Starting a home recording studio

[delanoy]

Good day to everyone! I am very excited to be joining the ranks of the home studio enthusiasts. First off, how about a little bit of background of who I am and what I am looking to get out of this website and my future home studio.

My name is William, and my background is in classical vocal performance. However I enjoy singing everything from Bach to Bruno Mars. I live here in Baltimore, MD where I work full time in a fine dining restaurant.

My goals for this hobby are, first and foremost, to have some kind of outlet for all the music that is rolling around inside my head; original music and other artists' music as well. Eventually, I would certainly like to think that I could take this a few steps farther and maybe even make a small side income from it as well. I have been exploring the world of YouTube artists, and I would certainly like to be able to produce music and music videos in a similar style of YouTubers such as Kurt Schneider , Mike Tomkins , and others.

I understand that the video component is a whole different story, but their audio quality is really quite awesome, and I would like to try to approximate that sound and style.

Unfortunately, I have no idea what kind of gear I will need to start moving in that direction. I intend to be recording MIDI tracks, piano tracks, vocal tracks, drum tracks (MIDI), and probably some acoustic and electric guitar tracks as well. The plan is to record through my laptop using Reaper. Gear that I know I need include:

Digital Piano
MIDI Controller
Microphone
Microphone Stand
Pop Filter
Mixer (Not sure if I need this)

I would greatly appreciate any and all input of other things I will need, down to even the small details like different cables, amps, speakers, and I'm guessing I will need a MIDI to USB device of some kind to connect everything to my computer.

Thank you in advance for all your assistance.

Will

 

[showstone]

Hello, and welcome aboard.

Let me be the first to tell you there is a wealth of knowledge here at this forum.....having said that.....

Right now your best friends are the search function, google and user reviews. Do some background investigatiing, take the next two weeks and map out your plan, what specifically are you going to be doing, I dont think anyone here scored their recording set ups in one gigantic shopping spree.

What are you going to need to get started, what are your most pressing needs, converters, mics, things like that need to be determined. What's your budget? Have you researched any of the items you need to buy? You should have maybe 3 possible items to compare in any one category. 3 converters, 3 mics, 3 MIDI controllers, you should agonize for hours over studio monitors you NEED to start out.....ok, a lil dramatic, but I hope you get the point......do some leg work, use the search function and google and start forming your master plan, when you run into questions about more specific elements, like wich budget preamp, or what other people have tried and loved/hated.

But to just ask people to recommend the right setup for you is like asking a surgeon to perform a miraculous procedure to cure your ailments without ever even getting to look at an X-ray.

Welcome aboard and happy hunting!

 

[Emerson Maningo]

....
Thank you in advance for all your assistance.

Will

Welcome to homerecording! You mentioned you are going to use a laptop, are you also using the laptop for other reasons aside from recording? If you have the budget, have a dedicated PC for your recording. It runs faster and more optimized than having a computer that is used for everything.

I read problems about a computer used for several reasons getting infected with virus, software issue or other major hardware issue that render the computer useless. This can also affect your recording and you cannot record in this case. It is why I find it safe to have a dedicated PC for recording and mixing.

 

[delanoy]

More generally, I'm trying to figure out how all the pieces fit together. If I plan on using my computer as the recording medium, what kind of equipment do I need to interface the digital piano, or the microphone, or the MIDI controller to record directly into the computer?

What purpose does a mixer serve? Is it a required part of the equation if I am utilizing my laptop with decent software? Or does the software allow for me to do all of my mixing within the computer itself?

Are there other basic pieces of equipment that I need to actual be able to go ahead and record? Or does the list in my original post meet the barebones requirements to be able to get things actually recorded into my computer? Also note that the links in my original post are only samples of the TYPES of things I need, and will not necessarily be the final items I decide to purchase.

My goal right now is to basically be able to start recording, and as I begin to understand the different nuances of the trade, to continue to build up the different components I decide will help me in furthering my aspirations in the field.

