If you're looking to set up a simple home recording studio, you might be surprised to learn how easy it is. With a few hundred bucks and some time, anyone can assemble a studio that can make quality demos and recordings using their computer.
First, you'll need to buy a decent sound card for your computer. Any higher-end SoundBlaster card should be sufficient, and really any good sound card with a line in jack will do. Check online for reviews of the sound cards you're looking at; I have a Sound Blaster X-Fi, but that's a bit too expensive for many home users. A sound card around the $50 range should be adequate.
You'll also need a mixer, as this will help bring the signal of the microphone(s) to your computer. Check out Musician's Friend or a similar website to find good prices; you'll want one with a good ability to monitor sound levels, and you'll probably want to have the capacity to use phantom power. Most mics also use XLR connections, so make sure the mixer you're buying has at least one or two.
Of course, no recording rig is ready without a decent microphone. You can find some pretty decent mics for cheap; try the Behringer B-10 or the classic mainstay, the Shure SM-57. Microphones different in ability, so again, read up on whatever you're buying.
Once you've got all the materials, plug the output of your mixer into the line in jack of your computer and put the recording level at a point where your mixer's 0dB setting matches the 0dB setting on your audio recording program (I always recommend Adobe Audition for beginners; it has a trial, and a host of great features). Once you've got all the levels checked, place your mics and begin recording.
Many home computer setups will have a low buzz if the monitor is flat screen; to get around this, try adjusting the brightness setting on your monitor. If worse comes to work, you may have to unplug the monitor every time you record! Usually, though, the monitor settings can be changed to combat the problem.
Your home computer recording rig is set up; it's time to record some music. Be sure to add a bit of reverb to flesh out your sound, but don't add too many effects. Remember that reverb, echo, and other effects should be used as seasoning to increase the power of your over all recording.
These are just some basic guidelines to setting up a very basic home recording rig. Feel free to experiment until you've got the set up that meets your needs.
First, you'll need to buy a decent sound card for your computer. Any higher-end SoundBlaster card should be sufficient, and really any good sound card with a line in jack will do. Check online for reviews of the sound cards you're looking at; I have a Sound Blaster X-Fi, but that's a bit too expensive for many home users. A sound card around the $50 range should be adequate.
You'll also need a mixer, as this will help bring the signal of the microphone(s) to your computer. Check out Musician's Friend or a similar website to find good prices; you'll want one with a good ability to monitor sound levels, and you'll probably want to have the capacity to use phantom power. Most mics also use XLR connections, so make sure the mixer you're buying has at least one or two.
Of course, no recording rig is ready without a decent microphone. You can find some pretty decent mics for cheap; try the Behringer B-10 or the classic mainstay, the Shure SM-57. Microphones different in ability, so again, read up on whatever you're buying.
Once you've got all the materials, plug the output of your mixer into the line in jack of your computer and put the recording level at a point where your mixer's 0dB setting matches the 0dB setting on your audio recording program (I always recommend Adobe Audition for beginners; it has a trial, and a host of great features). Once you've got all the levels checked, place your mics and begin recording.
Many home computer setups will have a low buzz if the monitor is flat screen; to get around this, try adjusting the brightness setting on your monitor. If worse comes to work, you may have to unplug the monitor every time you record! Usually, though, the monitor settings can be changed to combat the problem.
Your home computer recording rig is set up; it's time to record some music. Be sure to add a bit of reverb to flesh out your sound, but don't add too many effects. Remember that reverb, echo, and other effects should be used as seasoning to increase the power of your over all recording.
These are just some basic guidelines to setting up a very basic home recording rig. Feel free to experiment until you've got the set up that meets your needs.
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