For any of you who record music at home, what do you use? What are your fun toys? What does your setup look like? Do you record digitally? 4-track?

What is a good way to get started in home recording? Tell your experiences here. Links to equipment also appreciated.

http://www.apple.com/macmini/

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http://m-audio.com/products/en_us/FireWireSolo-main.html

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http://www.behringer.com/B-1/index.cfm?lang=ENG

I've had a Fostex MR-8 for about three years now, and it's the ideal tool for quickly getting ideas out and easily getting them recorded.



I tried a different route at first, with a recording sound card, mixer, software, etc. and found it was just too cumbersome. Four different areas to adjust the volume. A total pain.

Took all that junk back and got the MR-8. Recently upgraded my memory card to a full GB and I now have more than 190 minutes of recording time.

I also just got a small 30 watt Vox practice amp for Christmas from my girlfriend - it has a single pre-amp tube and it has made my recordings sound way better. The only downfall of the MR-8 is that it has no EQ's. Really amazed they didn't include that. So now I've got the amp to do all that and have been really pleased.

I've got a couple dynamic mics, and a really nice condenser with shockmount. Using the condenser and a direct line into the 8 track (you can record two tracks simultaneously) from an acoustic guitar just sounds beautiful.

I debated for years about a studio. I bought an MBox that runs Pro Tools and a POD XT Live and I'm extremely happy with my results...and I still don't have a clue as to how most of Pro Tools works...wait til I actually GET it...

It seems to be my understanding from my basic reading (as well as the first post here) that it is much better to have a Mac (rather than a PC) as the computer in a home recording project. True? Thoughts on that?

I've got a Windows machine and have had ZERO problems with my setup. Mac is the standard in most, if not all, recording studios that run Pro Tools, that is true.

Windows + Pro Tools is juuuuust fine.

TL,

I am using PC right now and would like to keep doing so. What do you have on the PC that you use in terms of hardware requirements (Ram, memory, processor, etc). I think I might have to upgrade a few components or get a desktop. What are you running on your comp?

I've got a homemade PC that I built...

Athlon XP 2100
1 GB RAM
120 GB Harddrive
Radeon 9600 XT Pro Video card

It's a fairly "old" PC to what is out there now, but it's plenty fast for what I use it for, so I'm still leary of upgrading it. About the only thing I would do is buy a DVD recordable drive and a flat screen LCD for it, other than that, my PC is just fine.

I'm broke right now, but when I do complete my setup it's going to be something like this.

http://www.presonus.com/firebox.html
http://www.studioprojects.com/c1.html

I already have:
http://www.voxamps.co.uk/products/tonelab/tonelab.htm

and an Epi Dot and a nylon classical.

Although my dream guitar and amp is a Heritage Les Paul through a Vox AC-30. It's going to take awhile before I can afford that, which will give me ample time to practice more.

But would love a tascam 388

For knocking out ideas, I got one of these:



Korg PXR4

It's a nice little recorder that has an excellent condenser mike, and has all of the Korg REMS sound modeling stuff so you can do different effects and have different rythyms. All of the recordings are stored in a flash memory card, which you can pop out and stuff into a reader, or you can hook the unit up to your computer via USB. I have squanto on my computer for editing tools.

i've always wanted one of these...

do you mix down onto your hard-drive? is there a USB connect? how do you get your music on disc?

Those Heritages play dreamy. Scott and Kate at Fat Cat Guitars in Carpentersville have a few.. they almost sold me one. I Just don't have the dime at the moment. As for amps I am pretty envious of that Rivera that Charleyscott plays thru. But what I really want is a Hughes and Kettner Duo Tone head and cabinet.. The awesome blueness of it all... sigh.

It uses a flash memory card, and comes with a 128 MB card. Not much space there. I have a 1 GB card now and it's great. Can keep so many working songs stored without dumping them to computer.

Mix Down:
It has a pretty decent mix-down capability that moves tracks 1-6 to 7/8 whic becomes a stereo track. It has three settings for "mastering" (in it's own way, not like full professional mastering). I've actually only exported a track mixed-down on the MR-8 once. I'll find it at home and post it tonight if I can.

USB Connect:
Yes. USB 2.0, and there's a program to deal with exporting/importing tracks and song files.

How do you get music on disc:
If you mix down a stereo wav file, and export to your computer via USB, you're pretty much set and could burn it to a disc.

However...I've used the MR-8 much more for recording and used software more for mixing down, adjusting track levels, adding compression, more reverb, etc.

