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#754194 09/23/09 02:30 AM
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I've been toying with the thought of setting up a simple recording studio. I'd be a complete beginner and just want to stay simple (and as inexpensive as I can get).

What all would I need to have? Programs, equipment etc.


I do custom myspace pages! Check out my work http://www.myspace.com/naomisuemontgomery and http://www.myspace.com/nashvilleapril email me at nmontgomery1984@yahoo.com for mor info or message me on JPF!
NaomiSue #754207 09/23/09 04:55 AM
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Hi Naomi

Such a simple plan should have such a simple answer smile

The best way to go would be with your computer especially if you want to build on your studio & recordings.

I often recommend porta studio's to many songwriters simply because there's a limit to what you ca do with them.
Recording IS a huge never ending pit of money and of TIME...

It never ever stops and can be a big distraction from both writing and career time. All depends on you.

While in the studio after working on some crazy edits for HOURS in some program that seems way confusing.. I'll turn to the person who's song it is and say "Okay how far away are we from the writing of this song? lol or the basic song itself?

I could start naming a dozen programs you could buy, then you'll need a new better sound card for your computer, and you'll need at least two good mics and some better speakers etc...

But as always my suggestions is to think about what you want to focus on and what's easiest and best for you. The computer set up can be learned but UPGRADING will be a constant task for you.
You may be cool with that...

A standalone digital work station may even seem more overwhelming to learn, but once you got it it will NEVER change.
You'll NEVER get pop up saying "would you like to upgrade now?" And mess up the set up you have just gotten used to? lol...

But my best advice of all is to GET the same thing that somebody else you know well has & uses.

That will be the biggest help to you of all, in so many ways that I promise. The Reasons are obvious...

Now I'm sure someone will come along and give you the list of stuff and manufactures...

Best Of Luck!


Thanks!
Peace Mike
Sub

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http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=482602

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I think Mike is right on the mark.. Portastudios are great and sound good, but also the new small recorders like the Zoom (only one with 4 track) are great!

http://www.amazon.com/Zoom-ZOO-H4-Handy-Recorder/dp/B000LGA2K6

While you are using that, you should start learning a digital audio workstation. The learning curves are steep, and it will take you a year or two to really know how, but after that you are rolling.

You can do that for free, while you get work done on your recorder/ portastudio.

Download Audacity or Rieper for free, or get a free LE/LITE version of one of the other big programmes out there - and start learning.

Of course if you are a tech wiz, you could start with the free stuff and still get work done (but most of us are not).

Kolstad #754295 09/23/09 02:42 PM
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Musician's Friend Catalog has packages you can examine to see if you want to try one. Just go to the Web Site and put your curser on the recording tab and then click on recording packages.


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If you are planning to work at home in one location, the computer is your best bet because of the unlimited editing and effects combinations available. If you buy a portable studio, you will wind up uploading it to mix anyway.

So you need a free or cheap program - Audacity is simple and free, Reaper is cheap and good but not as simple.

Then you need a microphone and a box to plug it into which plugs into the computer. A good quality dynamic mic is fine (maybe you have one already) but a condenser mic is somewhat better. A condenser mic will require phantom power which usually is provided by the box.

The box is known as an audio interface (a kind of soundcard). You can buy any number of them for about $100 which will allow you to get from the mic to the computer. M-Audio, etc.

That's it to start with. As Mike said, the sky is the limit, but you can get very good results this way.


Colin

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Colin Ward #754312 09/23/09 04:07 PM
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To expand on what Colin suggested, which is what I use, you will need two good mikes. I use Sure SM58. You may find them used at Amazon or a pawn shop. I found one for $60 on Amazon.

A good starter interface is, as Colin said the M-Audio Fast Track. You can plug in either a vocal mike and electric guitar, or plug in two mikes and play the acoustic guitar through the second mike. It will work with any recording program on the Internet. Cost about $100 at a local music store. If you buy this interface, call the toll free # and their support will gladly help you install it over the phone. Ask them for the Ableton Live Lite recording software and they will send you a free disc.

More info here http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/FastTrackUSB.html


NaomiSue #754370 09/23/09 08:04 PM
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All the replies so far offer good suggestions, but as absolute beginner, I would hate to see you start off with recording to PC.

Why? First you have have 'know' if your current PC can handle recording without latency. Ok, what is latency? In very simple terms, it's the the delay your computer introduces between the time you hit a note on a keyboard/guitar, and when you hear it come out of the speakers.

If you have PC with a dual-core processor than you won't have any problems.

You'll also need some sort of audio interface, a device will transfer/send a mic or guitar signal to a computer based recording software.

