Mar 04, 2008 09:26 pm read some of the articles in this site, it helped me a LOT
setting up a studio
Posted on Mar 04, 2008 07:32 pm
rrandomhero
Member Since: Mar 04, 2008
im new to recording, no experience whatsoever, and i have very little idea on what i should get or how to set up a recording studio. all that i know is i definitly want to do computer based and i was looking at either pro tools or apple logic as software. i want to record guitar, bass, drums, keyboard and vocals. i need to know what i need to set all of this up. help is greatly appreiciated
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Mar 04, 2008 09:26 pm read some of the articles in this site, it helped me a LOT
Mar 05, 2008 11:20 am Welcome to HRC. As kodyshred mentioned, there are a lot of threads and articles here to be getting on with that should get you comfortable.
There are so many combinations of hardware and software out there, and most of them work fine. It's not a race, it's a process. Another trick is to go into the profile for some members and see what they have. We don't all have million dollar ProTools set ups (Home Recording Connection, you see?) and we're all getting pretty good sounds. Ask questions, and get comfortable.....
Are you planning of recording all instruments at the same time? Are you a "one man band" and recording one at a time? This will determine what you need in terms of soundcards, mixers etc. As for software, you'll get different opinions from everyone. Sonar is popular, Cubase, Tracktion, Krystal, Reaper, the list goes on. Not a huge ProTools base here, but there are some.
Just spend a little time looking around the site and have fun.
Good luck.
Mar 05, 2008 01:14 pm He mentioned ProTools so he's obviously not fussed about budget.
Sorry, that was a joke.
A shoestring budget can and often does produce just as good sounds as a mega-thousands budget. It's the guy at the controls who makes it work.
Mar 05, 2008 01:30 pm A lot of people equate ProTools LE with ProToolssHD/TDM because they don't know any better. I'm assuming that since this person is asking on a home recording forum, he's not interested in spending $3500 on an HD3 card not to mention the extra $2000 for an
ADC interface. Then there's the necessary preamps.
Still a budget rules your decisions. For a singer songwriter, I personally think that the Mbox 2 mini is a great deal. The quality of most RTAS plugins is considerably better than the average VST. Mind you 80% of vst plugins are free these days. That's just my $0.02. Throw in an sm57 or two and your in business.
Mar 05, 2008 02:10 pm Sure the MBox Mini is a great way to go. So is, say, an Audiophile 2496 soundcard, a copy of Reaper, a small mixer, the microphone and a few cables. Same price, same results. All a matter of taste and preferences. Leaping straight into the PT world is not always the best course. Want 96KHz? Not with a MBox Mini 2 you don't. For that you'll need to (gasp) upgrade...
I'm not knocking PT, just giving perspective.
Mar 05, 2008 02:28 pm I've had my experiences with ProTools. I don't use it currently but I love the environment. The problems I have with some of the other options is that, often if you're looking at a mixer, it will be budget. Many of the budget mixers try to cram features into a budget device, which means all the components are budget. Preamps, faders, pots, caps. Regardless of the interface a simple 1-2 input device with preamps/instrument inputs is far better than a budget mixer.
It's a common misconception that a mixer is necessary when it absolutely is NOT. The mixer is for input only unless it is also a control surface. Generally the eq does not go to disc and if it does, you have to question the quality of the eq that you got in a mixer for $50.00.
Audiophile 2496? Great! But, don't go buy a mixer. You will most likely be mixing in the box so spend your money on a reasonable preamp. Don't cheap out on that because it will be the hub of your audio quality.
Okay, maybe not everyone can afford to spend $500 for a middle of the road preamp. How bout $200? The more you spend the better your quality will be.
Bottom of the line though, the less components in your $100-200 interface with preamps, the more quality the company is able to put into that unit.
Mar 05, 2008 02:41 pm Wow, you guys are reading an aweful lot into the OP's post.
Mar 05, 2008 02:43 pm Yeah. Got carried away. At any rate going back to my original question, budget?
Mar 05, 2008 03:10 pm Quote:
At any rate going back to my original question, budget?
Exactly! Also to add to that... are you (OP) a one man band or do you plan to track the entire band together?