The Room reverb on the MR-8 is good, but the Plate and Hall are not so good. You can really bump up the Room quite a bit, but Plate sounds really nasty if it's much past 1/4 turn of the knob.

I've actually not used nearly all the features on the MR-8 and now that I have the larger memory card I'm trying to. I always have it in my living room ready to go, and when playing guitar and coming up with something new will usually get a rough idea recorded.

I have a ton of sequencing gear that I perform with, but nothing very good for recording.

Later this year, I plan to buy a Mac G5, then sell my current Behringer mixing board and buy a Mackie Onyx 1640 w/ 16-channels of firewire.

And then the games really begin.

I use these.

Edirol PCR-M50 49-Key MIDI Controller

Propellerhead Reason 3.0 Recording Software

Apple Logic Pro 7.2

M-Audio FireWire 410 Computer Recording Interface

M-Audio StudioPro 4 Active Monitors

this sounds great. i have used cassette 4 tracks before and i like the simplicity this machine seems to have.

It also has three different amp simulations in the guitar mode, and three different mic simulations in the mic mode. I'd read the manual before deciding to buy it, but overall I've been thrilled.

not as much the case anymore. although most of the quality software was originally made for macs, there are now compatable versions for PCs, as well as a wealth of other programs specifically for PCs.

This is going to sound dumb, but you might want to buy this book. It's a good place to start informing yourself, esp. if you're going to be investing a bit of $ into it.

Another question: Anyone have tips about affordable condensor mics? I can't find any on eBay, and although I've found some decent ones on sale @ the local music shop ($60-80), w/the mounts the total easily surpasses $150. I don't have this much money tips?

I can say pretty good things about this mic:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Liv...less?sku=273156

musiciansfriend.com is great now that they have had user reviews for a while. I don't buy anything without first reading tons of reviews. There are 238 reviews of that mic on there, so you're bound to have an opinion about it after reading even 20 of them.

I really only use that mic for recording vocals at home. Use with a pop screen as well. I like this mic because have not had decent EQ's on my 8-track and having not been using a mic pre-amp, it's nice and bright and not muddy at all.

BTW - you'll need a phantom power box as well. Not too expensive, you can get one for probably $25-30.

Guitar Center just ran a special with this mic and a dynamic mic as a package with a two channel pre-amp that included phantom power for like $100.

Thanks kat. Good tips. I hate those "__________ for dummies" series, but that might be a good option in this case.

Guitar Center (shudder!) sells an inexpensive condenser mic set with a vocal mic and shotgun mic for about $100. I got one last year and it's been great.

is this mic good only for vox? How about acoustic guitar...and I hate to be a bother, but what does the phantom power do?

The TASCAM PocketStudio 5 that I bought recently and have used with zero learning curve was really affordable, and I was happy with the results. It mixes down to MP3 for transport/storage/playing. Of course, it's DISCONTINUED, so there *must* be something equally affordable (about $200) and effective...I just don't know what that product is.

Link to a "real" recording person's review of it:
Read "Sound on Sound"'s review of the Pocket Studio.

I just wanted something to put down multiple inputs on quickly (vox/harp/guitar/drums/keys). It really fit the bill.

Always wanted to find something to record on that can run on batteries.

It works great for acoustic guitar. I think I described it, but if not, I've used it about 2 feet from my electric-acoustic , along with a direct line from the guitar. So basically recording two tracks of the same thing, you get a nice open air reverb sound from the mic and a little more attention to the strings and notes with the direct in. Sounds really good.

Phantom Power is:
"A means of powering condenser microphones. A current of (usually) 48 volts is sent along the mic cable from the mixing desk or, where the mixer does not have phantom power facilities, from a phantom power box, into which the mic is plugged and which, in turn, plugs into the mixer."

Thanks for the explanation, Sinstro...I was wondering the same thing. I never even looked to see what my mixing board does to the mic signal. Heck, I don't even understand the power difference between mic in and line in. Guess I'd better read up before I blow some things out. It did sound better having the mic go in directly rather than thru the mixing board (higher volume...I could probably tweak things...maybe the feedback was due to the electrical close proximity since they were sitting right next to each other).

After my last posting of mp3 experience, where some people commented that they had to turn their volume up higher to hear the output than for a typical mp3, I've upped the gain on inputs and outputs. Still, I have no sense for what is "normal".