Than there are 'plugins', plugins are software that, for example, emulate guitar amps, bass amps, reverb, etc in recording software.

I hope I'm not scaring you from recording, just listing the facts.

So, now you're thinking "What should, I do? I want to record!"

Here, I suggest the BOSS BR-600. Ok, why? The control interface is set like a cassette recorder. You select a Input, either guitar, Mic or Line-In, when you press the Input button, the recorder will/can apply any effects.

Than all you do is press Record and than Play button. Oh, what about percussion/drums? The BR-600 has a built-in drum arranger that is very ez to use.

It records to a 1GB CF card, you can either transfer songs to your computer via USB or the free Boss Wave Converter Software. If you use the BWCS software, you need an external card reader.

Plus, I've created a series of BR-600 video tutorials on Youtube BR-600 Tutorial Part 1.

This way, you'll send more time recording, than learning to record.


Tony Houston
The Primetime Blues Band
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thouston #754399 09/23/09 10:30 PM
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Any computer can record music... you have one else you wouldn't be here .. All you need is a Microphone, sound card and audio recording program (DAW digital audio work station) Audacity is a good program and it's free.

Start there and as you get confident that you know where you are going then you can look into the kind of upgrades you need... the kind of mic, Audio card, interface .. eg pre amp/ mixer/ etc... Microphone and Audio card are the two most imparitive pieces of equipment that will impact on the quality of your recording...

Take care and Have Fun smile

Cheers




http://www.soundclick.com/noeldownsandfriends


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Noel Downs #754400 09/23/09 10:37 PM
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BTW There is a magizine called Computer Music... well worth buying for tips and hints www.musicradar.com/cm

Another source of music software (freeware shareware and demos) www.hitsquad.com/smm

Cheers




http://www.soundclick.com/noeldownsandfriends


Tolerance means if you don't like something you ignore it
NaomiSue #754429 09/24/09 12:50 AM
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Originally Posted by NaomiSue
I've been toying with the thought of setting up a simple recording studio. I'd be a complete beginner and just want to stay simple (and as inexpensive as I can get).

What all would I need to have? Programs, equipment etc.


Hey Naomi...does your head hurt yet?? laugh

Well, you said "recording studio"...so I think you want a little more than just a cassette recorder. Assuming you want to record with a computer, here are the basics, to me:

A DAW
An Interface
A mic


DAW
Means Digital Audio Workstation...in other words, a recording program. ProTools, Cubase, Logic, Sonar, Reaper...lots of brands, and each one works a little different. They all have a learning curve. They run from $50 to $500. Audacity is free on the internet, but not the best program. Reaper is free to download and use with no restrictions...you pay them $50 on the honor system if you decide to keep it. Reaper is as good as anything out there...if I had to start all over, I'd probably learn that one. But if you end up with Cubase, that's the one I know, and I'll always be glad to help anyone here with questions on how to use it. Whatever you choose, the internet is filled with free video tutorials that really help speed up the learning. Unless you adore manuals.

Interface
This is important if you want to record more than one take. An audio interface is necessary to keep the latency away...imagine this: You record a guitar track. Next you want to sing a vocal track...but YIKES! the sound of your voice is going into your headphones two seconds later! Your computer won't let you sync in real time. Impossible! But an interface will play all your sound back in real time, and also provide better sound. This one, anywhere from $90 to $1000+. If you're serious, you'll probably want to spend about $200-$300 for a GOOD entry level interface, like an Echo Audiofire.

Microphone
You've got dynamic mics that help reject a lot of the room noise...best bet is a Shure SM57 or SM58. They are indestructible. $100 new, $50 used...always being sold on craigslist. Or ya got yer condenser mics that are more sensitive and often have more clarity (but also pick up that dog barking down the street). A great cheap one is the NADY SCM-800 for less than $50.

You'll need headphones, mic cord, mic stand...and you're ready to roll. All the other crap comes later. And it surely will if you embark on this adventure, mwahahahaaaaaaaa....... eek

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Hi Naomi Mark and Mike have both thrown in some good advice and suggs.
Personally I would go dow the route Mark suggests. You will need a good fast PC as a starting point. It must have loads of storage and lots of RAM (3gig minimum) otherwise latency is a prob. Some people who take recording seriously have a PC dedicated solely to music production. This has a stripped down O/S with no extras like internet access or any other hardware or software not music production related. The idea is that with nothing else working in the background the computer is faster and has less latency.
You will need an interface preferably for both audio and MIDI. It is so much easier to use a MIDI keyboard for drums, bass an all the MIDI sounds.
You will need music production software and lots of plugins. I would suggest Cubase or Reaper. Plugins can be added and built upon some are free some cost. It is a case of building up a library of these as and when you need them.
I would suggest you invest in an external hardrive 500gig minimum. This will store all the large wav files you will make and put less strain on the O/S.
You can get by on a dynamic mic like a Shure 57 or 58 but for serious recording you will need a decent condenser. These range from a few bucks second hand to several thousand.
My advice would be to start with the basics and if you get the bug you can always upgrade piecemeal.

