How much…really?

[dnf777]

Visited some websites of Nashville studios earlier today. Blackbird Studios really stood out, but it got me wondering….with all the couth of Jethro in a Beverly Hills jewelry store, I ask: how much green do top tier studios put into gear?? (Not including real estate)

After assembling a simple 2-channel rack system for my closet (uhm…I mean studio), Im quite sure its total value is easily exceeded by ONE of Blackbird’s mics. Add one of their pre-amps and compressor, and they surpass ALL my music gear’s value, including my guitars. Their console for studio H is probably on par with my home’s value.

Got me wondering what studios A thru G amass in value? $5 million? $20 million? Or, as Dr Evil would say….”One HUNDRED billion dollars?”

[jim1960]

Gear alone could easily climb into the millions if they have several rooms with large vintage consoles, but for a studio with a single room, even with a vintage console I'd guess the gear is coming in under a million but certainly in the hundreds of thousands. Heck, just in my home studio I have have more than $30K worth of gear in my racks and over $20K worth of microphones. On top of that I'd estimate I have over $40K in stringed instruments and amps. Add in all the other stuff... racks, mic stands, other various instruments, cables, midi controller, computer & peripherals, room treatment, monitors, headphones, etc., I'm guessing I have $100K worth of stuff on hand. It really can add up over time.

All of those areas are things into which top studios invest, including instruments which they'll rent to customers who wish to use them. But for the big studios, the initial major investment is likely in designing and building a great recording space. I've seen stories where that cost alone gets a studio into 7-figures.

[dnf777]

Originally Posted by jim1960

All of those areas are things into which top studios invest, including instruments which they'll rent to customers who wish to use them. But for the big studios, the initial major investment is likely in designing and building a great recording space. I've seen stories where that cost alone gets a studio into 7-figures.

I find this all interesting. When you crunch the rough numbers, you can see where studio rates come from, and actually wonder how ends meet at that! Although most studios dont start with a lump investment of their final form, but gradually accumulate and grow through re-investment during the good times, and hanging on in the others, it still seems tight at best. I guess one young George Strait or Taylor Swift signing up to cut a debut can fix all that for the lucky ones.

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by dnf777

Visited some websites of Nashville studios earlier today. Blackbird Studios really stood out, but it got me wondering….with all the couth of Jethro in a Beverly Hills jewelry store, I ask: how much green do top tier studios put into gear?? (Not including real estate)

After assembling a simple 2-channel rack system for my closet (uhm…I mean studio), Im quite sure its total value is easily exceeded by ONE of Blackbird’s mics. Add one of their pre-amps and compressor, and they surpass ALL my music gear’s value, including my guitars. Their console for studio H is probably on par with my home’s value.

Got me wondering what studios A thru G amass in value? $5 million? $20 million? Or, as Dr Evil would say….”One HUNDRED billion dollars?”

Its an interesting question . Honestly I have no clue --- but given I have basically a few pieces of 2 channel studio grade rack gear =

2 channel stereo reverb,, a 2 channel high gain ribbon mic pre,, a 2 channel compressor,, and a good high quality 8 channel interface .

2 Large Diaphragm mic's (1-tube and 1 -FET) ,, a pair of Ribbon mics, one studio grade mic stand, and one good consumer grade mic stand

Plus pair of good studio monitors an damp and couple decent sets of Headphones
And I am sitting a little under $28k ( todays MSRP) for just that sparse amount of gear....Roughly the price of one new moderately decked out Harley (to put it into perspective)

[Bob Womack]

At the top, it isn't an inexpensive business. Back between 1996 and 1999 we put my recording suite into commission:
$200,000 worth of architectural costs
$200,000 worth of mixing console. That price reflected a 45% discount from the manufacturer - the console normally sold for $440k
$70,000 worth of 24 track analog and Dolby SR noise reduction
$90,000 worth of other tape decks
$20,000 (approx) worth of processing
$30,000 worth of synchronizer
$25,000 worth of assigned mics (another $50,000 shared with the rest of the facility that I won't count)
$17,000 worth of monitoring systems
Stands, headphones, chairs, etc.

