Well for today, I thought I might just tackle the ever evolving question of what is a home studio now? No matter what whether a studio is 6000sq feet or 250sq feet it still has the same purpose, to make music.
Putting a studio together is like creating a chain. You start with a instrument such as a piano or a vocal chord and you hope to end up with completed recording. Along the way you have many instruments and equipment that are part of that chain and if one of those chains is weak it will reflect on the entire chain.
Not to worry though, with a little inspiration and improvisation you can be on your way to Recording your next album.
The first item to think about is your multitrack recorder sound interface. Your multitrack recorder would be the heart of your studio if it had one.
The most important inputs on your multitracker are your pre-amps. Pre-amps are inputs that take your instrument, like a guitar or microphone, up to line-level. You want your instruments to be up to line level in order to get a loud enough and low distortion recording of them. The quality of your pre-amps are a big thing to consider when putting together your studio.
Basically there are two main options for a reasonable home studio. One being a stand-alone multitracker and the other a computer based setup.
There are many self containing units out there that will do all of your recoding with one device. Think of them as a multitracker, mixer, and pcmac in one. They require no PCMac and will get the job done.
I personally am not a fan of stand-alone recorders based on the costperformance in comparison to a Pc, but I think it is fair to show them anyway.Here is a example from Fostex to give you a idea of what they are about Fostex MR-8 HD/CD. Prices for units like the Fostex Mr-8 can range from about 400-1500 dollars.
Using a computer to hard disk your tracks, I’ll admit, is more complicated then the stand-alone approach, but with that complexity you gain power. The computer based system is a rapidly expanding market and changes very fast, but with the right knowledge you can keep right with it.
The sound interface is what allows sound to go in and out of your computer. Most are external boxes that connect via usb or firewire. Some do mount into a standard Pci slot thought. Most interfaces come with 2-4 pre-amps for instruments and mics.
If you are just going to add guitar and piano you can get by with 2 pre-amps but if you are going to do more complex things like acoustic instrument and drums, 4 or more would be the way to go. A great example would be the Mackie Onyx 400-f. You can view it here Mackie Onyx 400F. There are many others like it so I recommend looking into other models as well. Prices for units like the Onyx 400-f range from about 200-1000 dollars.
Next we are looking at how we are going to hear our music as we create it. How we hear our music is a very important part of the studio process obviously. How are we supposed to make our music sound better then our $10 headphones or speakers if thats all we hear it from?
This is usually done with a pair of studio quality headphones or monitors. Headphones are the cheapest way to go but can not replace a nice pair of studio monitors. I recommend checking out Grado Labs. They are a nice small company that makes some really great headphones for pro studios. A nice pair of studio headphones should cost somewhere between 100-400 dollars (I use a pair of Grado SR-80′s).
Now if you are going for monitors you will be very happy with the results. Monitors add the dynamic room feel to your listening experience that just can’t be recreated with headphones. Near-field studio monitors are made to have a flat response so you get a very good average idea of what your recordings sound like.
This is the opposite of regular hi-fi stereos that enhance your sounds and change its dynamics. Event is a great company that has been making monitors for some years now so feel free to take a look at what they have to offer.
You may already have a computer that is perfectly capable of making some great recordings on right now. More important then the computer itself is the software you have on it. The minimum specs I would recommend for your computer are
Really that is about all you need. The rest is pretty irrelevant to recording.
You will also need a multitracking program for your studio to record your sounds. There are many different programs out there, some for only the mac and some only PC, but all do similar things. I recommend downloading some demos and trying out a few of them before deciding on which one is for you. I have tried nearly every program out there and still do not have a favorite yet. Here is a short list of some sites to check out.
Well I think that will be enough to get the ball rolling and open some doors to some exiting areas. Remember there is no perfect studio and the real creativity should come out in the music, not the hardware it’s made on. I will try to elaborate on these topics and more in the future so stay tuned and keep checking back for more.
Nice, but I think you should have mentioned some software, also saying that most decent software costs $800 and the very best is for Macs.
