$3,400 GRAMMY WINNING HOME STUDIO

[@ustulo3488]

I started producing band driven artists back in 2003 with what was out at that time. I had what most project studios had...a Digi 002 running PT native, a power mac, an 8 channel ADAT connected preamp unit for extra inputs, Mackie 8 inch monitors, a large diaphragm condenser for vocals and drum mic package. I think I spent 7,000 on that first set up with some extra Waves plug-ins. I ended up engineering tracks that made it on the radio with that set-up. I think what Steve is saying here is that for a basic but effective set-up this is what he is recommending from what is available and what is the best value at its price point. I agree on the sm7b...that mic is incredibly versatile, from screaming to whisper light females. You just have to have enough preamp gain to run it. I've owned the 8 inch Yamahas with a sub and the 5 inch versions before...in my opinion they are very harsh and will punish your ears on long sessions. At their price point not much else is better, as they are somewhat true in the low end due to a closed cabinet design with no ports, but I would recommend spending a little more for something that's more listenable yet still flat. The Apollo I want to try, as I'm planning a set-up for electronic pop production that is separate from my current PT rig. If I don't love the UA daw platform they include, I can always go into PT. The Komplete 12 package is a lot of dough, but I think his point is that it's the most bang for your buck if you are doing all electronic production with a vocal, and it will be something I will look at. In reality, I do believe there are many pros who are using the set-up he describing even with some of the components switched for others around the same price point. And yes, if it's for bigger artists, they are probably not doing final mixes and masters on it, but for the rest of the world releasing indie music on youtube, it's more than a competent solution.

[@TheSteveFreeman]

And you get it! My video was not fit beginners or the gear they should get. This video was simply about a small pro set up that professionals are using like on the projects I mentioned. I agree 100% on the Yamaha monitors, I’ve never been a fan and never used them. I’m a Focal guys. I certainly remember the 002 days, my first Pro Tools rig was the 001 with pcie card! There is a big misunderstanding with this video that I am recommending this stuff for beginners, I’m not, but as every producer grows and becomes more successful, we upgrade our tools, the overall point of this video is that I have spent millions of dollars over the last 25 years on my gear and multiple studios in several states, it’s amazing to me that where we are with technology, a small home studio can produce amazing results with just $3,400. People have a hard time with me saying “just”, but when you do this professionally, there are expectations from clients. They want to use high end gear, if that weren’t the case, the gear manufacturers would only make cheaper gear. $3,400 to a professional is nothing as far as costs for a complete small home setup. I have mics that cost 5 times that and they sit in a closet. It all depends on what level you are playing the game.

[@ustulo3488]

@@TheSteveFreeman Absolutely. A lot of studios and producers that have higher end gear are servicing a certain client level or are simply offering those pieces to demand a higher hourly rate for studio rental. To me, at least in the old days, the biggest difference was the converters a high end studio would have running PT HD both ways through a neve or ssl compared to what you could do in the box at 44.1khz...the differences today, minus having an analog desk for summing purposes, are negligible. Of course it's nice to have real hardware instead of emulations as well, but that gap has closed too. As it's been said, many times it's not the gear you have but how you use it...and as both of us know...how good the song and the performance is. It's really always about that in the end in my opinion no matter what system, gear, or process someone is working with.

[@MSHRadio-dj5zn]

@@ustulo3488 well, I think the smartest thing is to run in a hybrid mode. Some analog gear and analog synths and then processing all in the box. As far as mastering I think it's a completely different topic and the sky is the limit. But for the hybrid studio you would have to spend more than what this video recommends.

[@malachiazariah7237]

i know im asking randomly but does any of you know a way to log back into an Instagram account? I somehow forgot the account password. I would love any tips you can give me.

[@kannonmoshe2287]

@Malachi Azariah Instablaster :)

[@natestrayhorn1578]

You don’t have to have $3400 to make platinum hits.

[@TheSteveFreeman]

Beacon, Hill I didn’t say you did.

[@symph1744]

He's just saying that this stuff will help you get professional (ready for release) quality

[@angelorozul241]

Good song really matters. Not the gear

[@symph1744]

@@angelorozul241 everything starts with a great song for sure. From there you'll want to be able to use gear and craftsmanship that will make the song stand through the ages of time.

[@rdru2ner82]

He is saying for those are starting out…

[@chriscuthbertson]

I've just swapped my Neve desk for an apollo interface.... can't wait for the Grammy's to come rolling in. ;)

[@anaiybeatx]

For real 😂😂😂

[@rxjesh]

Triggered one 😂

[@TheSteveFreeman]

If that’s the overall meaning you got out of the video, you’re an idiot incapable of common sense.

[@STEViEZHUU]

@@TheSteveFreeman looks like the one lacking common sense is the guy who missed the wink emoji on that comment there, got baited, and chose to take an overly aggressive stance

[@TheSteveFreeman]

@@STEViEZHUU truth, I did not see the winky face! Lol

[@MrHumphrey2000]

Don’t hate on this guy, he is doing his job, he is getting paid to do this. Don’t throw away your interface.

[@TheSteveFreeman]

TJ HUMPHREY SHOW I make my money from the hit songs I’ve written, my publishing deal, the records I produce, and the points on the platinum records I’ve produced in the past. I don’t do sponsored videos and could care less about KZbin ad revenue.

[@MrHumphrey2000]

Steve Freeman I respect your point of view, from your reaction video I get where you coming from , most platinum artist are used to seeing certain things, it’s more mental, people associate quality with price. 💯

[@jonathanbolger6173]

Let's be real, none of those artists songs were mixed or mastered in 3,400 dollar studio

[@TheSteveFreeman]

This video wasn't about the mixing and mastering process, it was about the tools used to create the songs. You also have to realize, of it isn't good going in, it won't be good coming out.

[@jonathanbolger6173]

@@TheSteveFreeman Yea, true. It's a good list and i couldn't argue with any of the selections, appreciate you putting it together. To your point though, shit in = shit out. Maybe some acoustic insulation would be a good addition to a list like this. Bump the budget up to 3,500 😂

[@fmarkow]

@@jonathanbolger6173 Agreed... need to treat your room, makes a huge diff in the sound in and the playback quality. DYI Owens Corning, cover them, radical transformation

[@DreHolzer]

@@TheSteveFreeman with this set-up you could mix a song with just a good pair of headphones, don't you think? (provided, of course, that the material you're working with is good enough)

[@axisofficial265]

Motu makes great affordable interfaces with really good converters... but if you are in an untreated room with yamaha monitors youwould be lucky to hear any difference between different converters or preamps.

