While there are many, many things that go into the stew of "broadcast quality," I contend that it's entirely possible to make broadcast quality recordings with a very small "arsenal." You can absolutely make broadcast quality recordings with nothing more than a decent computer, Garageband (or PC equivalent), a decent USB mic or a regular mic and a $100 interface, an inexpensive MIDI keyboard, and a $300 pair of monitors. That's ESPECIALLY true if you're making simple acoustic guitar-based recordings. It's more about the ear than the gear, which has been said here hundreds of times!
I've seen actual cases where people have gone out and spent hundreds (maybe even a thousand dollars) on a high end microphone, and yet their acoustic guitar sounds like total crap. Why? They didn't know the front of the mic needed to be pointed at the guitar. They didn't know the difference between cardioid and omni pickup patterns. A $10,000 mic would sound bad if you use the back side to record
I've also known people who get acoustic guitar sounds that have zero bottom end, with the pick sounding like a double edged razor blade on the strings, and so much top end that it hurts to listen to it. Why???
Because they tried to record the guitar in stereo with two mics and they didn't know ANYTHING about the physics of sound, and they had severe phase cancellation from poor mic placement, hence, no bottom end. A pair of $1,000 mics won't solve that problem, but a pair of $100 mics that are correctly placed would sound just fine.
Matt VanderBoegh, Dean Kripphaene, and tons of other TAXI members make great sounding recordings with basic equipment, a simple studio set up, and in many cases, pretty inexpensive and fairly limited sample libraries/virtual instruments.
Not that I endorse the practice of making
mediocre recordings, but I'd bet dollars to donuts that a video editor laying in music in a reality show wouldn't care that much if a recording sounded great. Of course, there's a "floor" of acceptability, but they care far more about how the music works in the scene than they do about a shimmery, glossy top end on an acoustic guitar. And yes, if something sounded like a razor blade strumming the strings of an acoustic guitar, that would bother them.
Of course, for big orchestral cues (and some other genres that require more advanced skills), your sounds (and to some extent, your gear) and the way you use them becomes much more important. But if you're not experienced enough to achieve that level of recording or production yet, go for SIMPLE! Somebody JUST told me that the majority of their placements came from VERY simple cues with only two or three instruments. I heard a cue last might that was only an acoustic guitar (playing a rhythmic, slappy, and sparse 1-4-5 progression), a cajon, and a shaker. You could do those all day long on Garageband if you know basic recording techniques. A clean recording, a well balanced mix, and a good arrangement is where you need to start. Once you've mastered that,
then tackle new and bigger things, and worry about building an arsenal of gear (even though you may not need one).
My 2 cents,
Michael