Question for Studio/Recording Peeps
 

My buddy and I got a bunch of gear yesterday and setup shop here
We need to get a mixer/board deal, what do you guys recommend?
Honestly, we don't really know what we're doing
How much do small studios usually charge per hour?

Here is a list of the gear we have so far:
-1 Yamaha Motif XS
-4 AKG Perception 400 Microphones
-2 KRK RP8 Rokit Powered Monitors
-1 KRK RP10S Active Subwoofer
-Digi 003 Rack
-MacPro tower + Bootlegged copy of Pro Tools I can't get to work

What other gear should we get?

I'll post some pics of the "studio" when we're done setting it up
Most of the shit is still in boxes

It really depends on what you're going for, Crypto. For myself, i have a 16 track digitial Fostex VF160, which is excellent. i have your Rokit monitors. i have yet to record the band yet, but it is great for live acoustic things so far. It sounds like a record. Small studios or pro tools usually cost about 50-60ish range minimum. But with someone that knows what they're doing, it is well worth it. With Pro Tools and the right guy behind it, it's guaranteed to sound good.

Gear, try an analog pre-amp for the mics to offset a bit of the digital thing.. this is an excellent piece for the money.($140ish). It really warms things up beautifuly.

Ditch the ProTools and go with Cakewalk.

cakewalk?
never heard of it

Large diaphragm and condenser mics
Tube preamp

The right microphones will do you so much good (even with less-than-perfect gear otherwise), it's not even funny. I would recommend some decent initial spending there, and make your improvements over time on the rest of the stuff.

Edit:
Good headphones, some with "super isolation" and some that let in some sound from the outside
Cubase has been OK for digital recording for us, but mostly we have been using 1" tape lately

a million thanks for the tips y'all

oh and we have headphones, i forget what make/model they are though

You will have trouble getting a bootlegged copy of PT working but you should have got a free copy of LE with the 003. I would not use the sub for mixing unless you are doing mix downs for film or theatre soundtracks, it gives you a false perspective of what you are actually hearing unless you know how to balance your monitor system properly.

I would sell three of the perception 400's and buy a couple of sm58's , sm57's and some RODE NT5 matched pair pencil condensers. A selection of different microphones is better than a slection of 4 of the same average microphone.

You say you don't know what you are doing so you should not be charging. Use protools, digital performer or cubase. Don't spend money on cheap microphone preamps to make cheap microphones sound better, buy better mics. Use Canare starquad mic cable with neutrik connectors, good cable is one of the most important things you can buy.

Obviously budget is a consideration but buying good stuff first really is the best way to build a studio.

I have a problem with KRK monitors myself they are not very transparent and give a false bottom end response.

As far as mixer goes, what is it you want to spend? I can recommend a board but without knowledge of your buget it is very difficult. Do you want to learn how to run a a digital board or an analog board. I would recommend digital but they are complex beasts and you will need to learn about wordclock and other sync issues the more gear you get. Otherwise you could just buy a midicontroller.

This probably won't be very helpful but you are starting on a path that is not a normal business beast. PM me if you want more indepth info.

another question
if we were to hire someone who knows what they are doing, like an audio engineer, how much would be fair pay (american dollars)?

also, we just bought this 30" Apple HD Cinema Monitor
It's sicksicksick

i charge $60au per hour but is also job dependant

how much is that in US Dollars?
Also, we're looking for someone FULL time

about 52us, weekly you would be looking around $1500 us unless you get someone who has done all the courses and is just starting out