[@axe76man]

Can't buy the talent to use it....

[@TheSteveFreeman]

perfectly stated!

[@chinmeysway]

The reason why pop music is garbage; it IS often purchased!

[@zonasound]

actually Waves has a new Talent plugin... jk

[@nirobispruill908]

People swear it’s talent. It’s not it’s dedication.

[@zahcinc149]

@@nirobispruill908 its both

[@bce3210]

My band (no names will be dropped) had a $200k budget for our last record. We used millions in analog gear and every penny plus some of our budget. Nearly every album review mag stated that the sounds and samples we used were dated and sounded cheap, haha. It was all actually played real gear!! Everything we did with plugins only on a quarter of the budget had much more commercial success, comparatively. Ill never make that mistake again. Ever.

[@TheSteveFreeman]

Shows you just how much the "Pro's" know! Great story man, please give me the name of the band, I would love to go take a listen!

[@bce3210]

Steve Freeman If I was to make up a “pro” story, it certainly wouldn’t be about how my band lost a major label deal by wasting a bunch of cash on a record, just to have had more success on previous records on a quarter of the budget, haha. Nothing to prove here. Just my experience I felt like sharing. Was more or less agreeing with you anyhow.

[@bce3210]

Unless I completely miss read that and you really were saying that was a good read and that the “pros” had us spend a bunch on a record. In which case, I still have to take the blame, as I wanted to do it the old school way and with the current style, it just didn’t sonically translate. So, it was actually my fault, haha. It was a fun ride, though! Just don’t want to share the band, out of respect for everyone involved. Not a tiny band. Your vid is 100% on point, though.

[@TheSteveFreeman]

B C E lol, that’s exactly what I meant! The “pro’s” at the labels thinking you have to spend all that money to get quality!

[@donnbialik9085]

@@bce3210 I had a similar thing happen with my band back in the early 2000s. Had Jimmy Iovine working with us, we went with a celebrated engineer trying to become a producer. We went super old school, authentic everything, raw, etc. And we just didn't sound "new" enough. Sonically our new music sounded old.

[@rapgentry]

Back in the day, I used to have friends who made the most incredible music out of their closet with an ASR-10 and a bunch of Radio Shack mixer and cheap mic. I would be blown away asking what they used until i actually went to their house and saw the closet for myself. This 3400.00 studio would be an upgrade for them and can just imagine what they would produce with it.

[@TheOfficialDamefame]

Micheal Jackson used a Shure SM7 on Thriller, not the Shure SM7B. Just clarifying🙏

[@finnfransen_official279]

True

[@JeyfahAswani]

is that even true?

[@TheOfficialDamefame]

@@JeyfahAswani True indeed👍

[@JeyfahAswani]

Oh shit. Am getting one for myself

[@TheOfficialDamefame]

@@JeyfahAswani Remember... That was the mic he used; but it's important to also know the chain that was used in that setup with that mic🙏

[@Podcastage]

As soon as I used the Arrow, I was all in on the UA ecosystem. Then I got the x8 for my main studio, and then got the Twin X for my testing rig, and it is pretty much my perfect interface. Two great preamps. Processing. And expansion if you want.

[@BrijeshSarin]

Apollos are great. Anyways whats your take on Audient Interfaces?

[@mattolivo]

This video is deceitful and nobody is pointing out that you need talent and skills to make platinum music not just a home studio and also you don't have to have a 3400 dollar setup to make Platinum records, there are way more budget friendly Setups that ppl can get just as good a sound out of! This is the reality of ppl that were never broke in there life lol, He said its only 3400 dollars multiple times like its pocket change and that is wack the average teen or young adult getting into music production dont have that kind of money!! With skills you can Make PLATINUM records on a way more budget friendly setup than this. I know yall are prolly friends and im not trying to be mean its just deceitful when ppl do this, YOUR KZbin PAGE IS WAY MORE HONEST THAN THIS AND THANKS FOR THAT I"VE LEARNED A LOT FROM YOU BRO!

[@jaymusik1235]

@@BrijeshSarin audient is perfect friend this is half truth an whole lie

[@BrijeshSarin]

@@jaymusik1235 didn't quite get you... 😅

[@jaymusik1235]

@@BrijeshSarin what I mean I use audient to produce commercial tracks that goes on tour and compete very well with other mix coming out of apollo interface as a matter of fact the audient preamp is better than uad preamp The thing that save the uad preamp is the mic unison which is great for what they do. The shark processor is great for processing too But the audient is powerful real powerful transparent sound n clean that I can color with vst or outboard gear but mainly vst n get the job done real good

[@ricogaming2047]

its not about what u have and how much you spend its how you use what you have u dont need all this to make hits if you know what and how you use what u have then be good with that if one believes in his or herself u will make it no matter if u spend 300.00 or millions of dollars keep this in mind for all the young producers coming up

[@TheSteveFreeman]

I agree and disagree at the same time. I agree 100% with the sentiment of what you are saying, yes, it's about knowing how to use whatever you have, however, just like building a house, the better material you use, the stronger the house and the longer it will last. Not having expensive equipment is not a good reason not to start, grow and learn, but it's also important to remember that as you grow and learn, acquiring and learning better tools only makes the product better.

[@Nick-eo2ol]

Clickbait apollo commercial

[@TheSteveFreeman]

and....

[@nirobispruill908]

I’ve used the Apollo and I didn’t like it compared to my SSL 2.

[@Tim_ArtistName_Tallent]

I think it’s worth mentioning, if you send your tracks out for mixing and mastering , you can cut back significantly on all this. No need for tons of plug ins or super great monitors . A clean signal with proper gain staging and real talent, and u can make excellent records. That being said, this is thorough content so thank u. And if u can afford this set up it’s professional grade quality for sure.

