opening a recording studio
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Posted on Jul 28, 2004 03:11 pm
wontdieinPA
Member Since: Apr 27, 2002
ok...for a while now i've been tossing around the idea of obtaining a small business loan to open a recording studio in my area. my primary reason for wanting to do this is that my area is in desperate need of one...its just not fair, all the local bands have been going to expensive studios...going broke making recordings they dont even like, arent proud of..etc...the local studios are falling behind in the new production/recording techniques/methods, i've recorded some local bands who have been more than happy with my work and said they would continue to come to me and recommend more people,...but they start to become dissuaded by the fact that i cant handle huge loads of business and that i work out of my parents basement,...so i found a location to rent out, and i started writing my business plan with lots of help from local business developement centers...its just...the possibilities are endless for things i would need to get, im always changing my mind about what mics to purchase at first to cover all my needs...preamps...outboard gear...etc...heres a list of things i wish to purchase mixed with things i already own...
- AKG D-112 (kick drum)
- Beta 52 (kick drum)
-(4) Shure SM-57 (snare/toms/guitar amps)
-(2) Studio Projects C1 (vocals/overheads)
- Studio Projects C4 (2 small diaphragm condensers for overheads)
-(2) Sennheiser MD421 (toms/bass cabs)
-(2) Nady CM-90 small condenser mics
- Shure SM-58
-Behringer Truth Monitors
-Mackie HR624 or HR824
-M-Audio Delta 1010LT
-MOTU 24 I/O
-Mixed Logic Controller (check it out @ mixedlogic.com its fricken awesome)
-Custom Built DAW from advancedesignky.com
-Very Fluent in Cubase, any recommondations for plug-ins?
now...for the outboard gear...
-okay...i need to buy an 8-channel pre-amp to put in front of the MOTU, they are lots of these bad boys on the market and i was wondering if any of you have heard anything about any of them?
-then i plan on purchasing 2-4 nice little tube pre-amps...any recommondations about these?
id love to hear any suggestions/slams/ammendments...but remember, this HAS TO BE DONE in this area...any help you can offer..i will take! thanks
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Jul 28, 2004 08:10 pm Take this with a grain of salt, since I've never actually gone out on the limb you're about to go on...
Remember that the gear you have has produced "good" results for you so far, and really all you're doing is changing where you record for more flexability / professionalisim (at least as far as appearance goes). Studios are always a work in progress, so don't overwhelm yourself with a ton of new gear. Use what you know, upgrade what doesn't give good enough results, but remember there will be a learning curve for every new piece of gear you get. Also don't forget that being in a new room is going to drastically change the sound of your recording environment. As I understand it, the most time and money involved in setting up a studio are invested in getting the room itself to sound right, then whatever gear you use will end up being that much better.
Just a few thoughts...
guitwizzNothing doesnt give me gasMember
Since: May 25, 2004
Jul 29, 2004 12:26 am Thats true Munger, you sound like you have pretty good stuff already, get the rooms happening as best as you can first. Your gear will sound even better than it does now. Also proper sound proofing materials aint cheap, especially as the room possibilities get larger.
Oh, and the aphex 207 2 channel tube mic pre,.....awesome!!!!
Jul 29, 2004 08:16 am Well ya gonna go do it man....awesome. Some have already done it, some just dream of doing it, and some are envious to the brim of those who do it.
I'm envious, but also totally respectful of the guts to do it. But you seem to have the first two necessities, which are client base prospects and need for such a place in your area.
Take my opinions also with a pinch of salt as i'm not one to be respected, just a Home rec guy, but i've seen some home studios that try to make mone yout of it, and they can ave all the gear in the world, but clients want just two things: good sound at the end of it, and the "wow" factor in the studio. Appearances count for everything, so i would say make room acoustics, studio design general appearance your top priority. You want those clients to go away shouting from the rooftops that they just recorded a session at <INSERT STUDIO NAME HERE>, not whispering quietly that they did it over at someones house. New clients dont even have to know that the location is rented... for all they know, you own it. Make it look pro, smart, chic, yet friendly, and coupled with your obvious knowhow, talent and business sense, go make it a success.
So in short, my advice is to not just "move" your basement away from your folks house, but to make it look like the real deal. Make it look as smart as those expensive studios the local bands have gone to, but undercut the crap out of them. And ya DONT need to spend loadsa dosh on euqipment to do that.... great lighting, colours, a gobo or two will have much more "wow" factor than 6 racks full of hard gear.