I currently have a very capable digital home recording studio, and it have both Windows XP and Windows Vista. My software includes ProTools, Sonar, Sound Forge and Reason. At this point in time, I have a preference for Sonar due to the pay-per-use add-ons for ProTools. I know it’s the standard, but I find Sonar easier for me to use. Reason is a wonderful digital studio and quite flexible. For hardware interface, I use both a M-Audio 192 card and a Presonus Firepod.
For interface, I use a couple of difference midi-controllers, including an M-Audio 88-key digital piano and a Roland GR-33 guitar synthesizer.
“Nice, but I think you should have mentioned some software, also saying that most decent software costs $800 and the very best is for Macs.”
What are you talking about? At this point Mac’s are no better than Pc’s, they’re just more expensive. That would be like me bragging about my HP computer – it’s no better or worse than my neighbors computer. The performance is the same if you know what to look for when buying computers. Software on the other hand is much easier to get for Pc users because there are more of them out there…it’s free if you know how to use torrents. $10,000 plug-in packs can be downloaded for free in just a few hours.
“the very best is for Macs”???
Somebody needs to wake up and realize it’s not 1995 anymore. What exactly is better about a Mac when doing audio & video anymore? Nothing. There was a time when Windows PC’s were unstable, and there was no professional quality software available for them. But that hasn’t been the case in well over a decade.
“…it’s free if you know how to use torrents. $10,000 plug-in packs can be downloaded for free in just a few hours.”
Wow dude. Get a job.
And there are plenty of pro-grade programs that are already free. I use Audacity. It works fine.
This article should have been a little more in-depth to really get into it, but it’s still good for the beginner.
How does getting a job have anything to do with downloading a torrent? It’s not like I’m sitting there watching it download. Also, I was using that example of how high priced certain (not all) audio plugin’s have gotten. It’s faster for me to download a typical $5000 plugin pack in torrent form than it is for me to get in the car, drive to the store and buy it….All I was saying was that software is WAY overpriced.
Or, are you just trying to start a typical internet argument. I don’t have time for that as I’m working on downloading plugins.
Audacity is an awesome free program.
You’re also correct that this article could have been a lot more in-depth. But, we could go on for days and years about how most articles on the internet and in print and on tv could be more in-depth – but all that goes without saying…doesn’t it?
It’s the height of stupidity to talk about bootlegging software and the high price of software in the same breath. The reason software gets expensive is because of idiots that think it ought to be free. People deserve to be compensated for their work and the cretive energy they put into it. If you like their product, ay for their product. If you want free, get the freeware that’s out there. If you want access to the software that is creted by the best minds in the industry, pay for it. I’m doing my part to keep software afordable. They’re worth it, I’m worth it, and my product is worth it.
Reply to Grim-
You setup sounds really great. I definitely agree that Reason is a great program especially with it’s built in rewire interface. Thanks for commenting.
What are everybody else’s setup’s at home? Also, what are some equipment recommendations that you can give for people without a studio yet?
“It’s the height of stupidity to talk about bootlegging software and the high price of software in the same breath.”
I am at the height of stupidity because I get free software.
Yep. Makes sense.
Some stuff could be cheaper though…However,
tomorrow I’ll go to the store and buy all the software I’ve literally stolen. It’s going to get expensive for me, but the software developers deserve it!
Thanks Grim.
Logic Pro 8. End of discussion.
They all basically do the same thing. It depends on what your doing and how familiar you are with the program. It’s not like one sounds better than the others.
There is never an end to this discussion if your saying “yours” is better or “bigger” than everyone else’s. That type of attitude only brings on more discussion, and anger certain people.
Reply to Ezra:
Glad you agree. I’ll be sure to tell people to go out and buy your album on itunes instead of simply downloading via bittorrent when it’s your mortgage on the line.
