonus.com/ http://www.waves.com/ http://www.apple.com/nz/store/ http://www.apple.com/nz/logicpro/ http://www.jblpro.com/ http://www.mackie.com/ http://www.akg.com/ http://www.sennheiser.com http://www.celemony.com http://www.novationmusic.com/ http://www.focusrite.com/ http://www.neumannusa.com/ http://www.learningideas.co.nz (for New Zealand customers) http://www.learningideas.org (for international customers)
A few 'must-see' websites related to this topic:
http://emusician.com/ http://www.tweakheadz.com/rigs.htm http://www.soundonsound.com/ http://www.tki.org.nz/r/arts/facilities/ Great reviews and tutorials 21 further studio setups Helpful reviews and tutorials Advice for schools planning arts facilities
Learning Ideas Ltd., PO Box 21246, Christchurch 8143, New Zealand
*Prices correct as of February 2007
Web: www.learningideas.co.nz
Email: [email protected]
8
A guide to the equipment used in setting up a recording studio from Learning Ideas Limited February 2007
Thanks to the technological revolution and the increase in computer processing power over the last five years a high end recording setup is now within reach. What was once just a dream for the average garage band, home recording hobbyist, church or high school music department is now very much an affordable reality. Before I outline some specific equipment according to three different budgets you need to ask yourself one very important question: What kind of music will I mostly be recording? If you answer hip hop, electronica, techno or demo's then you don't need a huge set up. Rather than spending lots of money on microphones that you don't need you should invest in software and maybe one really good microphone. On the other hand, if you are going to record lots of bands, ensembles and the like you will want a system with lots of microphones and lots of inputs (although if you want to record orchestras, choirs and chamber groups probably a well placed stereo mike is suitable). As you will see from the following three budgets to record groups with lots of microphones costs more. Before we jump straight into outlining the equipment and costs I want to offer one really useful piece of advice: SHOP AROUND! Just because a particular store may say they offer the cheapest prices in New Zealand doesn't necessarily mean that they actually do. Before you buy any piece of equipment get quotes from every music store in your town/city and make your decision based on price and customer service. If maintenance of equipment is not such a worry then don't forget to investigate stores on the internet like B & H Photo & Video, Sam Ash and Sweetwater. If you can save thousands of dollars by buying through them then it may be worth the inconvenience of not having local support for your purchases. While this document lists some suggested packages there is nothing to stop you mixing and matching products from the different packages to create a list of equipment that suits your unique budget and needs (particularly if you already own some equipment such as a mixer or microphones). You will notice that every budget option is based around an Apple Mac computer. A studio can be based around Mac or Windows systems, but the Mac is particularly easy to set up and comes configured with excellent starter software for recording. Often a Windows system will require careful configuration of the audio setup, and software to be loaded, which some musicians may find daunting. What you choose will depend on what support you have at your school (e.g. are you allowed to connect a Mac to the internet at your school?) and how much you can support the system yourself. Either way, the prices indicated here for Macs will be indicative of what you need to spend to get a comparably configured Windows system. Fortunately most of the external hardware will connect to both Mac and Windows machines (you should avoid internal audio cards), so it is not too hard to change later. All the prices listed here are correct as of February 2007 and exclude GST. Many prices are special educational prices available to schools only. Note that Learning Ideas does not sell any equipment listed here. However, we are more than happy to refer you to reputable firms that do sell this equipment.
Learning Ideas Ltd., PO Box 21246, Christchurch 8143, New Zealand Web: www.learningideas.co.nz Email: [email protected]
1
How much does it cost to set up a studio?
A guide to the equipment used in setting up a recording studio from Learning Ideas Limited
Option One - The under $1500 option
Apple Mac Mini computer with 1 Gb RAM
1.66 GHz Core Duo processor Ability to dual boot Mac OS or Windows Includes iMovie, iDVD, iWeb, iTunes & iPhoto
$1110
Apple Garageband recording software
Record up to 8 tracks at once Includes large set of free plugins Edit & loop audio and MIDI Includes comprehensive loop library Ability to create movie soundtracks
FREE with Mac
Shure SM-58 microphone
$168
Industry standard vocal and instrument mic Excellent response, even at high sound levels Rugged and versatile, hard to break (good for schools)! Note that an XLR to mini jack cable is required to plug into the Mac Mini
M-Audio Keystation 49e
Compose using the the virtual instruments in Garageband
$215
TOTAL Upgrade options
Rode NT2-A microphone High quality condenser microphone Audacity recording software
Free recording software for use with Microsoft Windows or Mac
$1493
$621
FREE $450
Pro Tools LE with Mbox mini interface
Good quality preamp and industry standard recording software
M-Audio Studiophile monitors Sennheiser HD 280 PRO headphones
$350 $120
This is an excellent system for creating many modern styles of music. This would be great for the student who creates music by manipulating loops and samples along with some basic keyboard parts. They are then able to record vocals or live instruments using the microphone plugged into the audio input on the Mac Mini (or via an A/D converter like the Presonus Firebox or Pro Tools Mbox mini).