[@TheSteveFreeman]

Tim Aka TAllent agree 100%. I do not believe any artist should be mixing and mastering their own work, especially when you want your music to compete in the marketplace. I’m not at all saying that it’s not possible to do it well, I’m saying that when you bring in a great mixing and mastering engineer, they bring their stamp, expertise and talent to each song and when you use the right ones, it elevates the product and takes it to a new level. I never mix or master the projects I produced, the same reason I don’t fix plumbing problems at my house, I’m not a plumber. I could probably fix it, but I wouldn’t do near as good of a job!

[@Tim_ArtistName_Tallent]

@@TheSteveFreeman lol! perfect analogy and a thorough response, thank you for further convincing me , and saving me and many others a ton of time, while also encouraging us!

[@TheSteveFreeman]

Tim Aka TAllent thanks for taking the time to watch and engage brother!!!

[@Tim_ArtistName_Tallent]

Steve Freeman very welcome !

[@Tim_ArtistName_Tallent]

Eman 08 great point!! Acoustic treatment is critical, a vital part of your recording signal to get that clean audio to then be mixed

[@prodslim]

Hey after I bought the *one* Yamaha HS8 for $400, my mixes have been sounding worse. Plz help

[@TheSteveFreeman]

At the time I made this video almost a year ago, Sweetwater was running a special for the pair for $399.98

[@przemysawkrol5018]

This is 16 min commercial

[@TheSteveFreeman]

Yes it is

[@StephenOrion]

To those who don't have 3400$, here's a 1000$ alternative. Audient iD4 200$, Kali Audio LP6 300$, Audio Technica AT4040 mic 200$, Audio Technica M50x Headphones 100$, Native Instruments A49 keyboard 220$ (comes with essential Komplete software which you can upgrade at a discount later when you have more money). You can buy most of them used - especially monitors, mics and keyboard. They depreciate quick and don't be cheap on the interface - which is already budget - there could be sth wrong with it and you wouldn't know. Buy used if you can always. And get the highest CPU you can afford.

[@dulla8469]

let me add that you dont need to buy all at once, you can get the interface, headphones, and mic, as a start and then get the monitors and keyboard after, and the keyboard when you are well set financially

[@StephenOrion]

​@@dulla8469 Yeahhh. I only have a laptop for the first two years before I bought all of it. Took me 4 years to buy all of it. You don't need any of this to make Grammy winning music tbh. There's plenty of unknown grammy winners who made music on decade old equipments.

[@dulla8469]

@@StephenOrion i started recording with a macbook and a guitar hero mic, and used my guitar amp as a speaker... with two or three socks as pop filters, it was hella fun though

[@TheSteveFreeman]

Very true! I don’t believe you have to have this specific gear to be successful or win Grammy’s and didn’t say that you did, I was highlighting the specific gear that was used in the projects I mentioned

[@StephenOrion]

​@@TheSteveFreeman You did a good job, man. Hope to see an alternative video that goes absolute budget. And also wish more music youtubers do specific PC building or buying stuff (with benchmarks, real world performance, from low to unlimited budget, Linus Tech style). This is just what i would value to see on youtube.

[@aboriginalshoota9269]

I used the focusrite interface and then switched to the apollo twin soon after I love it the loudest and clearness made me fall in love I feel like the focusrite doesn’t compare to apollo as far as the loudness and pre amps

[@TheSteveFreeman]

Great to hear!

[@beigela]

hah! focusrite has some of the best pres in the biz! most, if not all of these companies that make consumer grade products will also have professional grade gear. maybe not behringer, but focusrite most certainly!

[@beigela]

@@eman0828 u seen the new red 8pre?? 😯😯😯

[@aboriginalshoota9269]

Eman 08 yea don’t get me wrong focusrite is a great interface but me personally I have better mixes with the Apollo

[@christofthedead]

The level of sincerity on your face when you deliver the line "I don't consider people who drag & drop samples as real producers, that's called computer programming." If only those uncultured drones ever found the substance within themselves to do some REAL skilled and CREATIVE work, they'd be in the illustrious profession of making pretty ear noises sound vaguely similar to preexisting and commercially popular versions of pretty ear noises, exclusively using a workflow created and maintained entirely by computer programmers. It's time to draw a line between those who drag and drop all mousey like, and REAL pro-FESSIONAL-ducers, who utilise their superior breeding to delicately drag and drop their vintage knobs into our unworthy ear-holes. Thank ye most generous lord.

[@seantp3303]

Great video, but you obviously don’t need all of this. I will say, this is the ideal set up for all-in-one solo jobs for sure. I have an Apollo twin x duo, but I also have an MTrack 2x2 which is MUCH cheaper. I track with both because the Apollo Twin is great for Mac but won’t work correctly on my PC. You don’t need an Apollo. You can just use selection based processing in Logic, or “apply fx to item” in any other DAW. There are ways around using the exact items listed, if you don’t have the money. So don’t get discouraged my friends. I think I’ll make a $100 set up to compare against this set up and see who does it better! Trust me, this $3400 set up will NOT run circles around a $100 set up. Stay tuned 🙂

[@JamesFoxx]

I know this is an old video but BOY!!!! I’m so glad I watched it… I’m a new producer starting out and learning but I’m already a DJ and very musically minded apart from that… I was recently starting to think, am I crazy for thinking I want to create my own music from scratch while everyone else is dragging and dropping loops… thank you for pushing aside my fears!

[@nitefly-music]

That is misleading.

[@TruenorthmtGod]

Dude I have a 5.1 Mac pro and its from 2010 with no problems with plug-ins. Also use a motu 828es and love it. Without a treated room kiss it all goodbye. Oh ya and also talent. Your miss leading new folks

[@TheSteveFreeman]

The truth Shall not be hidden! Silva this video had nothing to do with all the gear you need for a proper home studio or how to build a home studio, it simply was showcasing the gear used on the projects incited in the video. Glad you love the gear you have.

[@marciobrenes3216]

You Don't need $3,400, you need Talent, Good Songs, Connections and Patience.

[@TheSteveFreeman]

Didn't say you "needed it". However, having all the things you mentioned and no gear makes it hard to have good songs, get connections

[@sheetknows]

What "tons" of instruments does luna come with? You have to buy them separately and they're freakishly expensive..... I also, i doubt VERY much, that anyone watching this video would own focals or barefoot. I will also argue that most people don't have rooms that justify having 8" monitors.