Just my opinions, as a guy off the street.
Best of luck mate.
Jul 29, 2004 12:57 pm yah, im just trying to get the bare minimum amount of things i would need to work efficiently without breaking the back and allowing me to expand my studio as time progresses...so thats why im only looking for an 8-channel mic-preamp to front my MOTU which i can combine with the preamps on the direct-outs of my Behringer Eurorack UB2442FX for a total of 16 channels...then i want to purchase a couple of nice tube pre-amps just to add on to it to toss it up a little...as far as EQ's, compressors, or effect units...i wouldnt put so much stress on them as most of that could be done within the computer itself...
and as far as aesthetics is concerned, my father and i are custom building my desk...its gonna be awesome, my dad's real good...my mother and i are heading to IKEA to look for some nice lighting, my girlfriend is gonna help me with colors for all of the rooms, and the carpeting in the control room...my friend matt is an awarding local artist, so its gonna include alot of really interesting original art and whatnot...i cant wait...thanks all of you for addressing this issue
wrmach I'm Roscoooo P. ColtraneMember
Since: Apr 12, 2003
Jul 29, 2004 02:46 pm The fact that your going to give bands(especially struggling ones)a good product for a good price is really commendable. I know the feeling of walking out of a studio very disappointed and broke. Theres definitely more to a studio then expensive equipment(which is nice)and a big price tag.
The whole thing sounds like a great idea. You seem to be a guy who follows his dreams...I dig that!
Jul 29, 2004 05:09 pm Aye..go for it!
I am currently in a position where I COULD be made redundant at some point in the near future and I am now of the opinion that 6 years hard work and promotions mean sodd all as working for corporate giants is crap...as is security etc.
So, my point is - I would LOVE to do what you're gonna do. If I get to the situation, I would like to think I'd consider it, assuming I have progressed enuff to do it right AND make dough from it.
Alas, its all ifs and buts but as Wrmach says - good on ya for being ballsy enuff to give it a shot.
I kinda go along with the comments mentioned above. Man, I went to a studio to practice in a band for 3 years. it was a pokey little hole in the middle of Edinburgh (as most studios are here) and I was never overwhelmed with the "look". But these guys made records with 2 guys fi Fife called The Proclaimers (you may have heard of them) and they're stuff is the mutznutz!
So...point is - yi dinny need a big flash look to do it. Get it looking decent, dont go mad and concentrate on whats important - THE SOUND!..get that right and the rest will fall into place.
I'd sure as hell prefer to record an excellent album in a decent looking studio than a piece of crap in a skyscraper with 400 racks full of lights!
Good luck...
Coco.
wrmach I'm Roscoooo P. ColtraneMember
Since: Apr 12, 2003
Jul 29, 2004 07:06 pm I held band practice at a studio also. The guy charged us 150 dollars for 2 hours. And what irratated me was he kept interupting us while he would show "important clients"...[size=2](his words)[/size] the studio. Trust me, we would have went else-where if we had somewhere to go!
Hey, I'm for free enterprise but not with my money!
el musicoFreeleance Producer/Engineer/GtrMember
Since: Aug 11, 2002
Jul 30, 2004 02:34 pm check out the Focusrite Octopre. i have one and really dig it
Jul 30, 2004 04:16 pm can i ask you something without getting too personal? do you make enough money with this studio to live comfortably...or just enough to call it a hobby?
GPMember
Since: Jun 29, 2004
Aug 02, 2004 12:41 pm One word of advice from my other life. When you are working on the room, don't forget to ask your landlord for improvement money. If there is an empty space a lot of commerical land owners will chip in with leasehold upgrades in order to get the rent flowing. They might not help you with your actual sound design, but they might help you with a fresh coat of paint and some upgrades to the bathrooms etc..
Good luck
Aug 02, 2004 03:43 pm Hey Wrmach..
Aye - we never had that problem. We had the advantage of having the best practice room in the place but it was RIGHT NEXT to the wee control room - typical with the glass window, all the gear inside (I was young at the time and dazzled).
We thought it fun to go knockin on the glass every 20 mins or so to see if the guys in there appreciated oor stuff. Most likely recording and mixing a major hit and a bunch of 17-18 year olds knockin on their windae saying "What did ye think of that then lads??" hehehe
The joys of youth!
Coco.