Here is my list of basic essentials.

PC (what you have already will probably do as a starter but you will need a large external hard drive)

Reaper (it is free as a trial)

Audio/MIDI interface. Here is a link to an article about interfaces. My advice would be to buy second hand. Ebay has some great bargains. I bought a Tascam US122 for under $50. http://www.tweakheadz.com/soundcards_for_the_home_studio.htm

Microphone...I would start with a good dynamic mic like a Shure SM57 before upgrading to a studio mic.

Lots of luck...LOL


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Musicians Friend has the MXL 990 condenser mic on sale for $50 today on their stupid deal of the day.


Colin

I try to critique as if you mean business.....

http://colinwardmusic.com/

http://rosewoodcreekband.com/


Colin Ward #754539 09/24/09 11:29 AM
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1.) pick a budget. Do you have $100, $300, $500, $1,000 to spend?

2.) Once you have a budget then you can move forward.

3.) I've recorded with no detectable latency on computers with 1MB of RAM, so there are no hard and fast rules about that -- only guidelines.

Let's say you had $300 to spend. Audacity is free to start! You could get a mic for $50 (Colin found a good one -- but there are others). Found a audio interface for $69 bucks, but you'll need a pre-amp to supply phantom power -- Art Tube MP cost $30. Mic Stand $20. Good headphones $50-100. If you bought the $100 headphones, you are up to $270, which leaves $30 for two cheap bottles of liquor as the PC recording frustration battles begin.

I Found the BR-600 for $270 at Buy.com, but they are normally in the $320 range or so (I think).

So if your budget is $500, we start over again.

Kevin


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Oh I think I'm way in over my head, and it hurts, lol. My computer is a custom PC that my brother built for me, because I do a lot with photo editing and venturing into recording. It has loads of memory and I was told it could handle anything you throw at it.

So I think I will start with Audacity, a good mic, and an interface, and go from there when I have more experience.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions!


I do custom myspace pages! Check out my work http://www.myspace.com/naomisuemontgomery and http://www.myspace.com/nashvilleapril email me at nmontgomery1984@yahoo.com for mor info or message me on JPF!
NaomiSue #754594 09/24/09 03:04 PM
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Very wise.....Remember to get a decent interface that suits your needs....You will need phantom power at some point(condenser mics need this)so make sure it has this facility built in. Also make sure it has enough inputs and outputs and a MIDI input and output. Some interfaces are now being sold with accompanying production softare (Cubase lite for example) so look out for a good deal there.

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Okay one more question, will any interface work with any mic? I'm looking at a AKG condensor mic right now. Anyone know if that is a good brand?

Or if I find a condensor mic that has the usb adapter do i still have to have an interface like the mxl 990 usb?

Last edited by NaomiSue; 09/24/09 04:31 PM.

I do custom myspace pages! Check out my work http://www.myspace.com/naomisuemontgomery and http://www.myspace.com/nashvilleapril email me at nmontgomery1984@yahoo.com for mor info or message me on JPF!
NaomiSue #754620 09/24/09 05:18 PM
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AKG makes great mics. Which one are you thinking about?

USB adapters aren't a great solution...you still get the problem with latency, and the USB translation can degrade your nice signal, so I'd definitely get an interface. And you'll need one that has phantom power, or else you won't hear that condenser mic. Here are some good inexpensive interfaces, all with phantom power, and some even have good software programs too, better than Audacity:

M-Audio Fast Track Pro

Line 6 POD Studio UX2

Lexicon Omega

Roland UA-25EX

These all seem like good USB interfaces around $200. But if you have a firewire port on your computer, I would highly recommend spending a little more for the Echo Audiofire 4...these units have pristine sound and a reputation for being stable...and that means "won't make you pull your hair out because weird uncontrollable things are happening".

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Originally Posted by Mike Caro Substudio

Recording IS a huge never ending pit of money and of TIME...

It never ever stops and can be a big distraction from both writing and career time. All depends on you.


Naomi, that's the truest thing you'll ever read here. I'm just finishing my "pro-ish" home studio and I'll post some pics on here when it's done to show what lies at the end of the river when you embark on making music seriously.

I think you're right going down the computer route rather than a digital recorder. I owned a BR-600, nice product, but has a pretty low glass ceiling, and if you become serious about making you'd end up going down the PC route anyway.

