Budget Linux Audio Studio Project

What is the BLASP, you ask? Well, it's a little project I've begun that aims to create a home recording studio capable of recording an album on par with indie-music releases, using nothing but GNU/Linux and Open Source Software on a budget of $5555.55. Not a penny more.

So what is this going to involve? I'm so glad you asked! Here's the breakdown.

1. Create a Sound-proofed Isolation Room
   • Large enough for a 3 or 4 piece band to play inside
   • Appropriate ventalation while minimizing sound transmission from both outside the isolation room in, and from the inside out
2. Build a DAW using only Open Source Software
   • Dual Processor (No VIA Chipset) AMD
   • Minimum 7200 RPM IDE Drives in a Firewire Chasis (hopefully SCSI)
   • High Quality 8 or 16 Channel Sound Card (Hammerfall?)
   • A Low Latency Kernel
   • Fully Functional Recording/Editing Application (like Ardour)
3. Create a Recording Environment
   • Drum Mics (2 compressor overheads, 3 tom mics, 1 snare, 1 kick)
   • Elec Guitar (2 compressor)
   • Acoustic Guitar (2 matched mics cardiordal)
   • Vocal Mics (2 -- not sure on specs)
   • Monitoring System - in ear monitors? Headphones?
   • Mixing Board?

The final Phase of this project will be to record a demo which will have been rehearsed, recorded, and mixed in this environment.

Since two restrictions have been placed on this project, quality and cost, time will not be restricted. The project is hoped to be complete by the end of 2005.