however you proceed good luck , i bought a lot of stuff last year and still working through what i’d like to keep and sell.
maybe worth looking at a few courses so you and your family understand it all too.
and maybe some nice performance fx / samplers / dj gear …
ipad apps etc…
as with everything , there are a million ways to spend money very quickly.
What is the location like? Any direct neighbours? Do you need to sound proof your recording and/or your control room in addition to the acoustic treatment? That is kind of important to know before giving any gear tips because that might easily burn up half your budget already. Having decent sounding rooms is much more important than having fancy preamps.
Yes, it’s also going to be about testing workflow - for that we need to buy, test, use … and sell/move on if necessary.
We understand, I have used a software sampler since 2010 (Maschine MKI and Live). I play guitar, my wife plays piano for over 30 years and has a good voice. I have a setup with Focusrite interface, Logic X and Live.
I just want to focus on us recording instruments/voice + do some extra layering with synths/effects/drumcomputer. Hence I started participating on this forum, I am looking to get into Elektron because of the combination sound/build quality and portability. For example, a Vermona perFourMer is a great sound source in the studio, but taking it out into the living room on ocasions or on a vacation? A4 would be perfect, so are the other Elektrons.
But really, in the end, it’s not all that important. If we stay healthy for some decades and see our kids grow up doing well I would be happy enough. 
i think kids might like (they’re also good instruments too)
pocket operators , op-1
novcation circuit
whenever my niece is around i mostly try to show her how easy things are , not to be scared of pressing buttons and trying things… not to be ‘in awe’ of the music she listens to , she could do it herself by having a go and learning slowly.
elektron gear is good , digitakt would be a good start point , learning the elektron way of things , the sequencers are good , sound editing/setting up is straight forward … before getting them into an octatrack…
definitely an ipad with lots of apps too .
Something to consider is that buying too much gear at once can be a roadblock to actually making music. You can probably record some stuff right now into ableton and get a track started, but if you buy too much stuff it just sets you up for months of learning how it works, years maybe. Also by the time you learn 1/3 of it, the knowledge you gained might make you realize you wanted different things for the rest…
I tend to use what I have and then if my creativity leads a certain direction or I have a gained a better understanding of studio setup and realize something could be beneficial, I’ll then do research and save up to add something…
Just sayin, I know it sounds like a lot of fun, but there’s a lot of energy you need to put into all of this after the money is spent if you want to make good use of it, I’d at least split it into several purchase moments with months in between to make sure your making the right decisions…
Yes, for sure. Good points @Open_Mike , thanks.
This is not an impulsive thing, it had a build-up of decades. But still you are right, I have no intention of spending that cash in 2 weeks or even 2 months.
@re5et Yea, I have a pocket operator 12 and 2 ipads with music apps, but it’s not as inspiring as a tactile instrument for me personally. I would prefer to sample vibrations coming out of things we play and add virtual if needed/wanted. If you want a piano sound, start with a piano. Of course a lot of sampled piano’s will sound clinically perfect but I want our piano sound.
I keep young kids away from screens as long as humanly possible in this day and age (in the West that is…).
We have flutes, harmonica, thumb instruments, strings, percussion stuff galore.
I am not interested in Digitakt, I would prefer an Octatrack right from the start, I don’t care about OB or effects even. I need sample time on the machine itself and extended looping possibilities, stereo and cueing.
But the fact is - finally - a dedicated studio space will be available, I can just move in and continue without spending a euro cent. That’s also going to be the first step probably.
In this post I ask for tips, on what would people focus when building a studio. Maybe the title is confusing… also INVEST has nothing to do with money here in an economical sense, we don’t want or need ROI per se.
Yes, we will need to sound proof a little, but not in a professional studio soundproofing way.
I can recommend SSL X- desk with lunchbox Preamps, EQ’s, and Compressors. You can use API or whatever brand you like. They are easy sellable and if you buy second-hand you can get them for a half price, sometimes even cheaper and not lose money when you decide to sell. Elektron is great you should check them and there are some other nice synths.
That’s a great setup! SSL X-desk / lunchbox is one of the major options.