I’m not trying to be an ass, although I succeed beyond my wildest expectations. If you plan on trying to create a revenue stream from your music, you need to make sure everyone gets their cut. If you don’t, well… karma’s a bitch.
wow… yall argue alot.. :) I’ve only paid about $500 for my entire system (minus the computer) I bought Reason Adapted on ebay for $30 then upgraded to Reason 4 for only $256 ish.. saving a couple hundred $’s. I then rewire Reason 4 through Ableton Live Lite 4, which i got with my M-Audio Oxygen 49 keyboard for $100 ish. And then just a $40 microphone and a pair of headphones is really all ya need. Reason has enough Refills for free to copy almost any analogue synth, and if not, then i can add a VST synth into my mix by using the Ableton Live Lite 4. Really cheap, but really effective.
Sorry about all the negative stuff here, it’s kinda silly.
Logic Pro8 and not having to ‘waste’ 1 gig of RAM to run Vista are still two of the many good reasons to still trust a Mac for music production… end of discussion
Although I’m a long-time Mac user, I have to admit that the quality of some PC software has gotten better. None of it works as well or simply as Mac software, though. Sure, it doesn’t crash. But that’s not everything. The hardware still sucks, though. Everything is cheap plastic. Every time I see a PC CD drive I get the feeling that it could fall out any minute…
I’ll take Reaper over Cubase any day. Also, for the price of a Mac alone, one could purchase an entire entry level pc setup.
I just make Trance music with Reason 4 and I think its great! People say its quite hard to use and I think they’re right, but once you get past the terrible learning curve you’re all set!
Also, Macs aren’t worth it.
In fact, they are just Gay.
terrible learning curve for Reason? its simple! All you have to do to learn it is just mess around with it for a few hours, 5 at most.. and you can grasp just about every concept easily. Reason is Amazing! :)
Maybe thats true – I started on it as a total beginner, with no prior knowledge of music production at all, and it took me quite a long time to start producing a good sound, but after that I find things move very quickly.
One of the things one has to do is to get a bunch of good ReFills, and then you’re set.
I had a buddy with Reason 2.0 back in the day, and after I realized how easy it was to get started, I bought it for my own use, and just figured out how to use the new tools as they became available. Now I’m up to 4.0 and I absolutely love the Thor synth. There are still alot of features I’m not comfortable with, but that’s primarily due to the amount of time I can invest in learning the product these days. I will say it was one of the best investments I’ve ever made in creative tools. There’s a ton of info online, as well as some pretty good books and videos.
very few people use PCs in professional studio. macs are the standard cause they have a better history. and there are fewer compatibility issues.
also, with a good rig, the computer’s price is quite nominal.
You forgot the Lava Lamp! :) No good studio goes without one!
*Jknedler
Your absolutely right! I’ll add it to part 2 “How to build a home studio with a lava lamp, a mic stand, and a roll of duct tape” :)
Plain old mixer, two of em, with huge old school mic slots. Set of drum mics, set of live recording mics, a lot of wire, and a couple of stacks. It can all be run through the mixer, straight to the pc and recorded with Audacity. Although, to be fair, never used pro tools and Audition, well it is awesome. Just buy a mixer and through your line in. Digital multi-track recording would be nice, but this set-up works just fine, best part is, all you need are mics and a mixer.
And buy the buy, anyone who cannot see the lack of impact pirating has on these mega companies it a moron. If anything, it may help with advertising. No one is feeling the pinch anywho, except the customer who still believes in capitalism. Then again, capitalist’s are morons. Corporations drown the marketplace, driving up profit margins and driving down standards, all the while paying their employees less and charging their customers an extra low ‘compensated’ price? This happens in every monopolized sector, with or without theft occurring.
So unless people are releasing zero days on Walmart and Target and Disney, I wouldn’t be concerned. It has gotten to the point where small business ventures need to give away their product anyway. The sheer market power of the distributor has ruined any hope of profit.
Sorry. I just get very angry when people paint things in one of two shades. The reality of the matter is simple, the nature of capitalism itself eventually leads itself toward a bust. Ever play monopoly? The game ends, even if the banker is stealing.
Reply to “nope”
You claim all you need is a mic, a mixer and a regular sound card to line in.
You computers plain old sound card usually only can record at 44.1Khz while a mixer with firewire\Usb is either 96Khz or 192khz.
I recommend instead of buying a plain old mixer, buy a mixer with firewire or usb connectivity. They are basically the same price but can record at twice the quality.
