Hi Home recording what do I need???

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ale_gia

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Hi I am a singer and I wanted to create a home studio recording. When I had to record a demo or a cover I have always gone to some recording studio but now I'd like to create my home recording studio.

I just need to record the vocals and not the instrumental, some friends told me that the focusrite 2i4 would be perfect for me.What do you think??? and what kind of mic do you suggest me???

P.S what else do I need??? when I record I'd like to record with the instrumental and my voice on the headphone( like in the studio) is it possible right???

thanks for your answer and sorry if I said something stupid but I am not an expert but I'd like to learn... :-D thanks
 
ale_gia said:
Hi I am a singer and I wanted to create a home studio recording. When I had to record a demo or a cover I have always gone to some recording studio but now I'd like to create my home recording studio.

I just need to record the vocals and not the instrumental, some friends told me that the focusrite 2i4 would be perfect for me.What do you think??? and what kind of mic do you suggest me???

P.S what else do I need??? when I record I'd like to record with the instrumental and my voice on the headphone( like in the studio) is it possible right???

thanks for your answer and sorry if I said something stupid but I am not an expert but I'd like to learn... :-D thanks
Click to expand...

You have said nothing in the least stupid and quite a bit that makes abundant sense!

Yes, the 2i4 will serve you very well if all you really need to do is record your voice....Now for the tricky bits.

The microphone, is it possible to contact one of the studios you have been to and ask them if they knew what they used for you? I ask because certain mics suit certain voices and if they already have you "pegged" less work to do?
Downside is many studios use VERY expensive and sometimes vintage mics, expensive AND hard to come by!" In the absence of such information or if the mic is beyond reasonable reach, the choice falls between a dynamic type such as the ubiquitous Shure SM58 and a Large Diaphragm Capacitor (aka condenser) microphone. A very, very broad brush might paint...Rock and "crooning" Dynamic. Ballad, folk, "operatic" LDC but don't quote me! I just fix things! Whatever mic you get you will need a pop shield and a stand of course.
Headphones? No sweat. Must be closed back types but Sennheiser HD202s at about 20 quid here will get you started.

Room: Google for "SE Reflection filter" and if you can afford it get one, better two! Otherwise, unless you have a large, particularly nice room acoustically, you will have to arrange the usual soft furnishings and duvets.

You have not suggested a budget but with the 2i4, an LDC and bits and bobs you should bring it all in at £350-£400 over here.


Dave.
 
I support what Dave above says. I arrived here a few months ago having purchased pretty much the above kit around the same cost. I got lucky with the room and the mic and am away recording vocal tracks for musicians and bouncing tracks back and forth. I chose Cubase because it came free with the Focusrite package and it works for me, but do consider the others, Pro Logic would be my next choice. Before now I had always worked with analogue equipment so I have really enjoyed learning a whole new set of skills and techniques with digital tools. exciting times. Enjoy setting up and recording your songs, I do :thumbs up:
 
Lots of good advice so far but a few thoughts...

The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 would do everything you need (unless there's something you haven't told us!) and save you a bit of money over the 2i4. Both are very nice interfaces by the way.

I'll second the advice of the sE Reflexion (note the "x") filter. It's not a substitute for a fully treated studio but, set up properly (and the instructions are detailed) does a darn good job.

On microphones, as has been said it can be a pretty personal thing but I'd probably suggest some form of Large Diaphragm Condenser--there's a pretty good chance that's what the studio you've been renting used. One thought--sE make some excellent microphones (I use a bunch of them, often in preference to some much more expensive mics I've owned for a while) and quite often dealers will offer a package deal on a Reflexion Filter and one of their mics--often the sE X1 or the sE 2000 A (or sometimes the 2200 A). Any of those mics would suit you well.

Something that's not been mentioned is the thorny topic of monitor speakers. As has been said, you'll need headphones for tracking and, in a pinch, you can do some mixing on them too. However, for all sorts of psycho-acoustic reasons, a mix that sounds good in your headphones often sounds very different (and not so good) when listened to on other sources. For that reason, you should plan on getting a good set of monitors, if not now as soon as you can afford them.

Finally, on the choice of software I won't confuse things by suggesting anything specific but I will suggest that you download the free trials of as many as possible and try them out. They can almost all do the sort of thing you need but the User Interface that suits you best can be a very personal thing. Also, let me just mention Reaper which is a very capable DAW at an amazingly low price. You'll find a lot of people here use it so support will be good too! (And I say that despite not being a Reaper user myself.

Have fun and when you get something recorded, post it in the MP3 clinic so we can have a listen!
 
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