Learning Ideas Ltd., PO Box 21246, Christchurch 8143, New Zealand
*Prices correct as of February 2007
Web: www.learningideas.co.nz
Email: [email protected]
2
How much does it cost to set up a studio?
A guide to the equipment used in setting up a recording studio from Learning Ideas Limited
Option Two - The under $5000 option
Apple iMac 17" computer $1800
Intel Core Duo 2.0 GHz processor 1Gb RAM 160 Gb hard drive Includes iLife suite & Garageband Upgrade option to the 24" screen version with faster processor is $3060 in total
Apple Garageband recording software Rode NT-4 stereo condenser microphone
FREE with Mac $750
Stereo microphone that contains two capsules within the one unit. Due to configuration of capsules it is very easy to get a good sound for ensemble, choir and orchestra recordings.
M-Audio Mobile Pre USB audio interface
$225
2-channel interface for connecting microphones and instruments with your computer.
M-Audio Keystation 49e
Compose using the the virtual instruments in Garageband
$215 $900 pair
M-Audio BX8a Active monitors
AKG K141 Studio headphones
$150
TOTAL Upgrade options
Extra 1 Gb of RAM for the iMac (recommended)
$4040
$170
The feature of this system is the stereo microphone. In a school environment where you want to be able to record compositions and performances with a minimum of fuss the perfectly in phase X-Y configuration of a stereo microphone is the way to go.
Learning Ideas Ltd., PO Box 21246, Christchurch 8143, New Zealand
*Prices correct as of February 2007
Web: www.learningideas.co.nz
Email: [email protected]
3
How much does it cost to set up a studio?
A guide to the equipment used in setting up a recording studio from Learning Ideas Limited
Option Three - The under $10,000 option
Apple iMac 17" computer $1800
Intel Core Duo 2.0 GHz processor 1Gb RAM 160 Gb hard drive Includes iLife suite & Garageband Upgrade option to the 24" screen version with faster processor is $3060 in total
Pro Tools LE with Digi 002 Rack interface
$2265
Industry standard software with high quality hardware interface. 002 hardware can also be used with other software.
Rode NT2-A condenser microphone
$800
High quality microphone for recording acoustic instruments & voice.
2x Shure SM-57 dynamic microphones
Great for recording drums, amplifiers and even vocals
$168 each
2x Rode NT5 condenser microphones
$585 for pair
Useful for drum overheads and acoustic instruments Like a stereo mic these are great for recording choirs & orchestras
Tannoy Reveal 5a Active Monitors
Hihgh quality reference monitors
$1035
M-Audio Axiom 49 Keyboard controller
$479
Provides many MIDI controllers for controlling many parts of your sequencer
TOTAL Upgrade options
Factory version of Digi 002 Rack
Includes an extra $3000 worth of plugins for an extra $649
$7132
$2914 $976
Presonus Digimax
Provides an extra 8 channels of mic inputs for your Pro Tools system
Waves Native Power Pack
Bundle of high quality plugins
$570
Learning Ideas Ltd., PO Box 21246, Christchurch 8143, New Zealand
*Prices correct as of February 2007
Web: www.learningideas.co.nz
Email: [email protected]
4
How much does it cost to set up a studio?
A guide to the equipment used in setting up a recording studio from Learning Ideas Limited
This third under $10,000 option package is great for recording full band situations. microphones and inputs to cover most ensemble needs.
It has enough
The software of choice here is Digidesign's Pro Tools. This is industry standard software and is relatively easy to learn so it is a great choice for many environments. However, you can have many of the benefits of this system if you decide to use the free Garageband software along with the Presonus Digimax instead of Pro Tools and the Digi 002. You get 8 channels of inputs so if you are happy with using Garageband instead of Pro Tools you can save yourself $2266 (this is often recommended for school situations as Garageband is probably the easiest piece of recording software to learn). If you are also not too concerned with fidelity you can also choose to stick with cheaper dynamic microphones (such as the SM58) rather than the condenser microphones. It is also worth mentioning that you could save a few hundred dollards by using other sequencing software such as Logic or Cubase along with the Presonus Digimax or similar interface. However, (in my humble opinion!) that software is much harder for students to get to grips with than Pro Tools.
Option Four - The under $20,000 option
While the full package listed here may be out of the reach of many schools, home recorders or churches there is nothing to stop you from including one or two items from it with one of the cheaper packages. However, to keep it still remotely affordable I've steered clear of considering Pro Tools HD packages as these are well beyond the requirements of most schools, home recordists or churches.
Apple Mac Pro
2x 2.66 GHz core duo processors (effectively four processors) 250 Gb hard drive 1Gb RAM NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT graphics with 256 Mb memory
$3870
Apple Logic Pro
Professional recording software that contains a large suite of plugins
$853 $2280*
Mackie ONYX 1200F Firewire Audio/MIDI interface
Premium quality A/D converter with 12 Mic inputs
JBL LSR4326P Reference monitors
Monitors that can adjust themselves for inadequately treated acoustic environments
$2639 pair
M-Audio Sputnik
$854*
Condenser microphone winner of the Electronic Musician Mic of the year for 2006. Reminiscent of the Neumann U 47 and the AKG C 12.
