What all do I need?

[NickNoe09]

I'm trying to start recording my stuff(both Acoustic Guitar and Vocals) onto my computer and i'm not sure what all I need, and as a beginner what is probably best for a beginner.

I pretty sure I need an Interface, a Mic, and whatever cables i'll need with those, and some recording software,but is this all i need or do i not need something or what, i'm brand new at this so yah

Thanks Much

 

[pandamonk]

source>mic>preamp>ad(analogue to digital) converter>interface>computer>interface>da converter>monitoring

So you need a mic, a preamp, an AD/DA converter, an interface, a pc, and some monitors.

Most budget interfaces come with ad/da conversion, and many with built in preamps. Your on-board soundcard, will have ad/da conversion and acts as an interface, so this could work as the cheapest option, although there are many more, better suited options, depending on your budget.

1. Where are you(UK, US, etc)?
2. What's your budget?
3. Do you have a decent PC?
4. How many channels do you need(drums can be recorded well with just 4)? and will you want to expand later on?
5. What are you looking for(mic, interface, monitors, etc)?
6. Do you have much/any experience?
7. Do you have any equipment now(esp recording equipment, mixers, etc)?
8. What is your room(s) like(post a room plan)
9. Do you need isolation?

Any more info would be great...

 

[NickNoe09]

1. Where are you(UK, US, etc)?

I'm in teh US

2. What's your budget?

Probably not much more than 400$

3. Do you have a decent PC?

Yah i have a decent PC, but it is in my parents room, but i think my parents are looking to get a new PC for us at Christmas

4. How many channels do you need(drums can be recorded well with just 4)? and will you want to expand later on?

4 would probably be good then, would i want to expand later on, that is possible, but i think i would be able to purchase a new interface by then and will have a much higher budget

5. What are you looking for(mic, interface, monitors, etc)?

not exactly sure what you mean

6. Do you have much/any experience?

I have no experience with recording at all, i'm brand new at this

7. Do you have any equipment now(esp recording equipment, mixers, etc)?

Not really, i have my acoustic guitar, my acoustic electric guitar, my electric guitar, an amp, and a computer, so thats it

8. What is your room(s) like(post a room plan)
The room i'm thinking of is my study and it doesn't have a door, it is pretty open so i'm not sure how well that will work

9. Do you need isolation?
Not sure about this question either

 

[pandamonk]

I'm in teh US

Probably not much more than 400$

Yah i have a decent PC, but it is in my parents room, but i think my parents are looking to get a new PC for us at Christmas

4 would probably be good then, would i want to expand later on, that is possible, but i think i would be able to purchase a new interface by then and will have a much higher budget

5. not exactly sure what you mean

I have no experience with recording at all, i'm brand new at this

Not really, i have my acoustic guitar, my acoustic electric guitar, my electric guitar, an amp, and a computer, so thats it

The room i'm thinking of is my study and it doesn't have a door, it is pretty open so i'm not sure how well that will work

9. Not sure about this question either

Well, what do you think you need? A few mics, and interface, some monitors(speakers), headphones? That's what i'd think you need. Do you think you'll expand to drumkit recording?

Well read this on acoustics.

Isolation: Do you need to "soundproof" your room, so that others can't hear you/not to annoy others. With a $400 budget, forget about this.

Ok, so I'll make a suggestion based on what i know.

There are interfaces out there which are good enough with just 4, but can be expanded, but for $400, you're probably right. There is the Alesis Multimix 8 firewire though, which has 4 mic ins, but can be expanded to 8. It seems to be a decent product. Check out the naiant range of mics.

There are lots of budget monitors out there, but i doubt you'll find any decent within your budget, although i will help you look.

And if you want good mixes, you really gotta invest in acoustic treatment, and probably dedicate a room to it.

So mics:
For guitar, Naiant MSH-1$22(a pair for drum overheads)
Vocals, Naiant MSH-2T$49
drums, 2x MSH-3 $39

Interface:
Alesis Multimix 8 firewire$265 (this comes with recording software, Cubase LE)

Monitors:
Behringer Truth B2031A$265

Acoustic treatment:
Rigid fiberglass, framed, and wrapped in fabric(maybe for the future)

$700, a bit over budget, but well worth it, imo. You also need to include cables, stands, and mic clips.

If you really can't afford this, then i'd suggest cut out the monitors(just get good headphones) and the mics i suggested for drums (if you don't need them just now). This will leave you room to expand very easily(a couple mics, monitors and acoustic treatment). Then again to 8 channels with 4 preamps(2x dmp3) and more mics.

Wow, i think too much!

 

[NickNoe09]

thanks alot, that helped quite a bit

 

[Dani Pace]

Welcome to the Whacky World of Recording. Start simple, a couple of mics, a preamp, PC with recording software and a way to play back what you record is about the minimum but it's a start. Audacity is free recording software and is easy to learn and use. Take your time and experiment and learn the basics of digital recording before trying anything complicated. Read all you can about recording. Don't panic if your first few recordings sound like total garbage, I doubt any of us got it right on the first try. Really good mics aren't cheap but you can get decent mics for less than $100 each which should serve you for now and quite a while into your recording experience. The same is true about preamps. Don't feel that you have to have top of the line gear but do get the best gear you can afford, better gear is easier to upgrade later when you decide you need more or better. Check out the Tweekheadz website for a good idea of price ranges on various gear and some good info about how to use it. Ask questions when you run into something that doesn't work, someone around here has already been there and usually knows how to overcome most snags. Be patient, no one can master recording overnight.