Getting Started, no equipment yet

[jwebhar]

Hey I have no idea where to start with recording equipment so I thought I'd join this forum haha! Anyways, I've recorded some of my music at my friends house using Cubase and some interface I'm not sure of, a mixer, and various mic's. I am interested in getting a home recording set up similar to his where I can record drum tracks, guitar tracks, vocals, and other percussion instruments. I currently have Logic Express 8 and a Macbook Pro but no other recording equipment. Could someone give me a ballpark estimate as to how much the total price would be for some equipment to get started? (I would be recording most of the instruments live, except for maybe the bass track and keyboard track.) Also just some ideas of what I would need (mixer/interface/mic's/etc.). I don't have too much money to spend so I'd probably be looking at lower end equipment. I know I've been kind of vague, but any feedback would be great!!

Thanks
-Jonathan

 

[moresound]

Hey I have no idea where to start with recording equipment so I thought I'd join this forum haha! Anyways, I've recorded some of my music at my friends house using Cubase and some interface I'm not sure of, a mixer, and various mic's. I am interested in getting a home recording set up similar to his where I can record drum tracks, guitar tracks, vocals, and other percussion instruments. I currently have Logic Express 8 and a Macbook Pro but no other recording equipment. Could someone give me a ballpark estimate as to how much the total price would be for some equipment to get started? (I would be recording most of the instruments live, except for maybe the bass track and keyboard track.) Also just some ideas of what I would need (mixer/interface/mic's/etc.). I don't have too much money to spend so I'd probably be looking at lower end equipment. I know I've been kind of vague, but any feedback would be great!!

Thanks
-Jonathan

Well as far as microphones go you could spend $500. to $5000. what do you have as a possible budget?

 

[sonicpsyops]

How much did your friend spend on his set up? I'd start with him. Maybe he's looking to upgrade and wants to unload some of his old gear.

 

[kcearl]

Id decide your budget first then work within it.....there is no limit either way, you'll work and get results with what you can afford..there also craigslist which is awash with items people need to sell....


you basic needs will be

an audio interface
a mic (if its a condenser your audio interface will require phantom power as an option)
monitors at best, studio headphones at the very least


then read like a mofo...on everything you can...especially books like Guerilla Home Recording or Home Recording for Dummies...

that'll get you started

 

[guitaristic]

you basic needs will be

an audio interface
a mic (if its a condenser your audio interface will require phantom power as an option)
monitors at best, studio headphones at the very least


then read like a mofo...on everything you can...especially books like Guerilla Home Recording or Home Recording for Dummies...

that'll get you started

I'd definitely recommend the reading like a mofo part before buying anything. HR for Dummies saved me a ton of trouble early on and gave me a good foundation, and I've heard good things about GHR too.

 

[TimOBrien]

My obligatory standard reply-for-newbies that I keep in Wordpad so this is just a paste (I don't want to re-type this all the time):

First off, immediately get a good beginner recording book (spend $20 before spending hundred$/thousand$) that shows you what you need to get started and how to hook everything up in your studio:
Home Recording for Musicians by Jeff Strong - $15
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/04...mp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0470385421
(Wish I'd had that when I started; would have saved me lots of money and time and grief)
You can also pick up this book in most any Borders or Barnes&Noble in the Music Books section!

Another good one is: Recording Guitar and Bass by Huw Price
http://www.amazon.com/Recording-Gui...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215734124&sr=1-1
(I got my copy at a place called Half-Price Books for $6!!)

And you can get a FREE subscription to TapeOp magazine at www.tapeop.com

Barnes&Noble or Borders are great places to start --- they have recording books and you can go get a snack or coffee and read them for FREE! Don't pass by a good recording book --- this is a VERY technical hobby and you REALLY want to start a reference library!!!

Good Newbie guides that also explains all the basics and have good tips:
http://www.tweakheadz.com/guide.htm
http://www.computermusic.co.uk/page/computermusic?entry=free_beginner_pdfs
http://www.harmony-central.com/articles/
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/tips-techniques/168409-tips-techniques.html

21 Ways To Assemble a Recording Rig: http://www.tweakheadz.com/rigs.htm

Also Good Info: http://www.theprojectstudiohandbook.com/directory.htm

Other recording books: http://musicbooksplus.com/home-recording-c-31.html

Still using a built-in soundcard?? Unfortunately, those are made with less than $1 worth of chips for beeps, boops and light gaming (not to mention cheapness for the manufacturer) and NOT quality music production.
#1 Rule of Recording: You MUST replace the built-in soundcard.
Here's a good guide and tested suggestions that WORK: http://www.tweakheadz.com/soundcards_for_the_home_studio.htm
(you'll want to bookmark and read through all of Tweak's Guide while you're there...)
Another good article: Choosing an audio interface - http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep08/articles/audiointerfaces.htm


Plenty of software around to record for FREE to start out on:

Sony ACID Express (free 10-track sequencer): http://www.acidplanet.com/downloads/xpress/
Audacity: http://audacity.sourceforge.net (multi-track with VST support)
Wavosaur: http://www.wavosaur.com/ (a stereo audio file editor with VST support)\
Kristal: http://www.kreatives.org/kristal/
Other freebies and shareware: www.hitsquad.com/smm

Another great option is REAPER at http://www.cockos.com/reaper/ (It's $50 but runs for free until you get guilty enough to pay for it...)
I use Reaper and highly reccomend it...

Music Notation and MIDI recording: Melody Assistant ($25) and Harmony Assistant ($80) have the power of $600 notation packages - http://myriad-online.com
Demo you can try on the website.

And you can go out to any Barnes&Noble or Borders and pick up "Computer Music" magazine - they have a full FREE studio suite in every issue's DVD, including sequencers, plugins and tons of audio samples. (November 2006 they gave away a full copy of SamplitudeV8SE worth $150, November 2007-on the racks Dec in the US- they gave away SamplitudeV9SE and July 2009 issue they put out Samplitude10SE. FREE. It pays to watch 'em for giveaways...)

 

[kcearl]

i always like this standard reply...read that OP and you'll be on the right track

 

[jwebhar]

thanks!

hey thanks a tonnnnnnn everyone. this helps me a lottttt. im going to look into it and see what my budget is then come back with more questions probably haha.

thanks!

 

[moresound]

OK ..you'll be Bach I'll be Beethoven.

 

[Atom Bomb]

why not the lone ranger and mozart?

 

[moresound]

Or Captain and Tennille.............Now I'm dating myself.