Setting up a home recording studio
Moderator: Capt. Black
-
- Stagg
- Posts: 52
- meble-kuchenne.warszawa.pl
- Joined: Thu Jun 28, 2012 11:45 am
Setting up a home recording studio
Hello
I am at that stage now where I want to set up a makeshift home recording studio using my laptop to put together some demos etc.
I am not too familiar with all the equipment you need and how it all works. I have had a look at USB mics, but I think I would preferably like to get a microphone to use through a mixer.
Does anyone have any suggestions on a microphone and mixer I could look at around a budget of $500?
Advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks
I am at that stage now where I want to set up a makeshift home recording studio using my laptop to put together some demos etc.
I am not too familiar with all the equipment you need and how it all works. I have had a look at USB mics, but I think I would preferably like to get a microphone to use through a mixer.
Does anyone have any suggestions on a microphone and mixer I could look at around a budget of $500?
Advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks
Re: Setting up a home recording studio
Good quality sound card that doesn't have latency.
Edit: sorry, Im guessing you already have that
Edit: sorry, Im guessing you already have that
Last edited by Edwards on Thu Jan 17, 2013 7:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
ESP Edwards Jimmy Page Les Paul / ESP Eclipse > Rivera Quiana 212
We are the Christians that the devil warned you about
We are the Christians that the devil warned you about
Re: Setting up a home recording studio
You want a usb mic preamp, not necessarily a whole mixer, presonus audiobox, is in your price range, although I didn't like it much, lots of others do though,there is also the art project mix usb preamps, they work alright, and one or two M-audio products too, although I'm not that familiar with their stuff, and an audio tecnica at2020 will record most sources just fine, but you'll need phantom power in the preamp to run the mic, so check that out before buying...and most preamps come with at least a basic form of recording software, and good instructions on how to get it working!
- alanp
- Vintage Post Junkie
- Posts: 4637
- Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2008 10:51 am
- Location: Wanganui
- Has liked: 4 times
- Been liked: 11 times
- Contact:
Re: Setting up a home recording studio
How good are mixers with USB out compared to usb mic preamps?
Capt. Black wrote:Call me if you're looking for the sound of a sows ear made from a silk purse with a side of hot bitches and alcohol
- bender
- Darth Fader
- Posts: 11878
- Joined: Fri Feb 02, 2007 12:46 pm
- Location: Dorkland
- Has liked: 418 times
- Been liked: 1022 times
Re: Setting up a home recording studio
I'd aim for a USB audio interface/mic preamp. A 2-channel one will give you reasonable flexibility. I don't particularly like them but the AT2020 mics from Jansen are good value for money. Otherwise it's hard to go past a Shure SM57 or Audix i5 as a first mic. You could also do a lot worse than a 12-guage mics Red12 or Green12- they're dirt cheap at $35US and really decent sounding for recording acoustic guitar in particular. Slash-Ed might be bringing some in.
- dayl
- Vintage Post Junkie
- Posts: 5318
- Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2008 6:40 pm
- Has liked: 460 times
- Been liked: 415 times
Re: Setting up a home recording studio
Welcome to the world of home PC recording. Prepare to be confused and frustrated haha.
As Ben has pointed out, yup go with the audio interface with mic pres and a line in. You don't need a mixer as there with usually be bundled software to take it's place.
Mic wise.... yeah.. keep it tried,true and simple and snag yourself an SM57
You can start off with that and one of these (this is just for example) just to get you started and see if it's for you.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/music-instrume ... 892852.htm
From there , you can always upgrade later. $500 will get you recording easily. If you want new, you may be able to snag a nice lil Focusrite Scarlett2i2 and an SM57 for around the $500 mark, check out the Scarlett Studio pack from focusrite too... may be in the ball part and you'll be away.
Good Luck
As Ben has pointed out, yup go with the audio interface with mic pres and a line in. You don't need a mixer as there with usually be bundled software to take it's place.
Mic wise.... yeah.. keep it tried,true and simple and snag yourself an SM57
You can start off with that and one of these (this is just for example) just to get you started and see if it's for you.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/music-instrume ... 892852.htm
From there , you can always upgrade later. $500 will get you recording easily. If you want new, you may be able to snag a nice lil Focusrite Scarlett2i2 and an SM57 for around the $500 mark, check out the Scarlett Studio pack from focusrite too... may be in the ball part and you'll be away.
Good Luck
- NZRS-Dave
- Vintage Post Junkie
- Posts: 2592
- Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2008 12:32 pm
- Has liked: 4 times
- Been liked: 52 times
Re: Setting up a home recording studio
Kinda depends on what you want to do. At the price range the OP is talking about, I'd suggest that there isn't much between a mixer preamp and an audio interface preamp. What you would want to watch for is what quality it records in. Some of the cheap mixers are 16bit 44khz only ... which is okay ... but some of the audio interfaces will be 24bit 96khz.alanp wrote:How good are mixers with USB out compared to usb mic preamps?