[@hitthesynth6417]

Nobody seems to point this out... 8inch monitor as an absolute reference is just bullocks... The thing I learned by purchasing my dream monitors a few years ago (cms65) and now have add a sub to them... The size is so important to match the room... Hs8 are the worst of this line and every top engineer (who have use this line) now that the 7 inch are the more balanced of them all and so the most bang for the buck!

[@zedriwhaley4969]

This is one of the best, most informative videos I have seen and have taken to heart, regarding studio set up. REAL TALK!! You Rock!! Thank you!!

[@levisalazar8031]

I don't understand all the hate. I don't see anything wrong with anything he is saying. There's so many records being recorded and produced in hotel rooms and air bnb's now a days. A lot of people are using mobile rigs or bedroom studio equipment. Granted expensive and high end gear can make things easier and sound better but it really comes down to the engineer. A good engineer that knows what he is doing can make anything sound good with the tools he has.

[@mauriciomontejano5428]

Huge thanks, i've been looking for a video like this for an hour, because everybody elses video only talks about, organization, lights, acustics treatment(which they are also important) but nothing about production gear that really matters. Thanks a lot. I left a thumbs up :)

[@emyhR]

I liked the video because everyone else’s was budget studio and I’m looking for best possible quality that’s not insanely priced

[@mauriciomontejano5428]

@@emyhR same here, i mean i like how my focusrite scarlet sounds, but i know it can sound better for example, ignoringtechniques,m cables and everything else

[@liege9890]

EARS beat GEAR. I can still play, program plug-ins and mix in my very first PC (p4, XP, internal card) to this day whether its 32/24 or 16 bit. Every popular DAW, PIECE of GEAR, COMPUTER, MICROPHONE has a HIT record in history. We all need to engineer our own systems, gear, working strategies and sound.

[@uptonfilms95]

I highly recommend the Apogee Element. It uses DSP and thunderbolt. They have native plugins on the Control App. Super low latency.

[@jacksp8de]

That’s what I have and I love it

[@uptonfilms95]

Jack Spade it really is a great audio interface! I love the plugins it comes with also

[@jacksp8de]

Dally Studios most definitely!

[@TheSteveFreeman]

Apogee makes GREAT interfaces. I still have my symphony mk2.

[@axe2grind911a]

Appreciate the tips. Aren't you forgetting the DAW? Headphones? Mic stands/screens? Mixer? I've heard good things already about the Twin X duo, but never about the Complete Ultimate 12. I've been looking to upgrade from my MOXF, so will definitely check this out!

[@slxth4036]

this is a UAD commercial lol

[@boomanchu78]

Don’t get me wrong. This is all fantastic equipment and as someone who has been doing audio engineering and music production for almost 20 years and music merchandise in retail I’d say you’re spot on with your choices and reason for picking them. But, there are still a lot of things missing. First off cables and stands. Anyone can tell you even just decent cables cost a fair amount and none of that equipment comes with the necessary audio cabling to hook everything up. You’ll also need something to put those monitors on to isolate them. Otherwise you’re going to get inaccurate mixes. A decent set of headphones are needed for vocal takes as well. Lastly room treatment. It doesn’t matter how good the equipment is if your room is lying to you. It doesn’t take much but it’ll go a long way to helping you get accurate mixes and better sounding vocal takes. All in all still a great video and a great choice of gear. Honestly it’s a lot of the same gear I recommend to my customers who wanted to build a high end home studio, and I’ve definitely sold my fair share of SM7B’s with the “It’s the mic Michael Jackson used on Thriller” mention.

[@TheSteveFreeman]

As far as the room treatment, I agree with you and so does the thousands and thousands of dollars it cost me to properly have my 3 studios dialed in, I think it's an area where people can get lost and confused and more and more producers are going to mixing and mastering with headphones over more traditional treated rooms and monitors. Most of today's music is mixed and mastered so far below actual quality levels so that it sounds good on a set of Beats or apple airpods. I can't tell you the number of times I'll finish a project, turn it in to the label and they want revisions because it doesn't sound the way they want it to sound in their fucking earbuds. Sounds amazing on my $50,000 worth of monitors, sounds great in the car, but sounds "too compressed" on earbuds, so i have to go in an remove all the dynamics that make a record a record to please the low bar for quality of the current consumer! Sad days! LOL!

[@boomanchu78]

Oh my god, the amount of people that have come to me asking if they could just use their beats to record. It makes my skin crawl. 😂. Totally agree though. Unfortunately we have to mix for the platforms people are using.

[@tbouncing1871]

Thank...that's the truth ...just like the inferior things China produce that makes original things not getting in turn again...and because of these social media thing everyone is now a mix master engineer ...the world is looking crap now,now because of the new mislead generation who dont learn basic and get lost in it over time...ask him if he had won a Grammy before talking on marketing strategy to get more views on Facebook.....The truth is that an ssl console cant sound same as the latest crap interface...talent is enhance my money and what you have access to in an environment...I live in Africa now I am a mix and master engineer studied abroad .. spending minimum of 50 thousand dollar on my home studio ...with a carefully selection of advance audio fidelity as a type. ..I cant be in a class with a low quality engineer. ..talent with equipment is the ultimate. ..today I could have been a successful footballer, but I was born in a part in Nigeria where my potential as a child wasnt exposed to the world because of lack of good money...just imagine me playing football at 7 with a standard where people saw me as a genius ..now today I an doing music cause I lost the the chance of money to push myself or parent that can help me ..money makes you move fast with standard that's the truth.

[@DICARLOPRODUCTIONS]

Exactly!!! Balanced cables are VERY important, otherwise you have buzzes, and noise on everything, and not know where it´s coming from. Room treatment, or at least the Sonarworks program to calibrate your monitors and headphones is also very important. 2 or 3 decent mic stands will do it for a 1-2 man production studio.

[@gurtz1144]

Excellent information and price point. You are right, Most of what we have now is way over kill. And I’m still learning how to use this hardware. So I’m definitely enjoy how you talking- keep it up.