If you already have the mixer then you can save money with your method by using your sound cards line in.
The Firewire or USB is a must. What a difference.
Great blog post!
I’ve enjoyed the article and all of the comments. It’s neat to read the opinions that recording on a PC can be just as good as recording on a Mac. Mac’s have certainly had a reputation for being better, but I guess that’s changing now.
ok first of megalolz to all these mac fanboys that are convinced their shit doesn’t stink. there is no difference in the final product or the process, get over it, you silly looking computer isn’t going to make any difference (except that huge dent in your wallet)
ANNND,
i’d also highly recommend Reaper, an excellent fully functional free program.
http://www.cockos.com/reaper/
WRONG! The reason Mac’s cost so much is because they sound way better than PC’s! It has to do with all the processing chips they use in the signal.
I’m just kidding, a computer is a computer…if you spent more money buying a Mac, you’ll just give yourself plenty of reasons to justify it….I know I do!
Mac’s a nice computers, no doubt, but there’s very little difference between a Mac & a PC these days. The fact that you can run Vista or XP on a Mac puts an exclamation point on it. If you buy a PC, or cheaper yet, build the one you want to your specifications after doing the research, you’ll have money left over for a nice Firewire interface with multiple inputs and outputs. I like the Presonus Firepod/FP10 unit. They work with Mac as well as 32/64 bit XP & Vista. Works well with my Reason 4/Sonar 8 Producer Edition layout.
Don’t buy into the Fear/Uncrtainty/Doubt. PC’s come from alot of different vendors, but Macs only come from one place. Apple is a HARDWARE company. By attacking Microsoft, they are really attacking Dell, IBM, HP, Toshiba and a thousand different companies that believe in open hardware standards. Apple doesn’t support open hardware – they want proprietary systems and a limited number of drivers to support. One OS, One system one people… ironic that their racially pure systems come in white, dontcha think?
FRUITY LOOPS IS THE WAY PEOPLE!
You must be hitting the rock …O.S. alone is 50 fold more stable let alone the speed do to O.S. is another point. Also the the amount of process it takes a p.c. to execute a action is a resource problem in its own. No matter what it is there will be people who refuse to see the differences and only defend . There are different strokes for different folks. But in the world of production and no,not word processing there is a reason that most pros use mac. Try it before you say anything and not at a best buy
All the talk over what is better mac or pc…it’s lame. I have a pc that I’ve recorded over 6 albums on and it still works and is stable as it ever was. If I had a mac, it would be nice too, it’s just that they’re a little more $ than most pc’s.
I HAVE MY AUDIO MIXER BEHRINGER XENYX X1204 USB WITH ENERGYXT 2.5.4 SOFTWARE, KRK ROKIT 5 MONITOR SPEAKERS AND RODE NT1-A CONDENSER MICROPHONE…I REALLY DON’T KNOW WHAT’S MISSING OF MY HOME RECORDING SET-UP..THE SOUND IS OK BUT I’M NOT SATISFIED WITH THE SOUND QUALITY OF MY RECORDING WHEN I RECORD IT THRU’ COMPUTER WITH THAT SOFTWARE THE SOUND IS SO LOW EVEN I ADJUST THE VOLUME HIGH..AND WHEN I ADJUST THE VOLUME OF THE CONDENSER MICROPHONE IN CHANNEL 1 OF MY MIXER I GOT VERY BAD FEEDBACK IN MY MONITOR SPEAKER…I DON’T PLAY ANY KIND OF INSTRUMENTS, ONLY THING I DO IS AUDIO SOURCE SUCH AS INSTRUMENTAL THEN I START TO SING WITH THAT..MY AUDIO MIXER IS BUILD IN PHANTOM POWER, USB INTERFACE..PLEASE TELL ME WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH MY RECORDING SET-UP..DID I MISSING SOMETHING..SHOULD I NEED A “EXTERNAL SOUND CARD” TO GET SOUND BETTER..PLEASE I NEEED YOUR IMMEDIATELY RESPONCE….THANK YOU VERY MUCH…