That's over $650 of directly-assigned gear and improvements.

In that same period a studio down the road put in a large vintage 50 series Neve console. I don't know what the console cost but they were sinking $200,000 into refurbishing it to as-new condition.

Bob

[jim1960]

Originally Posted by dnf777

Visited some websites of Nashville studios earlier today...

If somewhere behind this post is an underlying question about whether it's less expensive in the short term to book a studio rather than invest in the ability to record oneself, the answer is probably 'Yes, the studio would be cheaper,' unless one is willing to settle for a noticeable difference in quality of the recording.

[dnf777]

Originally Posted by jim1960

If somewhere behind this post is an underlying question about whether it's less expensive in the short term to book a studio rather than invest in the ability to record oneself, the answer is probably 'Yes, the studio would be cheaper,' unless one is willing to settle for a noticeable difference in quality of the recording.

Oh, no doubt! Even if I spent a million dollars on the best gear, I cant buy the know-how and experience of a seasoned engineer or producer. This is pure hobby.

[b1j]

Here’s a voice from the low end.

$100 interface, 2 inputs
$400 DAW, by the time I inched up to the Pro version
Two $225 LDC mics (came with XLR cables)
Two $225 SDC mics (came with stereo bar)
Two $30 boom stands
$120 Beyerdynamic open-back headphones
$120 Sennheiser closed-back headphones
$100 Eris 3.5 monitors
$200 Sub8 subwoofer

That’s about it. Added a couple of less necessary things:
Melodyne Editor, $300 after grading up a couple of times
Superior Drummer 3, $400 — the big splurge.

What’s that, $2,700?

[Acousticado]

Originally Posted by b1j

Here’s a voice from the low end.

$100 interface, 2 inputs
$400 DAW, by the time I inched up to the Pro version
Two $225 LDC mics (came with XLR cables)
Two $225 SDC mics (came with stereo bar)
Two $30 boom stands
$120 Beyerdynamic open-back headphones
$120 Sennheiser closed-back headphones
$100 Eris 3.5 monitors
$200 Sub8 subwoofer

That’s about it. Added a couple of less necessary things:
Melodyne Editor, $300 after grading up a couple of times
Superior Drummer 3, $400 — the big splurge.

What’s that, $2,700?

+ the new Mac, right? Although a computer is used for other things, it’s still a consideration as a major component of our hobby. I’m in the process of considering a new Mac laptop as well where the specs will mainly be to support my music.

[jim1960]

Originally Posted by dnf777

Oh, no doubt! Even if I spent a million dollars on the best gear, I cant buy the know-how and experience of a seasoned engineer or producer. This is pure hobby.

That's the part that's often lost on those considering making the jump. If the goal is to get the best quality recordings that represent one's work in the best possible way, putting together a home studio is neither a cost-effective nor speedy way to attain that goal. Despite what may appear to be the high cost of professional studio time, it's likely the better option for those people on both fronts.

But once we get the bug to record at home, it becomes about other things and hold onto your credit cards, folks!

[b1j]

Originally Posted by Acousticado

+ the new Mac, right? Although a computer is used for other things, it’s still a consideration as a major component of our hobby. I’m in the process of considering a new Mac laptop as well where the specs will mainly be to support my music.

You got me, Tom! OK, double that tally.

I do use the Mac for my business, but I could easily get by for that with a middle of the road Intel machine. Let’s just say I was tired of dropouts!

[dnf777]

Originally Posted by Acousticado

+ the new Mac, right? Although a computer is used for other things, it’s still a consideration as a major component of our hobby. I’m in the process of considering a new Mac laptop as well where the specs will mainly be to support my music.

Easy, Tom…we dont want that cat gettin outta the bag! Kinda like that U-87 is for bingo calling at the VFW…

[b1j]

Originally Posted by dnf777

Easy, Tom…we dont want that cat gettin outta the bag! Kinda like that U-87 is for bingo calling at the VFW…

Well, my wife and CFO endorsed the Mac purchase, so I’m in the clear there.