Please help me get started

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lucas Hale
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Lucas Hale

New member
Greetings everyone,
As the title suggests, I'd like to get started in the home recording realm in a more dedicated way. I have an entire room (~100 sq. ft.) allocated for this project. Here's some pertinent info:

Previous recording experience:

I have recorded with my computer using an SM58 and Cakewalk Pro Audio 8. This is kinda cool, but I used my sound card, so only one input. That's the part that sucks. I've also recorded with many bands in huge studios with super beefy equipment, so I've pretty much run the gamut.

Instruments I'd like to record:

Drums
Guitar (electric and acoustic)
Bass Guitar
Vocals (probably no more than two)
I'd like to be able to record all of the above simultaneously if needed, but 90% of my recording will be me by myself, so I'll be doing each instrument one at a time. I will estimate my track needs at 8 simultaneously recording.

Budget:

Sound card interface/Multitrack Recorder: $1500 max
(for a sound card interface, I'd like for this to include the software)
Monitors: unknown, but likely to be ~$500 for speakers, though about using $300 Hafler amp
Mics: already owned, but would probably pick up some more SM58s
Stands, cables: inconsequential in budget, will buy as needed
Headphones: already have some Audio Technicas that are acceptable
Computer: currently own a PIII 500, but would likely build one to provide dedicated studio support
Room Treatment: will experiment with many materials

Questions:

I would like to set up a recording environment where it's easy to sit down, record some ideas, and walk away if necessary. Also, though, I'd like to be able to spend a lot of time learning the equipment to eek more out of my recordings. In my mind, this comes down to a decision between standalone ease of use and computer based option laden recording. Correct me if I'm wrong in thinking this way.

Which way would you guys suggest I head? Towards a computer-based recording approach, or in the standalone hard disk direction? Portability is not a major issue with me. Which recorder would be best for 8 track simultaneous recording?

If computer based, what is a good system spec (Athlon, P4, etc.), leveraging performance versus cost?

Please provide me with specific feedback if possible. Sorry for the essay, but I had to get it off my chest. Thanks in advance for all your help.
 
In my opinion, the PC based studio is the way to go:
- easily upgradable
- standalone units have preamps and effects built-in, you can't always by pass them...with a PC, you can choose your converters, your preamps, your mixing board, your effects...
- you can easily rip your music on CD
- more facilities for audio editing
- you can have several softwares
In the 1500$ range, there are lots of interface with 8i/o, just like Motu 2408, Midiman Delta 1010, Layla, RME Multiface...
Personnaly, my favourite software (and the only one i own) is Cubase vst32. I tried Cubase SX and Nuendo, they are very good, quite intuitive (in my mind...lots of people dislike them for that...).You have to try...
You'll surely need preamps or mixer for your mics (AudioBuddy, DMp3, VTB-1 are quite cheap and hav very good reputation...or a little mixer Mackie VLZ, Allen-heath DX, or Soundcraft...i own a Yamaha Gf12/12, it's not bad, but not the dream...)
I well know the Tannoy reveal monitors and quite happy with them. Heard good things about Behringer Thruth, Mackie stuff...
Perhaps you'll need a DI box for the bass...a condenser mic for the voice and drums overhead...
Personnaly, i prefer pentium stuff...i owned an AMD and it doesn't work very well...i currently have got a p3 866 and a p4 1.6...no matters with them.

pfff....
I hope my 2 cents can help a little, even if I just can talk about the gear i own, owned or heard.
Good luck, and welcome in the home studio community.
 
Well put, Workingman Hero. Can't say I disagree with any of that. Maybe just add (or highlight) a couple of things...

- Don't skimp on monitors - Tannoys or Event 20/20's are great.

- Don't blow your whole wad of cash before you've worked with it a bit - there's always "something else" you'll need, no matter how well you plan.

- Definitely consider a decent LD condenser to add to the mic locker.

- You can get by with a 500mhz system, but you'll end up running into problems when using a bunch of plugin effects at the same time. Although you can work around it, it becomes time consuming and tedious.

And welcome to the board, both of you. Good to see newbies who know their stuff and/or do their homework :)
 
Welcome!

This question has been asked in many ways in some of the forums. BTW you asked your question perfectly, details, details, details. :D You may want to browse through the threads to get some ideas of what people think.

My opinion...PC DAW is the way to go. I just posted my specs here https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?threadid=62219
If your comfortable with the computer and have one already it's a great option. you can build up as you go if money is an issue and upgrading is usually not a problem. For instance you could record on your present PC, but you'd want to eventually upgrade processor, memory, HDD, etc. You can do that gradually if necessary.

On the other hand, a stand alone unit is exactly that. You basically get it, go home and start recording (provided you have monitors, mics, etc.). There is no computer use learning curve, just the interface to the unit to learn. Software comes with most of these units and the entire setup is decicated and built for audio. Inital cost may be steep, but it's what you'll need from the start and it's portable if that's attractive to you. Hope this helps some and good luck

:D
 
Lucas, the stand alone thing vs. computer is a long and old debate, and I won't attack that here. My first impression is that you're doing OK, first trying to define the recording medium, because it will affect other decisions. In the end, though, what will make the biggest difference is not the recording medium, it's the signal chain! I've got the mics, you say? What mics? Although a 57/58 is a versatile and lovely thing, you need a bunch of condensers, including some small diaphragms, some large diaphragms, and a tube mic. Later add a ribbon and an electret condenser. Then deal with preamps. From $89 to $5000+ per channel. What mics you use, where they are placed, and what pres and cables you use will have far more to do with your sound quality in the end than the medium you use to record it. You can make beautiful sound with a stand alone console or a PC, if you feed it the best signal possible.-Richie
 
While planning your gear is definitely more fun, you have some other major concerns. You'll want to start thinking about how you are going to get a decent drum sound in only 100 sq. feet. It won't be easy. Assuming something like 10x10, you are going to have some copious early reflections causing some serious phasing in your mics, to say nothing of standing waves.
 
I agree with Littledog. You say you want to record all this simultaneously, just walk in and record, then walk out? 10' X 10' is pretty small for just a drum room, let alone a vocal booth and guitar amps. Just the mic stands and insruments will exceed that room's physical capacity, let alone the acoustic issues that Littledog raises. I'm doing an album in a 20' X 20' room, tracking only one instrument at a time, and I have space issues. Also, isolating your work station from your tracking station is going to be nigh unto impossible. Don't give up, just start to think smaller.
It is much better to do a small thing well than to do a big thing badly.-Richie
 
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