USB outs on mixers are generally just to record a the MAIN OUTs of the mixer.
Yup - that's me and my pal Steve or little stevie vai as I like to call him. In Auckland airport when I was 26. I'm not 26 anymore.
- NZRS-Dave
- Vintage Post Junkie
- Posts: 2592
- Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2008 12:32 pm
- Has liked: 4 times
- Been liked: 52 times
Re: Setting up a home recording studio
OP - I think an Audix i5 and a Focusrite 8i6 would be a good place to start.
http://www.rockshop.co.nz/shop/recordin ... eamps.html
http://www.rockshop.co.nz/shop/livesoun ... n-usa.html
I could make that really close to $500 for you.
There is a Focusrite Saffire 6 at $279 that would slide nicely under the budget ... but for the extra that takes you up to the Scarlett range which is red, and therefore better - but you also get more ins and outs which can be helpful down the track.
If you wanted to go for the wonderful world of Line6 and their modelling software ... you could look at the Pod Studio UX1 ($199), or the UX2 ($349).
http://www.rockshop.co.nz/shop/catalogs ... +studio+ux
http://www.rockshop.co.nz/shop/recordin ... eamps.html
http://www.rockshop.co.nz/shop/livesoun ... n-usa.html
I could make that really close to $500 for you.
There is a Focusrite Saffire 6 at $279 that would slide nicely under the budget ... but for the extra that takes you up to the Scarlett range which is red, and therefore better - but you also get more ins and outs which can be helpful down the track.
If you wanted to go for the wonderful world of Line6 and their modelling software ... you could look at the Pod Studio UX1 ($199), or the UX2 ($349).
http://www.rockshop.co.nz/shop/catalogs ... +studio+ux
Yup - that's me and my pal Steve or little stevie vai as I like to call him. In Auckland airport when I was 26. I'm not 26 anymore.
-
- Vintage Post Junkie
- Posts: 1157
- Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2008 6:24 pm
- Has liked: 2 times
- Been liked: 12 times
Re: Setting up a home recording studio
The little Allen & Heath zed mixers have USB in and out really good preamps and build quality
Nutted pots individual cct boards and an internal power supply
They also have two of their inputs configurable to plug a guitar directly in and come with some software in the package
Would the forum be interested in a deal on a mixer and an AT2020 for home recording seeing as this comes up a lot
If enough are interested I will put something together and run it through the captain
Nutted pots individual cct boards and an internal power supply
They also have two of their inputs configurable to plug a guitar directly in and come with some software in the package
Would the forum be interested in a deal on a mixer and an AT2020 for home recording seeing as this comes up a lot
If enough are interested I will put something together and run it through the captain
- Eruera
- Vintage Post Junkie
- Posts: 2130
- Joined: Sun Nov 11, 2012 9:58 am
- Location: Balmy Palmy
- Has liked: 3 times
- Been liked: 35 times
Setting up a home recording studio
+1 on the A&H Zed
They're only 48khz (well my z22 is anyway) but that's plenty good for starting out and those preamps are killer for the $$$
They're only 48khz (well my z22 is anyway) but that's plenty good for starting out and those preamps are killer for the $$$
Re: Setting up a home recording studio
It's also unlikely that a beginner set-up is going to be able to run anything more than 16 bit 44.1khz, or that a beginner home recording person will hear/appreciate the difference, so nothing wrong there!
- Danger Mouse
- Vintage Post Junkie
- Posts: 11589
- Joined: Mon Oct 16, 2006 3:32 pm
- Location: Jafa Land
- Has liked: 354 times
- Been liked: 666 times
Re: Setting up a home recording studio
When I got my stuff I read a few positive and negative reviews about the interface I ended up with, but with the level and quality of the home recording I do, all that really mattered was that it worked.aliasceiza wrote:It's also unlikely that a beginner set-up is going to be able to run anything more than 16 bit 44.1khz, or that a beginner home recording person will hear/appreciate the difference, so nothing wrong there!
The older I get, the more disappointed in myself I become.
Re: Setting up a home recording studio
That's what i said!
Those little A and H mixers are good, and only going to 48khz doesn't matter.
Likewise with the art project mix dual preamps, heard one for the first time a couple of weeks ago, and there's nothing wrong with them at all!
Those little A and H mixers are good, and only going to 48khz doesn't matter.
Likewise with the art project mix dual preamps, heard one for the first time a couple of weeks ago, and there's nothing wrong with them at all!
Re: Setting up a home recording studio
Actually, the art project mix preamp also has a lot of routing options, like direct monitoring etc, so also a bonus, but the hands on coolness of a little mixer like the Z would probably be a good way to start!