The Cost of a Home Studio
There are many options, and everyone you ask will give you a different reason why their personal choice is best.
There are three ways to go:
1) A soundboard and outboard gear
2) In the box (recording and mixing entirely on the computer)
3) A hybrid combination
Let’s break this down.
Soundboard
We’ve all drooled over that monster-mixing console that has a million buttons and takes up half your studio, but therein lies the problem – it takes up half your studio.
So, right off the hop, if you have a small space this option is not for you.
You should also consider your future needs.
Will you ever need 48 channels? Maybe, but what if you’ll need 60 channels, or 90?
There are expensive, ongoing, servicing costs too. Dust constantly gets into mixer’s dials and sliders and becomes a life-shortening issue that can be addressed only by a professional.
Then there’s the start-up cost - tens of thousands of dollars in most cases.
The board is only the beginning; you will also need outboard compressors, effects, recording devices, and MIDI equipment; and don’t get me started on patch cables.
My guitarist friend, Barry, owns a professional studio and has been expanding his set-up for years.
One legitimate argument he could make is that he can actually earn a living from having other musicians record in his studio.
In The Box *my personal choice
For this option you will require:
1) A fast computer with a lot of storage.
2) A DAW (digital audio workshop) such as Pro Tools
3) An interface. You must decide on the number of inputs you will need. Many systems can be chained by purchasing a second or third unit to add more channels should the need arise.
I have managed to keep my costs just slightly under $10,000 but my extras are ongoing too.
Most In The Box operators are plug-in junkies who crave constant fixes of the latest digital toys and software upgrades.
The upside is that you’ll always have the latest technology (and relatively cheaply too, at about $20 to $200 per).
The Hybrid System:
Or as it is affectionately known “Frankenstein’ – the best (and worst) of both worlds”
The upside of going this route is that you can totally customize to suit your preferences, and personal strengths.
The downside is that you will incur the combined costs of both previous choices, and their combined upkeep costs.
This option is NOT for the faint of heart or the monetarily challenged.
My own studio is 300 square feet – not huge, but not small.
I chose the following and am getting radio play from:
1) An IMac desktop with 64 gig RAM and ½ Terabyte storage
2) Pro Tools 12 professional level
3) The Apollo 4 interface by UA.
I am content with most decisions I’ve made, but in hindsight, I do wish I had opted for a Terabyte of storage on the Mac.
Happy recording…
Singer/Songwriter/Producer from Brantford, Ontario, Canada