What to Buy for Home Studio Setup?? Help!

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dmossjr

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Hi, all -

I'm a newbie at recording equipment, and I'm hoping to get some advice on what to purchase to set up a home studio. Here's some info that I hope helps for anyone who can offer some thoughts.

Here's what I have:
M-Audio USB interface that connects my Yahama Clavinova Keyboard to my IMac (a fairly new Imac, so its large and speedy); Cubase LE software (came with M-Audio); Finale Music Notation Software.

Here's what I want to do:
I want to be able to record vocals primarily (at least I think). I'm a musician/singer that leans more toward classical/pop-type music (Think in terms of Josh Groban stuff as opposed to rock). So eventually it will be a pretty exposed vocal with perhaps some background vocals & light orchestral instruments on top of piano. I'm assuming all that can be done with Midi instruments. All this is really just to get some good, decent demos going for some songs I've written, possibly leading to a CD eventually.

So...what do I need to buy? Obviously a good mic I would think, but a mixer? Deck...this is where I get totally lost and want to hide under my Yamaha...

Thanks all!!
 
Mr. ROUSH said:
How much are you looking to spend?
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That's just it - I wouldn't even know how to answer that question. I would think a few thousand as I see packages, but given what I have I don't know what I'd need to buy to supplement, or if I would be better off buying a package from somewhere like guitar center or sam ash. Is there a general range? Like 2k will get you "xx" and 5-10K will get you "xx"?

Thanks!
 
Well, it's not quite that simple.. You can get a nice rig for $2k that will do what you want.. or you can get a REALLY nice rig in the $5 - $10k range.. I wouldn't really look at the packages that are pre made.. you can go through sweetwater and get a custom package built from scratch with a package price, taylored just for you.. online is the way to go at any rate..

Wether you go with the 2k route or the 10k route will depend on what works for you to get the quality you want to reach.. for example, the mic that works well for you might cost several thousand.. or it might cost several hundred.. just depends.. There are a lot of options for you..

You don't have to have a mixer if you don't mind mixing in the box.. I would look at upgrading that inteface to something better as well.. You will want a good preamp also. You'll want to look at room treatment to give yourself the right space to record vocals in, and to mix in. You'll need decent monitors..

You can spend a lot and get great stuff, but don't think you "have" to spend a lot.. for $2 - $3k you could get where you want to be.. I would recommend reason.. you can make some great orchestral sequences right out of the box and it's easy to learn / use.

So at any rate.. if you can give more of a ballpark then I could give you more specific suggestions to consider.. It wouldn't be a bad idea to call sweetwater.. thier service is phenominal.. if nothing else, they will put together some packages for you to consider.. If you call ask for Robby Resnick and tell him Mr. Roush sent you.. I'm not saying it will get you a deal, but it might.. might get me one too! They are pretty much willing to deal anyway, so you can save money and usually you'll get something free thrown in like a cable or mic stand etc..

Best of luck to you.
 
My obligatory standard reply-for-newbies that I keep in Wordpad so this is just a paste (I don't want to re-type this all the time):

First off, immediately get a good beginner recording book (spend $20 before spending hundred$/thousand$) that shows you what you need to get started and how to hook everything up in your studio:
Home Recording for Musicians by Jeff Strong - $15
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/04...mp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0470385421
(Wish I'd had that when I started; would have saved me lots of money and time and grief)
You can also pick up this book in most any Borders or Barnes&Noble in the Music Books section!

Another good one is: Recording Guitar and Bass by Huw Price
http://www.amazon.com/Recording-Gui...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215734124&sr=1-1
(I got my copy at a place called Half-Price Books for $6!!)

And you can get a FREE subscription to TapeOp magazine at www.tapeop.com

Barnes&Noble or Borders are great places to start --- they have recording books and you can go get a snack or coffee and read them for FREE! Don't pass by a good recording book --- this is a VERY technical hobby and you REALLY want to start a reference library!!!

Good Newbie guides that also explains all the basics and have good tips:
http://www.tweakheadz.com/guide.htm
http://www.computermusic.co.uk/page/computermusic?entry=free_beginner_pdfs
http://www.harmony-central.com/articles/
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/tips-techniques/168409-tips-techniques.html

21 Ways To Assemble a Recording Rig: http://www.tweakheadz.com/rigs.htm

Also Good Info: http://www.theprojectstudiohandbook.com/directory.htm

Other recording books: http://musicbooksplus.com/home-recording-c-31.html

Still using a built-in soundcard?? Unfortunately, those are made with less than $1 worth of chips for beeps, boops and light gaming (not to mention cheapness for the manufacturer) and NOT quality music production.
#1 Rule of Recording: You MUST replace the built-in soundcard.
Here's a good guide and tested suggestions that WORK: http://www.tweakheadz.com/soundcards_for_the_home_studio.htm


Plenty of software around to record for FREE to start out on:

Audacity: http://audacity.sourceforge.net (multi-track with VST support)
Wavosaur: http://www.wavosaur.com/ (a stereo audio file editor with VST support)\
Kristal: http://www.kreatives.org/kristal/
Other freebies and shareware: www.hitsquad.com/smm

Another great option is REAPER at http://www.cockos.com/reaper/ (It's $50 but runs for free until you get guilty enough to pay for it...)
I use Reaper and highly reccomend it...

Music Notation and MIDI recording: Melody Assistant ($25) and Harmony Assistant ($80) have the power of $600 notation packages - http://myriad-online.com
Demo you can try on the website.

And you can go out to any Barnes&Noble or Borders and pick up "Computer Music" magazine - they have a full FREE studio suite in every issue's DVD, including sequencers, plugins and tons of audio samples. (November 2006 they gave away a full copy of SamplitudeV8SE worth $150, November 2007-on the racks Dec in the US- they gave away SamplitudeV9SE and July 2009 issue they put out Samplitude10SE. FREE. It pays to watch 'em for giveaways...)
 
Big Thanks!!!

All of these replies are FANTASTIC and very helpful information. Thanks to all for taking the time to reply - I'll definitely check out all the suggestions given, and see what works best for me....great direction.

Thanks.
 
Thanks you Mr spammer for dredging up a 4-year-old thread!
 
Hunting to buy home for studio setup and not getting a proper referral, no need to waste your precious time, when there are lots of property firms that can help you out. One among them is Albanesebuilders.com, experience builders of custom made home from past three decades. Hope it could be of help.
 
aaronrios said:
Hunting to buy home for studio setup and not getting a proper referral, no need to waste your precious time, when there are lots of property firms that can help you out. One among them is Albanesebuilders.com, experience builders of custom made home from past three decades. Hope it could be of help.
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How are these spammers getting in here??!!
 
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