"Creating
a Home Studio"
Jordan
Warford here, Editorial Manager for Guitar Tips.
Thanks
for tuning in to this week's edition of our Guitar Tips newsletter.
We have yet another jam packed newsletter to share with you this
week as we take a look at home recording. Perhaps you have always
wanted to record yourself or your band. Now is the perfect time
to learn how you can do it. We'll show you the most cost effective
ways to get your music heard.
In
this edition:
In
addition to the above, we have a fantastic site for you to check
out. It is by far one of the best resources for the home recording
fanatic. There's something for everyone in this site and I highly
recommend you check out our review to see what it has to offer you!
Without
further adue, let's get started!
What
it's all about.
Getting
your grove.
Home
recording is one of the fastest expanding areas of the music industry.
Every year, companies create new programs, enhance already existing
programs, and engineer more interfaces so you can create higher
quality music from the comfort of your home. What does this equate
to? You being confused and intimidated because the chances are,
you have no idea how to use it.
Unfortunately,
the home recording industry has been regarded as extremely complex.
The truth of the matter is that while recording music is as much
an art as it is a science, anyone can do it. All it takes is a little
ingenuity and a lot of dedication.
On
the other side of the spectrum, cost has been a huge factor that
has held many great musicians back from recording from their home.
Just four years ago, the cost of home recording equipment was astronomical.
It made more economical sense to rent time from a professional studio
and hire someone who knew what they were doing instead of trying
to do it yourself. Now the times have changed and so have the prices.
Depending
on what you are looking to do, you can put together a decent recording
studio from $100 all the way up to $2000. That quite a difference
in price, which is why you need to know the basics before you walk
into your local music store or head online to ebay.
The
reasons why you would want to take the time, money, and effort to
record yourself vary from musician to musician. Recording yourself
is a great way to analyze your sound and technique so you can hear
where you went wrong in a particular piece of music.
Home
recording is also a great way to create a demo of your band and/or
produce an audition CD. My personal reasons to venture into the
world of home recording were for work and personal enjoyment. It's
extremely fulfilling to put hours into a project and see the final
result come to life.
If
you think you need a full band in order to make a song sound full,
you would also be incorrect. With the great technology out there
and MIDI (more on that later) you can be a one-man-band. It's a
fantastic way to fine tune your ear and get valuable production
experience.
In
order to get off on the right foot, there are some things you should
look at buying before hand.
The
gear.
This
article is assuming that you already have a home computer or laptop.
If you don't, we'll cover some options for you later. Your computer
can be viewed as the heart of your home recording studio. It's what
runs your software and what transmits the signals from your instruments
into your computer so you can transform them into a song. A computer
also allows you to create CDs, which is essential if you are looking
to share music with friends, family, or fans.
Now,
you may be looking at your computer and thinking, "Gee, I don't
see any ports that fit my guitar cable or tell me where to put it."
The reason why you don't see anything is because there isn't anything
there at the moment. This is where a sound card or interface comes
in.
Soundcard/Interface
- A soundcard allows you to use a connector (usually included with
the nicer soundcards) to hook up all of your mics and cables to
your computer. You may already have a sound card and only need to
buy a connector. How do you know if you have a sound card? If you
look on the back of your computer you can usually tell by three
colored holes. There is usually a line in/out and a microphone.
Your computer could have more than three holes depending on how
advanced it is. You also may see a serial gaming port. They look
like this:
Photo
courtesy of machineproject.com
...The
above image is of a nine pin serial port. They come longer than
that as well depending on the type of card. When you buy a connector
it should come with all of the proper jacks. The most important
ones to have are a 1/4 inch jack for your guitar, one XLR for your
mic, and two midi ports. This sounds complicated but simply walk
into your local music store or Radio Shack and explain that you
need a connector for your sound card and it won't be an issue. Click
here to check out some great sound cards. If you are serious about
getting some great quality music, you may want to look at upgrading
your soundcard.
However,
if you're anything like me, the soundcard is far too much work.
With the possibility of a new sound card installation, finding the
right connectors, and knowing what you already have, it can get
complicated. While soundcards are the most inexpensive, the next
option is only slightly more and makes life far easier. Using an
interface is what I like to call " plug and chug home recording."
An
interface is essentially a box that plugs into your computer via
a firewire connection or one USB slot. It contains everything you
need to plug in your mics, guitars, midi, and monitors. Here is
an example of a standard all inclusive interface:
...
As a huge bonus, many of the companies that make these interfaces
partner with software companies to make bundles. This means that
you kill two birds with one stone because you get your software
and interface at the same time. In the long run, this can actually
become more affordable then the sound card option due to the bonus
software that comes with the interface. If you were to buy the software
separately, you would end up paying roughly the same amount minus
the great interface. In the end it comes down to personal taste.
Mics
- There are two categories that mics fall into, dynamic and condenser.
Dynamic mics are great for high sound levels such as guitar amps,
wind/brass instruments, loud vocals, snare drums, and kick drums.
They are the perfect mics to start out on since they are relatively
inexpensive and are extremely versatile.
Condenser
mics are far more sensitive and are great for acoustic instruments,
cymbals, and vocals. While you can get condenser mics for live performance,
a large diaphragm condenser mic is perfect for home recording vocals.
Unfortunately, condenser microphones can cost upwards of $400 and
unless you have the money, aren't practical to start off with.
You
can get a good quality dynamic mic for roughly $100. They are worth
every penny. I strongly suggest investing in a Shure SM57. It's
probably one of the most famous dynamic mics in the world. It offers
superb sound quality and can be used for amps, wind/brass, and vocals.
It is the perfect mic to start with.