Learning Ideas Ltd., PO Box 21246, Christchurch 8143, New Zealand
*Prices correct as of February 2007
Web: www.learningideas.co.nz
Email: [email protected]
5
How much does it cost to set up a studio?
A guide to the equipment used in setting up a recording studio from Learning Ideas Limited
AKG D112 Kick drum mic
$377
3x Sennheiser MD421 dynamic mics
Industry standard amplifier and tom microphones
$697 each
Shure KSM 109 condenser mic
Condenser microphone superb for recording cymbals
$375 $1358 pair
2x AKG C451 condenser mics
A pair of these work very well as drum overheads Great for recording orchestras and choirs
Waves Platinum Bundle
32 essential plugins for a professional environment
$2380
Melodyne Studio
The best in pitch correction software - edit audio as easily as MIDI
$1000
Novation ReMOTE SL 61 TOTAL Some extra special items for a big budget Focusrite Liquid Channel premium channel strip
$1200 $19,277
$4726
Precisely replicate any mic-pre/compressor using Dynamic Convolution
Neumann M 149 condenser microphone
One of the best mics on the planet!
$6421
Learning Ideas Ltd., PO Box 21246, Christchurch 8143, New Zealand
*Prices correct as of February 2007
Web: www.learningideas.co.nz
Email: [email protected]
6
How much does it cost to set up a studio?
A guide to the equipment used in setting up a recording studio from Learning Ideas Limited
$19,277 may seem like a lot of money but with a year or two of fundraising and a friendly Board of Trustees this amount of money could easily be found. Keep in mind that you will also need to buy some essentials such as mic and instrument leads (allow probably $400-$500), mic stands (don't buy cheap ones, you'll regret it after a year or so when they start to break!) a UPS for keeping all electrical equipment safe and some studio foam for treating the walls and ceiling of your recording and control room. A real key point that I think needs to be made for all the setups is that you don't have to buy everything in one go. For example if you think that Pro Tools or Logic may be too complicated then don't buy them (or at least defer buying them until you know you really need them). Garageband or Audacity can do most of what any school or church requires and they can be learned in under half an hour. In school situations where students are trying to record compositions it is better that they can sit down and start recording quickly rather than spend a long time trying to figure out the software. You may also find that you do not require all of the high end software such as the Waves plugins or Melodyne. If this is the case it may be be better for you to spend the money you save on acoustic treatment for your recording room. One last consideration is portability. These studio setups are really for a fixed room situation. Although they are reasonably portable it could be inconvenient transferring them to a live venue. This is where a laptop based setup or portable recorders such as the Zoom H4 or the Edirol R09 can come in handy as all audio can easily be recorded to these and transferred to your studio computer via Firewire or USB for mixing.
Educational materials
There are lots of amazing books, CD and DVD resources available for teaching effective recording skills. For a series of resources specifically related to gaining unit standard qualifications from NZQA the best (and only!) option is the Music Technology range from Learning Ideas Limited. For a detailed rundown of each unit standard, free samples and ordering information please go to www.learningideas.co.nz
Thank you for taking the time to read through this ebook. Music technology is an exciting and rewarding area of study. We are so privileged to live at a time that technology has made it so affordable to produce such high quality musical recordings using great equipment. If you have any questions or would like a referral as to where you can buy this and other equipment both in New Zealand and overseas please don't hesitate to email me on the address below. Duncan Ferguson Learning Ideas Limited February 2007
Learning Ideas Ltd., PO Box 21246, Christchurch 8143, New Zealand
*Prices correct as of February 2007
Web: www.learningideas.co.nz
Email: [email protected]
7
How much does it cost to set up a studio?
A guide to the equipment used in setting up a recording studio from Learning Ideas Limited
Glossary of manufacturers cited
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/ http://www.sweetwater.com/ http://www.samash.com/ http://www.apple.com/nz/ http://www.apple.com/nz/ilife/garageband/ http://www.m-audio.com/ http://www.rode.com.au/ http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ http://www.digidesign.com/ http://www.shure.com/ http://www.tannoy.com/ http://www.presonus.com/ http://www.waves.com/ http://www.apple.com/nz/store/ http://www.apple.com/nz/logicpro/ http://www.jblpro.com/ http://www.mackie.com/ http://www.akg.com/ http://www.sennheiser.com http://www.celemony.com http://www.novationmusic.com/ http://www.focusrite.com/ http://www.neumannusa.com/ http://www.learningideas.co.nz (for New Zealand customers) http://www.learningideas.org (for international customers)
A few 'must-see' websites related to this topic:
http://emusician.com/ http://www.tweakheadz.com/rigs.htm http://www.soundonsound.com/ http://www.tki.org.nz/r/arts/facilities/ Great reviews and tutorials 21 further studio setups Helpful reviews and tutorials Advice for schools planning arts facilities
Learning Ideas Ltd., PO Box 21246, Christchurch 8143, New Zealand
*Prices correct as of February 2007
Web: www.learningideas.co.nz
Email: [email protected]
8