Thanks for the input.
Lovely synths as well there 
Cheers
For your budget I would stay entirely ‘in the box’ - no console, no outboard. Buy a decent interface with good preamps - UAD Apollo 8 for example (2.5k) , some good mics, spend 2k on room treatment, 3k on speakers, some selected hardware (synths, guitars etc) you’ll easily be 10k plus.
Personally, no disrespect intended, Idon’t see the advantage of things like the ssl-x. API the box - 14k unfilled, it’s a non starter surely?! 
If you really really want a console I would look at Audient 4816 (10k) but what is a console giving you? Your intended work seems perfectly suited to itb production.
Good points, thanks. There is no advantage to this in a rational way. Still, I want to work that way and I can do that.
I want tactile controle, and no or very little screentime in creation/mixing mode.
I am going to get a little console (against all advise … started years back … I shouln’t have listened back then…) and better monitoring and outboard, room treatment.
I need a hardware sampler (OT2), new mics. And done for 2018. And … there is still 2019 and beyond, it doesn’t have to be finished in a certain time or… ever.
I don’t want full ITB production it’s disturbing for me (born in the 70s), I want other boxes before ITB, I need to be in the last box a lot less.
I would check out the new Digital Mixer from A & H.
http://www.allen-heath.com/key-series/sq/
It gives you a virtual sound card with low latency, so you need to buy a network soundcard for it. Invest in a good installation to have stable power and network everywhere, it doesnt hurt to preplan where everything sits and with ergonomics thought out. I.e. make yourself able to stand and sing /play /record.
I hope i can get away with 10-15k for audio isolation (to work at night), speakers.
Thanks, only have looked into the MixWizard and GL series until now.
Should read up on the digital mixers too, @Robobot pointed that out and I wrote it down immediately because it’s not something I should ignore as an option.
The Q Series is intuitive to use, and they implement some DSP FX with the SQ series into the console, that maybe worth considering that they allow FX processing in the console without latency. Something that the GL series does, but more affordable.
Also born in the seventies and got tired of ITB - now being hands on with a Midas Venice 320 console, filled with Elektrons (and a few other things ). Loving it!
Thing is what exactly do want tactile control of? Your list of intended productions is a great idea (spoken word, stories etc) but what will a console & hardware bring to those (genuine question not a criticism). Problem with analog is the expensive stuff is where it’s at - so even if you have 8 mono channels the cost ramps up super quick as you’re buying multiple units - the SSL-X doesn’t have any mic-pres, any eq, any compressors… The Audient will give you 16 good pre’s and good EQs on each channel, although compressors and FX are (potentially expensive) add ons.
Boring but possibly helpful tip: I would suggest looking into going VAT registered. You can VAT register at any time (no turnover threshold) and you will straight away be saving 20% on any new kit plus you can claim back vat on recent purchases. You will need to do vat returns going forward.
yep if you are going to own the space (ie. it’s permanent), spending some $ on acoustic treatment for sure. You can alway start minimally & improve. You want gear? I’m based around a Behringer DDX3216 mixer, Fostex D2424LV & Akai Z8! Works for me for writing & certain amount of mixing. Oh, and Fostex PM01 monitors etc
He said 21k, not 210k.
Acoustics and REALLY good monitors e.g. PMC, ATC, Barefoot etc.
A audio interface with top converters eg mytek, apogee, antelope etc.
A few top hardware and software synths.
For eq, comp/limiter and effects etc. I would buy software over hardware, as your 20 grand won’t go far here
Alot of good info been posted here already. Couple more things I’d add to stretch your $$ since OTB gets expensive real quick:
If you’re choice of mixer doesn’t have a built in interface, be prepared for a ton of cabling - you can cut down on costs by making your own. But don’t skimp on the soldering iron, those cheap $10 jobs are absolutely atrocious to work with.
There’s some larger 2nd hand live boards (eg Soundcraft Ghost) that seem to have a good reputation as excellent sounding + value for money. Pref look for ones that have been advertised as refurbished (recapped etc). Whatever you choose, make sure there’s enough control over the eq section.