Thank you all so much for your patience, your understanding, and most of all, your feedback.

Cheers

 

[Emerson Maningo]

More generally, I'm trying to figure out how all the pieces fit together. If I plan on using my computer as the recording medium, what kind of equipment do I need to interface the digital piano, or the microphone, or the MIDI controller to record directly into the computer?

What purpose does a mixer serve? Is it a required part of the equation if I am utilizing my laptop with decent software? Or does the software allow for me to do all of my mixing within the computer itself?

Are there other basic pieces of equipment that I need to actual be able to go ahead and record? Or does the list in my original post meet the barebones requirements to be able to get things actually recorded into my computer? Also note that the links in my original post are only samples of the TYPES of things I need, and will not necessarily be the final items I decide to purchase.

My goal right now is to basically be able to start recording, and as I begin to understand the different nuances of the trade, to continue to build up the different components I decide will help me in furthering my aspirations in the field.

Thank you all so much for your patience, your understanding, and most of all, your feedback.

Cheers

You have a lot of options, it depends on your budget, the power of your computer and the operating system. For example, you can use M-audio interface to record instruments to your computer that works well for both PC and MAC: http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/MobilePre.html

Or there are a lot to choose, you can search the internet, read reviews and check the prices if its affordable to you or not.

My personal experience is that if you have a computer with audio mixing software, you mix within your software. So a hardware mixer is not needed if you preferred to mix within your software.

I can imagine that to successfully record and mix:

a.) First you need musical instruments, and their associated gears, effects , tuners.
b.) Second to record the sound, you need microphones and amplifiers.
c.) To connect the microphones to the audio interface you need cables.
d.) To record to a computer, you need an audio recording/hardware interface such as the M-audio example above.
e.) You need a recording,mixing software. There are a lot to choose, e.g Cubase, Audition, Cakewalk, Reaper.
f.) Finally if you are bouncing tracks to your computer, you need big, fast hard drives and a fast computer.
g.) Now to monitor the recording and mixing, you need near field monitors.
h.) To optimize the mixing environment, you need a room treated with properly designed acoustics such as mentioned here: http://www.audiorecording.me/home-studio-recording-and-mixing-studio-setup-acoustic-design.html

 

[delanoy]

Emerson,

Thank you so much. This really gives me a decent understanding of the basics. Your post here was beyond helpful.

Have a wonderful day.

 

[Emerson Maningo]

Emerson,

Thank you so much. This really gives me a decent understanding of the basics. Your post here was beyond helpful.

Have a wonderful day.

Your welcome, I am very glad to help someone. Good luck with your project.

 

[Klagen]

Good day to everyone! I am very excited to be joining the ranks of the home studio enthusiasts. First off, how about a little bit of background of who I am and what I am looking to get out of this website and my future home studio.

My name is William, and my background is in classical vocal performance. However I enjoy singing everything from Bach to Bruno Mars. I live here in Baltimore, MD where I work full time in a fine dining restaurant.

My goals for this hobby are, first and foremost, to have some kind of outlet for all the music that is rolling around inside my head; original music and other artists' music as well. Eventually, I would certainly like to think that I could take this a few steps farther and maybe even make a small side income from it as well. I have been exploring the world of YouTube artists, and I would certainly like to be able to produce music and music videos in a similar style of YouTubers such as Kurt Schneider , Mike Tomkins , and others.

I understand that the video component is a whole different story, but their audio quality is really quite awesome, and I would like to try to approximate that sound and style.

Unfortunately, I have no idea what kind of gear I will need to start moving in that direction. I intend to be recording MIDI tracks, piano tracks, vocal tracks, drum tracks (MIDI), and probably some acoustic and electric guitar tracks as well. The plan is to record through my laptop using Reaper. Gear that I know I need include:

Digital Piano
MIDI Controller
Microphone
Microphone Stand
Pop Filter
Mixer (Not sure if I need this)

I would greatly appreciate any and all input of other things I will need, down to even the small details like different cables, amps, speakers, and I'm guessing I will need a MIDI to USB device of some kind to connect everything to my computer.