I love the small size of that thing (about 8x12x2 inches) its weight (less than 2 lbs) and the fact that I can just firewire songs out to my laptop for storage, then re-input at will to add tracks or mix it differently. It saves unmixed tracks and mixed tracks separately, so you can still *plug in* later with things. It's so easy to use (just like a cassette player, hold play/record to record, play for playback; all tracks always play, just use volume to control which ones you hear/mix), that I just loaned it to another musician, and he laid tracks down. ZERO learning curve. Better than a cassette recorder, and better quality sound.

I'd really like to know what the current equivalent is; and why they discontinued it. I fear that there are data degradation issues that crop up later, perhaps. Anyway, I haven't come across any problems, yet. Maybe the new ones are 8 tracks? Maybe, since you have to do guitar line in directly instead of as amp output, it bothers people who want to use their "gear"?

yes, i usually loathe them too, but i have actually found this one to be quite helpful. in comparison to other books of this nature, Dummies is much more detailed, and his suggestions are pretty much on cue, as far as i've found. in any case, it's a good place to start. let me know how your purchases turn out!

btw, this thread is great. thanks for the microphone tips, all! i will probably have more questions as i continue to shop...

best,
kat :-)

I'm hoping to start piecing together a studio by the end of the year (hopefully Sept./Oct.) and not knowing much about it, I figured I'd better get started learning! I think I'll check this book out.

HR

Tascam 414mkII 4track and Teac V-450X 2track (both cassette) at my house. my friend lets me dupe the tracks into Adobe Audition 1.5 at his house. i got a couple songs on there but im not finished with them (its hard to sync all of them up one at a time, plus im not satisfied with them either)

New addition to my basement studio:


(shown in its previous home in Audio Room 4)

It's a Neotek Elite 24 channel analog mixer, which I saved from the dumpster at work. It's 100% functional, but we just upgraded our secondary mixing room to ProTools, and my boss has a passionate hatred of all things analog.

So, it's mine now.

I also took two equipment racks, five ADC patchbays, a Urei dual compressor and an Otari MTR-15 2-track. If I can get this gear together in time, the next Parka Bruthuz joint is gonna be an analog mix/master from a digital multitrack.

:warmth:

Suhweet!

Can't wait til I have the money and space for a real set up.
Though mine will never be near that sid.

Not true. Modern digital gear is awesome and cheap. The main core of my setup will still be my MOTU 24IO, which is a digital interface. No shame in that.

I never would have wished for this gear, or would have paid for it. I just couldn't stand to see it thrown into a dumpster, so I offered to take it.

Having said that, I'm excited at the possibility of doing a live mix from my multitrack files on this thing. There's something about moving actual faders in real time rather than using a mouse on a PC screen.

Also, the Neotek is legendary for its mic preamps and EQs. Steve Albini uses the same model mixer at Electrical, so there's that.

Here's the Otari 2-track, resting comfortably in my basement.



Threaded up a tape, and it works!

Back in the '90s this was the shit. Dolby HX pro built-in. 60IPS capability. World class mastering deck.

Wow. You have a lot of nice looking stuff there Sid. I have a Presonus Firebox, a Roland SH-201 (which I also use as a midi keyboard), an MPC 2500 and a pair of KRK 6's and use Cubase in my bedroom. I wish I had the shit you do.

Do you record all your stuff on tape?

after years of using my tascam four track for my music i switched to my computer and just a mic straight into it. really i just need to start working on a better set up but i don't have the room or the extra cash.

I haven't used tape in years. Can't even imagine going back to tape for basic recording anymore - too restricting and expensive. But I think mixing and mastering to tape from a digital multitrack could work out. Nice to add a bit of tape saturation in the final process to smooth out the digital edginess.

Just finished wiring the Neotek to the patchbays. All told, it took just over 12 hours. I powered it up and successfully got sound through it, so that's a relief. Still a lot of work ahead, but this was a very productive day.

Still plenty of time for drinking and Breaking Bad.

It's taken me a few months worth of weekends, but I finally finished installing my newly acquired Neotek 24-track mixer into my basement studio... (click on pictures to enlarge):



Aside from all the recording and mixing and whatnot that goes on, I just love to listen to music down here. It's my special place.

That's gorgeous Sid. I know next to nothing about the gear, but have recorded two albums to tape and absolutely love working with it. You can't overstate the difference between riding faders on an actual mixing console and setting levels on a computer screen. All in all, a nice hybrid digital/analog hybrid approach is ideal. sounds like that's where you're at now. Congrats. When can i come over?

Thats impressive. Pretty damn jealous right about now. My mates were meant to be setting up a studio, they already have loads of gear and had rented the space out but their developers application was denied by the council despite there being a studio across the road. Pretty shitty.