I need some advices for building my first home recording studio

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YuvalAS

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Hello,
I wanna start buying the equipment which is required for building my home recording studio.
First I want to let you know that I'm running Windows Vista, and planning to use Audacity for the recordings at first.
The type of the sound which I wanna record is vocals and an acoustic guitar.
I want the highest quality for a very limited amount of money.
I've built the following specification at first:
  • Behringer C-1 Condenser Microphone
  • Shure X2u XLR-to-USB adapter
  • XLR male to XLR female Microphone cable
  • Nady MPF-6 6-Inch Clamp On Microphone Pop Filter
  • On Stage DS7200B Adjustable Desk Microphone Stand
  • Samson SP01 Shockmount Spider Mount for Condenser Mics [I'm not sure if I'm gonna buy a shockmount yet.]
Is this combination will be good for me?

With this combination, Will I enjoy the same quality as the person that recorded this video using this microphone?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsqDyqx7ppM&NR=1

Is it important to take a "better" microphone?
I researched a lot and I think that the Behringer is enough and even too much for me, But I'm still worried since I don't wanna lose my money...

I've also seen these microphone:
  • MXL MXL 990 Condenser Microphone
  • AKG PERCEPTION 120 Professional Studio Microphone
  • Audio Technica AT3035

They are all too much expensive - but If I pay that for only one time, I wanna get the best I can.
Will I feel total differences between the Behringer and the more expensive that are listed above?

I really liked the sound that I heard on the youtube's video of this guy...
I also liked the quality in this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA3fVHdeCVc&feature=related
In this video someone's used it with the Blue Icicle and the quality is really good.
So another question I have is: Does the Blue Icicle will be enough for me? What's better in the Shure X2u?
And what do I hear through the "headphone output" on the Shure? Is it exactly the same as I can hear from the computer's soundcard?
Can I do the same things in both th Shure and the Icicle?
What does it mean that the Icicle provides voltage of 44 and the Shure 52? Does it matter?
(I just want quality, durability and everything that anyone want..)
I'm just so worried and want someone to tell me "It's really good, you should take it. It's enough..!" and so on..

Oh, And.. What does the Shock Mount do?

Thanks in advance and sorry for the amount of the questions,
Yuval.
 
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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 user-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...)
 
Tim's reply is always excellent.

Also, the one thing this particular part of the forum is about, is the one thing you didn't mention. Studio construction/sound treatment. Since this is a home studio you're talking about, then the "construction" part might not be that important. But, since you're recording acoustic guitar and vocals, the "treatment" part is as important as what gear you'll buy.

My suggestion would be to read everything in Tim's post, and then spend some time reading a lot of the threads in this section of the site.
 
Hey,
First, thank you for your fast reply.
I think you didn't understand me very well.
I'm gonna spend an amount of money in the price range of between $200 to $300 maximum... and I don't have time to start reading so much...
I'm not gonna take it too seriously, I just like it - Me and my sister are very talented about singing, so we just want it to record ourselves.
I'm sure that my combination will be good enough since It's not my bussiness and I just want to record vocals and an acoustic guitar for my own purposes...
Please listen to the records on the Youtube's videos that I attached to my first message on this thread. This quality is enough and over for me.. I will really enjoy if I will be able to record on this quality.
I'm gonna record on a room in a 5-rooms flat, which is also a living room..
I don't have much noises there.. so don't worry...

The combination that I wrote in my first message including everything that's wrote there costs like $205 if I choose the Shure X2u with the combination.
If I choose the Blue Icicle it decreasing into $145.
I just wanna know if this combination will be good...
You know what's my budget: $300 top.

And I have a problem, I don't live in the United States - and In my country these things costs a lot (for example, the behringer of $40 costs here like $150 [!!!])

So I'm gonna order everything in a website from US then have it shipped to me by a friend...

So it also mean I can't take audio interfaces that are powered by the AC (Because here we use voltage of 220v and 50hz). So I need to use USB powered audio interfaces.
Which means I gotta take the Shure X2u or the Blue Icicle.

You just gotta understand my attitude - I love music, I wanna record myself not as a bussiness - just coz I like it.. I will be very satisfied if I get the same quality as it's in the videos.

And another question, If I use the Shure X2u or the Blue Icicle, The quality doesn't depends on my built in soundcard, does it? Coz it's functioned like a soundcard by itself, doesn't it?

Thank you again for your help and wait for your reply,
Yuval.
 
Well if you don't want to read, don't want to learn, don't give a shit how it sounds, and you're sure your set-up will be fine.....then what the hell was your question again?????

If you don't give a crap, why should anyone else?????


Enjoy your set-up.


