questions about putting together home studio

  • Thread starter Thread starter RyanHubris
  • Start date Start date
R

RyanHubris

New member
Hello, recently my band went to record in a home studio and I was very impressed at the power of his recording equipment, and wish to set up something along the same lines. He recorded everything onto computer (i belive he used sonar) I was wondering how exactly I can get started in recording like this. How exactly does the sound go from the amp (or mic) into the computer? I have seen ports that can turn 1/4 cables into USB, but are these neccisary? He also had some kind of port that he used to hook all the drum mics into at once. As you can see I'm pretty clueless, so any help is appreciated. thanks!

-Ryan
 
I started to write a very detailed reply, when I realized that I'd probably be answering all the wrong questions.

I'd suggest browsing around these forums for a while, and then asking more specific questions. There is a great wealth of information here, and you'll learn a lot more if you make the effort to search for it.

To answer your most specific question: Usually people use a preamp like THIS ONE, plugged into a line input on a sound card like THIS ONE. The computer runs multitrack software like Sonar.

If you need to record more than two channels at a time, as your friend did with the drum kit, you need a more capable audio interface like THIS ONE.

Hope that's enough info to get you started.
 
Anyone else? I am still pretty clueless on the procedures and all that. Thanks for what yu had to say DonF
 
Well you have many options here.

What;s your budget?
What are you recording?
How many instruments at a time?
What kind of instruments?

If you give me some details on this, I can help guide you some.
I just did this for myself last week ;)
 
I'm interested in recording bands, so drums, guitar, bass, vocals, the whole deal

as for budget, right now I have about $700 to get started, but i'd like to know everything I i need so I can work towards it, and keep adding on.
 
Recomend

I would recommend gettiong a hard disc recorder maybe something like a DAT recorder or a Fostex 8 track. These will be able to interface with your computer. M audio also makes a system for sbout 500$ that will give you some good inputs. The best idea for connection would be to buy a mixer with as many channels as you can afford.
 
Since a DAT recorder is only a two track medium, it would be useless for what you want to accomplish. I would also recommend computer recording over hard disk recording because 1) you are new to recording, and a computer might be more user-friendly to you 2) a computer can give you more tracks, more effects, and more options for your buck than any hard disk recorder, 3) computer components can be upgraded, and 4) if something breaks down on a hard disk recorder, the whole thing could tank whereas with a computer, you could just switch out the malfunctioning component.

Cy
 
so after some research this is what I think I know:

The sound goes into the computer via a soundcard, which first passes through a preamp. So I can hook up my amp or a mic into the preamp? Thanks for your help so far everyone.
 
For about $500. you can get an Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96. This gives you 4 channels of sound in with decent preamps for microphones with phantom power. It also comes with Cakewalk Pro Audio 9 - a perfectly reasonable program for recording on your computer.

-lee-
 
so if I bought the Aardvark, would I still need to buy a soundcard to plug it into? or would it go straight into my computer?
 
The Aardvark is the soundcard.

However, you need to make sure that the Aardvark, or whatever soundcard you buy, is compatible with your computer's motherboard and chipset configuration. In fact, the best route to go would be to determine how many simultaneous tracks you think you will need to record into the pc at one time. If you plan on mixing straight into the pc, then you may only need a card with two outputs, but if you want to incorporate a mixer into your setup, you will need to determine the number of outputs you will need as well. From there I would shop around for the card that has the number of ins/outs you need. Once you determine what soundcard you want, go to their site and find out what they recommend as the best chipset/motherboard configuration, and use that information to determine what kind of pc you want to buy.

Cy
 
Here is how I have hooked my setup--if this helps...


My keys go into a Mackie 1642.
Direct outs go from the Mackie to the Soundcard(delta 1010) breakout box. that breakout box has a wire running to the PCI card in the computer(which also came with the delta 1010).

So sound goes from keys into mixer, out the mixer into the soundcard. I have sonar running which basically "sees" the inputs on the soundcard and records what comes through them.

These then can be saved, combined into 1 stereo track, exported as mp3 files etc.

Better?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top