[@e.apollis2877]

plot twist: You can get all this for $2000,99 on Ebay😉

[@damelos4039]

Also, you'll need that extra grand to pay for the ONE thing he did not mention.......a LAPTOP. All this equipment is useless without one....duh. Also, you'll need a pair of headphones. Also necessary. I think that $3400 target is pretty doable overall.

[@antonioinferno1039]

I was thinking the same thing

[@chinmeysway]

Totally can, and it’ll be hella not working correctly 🥺 yaaaauye bay

[@Drake21339]

@@chinmeysway 80% of my gear has been purchased from e-bay. 100% of that gear worked perfectly with absolutely no issues. Find the sellers with lots of sales under their belt and a 100% positive rating and you'll be fine. Why spend full price for something when you can buy it lightly used at a 30-50%+ discount? I've probably saved about $40k this way.

[@duanewilson3941]

@@damelos4039 He did mention it.

[@silviopimentel7247]

Thanks brother I already have a few mics Neumann, akg & and a few shares & krk monitors Sony cans guess need the apolo & the midi board. 👌

[@TheSteveFreeman]

Right on!

[@jimflauntt683]

After years of hardheadedness I finally sold all the junk I bought over the years and bought many of the things you just promoted except the sure mic thanks for that one.

[@TheSteveFreeman]

Jim Flauntt you’ll never go wrong with an SM7b.

[@abzee733]

You forgot to mention yet another big advantage of the SM7b. Being a dynamic mic you need MUCH less room treatment to get a nice clean and dry signal on the way in. Acutally you might not need any at all!

[@ronynikke]

Can u use that mic as a home studio is any good?

[@Francisco-dr4yi]

Failed to mention Billie and Finneas pay $1000+ per mix to have someone mix it in a professional studio

[@TheSteveFreeman]

Didn’t fail to mention anything, this video was not about mixing and mastering, it’s about the creation tools! You can only mix and master tracks that exist….

[@Francisco-dr4yi]

@@TheSteveFreeman at 12:40 you make it seem like finneas mixed it on the hs8’s which to someone who doesn’t actually know they would believe that. But for creation, yes this video is very accurate.

[@TheSteveFreeman]

@@Francisco-dr4yi I didn’t “make it seam like” anything. Those are the monitors he has in his home studio. I didn’t talk about mixing and mastering, neither which he does. This video was about creation tools, not mixing and mastering. Anyone taking themselves seriously is having their product mixed and mastered by a professional mixing and/or mastering engineer.

[@USA535]

In case you forgot it’s $3,400

[@Gainsforlife]

I would like to recommend one overlooked factor of saving even more money while achieving a professional sound, Microphone Modification.

[@martijnvanderark4117]

I agree with like 90 percent of this video. It is real solid advice, but for the monitors you should go for the Kali lp6 v2. Those are also 300 a pair, and they outdo the yamaha's by a mile. The low end is phenomenal for 6.5 inch speakers, and they are super flat. At the time this video was made the lp6 v1 was out, and I can understand why you chose for the yamaha's, but the lp6 v2 are just on another level. Keep up the great work man, love the vids.

[@RayAndre]

I have the X4, but I wouldn’t recommend UAD for someone starting out. Other interfaces give you more freedom.

[@stanleyassor3172]

why can't the UAD Preamps be by-passed?

[@RayAndre]

Sanley Assor some units can and other can’t be. But it locks you into their platform

[@AnthonyMartinsRock]

@@RayAndre yes. Apollo is essentially a dongle for their plugins. I sold mine and bought actual hardware as the plugin costs add up over a very short time.

[@moneyrules7113]

Appreciate videos like this for individuals as my self to consider and helps way out my options as a beginner

[@kingalysterianlion5542]

Hey bro! Great video! I have some of this gear but also have acquired some others. Keep up the great work bro!

[@Mattkeys_88]

I went with the Presonus 32S, and bought the upgrade to Studio One Pro, which because they just came out with version 5, I got the upgrade for free, as well as I spend 14 bucks a month on their Sphere package which it comes with tons of loops, synths, plugins, cloud storage and the ability to backup everything to the cloud as well as collaborate. Though my setup was a bit more than $3,500 because I wanted to have a control interface instead of making adjustments with a mouse. I am incredibly happy, and after upgrading to the Adam A7x's I am pretty set for a while. I did build a ridiculous PC for my studio so I would never worry about the machine being taxed.

[@hughsauci]

This video leads to a misunderstanding of what is really necessary to make a hit.

[@TheSteveFreeman]

I didn't say you NEEDED any of this to make a hit, just that others were

[@artturilaukkanen9448]

@@TheSteveFreeman Yes you did. Own it up like a grown man.

[@TheSteveFreeman]

Artturi Laukkanen show me where I said you HAVE to have or NEED this specific gear to be successful. Not what you thought I said or the way you interpreted it, but what I actually said, you know the actual words that came out of my mouth.

[@artturilaukkanen9448]

Ok. 2:04 "I got to be honest with you, if you are not using the Universal audio Apollo line of interfaces you need to sell, get rid of, trash anything else that you are using, and go with Universal Audio and the Apollo line on interfaces. Now for the purposes of the budget we are putting together today which is 3400 dollars, I want to talk about the new Universal Audio Twin x Duo" 6:37 "What i'm gonna recommend for you comes in at 400 dollars and that is the Shure sm7b." 8:41 "what I'm going to recommend for you is the komplete ultimate 12 package"

[@TheSteveFreeman]

@@artturilaukkanen9448 Yes, I said recommend, I didn't say "You HAVE to have" or "You NEED to have" in order to be successful. Try again. You won't find it because I didn't say it. If that's what you are interpreting, then thats on you

[@matthewg.garcia9415]