To
the left you can see a Sure SM57 in action on a guitar amp. It replicates
the sound perfectly which is nice when you are trying to get a pure
tone.
Condenser
mics are a great addition to any home studio. The reason we don't
use them for guitar amps or saxophones often is due to the fact
that they crack the signal because they are so sensitive.
You
will soon find out that you have hundred of options available to
you in the world of microphones. While I could write for weeks on
the subject, I'll leave you with one more important detail. You
can choose from directional and unidirectional mics. Directional
will only pick up noise from what it's pointed at while unidirectional
allows other sounds to enter the mic. Both have their pros and cons.
Generally, you won't have too many problems with an unidirectional
mic.
Software
- There are many types of software available that will help you
to record via computer. Some of the most popular brands include
Cubase, Sonar, Cakewalk, Sony Sound Forge, Apple Logic, and many
more. The options are limitless.
Most
of the above software ranges from $200-$400. However, you can get
other versions of the above software with an interface if you shop
around. That will save you a tonne of money.
They
all have a steep learning curve. My best advice to you is read the
manual. The manuals are designed to build you from the ground up
and are extremely useful when you get stuck.
Each
software package is similar in the sense that they all have many
of the same features that you would find in a professional studio.
You can achieve excellent results with all of the above programs.
MIDI
- MIDI is an acroymn for Musical Instrument Digital
Interface. It hooks up to your keyboard and send a signal
with vital information to your computer software. It is not an audio
signal, rather a device that sends data back and forth from your
keyboard to your computer. It tells your computer what note you
are hitting, when you hit it, how hard you are hitting it, when
you let that note go and moved to another note, and when you changed
a program.
When
all of that information enter your computer, it is processed. All
MIDI data is completely transformable. This means that you can make
those notes sound like a piano, violin, or even an orchestra! Once
you assign the sound you want for the data, it is played back and
recorded into a track. Now you can add more tracks of midi and create
your own band from your keyboard.
While
it takes practice, MIDI is an extremely useful tool for anyone who
has a passion for music. You can arrange musical masterpieces for
orchestras or find that unique sound to add to your song. If you
would like more, please click
here for the most comprehensive guide to MIDI that I have found
on the net. Enjoy!
No
computer?
If
you don't have a computer, or prefer to keep it simple, there are
still plenty of options available to you. Depending on your budget,
you can get a four track tape recorder with mixing capabilities
and great quality for as little as $100. For those who want more
options, you can get upper level consoles that make CDs. They tend
to range between $600-2000.
You
may not have as many options with the four track tape recorder but
they get the job done. They have the ability to record mics, guitars,
vocals, and much more. They are a great alternative and recent developments
in technology allows companies to deliver professional level equipment
to the average consumer.
Another
great aspect of these units is their portability. You can travel
anywhere and record wherever you want. Try taking your desktop or
a laptop with the rest of gear somewhere remote. It's not easy.
Keep
in mind that these consoles are not the kind your grandmother used.
They are made specifically for home recording and are dependable.
The only downside is that you cannot upgrade the technology without
buying all new equipment, unlike software which is easy and relatively
cheap to upgrade.
If
you would like to browse through your options, I highly suggest
you click
here. Perhaps you'll find the perfect tool to start your own
home studio!
Fitting
the part.
Once
you have the gear, you need the room for it. Ideally, everything
should be able to fit into a small office or bedroom. The quieter
the location, the easier it is for you to get better recordings.
As odd as this sounds, the deader the room acoustically, the better
you are. Some musicians think the more echo and the bigger the room
the better. This simply isn't the case for recording, only live
performance.
When
recording at home you want to add all the effects with your software
and have no outside interference. With all of that said, here are
some pictures of my recording studio located in my office. Everything
recorded for our Guitar Tips newsletter is recorded via this system.
Site
Review
TweakHeadz.com
Let's
face it, there is far more to know about recording then meets the
eye. With many technical details and setup issues, it can be a daunting
task without some help. TweakHeads.com makes learning everything
you need to know about home recording easy. In fact, they make it
enjoyable!
With
step-by-step tutorials and helpful advice around every corner, you
can easily achieve success with recording. One of the many greatest
aspects of this learning tool is the variety of readers it caters
to. Whether you are investing in a $100 studio or a $3000 studio,
there are lessons that pertain to your needs.
Regardless
of your skill level, you can find superbly crafted instruction.
If you want to know about Podcasting, producing, mixing, MIDI, soundcards,
Mac vs. PC, or anything else you can think of, you'll find it here.
The site has a fantastic layout with easy access and no popups!
Furthermore, TweakHeads.com offers their services at no cost to
you. They even offer an online forum just in case something doesn't
quite click in with one of their lessons.
How
do I know that this site works as well as I say it does? I know
because it's what I personally used to get a grip on making professional
level recordings.
If
you want to attain maximum success with your home studio and you're
serious about knowing what you are doing, this is the site for you.
To check it out, simply click
here.
Conclusion
Unfortunately,
we have come to the end of yet another edition of our Guitar Tips
newsletter. We look forward to hearing your music over the world
wide web as you embark on a musical journey that will blow your
mind.
As
a side note, a huge thank you to all of you who took the time to
tell us about your bands. Everyone who sent in an application will
receive a reply shortly, as we wanted to give everyone sufficient
time to send in their applications.
If
you missed out on the opportunity to be featured in our newsletter,
have no fear! Stay tuned in the coming months for more great opportunities.
Until
next time, keep on rocking!
WRITTEN
BY ELMORE MUSIC
If you've always wanted to learn to play the guitar but
never had the chance, give me 17 minutes a day for 90 days
and I'll show you how to play virtually any song you want!
Visit http://www.guitartips.com.au
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