(looking forward to seeing you back in a few weeks with something like "why do my recorded tracks sound like shit?")
 
YuvalAS said:
I think you didn't understand me very well.


I don't have time to start reading so much...
I'm not gonna take it too seriously,
Click to expand...
Perhaps. But you'll do yourself some good by just a little reading. An evening or two is all it needs to take. I don't know if you'll get the same quality as in the video but if you want any kind of good quality, it doesn't usually come easy - even if it's just two voices and an acoustic guitar. The two pieces of gear (the C1 and the Blue icicle) you want seem OK. But there's a bit more to making it sound nice, which is why Tim and Rami suggested a bit of reading. It can do you no harm
 
Allright..
I got it..
It was seems to me as a lot of reading material - If it's not so - I will really take your advice and start reading.
But, Is it enough to read the free material you attached?
Because if I purchase all of the books you wrote, I will spend as much money as my budget for my studio is... :)
So, I'll be right here within a few days...
Thank you all again, you were very helpful,
Yuval.
P.S. Is it OK to send a reply to this thread after like 3 days?
 
YuvalAS said:
P.S. Is it OK to send a reply to this thread after like 3 days?
Click to expand...

Yes, please keep this one thread going for your questions. Plus, it probably should go in the Newbs section and not the Studio Constr. forum because you're not really building a studio. I'll move it.

When Rami mentioned sound treatment, he wasn't talking about sound isolation. You responded about no noise, but sound treatment is to help "tune" the room for a better listening environment, not sound isolation. Read up on acoustic treatment because it is the best investment you can make towards a good sound. And though you said you weren't looking for high quality, my guess is once you get started and see the results you can get easily, you'll want to go further and look to get decent results.

Good luck nd have fun,
 
YuvalAS said:
Allright..
I got it..
It was seems to me as a lot of reading material - If it's not so - I will really take your advice and start reading.
But, Is it enough to read the free material you attached?
Because if I purchase all of the books you wrote, I will spend as much money as my budget for my studio is... :)
So, I'll be right here within a few days...
Thank you all again, you were very helpful,
Yuval.
P.S. Is it OK to send a reply to this thread after like 3 days?
Click to expand...
Tim's reading list is good, fairly complete and you don't have to read it ! They're just helpful suggestions that he makes. Tweakhead is worth a read though and this forum has so much good stuff - and it won't cost a thing !
Like Chili says, you can take as long as you like to return to this thread.
 
YuvalAS said:
I don't have time to start reading so much...
Click to expand...

Hey dude, welcome to HR. I think that you should reconsider, since you'll be reading what we post here, and we don't want to waste time writing to you if you don't want to read it. ;)



Your mic, stand, mount, and cable are sufficient for your needs. Pick an interface that has solid driver support, and go for it.
 
hey i'm a newbie too and read this recently that pretty much summed up all the basics for me - http://www.waves.com/content.aspx?id=10999

its a short read so probably a good place to start. once you get more into recording you'll find yourself seeking out more info anyways. good luck
 
dmber said:
hey i'm a newbie too and read this recently that pretty much summed up all the basics for me - http://www.waves.com/content.aspx?id=10999

its a short read so probably a good place to start. once you get more into recording you'll find yourself seeking out more info anyways. good luck
Click to expand...
For someone starting out, that's a good read. Like anything, it raises other questions but it's good and concise.
 
grimtraveller said:
For someone starting out, that's a good read. Like anything, it raises other questions but it's good and concise.
Click to expand...

I think the best part is the "What Connects to What" pictures...that was what confused me the most when I started out :laughings: If I'd had that, my life would have been a lot easier. :D
 
Hey, I'm back!
I read almost all of the online material + the first two chapters on the book you've recommended (Home Recording For Musicians For Dummies which I downloaded for free as a PDF file by the way).

So here is all what I learned I have to talk about:
I'm gonna use a laptop (HP) with 4GB of RAM, Intel Core 2 Duo 2.5Ghz, 250GB Hard Drive.
I'm running Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit. I wanna use Audacity for first (Maybe upgrading to Cubase by Steinberg or Adobe Audition in the future).

I want everything to be recorded directly to the computer.

I don't need a MIDI interface because I don't have a keyboard yet, and most of the keyboard have a USB connection to connect the MIDI over the USB connection directly to the computer.

Audio Interface
I'm looking for an Audio Interface which has at least one XLR input with +48v Phantom Power and preamp. It also has to connect to the PC through USB (1.1 or 2.0) or FireWire since I use a laptop and I'm unable to use PCI interfaces.

