Starting out

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CEllisMusic

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Hi

I'm starting to make my Recording studio.

I already have some equipment and software but have gaps to fill. I also have a keyboard for midi but no equipment to connect it and dont know how it would work.

I have bought a Blue Microphone Baby Bottle and The software im using is Logic 9 on Mac.

The rest however i dont know what to get. I spoken to my friends who have said about mixing desks and midi inputs etc.

With the microphone already bought and the lead to connect it to a mixing desk i now have approx 250 to spend on other equipment. I know that the mixing desk i get would have to have 4 microphone ports for live recordings. but apart from that im clueless...ive heard something about phantom power etc...needing some help :D
 
Is that what i plug my midi inputs and microphones into, can u suggest any??
 
Hit up Musician's Friend... they have a bunch of interfaces ranging from budget to deep pocket. Read up the reviews, google fu it, and post the ones with the most promise here for feedback? Just a suggestion that might help narrow down the selection... there are a bunch out there.
 
I support the idea of getting an interface so you can transfer the audio waves into your computer.

Besides that I strongly recommend reading some books about the basis of home recording. Believe me, you'll learn a lot and your tracking and mixing will improve a lot. "Guerrilla Home Recording" is one of my favorite titles, get it at Amazon or eBay.
 
Thanks guys, i took a lot at the following link http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product?sku=620681V and i do like the idea of it...i will definitely read some books...my friend does the same as what i want to do and they said get a mixing desk?? this is one of their videos https://www.youtube.com/user/PTNMusic#p/u/1/FpVQn1iBcaM
would you get an audio interface instead of or aswell as a mixing desk? they use the mixing desk to do live recordings and connect to their computer...i dont know what to get now theyve told me about it?
 
killthepixelnow said:
I support the idea of getting an interface so you can transfer the audio waves into your computer.

Besides that I strongly recommend reading some books about the basis of home recording. Believe me, you'll learn a lot and your tracking and mixing will improve a lot. "Guerrilla Home Recording" is one of my favorite titles, get it at Amazon or eBay.
Click to expand...

I'm really liking this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Mixing-Audio-...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1291218788&sr=8-1
 
I believe that will work as far as acting like an interface (if I read everything correctly), but it seemed to lack the MIDI inputs you asked about. You're halfway there man, haha. I didn't know you were accross the pond, so I don't know of any stores to look in to find what you're looking for and give you a link. But I will try to find something...
 
CEllisMusic said:
(...)would you get an audio interface instead of or aswell as a mixing desk? (...)
Click to expand...

It seems you're confusing some terms. I'm not an expert but I will try to explain this thing to you:

Audio interface
The main use of an interface is to serve as a nexus between your signal (let's say, a microphone or a MIDI input) and your computer. Most audio interfaces come with preamps (the quality depends on the price) so you can raise the level of a weak signal (like the sound of a miked amp) into a proper signal that can be used later on mixing. Some audio interfaces don't have preamps so you need to get an external one. Preamps are diverse in quality and price, you can get a cheap USD 100 one or an Avalon for USD 2,500. Audio interfaces are most used today because almost everyone is recording digitally.

Mixing desk (also known as mixing board)
This gear will serve you for multiple purposes. You can use it to track, to mix or in a living situation. Not all mixers are the same and serve different purposes.

Imagine you're tracking a drummer with 25 microphones; each microphone will go to a different channel of the mixer so, the more channels, the more flexibility. Now, imagine you're a one man band, and you track just one instrument at the time, why the hell do you want a 32 channel mixer when all you need is one channel? As you can see, it depends on the use and the kind of music you usually play or record.

Mixers have busses; they allow you to route the signals in many tricky ways. You can group channels, send them to a reverb rack, then return to another buss and then have of this stuff together in another channel... and then send them to the audio interface!

Now, you can actually mix using a mixer but it's more a pro studio thing. In a home recording situation, the mixer is incorporated in the software you use (i.e.: Pro Tools) So, for tracking is Ok but for mixing, the internal mixer will give you more flexibility, especially if you are new. Beware, I'm not saying that you should avoid to get a mixer, I'm saying that it depends on what it's your final goal.


Hope that info will make things clear, audio interfaces and mixers are two different things... unless you get a mixer that is, at the same time, an audio interface... but that's another story and I must lecture my Graphic Design students instead of responding threats in this forum :)
 
Oh i see now

So, All i will be recording in the first few years...

is..

Acoustic guitar
Possibly electric guitar (can be done by mic im assuming please stop me if not)
Vocals 2 at a time max.
Claps etc.

And i have just found out...That my electric intelligent piano can be my midi device and what ive worked out is i can record perfectly any tracks...through this...i put in the USB flash drive...record what i want...and i can put that in my software and it comes out perfectly...and it will sound better as when i play piano you can really get the feel or it instead of a keyboard so midi is sorted for me.

So my next question is...could any Audio interfaces be suggested to me...that have 2 or more Mic inputs that i can use at the same time for people who sing harmonies with each other or if im playing acoustic guitar live and singing.

And the rest is all editable on Logic 9 i assume...eg compressing and EQing??
 
CEllisMusic said:
So my next question is...could any Audio interfaces be suggested to me...that have 2 or more Mic inputs that i can use at the same time for people who sing harmonies with each other or if im playing acoustic guitar live and singing.
Click to expand...
Get a Digidesign Mbox2 for USD 350, and it comes with ProTools LE. I've recorded a guitar and bass player at the same time without problems.

368520.jpg


http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.co...B-AudioMIDI-Pro-Tools-LE-Interface?sku=240479

And the rest is all editable on Logic 9 i assume...eg compressing and EQing??
Click to expand...
Think of EQ and Compression at last. Good tracking (the process of registering you music) is the clue to a great mix. If you have to tweak tour sound with tons of signal processing, then you did the wrong mic placement, the wrong instrument, or simply is a player problem.
 
killthepixelnow said:
Get a Digidesign Mbox2 for USD 350, and it comes with ProTools LE. I've recorded a guitar and bass player at the same time without problems.

368520.jpg


http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.co...B-AudioMIDI-Pro-Tools-LE-Interface?sku=240479


Think of EQ and Compression at last. Good tracking (the process of registering you music) is the clue to a great mix. If you have to tweak tour sound with tons of signal processing, then you did the wrong mic placement, the wrong instrument, or simply is a player problem.
Click to expand...

This looks perfect :) So i can record two mics at once, i can do midi...it has effects on it already...so i think i will get this. Many Thanks for your help.
 
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