Thank you in advance for all your assistance.

Will

Hey man,
first of all you should really consider getting an Audio Interface. it will replace the soundcard in your PC (You plug it in via Firewire or USB, depending on the kind you get, so you dont have to split the computer in half and spend 5 hours trying to connect it...its easy plug in play)
This will work as sort of a "Hub" for your music instruments, and your mic, and keyboard should be wired through the audio interface...the midi keyboard goes straight into the computer though
This is sort of a neccesarity to record, as it will greatly improve quality.
You can even get an audio interface with a build in preamp. Make sure that the audio interface you buy has a phantom power switch. Phantom power is used to power up condensor microphones, otherwise the signal will be low.

As to the mixer, a mixer is sort of a luxury thing if you're going to be running computer setup. It basicly is a computer keyboard formed as a mixer, you can do anything the mixer does with the mouse. so unless you're swimming in cash, i'd wait with this.

Also is there any particular reason you want a midi keyboard AND a digital piano? wouldnt the midi keyboard be enough if you get some good soundfonts or VST instruments?

Also the microphone should be great, but you need to consider the room at which you record...if you're recorded in a musically bad room, even a $5000 microphone will sound like a tape recorder. I'd reccomend sound treating your room, theres aforum with tips and tricks for this so i wont go into specifics (also im no expert at that area)

Also, the midi keyboard goes straight into the computer, so you wont need a converter or anything

 

[delanoy]

Klagen,

Thank you so much for your post!!

The reason for both the MIDI controller and the piano is that they fulfill 2 separate needs. When I am playing piano, I am so much more comfortable on something that actually feels like a real piano (hammer action keys, and 88 keys). I just can't get the 2-handed accuracy I need on a MIDI keyboard. The controller is more for melodic effects that would get mixed in after the fact, and other tracks such as rhythm tracks (hence why I am buying one with rubberized drum pad style buttons)

I am currently looking at the M-Audio Fast Track as my digital interface as it appears to have everything that I need to be able to connect the equipment I plan on buying. Plus the ever important phantom power for the mic.

You have all been very helpful in getting me to understand a bit more how everything goes together, and giving me an baseline idea of things I would need. Hopefully I will be able to pass on the knowledge to someone else in the future.

Will

 

[Klagen]

Klagen,

Thank you so much for your post!!

The reason for both the MIDI controller and the piano is that they fulfill 2 separate needs. When I am playing piano, I am so much more comfortable on something that actually feels like a real piano (hammer action keys, and 88 keys). I just can't get the 2-handed accuracy I need on a MIDI keyboard. The controller is more for melodic effects that would get mixed in after the fact, and other tracks such as rhythm tracks (hence why I am buying one with rubberized drum pad style buttons)

I am currently looking at the M-Audio Fast Track as my digital interface as it appears to have everything that I need to be able to connect the equipment I plan on buying. Plus the ever important phantom power for the mic.

You have all been very helpful in getting me to understand a bit more how everything goes together, and giving me an baseline idea of things I would need. Hopefully I will be able to pass on the knowledge to someone else in the future.

Will

I havent used the m audio fast track myself, but it seems to be a topseller and very popular so it should be very good
All fair about the keyboard Before you buy the audio interface, you should reconsider your recording needs. it only has 1 XLR input which means you can only connect 1 microphone at a time, so if you're gonna be recording more than 1 thing at a time it wont be a possibility (theres probably a way around it tho), but if you only plan on recording 1 track at a time then its all good

i dont know how much you know about recording, but if you do a live recording, for example with you playing guitar while singing at the same time, the optimal circumstances would be 1 microphone on the mic, and another microphone for your vocals, which isnt possible with a single XLR input

 

[delanoy]

Double check the link...I'm pretty sure it has 2 preamp inputs right there on the front

 

[Klagen]

oh yeah my bad, haha. i thought it 1 output and 1 input...my bad