I think that the Blue Icicle or the Shure X2u won't be the best solution since they have only bit depth of 16 and resolution of 48kHz (I found this comprison http://recordinghacks.com/2009/07/04/usb-interface-review-icicle-micportpro-micmate-x2u/ and the only 24-bit and 96kHz is $150).
In this amount of money I can choose something like that: http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--BEH1204USB
That's a mixer with an integrated audio interface (which is connected via USB 2.0 interface).
By the way, a question, It's written there that's it fully compatible with Audacity and with digital multitrack recordings. Does it mean that it records each track seperatly in the software? Or it mix all the channel into one track?

Do you think that it's the best choice for my purposes at this time for this amount of money? (I think that it's better than the Shure X2u because it's 24-bit depth and 96kHz).

Another think I wanna ask, If I have this audio interface (the Behringer 1204USB), it means I don't need any other soundcard except the built in I have in my laptop, right? Because I can get the playback from my computer to this audio interface, listen and record and have everything monitored through this audio interface - so I don't need to get a new sound card, right?

Microphone
As I read, I understood that large-diaphragm condenser microphone is the best for vocal recordings while small-diaphragm condenser microphone is the best for recording an acoustic guitar. But large-diaphragm condenser microphone is also good for recording an acoustic guitar.
So I decided that at this time I will buy only a large-diaphragm condenser microphone.
I really think that the Behringer C-1 will do its job perfectly, escpecially for its attractive price.

[Maybe in the future I will buy a small-diaphragm condenser microphone for recording my acoustic guitar better - But I don't want it at this time].

Monitor Headphones
I don't wanna give it too much from my budget since it only for monitoring purposes.
But I thought that one of these (attached in the next box) will be really good.
Click to expand...
I'd be happy to gey any other recommendations... :-)

Other Accessories
Cable - I don't think that it make any changes in the recording quality, So I chose the one with the best users rating at Amazon.
Pop Filter - I understood that when using a pop filter, it filters some specific sounds, such as: p, and sh, so it's so important especially for vocals. But I was unsure about which to buy since I don't understand the differences between the other filters - So here again I chose the top-rated at Amazon: Nady MPF-6 6-Inch Clamp On Microphone Pop Filter
Desk Stand - Since it just a piece of plastic, I chose the one that most seems to me and has a good price: On Stage DS7200B Adjustable Desk Microphone Stand
Shock Mount - I don't think that I really need a shock mount since the mic has a "holder" for connection to the stand.
In this I need your advice. (Many people says it helps avoiding unwanted noises from the mic's movement).

This is a sketch that I made of the things which I wrote here in order to understand how everything's gonna be connected: (not including instruments and so on..)
ngeemtmy21d0.jpg


Thank you all again and wait for your reply,
Yuval.
 
Well.... there you go. A little reading will go a long way.
May I suggest you taking a look at "Reaper" as a recording software It's a free download - till you decide if it's for you - then it's about $60.USD






:cool:
 
Yeah, I'm not completely familiar with Audacity, but I don't see that as a DAW program. I think it's a wave editor and audio file converter. Does it do more than 2-tracks? Find something else. There are some free ones that will suit your needs. N-Track or Krystal. Reaper gets rave reviews and is only $60USD.

The Behringer mixer will work for you. You DON'T want to use the soundcard in your computer, so definitely be sure to use the mixer as your monitor.

The Behringer C1 will get you started for vocals and acoustic guitar.

Glad to see you took people's advice and read. It's better to make informed purchases that will fit your individual needs than to waste money buying the wrong stuff.

peace,
 
Chili said:
Yeah, I'm not completely familiar with Audacity, but I don't see that as a DAW program. I think it's a wave editor and audio file converter. Does it do more than 2-tracks? Find something else.
Click to expand...


^^
+1

Audacity does handle more than 2 tracks, but really, there are much better options for next to nothing - the much recommended Reaper being the most obvious...
 
Armistice said:
^^
+1

Audacity does handle more than 2 tracks, but really, there are much better options for next to nothing - the much recommended Reaper being the most obvious...
Click to expand...

Thanks man, I've used it a couple of times, but only to convert files when I was in a pinch.

cheers,
 
Well, I really wanna thank anyone for the help you gave! :-)
I have some other question before I purchase this combination:
  1. What do you think about the Audio Interface? Is it a good choice?
  2. Will the Behringer 1204USB will mix all of the channels into one track on the software? Or does it record each channel as a seperate tracks?
  3. Can you explain me what the Shock Mount does? Do you think it's neccessary for my combination?

Thank you all again,
I really appreciate your help!!
I hope that I will learn enough in order to be able to help others in the future, as anyone did for me right here.. :-)
Thank you,
Yuval
 
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