Love your list but you need to make a correction. The Yamaha HS8 monitors are $400 dollars each. So that's $800 dollars for the pair of monitors, so $3,800 Grammy winning studio. Then of course the XLR to 1/4" cables are about a hundred bucks for the pair (at least for Morgami Gold which I think is a good investment since they are easy to repair if needed). So $4,000 (roughly) Grammy winning studio. Still good though. You pretty much listed everything I'm looking into investing in for my home studio upgrade. The SM7B is spot on, I have a Rode NT1A which I have no complaints and a couple SM57s and an SM58 but my next mic is definitely an SM7B. I currently use the old PreSonus Audiobox 44VSL 4 channel interface. Again love it no complaints, but the Apollo would help with latency issues due to its internal processing and the plugins are clutch, preamps are great UA is awesome in general. Good upgrade from the 44VSL and if I need more channels in the future I still have the PreSonus. Too bad I run PC so no LUNA for me, I already use Cubase which is what I need for my niche anyway. I'm getting the S88 controller due to the instrument libraries I have. The full range will be easier to use key switches etc. not to mention the hammer weighted keys are great! (been using the Axiom Air 32 Mini for a few years, ouch!) But yeah good list, maybe a cheaper alternative to the Yamaha monitors are the KRK Rokit G4 8s they are like $300 each so you'll save $200 on the pair and they have the digital EQ meter on the back now. IDK I'm torn between the Yamahas and the KRKs. I use AKG k240 and k92 headphones which are great. Yeah I know you can do every thing with headphones. But monitors are a nice break from wearing headphones for several hours. Which is why I'm deciding to add monitors to my studio. I'm interested in the Komplete 13 Ultimate coming out next month (October 2020), the new choir library is pretty cool! The Stradivari strings sound pretty nice too. Two words when it comes to virtual instruments if you don't have extra cash, Spitfire LABS (just google it). Oh also Spitfire BBCO Discovery (just google it too). But anyways I've droned on long enough. Good video!

[@drill2.087]

First piece of gear I bought for my studio was a mic, and it was a Shure SM7B. It’s the mic I recorded my vocals with on my albums before I knew I needed my own studio.

[@JohnnyAllan-vj7sj]

I love how you gave people hell in the comments lol. It's pretty funny. Keep doing you, dude. People think I have crazy expensive gear (you can see it my picture), but I spent less than $5K on all of it. I'm not winning any Grammys with it, but it works for me.

[@anthemmakersmusic]

The Presonus eris xt8 and Yamaha NS speakers are so similar, what the difference....The Crossover points...that's it. An interpretation! Go listen and choose...If your local store doesn't have Presonus line of monitors set up ask why, then demand it!

[@sejuanni9702]

is the e5xt good for mixing?

[@RodneyD]

great suggestions. Ive got two apollos (blackface 8 and Apollo x16). HOWEVER this gear isn't necessary.

[@___David___Savian]

Right now I picture Billie Eilish high af with her eyes half closed staring at her Grammys.

[@isaacdynys6518]

In the....firsthand smoke?

[@___David___Savian]

@@isaacdynys6518 No from the second hand smoke from Snoopp Dogg and Martha Stewart who is good friends with Snoop. Allegedly.

[@isaacdynys6518]

@@___David___Savian Specific

[@YOTHEGOD8172]

Can you make a video about the best rack mount gear? Or even the most pointless rack mount gear.

[@TheSteveFreeman]

I can do that!

[@HumanBeingWithFeelings]

This is extremely useful! although I'd also add a powerful computer, which I think is crucial in terms of not ruining your workflow.The Apollo interface can help you with the processing of UAD plugins but what about the rest of the plugins?. Totally agreed on omnisphere, you can get absolutely any synth sound you can imagine. Extremely powerful (and CPU hungry)

[@ajgemc1]

New to having a home studio, i have the apollo twin quad core, a nuemann tlm 103, logic pro x, the yamaha 8". Still need to treat my studio tho. What panels/brands do u recommend. Studio is about 12'×14' and 10' ceiling.

[@TheSteveFreeman]

Auralux makes some great acoustic foam, I also use use producer blankets from vocalboothtogo.com and I have had some custom panels made by a company here in nashville. Amazon also has some really good premade sound panels, they are pricey, but I have 10 of them that hang on the wall in my a room and b room and they are really really good!

[@Truth565]

Armando Gonzalez Stay away from foam. It’s only good for treating a bright vocal booth or recording space. They only absorb high frequencies and most rooms have problems with the low frequencies. Check out GIK if you want to balance your room for listening and mixing.

[@nebstaism]

Couldn’t agree more about the sm7b mic... that’s my favourite mic ever!!!! And I own a u87 and a Sony c800g

[@dspoet1]

I have the SM7B and the Twin X. Good stuff. Can you do a tutorial on mixing vocals with this setup?

[@ethansawyer9399]

What's wrong with focusrite? I've had massive projects running with no cpu/memory issues. Got an old computer too.

[@joshgarcia2558]

He's not sponsored by them

[@TheSteveFreeman]

Focusrite offers no onboard dsp processing for plugins and the AD/DA in focusrite interfaces can't come close to competing with the conversion from Apogee, Universal Audio or Lynx. I'm not saying you can't get a great recording or sound from them, but they are consumer grade at the level they offer most of their interfaces.

[@TheSteveFreeman]

and wouldn't want to be

[@Chris_Porro_Land_o_Naps]

Steve, i've done some converter comparisons. for today's gear it's so subtle i won't let it waste my time anymore. for any of you that are able to do comparisons please do them and see for yourself. digital converters have some a long way in 30 years.

[@ninimaborah723]

Thank you so much for making this video 🙏🙏

[@danielsaintmusic]

Crazy cuz you just described my exact home studio ! Couldn’t agree more with all of your recommendations. Apollo into the shure with the HS8’s can accomplish just about anything! I will say my only gripe with the video is the whole bit about sample / loop users aren’t producers etc, I’m a multi instrumentalist but still use loops from time to time. It’s about what you do with the sounds, not how you got them! Great video nonetheless. Cheers

[@rtdrec]

Great Video. Michael used a SM7, not am SM7B on the Thriller Album. Do you have a video of the time with the sony c800g?

[@BurntSquirrel]

You forgot to mention sound treatment Steve! That's a very important element in any studio. You can have crap monitors and make them sound great with the right room treatment.

[@TheSteveFreeman]

Chris Answeeney I didn’t forget, this video was not about mixing and mastering, just the creation tools. I understand the importance of room treatment, but I can also say that I’ve produced 5 platinum selling records in rooms that had absolutely none. If you are mixing and mastering final product, then absolutely, proper room treatment mid essential.

[@BurntSquirrel]

Steve Freeman good point !