Mar 06, 2008 05:58 pm i definitly want it to be as cheap as possible, what would be the best for low to mid price range? and im recording all the instruments sepearatly, not all at once
Mar 06, 2008 06:13 pm do you need midi now or later down the line? One track at a time will make things cheaper and easier, since you don't need a huge interface.
Mar 06, 2008 06:29 pm MIDI is for creating and playing computer controlled music, like soundfonts, synthesizers, samples of sounds, drums, etc.
You probably don't need to worry about it yet, though you may want to read up about it later. It can help fill out a project.
The line 6 ux2 is getting some good press, for 2 bills. it offers phantom power for condensor mics, and has 2 channels so you can record in stereo (like drums or keyboard).
It also has modeling of mics, and guitar processing too, if you're inclined.
The UX2 works on MAC as well, so you're set there.
You should really read some of the 'TIPS' section articles, on recording, and getting started. They answer a lot of beginner questions. Good stuff, that.
Mar 06, 2008 06:48 pm ok that helps, thanks, i think i have a general idea, but with recording drums, i want to record acoustic drums, would i need a mixer for that or what other options do i have
Mar 06, 2008 06:51 pm < pasted from different thead >
it is certainly a variable subject.
Some may use 2 mics, set up carefully to get the whole kit.
Some use 3 mics, 1 out front, and 2 overheads.
Others get more involved, and put mics around to differing extents. This starts getting complex, as people want to keep bleed from other mics, and then there's the mixing afterwards.
You can pre-mix the drums, like you said. This gives you a decent balanced sound, that you more than likely can live with. But this gets your drums all mic'ed, but recorded into a low-input-count interface.
If I were doing the pre-mix route, I'd try and get the drums all panned around in the mix, so it sounds like a stereo field, then send it out on two channels, to keep the stereo field. If you really spend time getting the mics set up right, and the mixer set right, it should come out very nice.
Oh yeah, a controlled and dependable drummer helps a ton here as well. Because louder / softer styles can't be corrected much after it's recorded =).
If you have a high-input-count, then yeah, setting up more mics and tracks can give you huge amounts of control over the drum group. But, it can add a ton of editing time as well.
< end paste >
I think that covers it =).
Mar 08, 2008 10:47 pm I simply have to toss this in here just for relevance. I happen to work with a studio that uses a full on TDM rig running RTAS pluggins. Now this guy is my age and has grown up using the same type gear I did long ago in the analog days. He does prefer using PT because it is what was already there when he took over the studio. Now his B and C rooms are both running Sonar 7 PE along with Cubase SX rigs. Both of which happily run VST and VSTi and DX and DXi for Sonar. He is much happier jumping to the B or C room to master using the VST pluggins in Sonar then the RTAS pluggins.
Funny how if RTAS is better...
I digress, I actually like them both but have found a preferenc for VST pluggins over the years and found there is virtually no difference in the audio quality.
Mar 13, 2008 10:44 am I would say if you are looking for software, go for something like Cool Edit Pro 2.0/ Adobe Audition (which happens to lack features cool edit had) or if you happen to be a linux user Ardour offers many features of pro-tools. Then, with the rest o the cash buy yourself the best mic your budget will allow for. Sound quality starts from the source. There is a common misconception amongst engineers who belive in the "fix it in the mix" process. If your signal was crap to start with no amount of polishings going t turn it into gold. also buy the best quality cables you can afford. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. (Same with signal chains). For Condensers always use Balanced XLR's (Hot, Cold, Ground/Shield). Hope this gets you thinking.
Mar 13, 2008 10:46 am I would say if you are looking for software, go for something like Cool Edit Pro 2.0/ Adobe Audition (which happens to lack features cool edit had) or if you happen to be a linux user Ardour offers many features of pro-tools. Then, with the rest o the cash buy yourself the best mic your budget will allow for. Sound quality starts from the source. There is a common misconception amongst engineers who belive in the "fix it in the mix" process. If your signal was crap to start with no amount of polishings going t turn it into gold. also buy the best quality cables you can afford. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. (Same with signal chains). For Condensers always use Balanced XLR's (Hot, Cold, Ground/Shield). Hope this gets you thinking.
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