PG Music Home Forums General Discussion Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production How to record an Album with a small budget!

No Mario, you're not hijacking the thread at all. You are spot on. I'm a big fan and followed Graham Cochran for years. The same for Joe Gilder.

What was interesting in the article to me was the authors choice to use a stand alone digital multi track recorder over buying studio time or using his computer based Studio One Software run via a Presonus 1604 digital mixer. He tracked and mixed with the Tascam DP-24 and his total budget for the album was $45,000.

He made the choice to do so his focus could be on the music and not the technology. The current price for the Tascam DP-24 today is $469.99. Match that with monitors, headphones, a Rode NT!-A and Shure SM-57 and some miscellaneous mic stands, cables, etc and you've got a complete package for around $900.

I watched Graham's video and it was made in 2015. I updated his cost for the six items (his $300 value assumes one has a PC/Mac desktop/laptop) to today's cost.

The Presonus 2x2 USB interface is still $99 and the ADC/DAC is upgraded from 48 to 96Khz.
The Samson C01 is available in a package that includes headphones, mic stand, cable and carry case for $139.99

To match Graham's 2015 package and replace the Presonus interface with a Tascam DP-24 and the other items updated, comes to $610. Graham's system including a bare bones laptop for $200 comes to $640.

Pro's of Graham's system - Lot's of software options; portable; 96Khz; Huge track count and a more comprehensive DAW that the Tascam; Lot's of opportunity to expand system (add to your studio as your experience and needs increase ).
Con's of Graham's system - 2 inputs; potential latency; system crashes; software setup; limited hardware interface capability (no physical aux sends/rec; Huge software learning curve for Studio One; Limited and restricted free version of Studio One; PC not included; Lot's of opportunity to expand system (cost, temptation, eye candy ); Mixing more than a single channel at a time requires external hardware controller.

Pro's of the Tascam Multi track System: 8 Simultaneous channels for recording. Built in Hi-Z; Real faders and knobs; No PC needed. USB and SD card included for PC interface if desired. 48/24 DAC/ADC more than adequate for commercial recording projects; Comprehensive DAW, effects and dynamics included; Ease of Operation; More portable than Graham's system; Less of a learning curve; physical aux in/outs; The included DAW Software is comparable to Graham's included free software DAW. DP-24 has 8 virtual tracks per channel for 192 + 8 at mixdown = 200 available tracks with 32 available at mixdown. Each Stereo channel can store two prerecorded mono tracks; Better external hardware interfacing; Will operate as an 8 track mixer with effects; Operates as an 8 track field recorder; Capable to multi track record an entire band live; More stable than PC based DAW systems; Faster startup over PC DAWs; Less physical pieces and connections; Super easy to connect to transfer back and forth between the unit and a PC.

Con's of the Tascam Multi Track System: The DAW OS is not as full featured as software DAW's nor is it expandable; The screen is not as big as a PC or laptop monitor; A project larger than 32 Gigs will require another SD storage card; Editing is not as visual as a PC DAW; Not as prestigious and does not get the love like a PC DAW does...

I think more beginners and artists whose primary goal is to make music over becoming an engineer, mixer or producer are better served starting with a hardware, stand alone, digital multi track recorder over even a modest $500 software/audio interface system.