[@Abeltone]

Steve Freeman drop me a link, I’d like to take a listen. 🙂

[@dima8955i]

What do you think of the antelope zen audio interfaces? I'm debating between the uad twin and that one. Just can't decide!!

[@TheSteveFreeman]

I’ve never used it, but have friends that have said some really positive things about them and love using them

[@Knightfallprotocol444]

Thanks for the advice! I've been slowly buying gear. its been my dream to produce for a long time. I did a lot of research before I settled on the apollo twin X. I'm glad its the one you recommended. I also got a Neumann U87 and a native instruments keyboard, I didn't buy the Komplete 12 though because I didn't think I needed it. the next thing I need to get is a sound booth which I will get next. Thanks again!

[@drbop6951]

You don’t need any of this either. What nonsense. Some talent and whatever set-up you can afford.

[@SHIVAMTIWARI-zt2dl]

$ 3400 is a lot man I make my shit with $500 setup You'll see me getting great

[@TheSteveFreeman]

SHIVAM TIWARI that’s the attitude to have and with it, you will!

[@pedrosilvaproductions]

@HareKrishna777 Because using an UAD interface doesn't really matter if you have an interface like a focusrite lol or using an SM7B. If your room is shit it doesn't matter how much better your microphone or plugins are. If you're shit at recording it doesn't matter having a good interface either

[@heythere6983]

They usually send it to get worked through some analog gear and mastered in a real studio. Finneas still sent his stuff to a mixing engineer and mastering engineer

[@TheSteveFreeman]

As everyone should.

[@SlineFXIntros]

The only time a KZbin ad brought me to a great channel

[@TheSteveFreeman]

LOL, great to hear that bro and good to have you here!!

[@SlineFXIntros]

Thanks Steve! Love the show!

[@StavrosZachariasOfficial]

perfect video man my home studio Universal Audio Apollo , Monitors: Focal Alpha 80 Evo, Mic AKG P220,Headphones AKG K712 PRO,Midi Keyboards Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S88 Mk2 & maschine MK3,DAW FL STUDIO & Cubase 12

[@TheSteveFreeman]

I have a pair of the Alpha 80’s, LOVE THEM!!!!

[@StavrosZachariasOfficial]

@@TheSteveFreeman It is fantastic

[@dede-sm7sl]

I'm still recording through a Reason Balance interface. Old school , I know. Would my recordings really improve with the Apollo twin? Not sure if it makes that much a difference

[@TheSteveFreeman]

de de if it’s working for you and you are happy with the results, then there’s no reason to change.

[@dede-sm7sl]

@@TheSteveFreeman Thanks for the reply :) It's working but I wonder. Is there a huge difference in recording quality between the Apollo and cheaper interfaces. Cleaner sounds, more detail? Or is it more the software that comes with it that makes the difference?

[@TheSteveFreeman]

@@dede-sm7sl REgardless of what other people on this thread will tell you, YES, there is a huge difference in the quality. Higher-end interfaces have way better converters, AD/DA and in the case of the Apollo, it offers DSP, Unison pre's and available plugins, that in my opinion, are industry-leading and more natural sounding as it relates to analog gear that I'm used to working with. That is not to say that can't achieve GREAT results with lower end interfaces. I have a friend of mine that has produced 3 platinum-selling records this year using Focusrite Scarlette interfaces. They aren't my fav, but to each his own. The end result is all that matters.

[@KalebDingmon]

Can you do a alternative affordable version of this video? 🙏❤️ Thank u so much for this amazing information

[@dulla8469]

i never thought about getting the sm7b cause it seems too warm, i like my vocals to have some pleasing high end on it and not too much of the low mids, the frequency response on the sm7b shows a dip in the highs, which i think will ruin my mixes, cause i dont know techniques to bring out the high ends without making it too airy / harsh

[@TheSteveFreeman]

You would probably really like a 414. More pleasant on the high end for sure

[@GabeMarshall]

Awesome! Thanks for the direction...really cuts to the main point for me of having a home studio.

[@darwingibson1058]

Great video! The only thing that confused me was the pricing on the Yamaha 8 inch monitors did they drop the price? I thought it was 400 for the 5 inch monitors?

[@thareaper195]

Right lol your correct I was thinking the same 😁 I have the Hs7's and they ran me a little over $600 (pair)and the 8s a run ya like $750 a (pair)

[@reekrodriqguez6552]

For all together it’s $400 for the 5 inch

[@timsilver3026]

You make plenty of good sense man 👍🏼

[@TheSteveFreeman]

Thanks man!

[@symph1744]

Prince recorded his vocal for Purple Rain on a 100 usd mic Shure SM57

[@TheSteveFreeman]

The original vocal was actually taken from a live performance and then he did overdubs in the studio to correct it, but you are 100% correct. 90% of the song was take straight from a live performance with an sm57

[@symph1744]

@@TheSteveFreeman Yeah, great video by the way! Also an Apollo user here.

[@TheSteveFreeman]

@@symph1744 Thanks man!

[@DJSidhu24]

And you also need billion dollars of talent along with the 3,400$

[@Lowkeyz333]

This is a UA Commercial lol My Mbox pro works fine with Slate Digital and Waves plungins running

[@TheSteveFreeman]

Low if it works for you that’s all that matters

[@megacast]

I will bet on an RME Fireface first. They used or offered 192khz 15 years ago. Hans Zimmer gave us oscar-winning soundtracks with those.

[@TheSteveFreeman]

RME makes great interfaces! I have a couple in my gear closet right now!

[@megacast]

@@TheSteveFreeman First, thank you for helping aspiring producers. As an authority, you cast many doubts away. You surely remember how tedious research was when you were not rich. I wonder where you place Waves Audio products? The New RMEs do not tax your CPU. I started with Fostex 4 track recorder via Cubase and SoundBlaster AKA Sound'Disaster". i received the first ADAT in the Nederlands. Apogee is a great piece of equipment but not avant-garde. R.I.P Bruce Swedien whose work you mentioned. His and Craig Anderton's talent made me a good engineer/producer. Too bad entrepreneurship corrupted me. Stay blessed.

[@rxbby8463]

this really helped me, the pre amp and mic were both the setup i was looking at, way you worded all this has really strengthened my decision to buy em when i can, thank you. let’s say i skipped on the instruments though, what plugins would you recommend for quality music?