I'd agree with Mark about going down the firewire route, if you don't have firewire, you can get your brother stick a firewire card in your PC if you have a spare PCI port.

I'm a big fan of cubase, if you get the studio (cheaper) version as a "student", that's pretty good deal. If you know Big Tommy in Little China, he'll always give you a good deal on the stuff like that.


Mics, they're kind of things you just collect over time when you find good deal for them. AKG make some great mikes, I'm Rode fan too, but there's a lot of American mics I don't have much experience of, so do a lot of research.

Anyway, back to finishing my rear diffuser. Best of luck.

Lucian

lucian #754658 09/24/09 10:22 PM
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I found a berhinger condenser mic and interface for $60, but I don't know anything about brands yet and quality. Can someone tell me if this is a good deal or not? And Someone has given me Cubase so when I get it all together I'm going to toy with it.


I do custom myspace pages! Check out my work http://www.myspace.com/naomisuemontgomery and http://www.myspace.com/nashvilleapril email me at nmontgomery1984@yahoo.com for mor info or message me on JPF!
NaomiSue #755144 09/26/09 08:34 PM
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Well, the good thing about paying $60 is you don't miss it much!

Behringer is a weird blend of excellent and shoddy...they offer cool things at low prices and build them really cheaply. They tend to die sudden deaths. At the same time, some of their products are surprisingly good, like the recently discontinued V-Verb.

Sounds like this set-up will bring you to the dance, and you can upgrade later if and when you want, so why not? I'd be glad to answer any Cubase questions, and Big Jim also uses Cubase...but he's a big crabby Scotsman who hates American Idol.

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I rarely recommend Behringer. They have cheap prices, but poor quality control because of that. You might get lucky with a decent one, but odds are against it.

You can't go wrong with just about any mic from AKG.

USB mics are generally used more by "podcasters" than by singers. The quality of the digital conversion is usually a bit on the grainy side.

I would recommend an interface that has phantom power and a condenser mic to plug directly into it.

One thing you'll need to watch out for (I think someone mentioned it briefly above) is latency. This manifests as an "echo" or a "chorusy" sound in the headphones when you sing or speak into the microphone or play your guitar into it. Faster computers minimize this, but it's still going to be there.

Look for an interface that has some sort of "low latency", "zero-latency", or "direct monitoring" capability so you have a way to work around this. You won't get that capability on a $60 interface.

BTW, a lot of times when you buy an interface, it comes with a recording program like Cubase LE or something. I wouldn't recommend using one that someone has given you. If it's a "cracked" version, you will often find that the program isn't as stable.

I would recommend several of the "Recording Packages" from Musiciansfriend.com

Presonus (good stuff) and comes with Cubase LE ($349)
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/PreSonus-Audiobox-USB-Recording-Package?sku=243008

M-Audio (also good stuff); comes with Steinberg's Sequel ($299)
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.co...-with-Steinberg-Studio-Bundle?sku=241579

Digidesign Mbox2 Mini(good stuff, too); $399
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Digidesign-Pro-Tools-Mbox-Mini-Package?sku=702525

Any of the packages above will serve you quite well for some time. You would still need some sort of monitoring system for the M-Audio package, but the above should give you an idea of what systems cost and what you'll need at a bare minimum.

Don't forget to budget for quality headphones as well.



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Naomi, I see you are a Nashville girl. To me, that suggests you want to go with the Digidesign Mbox2 Mini, Larry suggests. Make sure it comes with Pro Tools LE, and you're good. From what I've heard, Nashville is a Pro Tools town, so with the Digidesign stuff you'll be able to work smoothly with most producers in town, now and in the future.

Kolstad #755870 09/29/09 07:33 PM
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Thanks guys I've got bids in on ebay for all of the stuff mentioned. If I can get it at a discounted price thats great but if I can't I'll just go to guitar center and splurge a little bit. I owe it to myself lol.


I do custom myspace pages! Check out my work http://www.myspace.com/naomisuemontgomery and http://www.myspace.com/nashvilleapril email me at nmontgomery1984@yahoo.com for mor info or message me on JPF!
NaomiSue #756327 10/01/09 01:20 PM
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Good luck Naomi let us know how you get on...... cos once you get the equipment your troubles really start WHEN YOU TRY TO USE IT. LOL.

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lol, I've got an ace in the hole though. My big brother is a whiz at anything associated with a pc. He's also a wonderful drummer and a sax player. If he weren't a preacher he'd probably help me out with a band.


I do custom myspace pages! Check out my work http://www.myspace.com/naomisuemontgomery and http://www.myspace.com/nashvilleapril email me at nmontgomery1984@yahoo.com for mor info or message me on JPF!

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