new to this, please help

  • Thread starter Thread starter osion
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osion

New member
I'm sure many people have probably asked similar questions on how to get started but I wanted to personalize my question to my specific situation.
I want to record/mix etc. through my computer. I am going to buy a new PC. I don't know if this matters but I will also use the computer for other things (word processing, etc.). What specification/requirements should I make sure the computer has? Once I get a computer that can supply what I need, what else do I need?
I plan on recording vocals, guitars, keyboard but one instrument at a time. So do I only need one microphone (since I'm recording one thing at a time)? What does teh microphone connect to and how does it end up connecting to the computer? In other words what else do I need to get?
I know I also need software.... is there software that can record and mix and also burn the music onto CD's? or do I need separate programs?
Do I also need separate speakers to connect to the computer to hear the music because I heard computer speakers dont accurately reflect the real way the music sounds? Am I missing anything?
I'm not sure how much all this should cost but I have a budget around 3-4 thousand (including computer) but could go higher if necessary. Any reply is greatly appreciated, thanks.
 
Your situation isn't unique in any way so some searches will yield a lot of info.

Your budget is decent. What type of quality are you shooting for?

You will need a mixer/preamp, soundcard, software, monitors and a mic.
 
thanks for the reply, having good sound quality is very important but of course there are budget constraints. WHen you say mixer/preamp do you mean they are the same thing? monitors are speakers right?
 
Osion,
With a 3-4000 dollar budget you could get a nice little starter setup....just gotta investigate a little


1)Computer=FAST and LARGE harddrive 7200rpm 60gig for example(luckily harddrives aren't that expensive)

2)Soundcard=and NOT a Soundblaster!!!!!!Some high end cards have XLR phantom power and preamps so you can use condensor mics(for a condensor mic you MUST have a preamp AND phantom power)Top of my head....Aardvark Q10...$830
with a card with these features you won't need a hardware mixer...they come with software mixers....if you get a cheaper card ....like an M-Audio Delta 44(it has 4 in-4out)...about $250-300.. you'll need a seperate hardware mixer or mic preamp as this card doesn't have these

3)Software -This site is loaded with compliments for N-Track Studio....the registered version is less than $100!or you can go to


hitsquad.com
and see what they have...they have freeware as well as shareware demo versions

Monitors-monitors are specifically designed to sound exactly what you play/record....they're not supposed to make your music sound "good"...computer speakers are not good for this pupose
m-audio has a set for about $300

hope this helps a little.......:)
 
. . . actually the Q10 is $750 (american) I got mine for $700 from www.zzounds.com/a--2676837

I really like it too. . . though I'm going to get an inexpensive tube preamp also (Ultragain t1953) this week hopefully.

Condenser mics make a huge difference and I would honestly buy mics atleast in pairs for sterio recording. I am currently borrowing a pair of Marshall MXL 1006's from a friend but I'm going to buy a pair of Berhinger B1's when I get the preamp. Think of mics as being "more accurate" then another rather than "better" SM57's work great on guitars and toms . . and kick but they cut off at around 16khz and leaves a lot of empty space for highs in the mix. condenser mice are better at picking up the sound that is naturally produced. . . then all you have to do is get the instrument to produce the appropriate sound.

Example though 1006's and B1's priced the exact same ($99) I feel the B1's are better (for me) because of the increased frequancy range. . . 1006's cut off at 18khz where B1's goto 20 khz. . .I can eq later but it's hard to eq in a sound that isn't picked up in the first place
. . .and then I'll move up to Neumans. . . :)

Be prepaired to limit youerself to 16 tracks as that about as much as a 7200 RPM harddrive can handle. . . ( I can squease 20 tracks in PIO mode. . . but that is with the buffer maxed and it glitchs everyonce in a while. but I have a maxtor . . .and it sucks at running in UDMA 5 mode :P but when you add effects and such CPU resourses dissappear quickly so practice and don't get overzealous initially.

I have a SiS board (which I should have known better)
1.3ghz Intel 512MB RAM 7200RPM Maxtor 40Gig harddrive about $400 (homebrew)
WinXP $300
Cakewalk SONAR 2.0 XL $400 (retail $600)
Aardvark Q10 $750

. . . and I just bought some new toys . . .
Berhinger MDX 1400 compressor $79
Sound Performance Labs Vitalizer $130 used
and an Aphex Aural Exciter $130 used
but I haven't had the chance to mess with them yet. . .

peace
sam
zekthedeadcow@hotmail.com
http://www.track100.com
 
Do some searches through some of the forums here (especially Computer and soundcard forum). There's lots of good info to help you out and with a $3-4k budget you shouldn't have any problems building the system you will need :)
 
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