[@newmanh]

nexus 3, purity (but its old though still awesome), Triton Korg...these are some of the best instruments plugins I see around...these exclude kiks and drums...(even though they have some drums packs within them) - (nexus 3 has new sounds and great modern fills compared to nexus 2)

[@anibalojeda]

wow i liked the end! there is nothing wrong being independent!! yes!!! love this video

[@TheSteveFreeman]

Thanks for watching and commenting

[@d4rkblu386]

Cool, I've got the same Yamaha HS8, but I have a focusrite interface because the UA stuff is out of range for me. I got the NEAT King Bee mic because Podcastage recommended it and I love mine. It's so cheap, cant complain. Also, one of my dad's friends had a bunch of music gear and I looked though his stuff and he offered me one of his electric keyboards. Turned out to be a Roland FP-50 and worth 1,700, so that was crazy.

[@zzzddd7]

I have a MPC X, Kronos X ,went with Presonus Studio One V 5. My S88 on order, I have Keyscape and Omnisphere 2.6. getting into Trailer music. Just bought a few Spitfire VST's. Will get that Shure mic. Checking out that UA interface... thanks

[@hotjamsm07]

Shure SM7b is really good for those with compromised recording environments.

[@ronynikke]

James is this mic is good for urban music?

[@wellbi]

Recommending Shure SM7B over SM58 as starting studio mic without propper chain is like recommending to use BMW M3 over a tractor on a field. The whole video is like this.

[@blackreignmusik7901]

I like the clarity of Antelope Audio personally. Just my preference. But UAD is good as well. But the yammies are more than $400.00 for the pair bro!!!

[@TheSteveFreeman]

BLACK REIGN MUSIK at the time of this video Sweetwater was running a special for $399.98 for the pair...

[@rpennon6912]

@@TheSteveFreeman Ok thanks, didn't hear the part about any special.

[@LizaLavolta]

If I were to pair a sm7b with the Apollo twin would I need a cloud lifter? I didn't love the sound of the sm7b previously- but I am willing to give it another go with a different set up.

[@TheSteveFreeman]

No, I travel with 2 Apollo Twin X quads and have no issues driving the SM7b. The unison pre's on in the Apollo have plenty of gain. No cloudlifter needed

[@DrRyman]

I guess nobody records real drums anymore…

[@chinmeysway]

Right? I certainly do...

[@osamabushdemolition]

I was thinking bout that too..

[@TheSteveFreeman]

I only use real drums in every record I produce, but believe me, 80% of what’s being released right now is programmed and it’s a shame

[@osamabushdemolition]

Real drums in their natural form they are great. I hate that plastic sound from programing drums or triggers.. they lack of that real human touch

[@TheSteveFreeman]

Saint Vulturesoul AMEN!!!

[@brin57]

Just a note in 2022 - Most current gen computers and especially M1 macs will blow the apollo twin out of the water as far as processing power goes. You need to spend 1000's on UAD to have a decent amount of dsp. You're better off looking at something like an Audient for example, and leave the heavy lifting to your computer. Then Spend what you save on the Room treatment that Steve left out of the budget.

[@flextheninja]

lol DONT THROW AWAY YOUR SOUNDCARD !!!

[@camdenmusique]

so helpful thank you!

[@battyfang4701]

I think that mentioning room treatment would be important. It isn’t glamorous, but if you are dropping 3400 dollars and can’t hear an accurate image of the music would be very disheartening.

[@TheSteveFreeman]

I think if you are pro mixing or mastering engineer, yes, it is extremely important, but this video is about the tools for the creation process

[@battyfang4701]

Steve Freeman how can you create a palette of sounds if you can’t hear what you are doing? I think it is important to be engin-earring than engin-eyeing. See what I did there? You can tell I am a dad. Love the content man. Keep up the good work.

[@TheSteveFreeman]

@@battyfang4701 I get what you are saying, but honestly, when creating and choosing sounds, especially in home studio environments, you are sitting 3' away from the monitors if not closer and the room treatment isn't a factor. You are hearing the sounds before they bounce off of anything.

[@TheSteveFreeman]

@@eman0828 I think it depends on the sound you are going for and the mic you are using. FOr example, none of the vocals on the new Post Malone record were done in an iso booth or properly treated room, just the mic sitting in the middle of the control room and recorded thru an Apollo Twin. I personally like isolation on vocals so that I have complete control.

[@anthonyr7902]

My guy ain’t playing

[@bricedeplace]

Infomercial 3.0

[@TheSteveFreeman]

actually 5.0

[@AikiraBeats]

Honestly I just have a good personal laptop and a midi control that allows me to do pretty much everything the only thing I missing is a interface for my audio and a mic

[@addradz]

Gee I wonder if there's a conflict of interest buried deep in this infomercial?

[@TheSteveFreeman]

ADD RADZ so highlighting popular gear that thousands of people use is an infomercial? I no usually hear comments like this from people who can’t afford the gear and chose to troll in the comments.

[@pedrosilvaproductions]

@@TheSteveFreeman Great professional attitude right there!

[@TheSteveFreeman]

@@pedrosilvaproductions thank you

[@CRXYTV]

Yamaha hs8 pair for $400 or for one ? because I've been looking for these for every cheap and cant find them for a pair less that 700

[@DVTOM]

Def not $400 a pair for HS8's. More like $750.00

[@redmase1]

I some what agree with the interface. I have that and the Antelope sc and honestly the pres amd converters is better just shitty drivers. Great vid

[@lavalizard1]

Genius. Refreshing take. And thx for the reco re: UA Apollo Twin X Duo - I’m using Focusrite and hate having to switch to low latency mode in Logic when tracking. It is MADDENING. Cheers.

[@Mr.Eye1]

Depends what Focusrite. I use a SM7B that goes into a Grace Design m101 that goes into my Focusrite Clarett 4Pre and then straight into my MP. I track vocals with the 32 buffer size at very low latency. Around 2ms. And the plugins that I am using for tracking are in my Daw (Logic Pro X). And the air function on the Clarett is excellent. Gives every mic a little bit of shine on the top end. Superb on the Shure SM7B.