About to put it together

  • Thread starter Thread starter Roneil76
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DAW = Digital Audio Workstation. It's the term that we usually use to refer to the recording software that you use. Although sometimes DAW can refer to the whole computer, or whatever device is being used to record digital audio. It's a bit of an ambiguous term in that regard.

Presonus products come bundled with Studio One as their DAW software. I've never used it myself, but some of the fellas around here use it and really like it.

The software that comes with an audio interface is something that you'll install on your computer and use from there. The software that's integrated onto the device itself is called firmware, and beyond updating it occasionally, you'll have no direct contact with the firmware. The DAW software (in this case Studio One) is where you will interact with your audio interface. That's where the play, record, edit features live.
 
Personally, I would just look into a stand-alone recorder. Boss BR 1600 and Korg BR3200 are the ones I cut my teeth on. Couple hundred bucks/dollars/euros/quid/monies from your native land and your only investment beyond that is mics, stands and time. Also, most digital stand-alones will double as an interface
 
Yes. Studio one is the software that runs in your computer to record and manipulate tracks that it gets from the AI, Presonus 1818. You have to have some sort of software that does all this and talks to the interface.
 
theDICKENS said:
Personally, I would just look into a stand-alone recorder. Boss BR 1600 and Korg BR3200 are the ones I cut my teeth on. Couple hundred bucks/dollars/euros/quid/monies from your native land and your only investment beyond that is mics, stands and time. Also, most digital stand-alones will double as an interface
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Im considering this as an option as well for sure. I've used a tascam 8 track digi recorder once years ago. A buddy had it and brought it by to record a little banjo/mandolin thing we were doing... Was easy enough to record on for sure.
 
Just one caution on one of the previous posts - used SM57s on ebay. Be VERY careful as there are a ton of counterfeit SM57s out there, and if someone is selling a used one, they may not even know they bought a counterfeit.

On stand-alone recorders - good way to learn about mixing, and some (not all) can be used as interfaces, but there are limiting factors on a stand-alone that make computer recording the better option, including plug-ins (effects) and automation.
 
mjbphotos said:
Just one caution on one of the previous posts - used SM57s on ebay. Be VERY careful as there are a ton of counterfeit SM57s out there, and if someone is selling a used one, they may not even know they bought a counterfeit.

On stand-alone recorders - good way to learn about mixing, and some (not all) can be used as interfaces, but there are limiting factors on a stand-alone that make computer recording the better option, including plug-ins (effects) and automation.
Click to expand...

To add to this, I use a low end laptop, Reaper and an interface instead of a Portastudio. This is just to track, but as MJ stated, with the right laptop, there is more flexibility with a laptop.

I am using a low end laptop as I have a mixing station and I will use it for tracking and some minor processing. I spent about the same as a protastudio (HP Laptop and Tascam 1800) $500.
 
The Rundown. You need:
1) An audio interface: Handles Analog to Digital (AD) conversion into your computer and therefore a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), Digital to Analog (DA) out of your computer and into monitors and headphones.
2) Computer: your choice, Intel/AMD/Mac whatever you like.
3) DAW: records and plays back music. There are lots of options. One of the most loved DAW's here is Reaper from Cuckos (free download and $40-50 to register full). Also you can get free versions of many others so you can check them out, but most are crippled (no save or whatever).
4) Cans (headphones): To listen while you track (avoiding feedback and bleed (sound entering your microphone that you didn't want)). Tracking is what we call actually recording each instrument to individual audio tracks.
5) Microphones: Normal starting locker should include a few SM57s or something equivalent (but 57s are hugely recommended). A large diameter condenser microphone (LDC) a pair of small diameter condenser microphones (SDC) and anything else you'll need for your specific setup i.e. recording the entire band live will take more mikes than doing one person at a time. Somewhere safe to store the mikes (condenser microphones do NOT like moisture)
6) Monitors: something to listen to while you mix down what you've tracked.
7) Connections: Stands, cables, desk, chairs.
8) A space that is acoustically accurate. This may be last on my list, but it is first in importance. Small or square rooms take much more treatment. You need an environment to track that sounds natural, but dead. (if you're building a pro studio, you'll want some ambient chambers, but I doubt that's where we're going here). Making a room sound dead to hand claps and shouts is crucial and beyond that you want to trap bass (which normally gathers in corners) stop flutter frequencies (suppressed by ceiling clouds and primary reflection traps), and tune your room's eq (diffusers and tweaking the eq of your system). When your environment gives you actual flat response, you are ready to make great recordings.
9) Experience: Patience, time and experimentation will get you a long way!
Hope this is helpful. :D
 
P.S. shoot for the best you can afford.
Avoid foam, work with Roxul or OC 703/705 to deaden your room.
Your choices so far in interfaces are very sound. Either the US-1800 or the PreSonus will serve you well while you learn the trade. If you can afford just a little more, try the Mackie Onyx Blackbird with Onyx preamps, or a big jump to the Focusrite Liquid Saffire 56 (great vocal preamps, but runs about $1000).
Dedicated preamps are nice, but that's a later thing. You'll want some experience before you start shooting at those (they get expensive fast and the cheap ones are usually not worth having).
Buy the best mikes your money can budget. Good mikes are good mikes. You can work with MXL 2001/990/991, AT 2020s, Behringer B1/C2, etc., but a step up to Rode NT1A/M5, AKG perception, AT 2035/C1000 will give you a definite boost, and of course it only goes up from there. There are some great and legendary microphones. But you will find that some of the best recordings you'll hear on this site are from people who've invested very little in their studio (via knowledge/second-hand equipment/DIY), but there is a minimum you need to look at to do the whole package. I just spent $8000 to upgrade what I had (which worked, but not well) to what I have (which works well, but I don't have enough experience with it to do what I want...YET).
Again, I stress, work within a budget you are comfortable with. You can spend $2000 and get a great sounding room and the equipment you need if you're frugal and intelligent in your purchases.
 
Wow!! Awesome ty broken that's a lot of good info imma print that post as a basic guide to help me cover all my bases!!!! Ty again
 
Sofar in leaning hard to the personus 1818. I got time so imma keep the search alive & I do like that mackie blackbird as well. Short on mic preamps though
 
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