M Discussion: Your Cheapest Budget Home Recording Setup

[MikeChan_]

Discussion:

Due to the many new cheaper products around, the cost of setting up a home project studio has greatly became affordable. From mics to preamp to recording soundcards and other outboards and softwares and plugs, a home project studio could be setup easily within 2K.

On the otherhand, pros may think that such equipment may be too "amature" and couldn't really capture or produce the professional sound. Others may said otherwise that it's a home studio after all.

Lets start a discussion on the "Cheapest Budget Home Recording Setup" here, taking into consideration of the following:

1) Total cost of less than 1.5K
2) Standard of sound quality
3) Already have a PC or notebook (Not included in the 1K)

I shall start the ball rolling for my "dream" budget setup:

1) Condenser Mic:

Behringer C-1 (Listed $80SGD)

http://www.behringer.com/C-1/index.cfm?lang=ENG

Studio Projects B1 (Listed US$99)

http://www.studioprojectsusa.com/b1.html

2) Mic Preamp:

Presonus Tubepre (Listed US$99)

http://www.presonus.com/html/products/tubepre.html

Behringer Ultragain Mic100/200 (Listed SGD$100/$120)

http://www.behringer.com/MIC100/index.cfm?lang=ENG

http://www.behringer.com/MIC200/index.cfm?lang=ENG

Art Tube MP

http://www.artproaudio.com/

3) Soundcard

Tascam US-122

http://www.tascam.com/product_info.php?pid=253

4) XLR Mic cable

Monster Cable Standard 100 (About $60+)

http://www.monstercable.com/pro_audio/productPagePro.asp?pin=2135

5) Monitors

M-Audio BX5

http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=products.main&ID=c89fb7c8339b56ad8e64e509a317579a

Behringer Monitor C-1 (Listed $80)

http://www.behringer.com/MONITOR1C/index.cfm?lang=ENG

6) Mixer

Yamaha MG 10/2 (Listed $210)

http://www.yamahaproaudio.com/

Behinger UB1002 (Listed $140)

http://www.behringer.com/UB1002/index.cfm?lang=ENG



My Take:

Behinger Mic C-1 ($80) + Presonus Tubepre ($168) + Tascam US-122 ($319) + Monitor C-1 ($80) + Monster 100 ($60) + Yamaha 10/2 ($210) + Protools Free

=S$917

 

[veganbleu]

I'd dump the tube pre. I'd get the behringer 1002 with preamps instead, with a strong sell option in the future. Don't know about the yamaha. Haven't heard the monitor C1. it might be worth the price, but i really doubt it. I'd probably get a normal satellite computer set of speakers altec lansings etc, assuming the laptop has nothing else, and learn to mix from there. I'd also wait for the behringer audio USB2.0 interface. mic preamps, 1 midi in, 2 midi out. under 5 i think, in which case i'd forget about the mixer also.
http://www.behringer.com/BCA2000/index.cfm?lang=ENG
so
-(+ Presonus Tubepre ($168) + Tascam US-122 ($319) + Monitor C-1 ($80) + Monster 100 ($60) + Yamaha 10/2 ($210) + Protools Free)
= 917 - 837 + BCA2000 ($449 should be lesser) + some altec ($90?)
= $619 + 1 computer music mag ( $19.85) ( vst host, sampler, synth, 1 CD of samples and reading material )
= $638.85 + m-audio 49-e midi keyboard ($179)
= $817.85

 

[Colarndo]

Why the need for a Monster cable? It's only 1% better than an ordinary cable in shielding and grounding. Get a normal XLR cable.

 

[heclak]

Thats rite.

Why bother getting monster cable when all ur equipment has their inside wired with normal or cheap cable.Quite useless.

 

[MikeChan_]

Yup,

Dump the monster cable.... think a cheap XLR abt $20 from luther custom made ones will just do.

 

[MikeChan_]

Discovered this gem from creative:

Anyone using this can give some feed back?

Creative M-85D

http://www.creaf.com/products/product.asp?prodid=4910

 

[MikeChan_]

So it's down to this?

Behinger Mic C-1 ($80) + Creative Inspire 85-D Monitors ($130) + Normal XLR Mic cable ($20) + Behringer UB1002 ($140) + Protools Free + Mic stand ($40)


= $410 (To normal creative soundcard)

 

[finalmix]

Guys.....take it from the pro!

If you wanna record ...do it rite ....way to go for the 1.5k

1.M-box powered by protools with FOCUSRITE mic preamps..(really awesome)go and check out the mbox coz it comes with mic,line,insts selector which mean that you dont have to use a D.I box for your gtr and stuff.32 track of digital rec(depend on your com perfromance) and also bundle of software like propellerhead reason,plug ins,lots of good stuff.(under $900).The best thing its usb and theres no need for external power.

2.Find a good used monitor speaker like the yamaha NS-10 or MSP-10,Alesis monitor one MK2(pro standard)with stereo amp.The last time i saw at Luthermusic classified, it was going for under $400.(you dont wanna screw your mix on a non-industry standard monitor)

3.You dont need a condenser mic for a small or home studio.Most condenser mic under $700 are kid stuff and you are wasting money.Even if you have a Neuman mic like the TLM or the U-87 which cost $3k and above,you still need a proper acoustic treatment room.So way to go is the Shure SM58 dynamic mic ($150).works perfect for home studio and definately industry standard.

4.Some mic cables and necessary cables ($50)

5.Dont need the Mixer.

So the ideal and definately professional studio for you at $1.5K

M-box +protools($900)+used Alesis monitor wit amp($400) + Shure SM58 Mic($150) +Cables ($50)
Total $1.5K

Cheers !!!!

 

[fibredrive]

for me, i got the Echo MIA MIDI soundcard, with used mackie 1202 vlz pro, behringer b-1 condenser mic, custom made cables at sim lim, sony 7506 headphone monitors. won't buy the creative m85, its bad. had it once. only for a very very short time...
my setup works for me i guess. total cost, $930 thereabouts. but the mia midi is expensive tho...if can get second hand better..cheers

but if i wanna upgrade, finalmix's recommendation of the m box sounds good. the focusrite pres are really yummy...keke

 

[seekz]

Wah talk about the cheapest........

i think the ultmate cheapest would be the Zoom PS-02
cost me about 200 bucks second hand, freaking got EVERYTHING.

and once done, can just simply record to PC via line-in.
Perfect for high-quality demos.

 

[popeye]

care to upload some sample of the result?

 

[purplehaze3691]

I am using a Zoom MRS 4 B which cost me $264 from City music, but I suggest that you guys get the Zoom PS 02 as it has drum machine and guitar modellingamps and effect inside and it cost $365 brand new. The MRS 4B does not have drum machine and guitar effect in it and the memory card is a soon to be obsolette smart media card that is not in production any more. The PS 02 uses sd card which is quite cheap now,512 mb cost about $70 plus. Both the PS 02 and the MRS 4B is a 4 track recorder, you can hear a sample of the MRS 4 B on a sample I recorded on OM good old rock and roll.

I just plug my guitars and effect straight into the input and record , quite simple no need to read unfriendly manual that has hidden meaning or things that they don't tell you

cheers
purplehaze

 

[kevinlimse]

behringer mixer aint good, but for the price.. starters should be fine. Behringer has weak pres, small dynamic range and noisy.... Good pres, try "The Brick".