Looking to get into recording

[usmarine911]

I need some help. I'm looking to start recording some stuff but I'm not sure what to use. I am currently building a small area in my room to put all of my multimedia stuff in. My room is not very big. It's about 12' x 10' with two french doors and a high long window. I have a computer, a electronic keyboard, a 50W Marshall amp, 2 electric guitatrs and one acoustic. Does anyone have recomendations on soundproofing, recording equipment, ect. I am also on a budget so nothing insane and I'm also beginning so it has to be user friendly. Thanks guys.

[fuzzyhair]

I need some help. I'm looking to start recording some stuff but I'm not sure what to use. I am currently building a small area in my room to put all of my multimedia stuff in. My room is not very big. It's about 12' x 10' with two french doors and a high long window. I have a computer, a electronic keyboard, a 50W Marshall amp, 2 electric guitatrs and one acoustic. Does anyone have recomendations on soundproofing, recording equipment, ect. I am also on a budget so nothing insane and I'm also beginning so it has to be user friendly. Thanks guys.
Okay for recording software: Kristal (http://www.kreatives.org/kristal/)
For a Mixer ( You will want one and these look great.): Alesis Mixer/ (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/630166/)
At least one dynamic mic. I use an Audio Technica mic. It cost about $20 and sounds fine. But if you want the best get a shure SM-57. (They cost about $100ish)
You will need a descent computer that can handle multitracking.
Monitors: Behringer Truth monitors. They pretty much give you a flat sound so that you can hear what the music sounds like without any added eq that your speakers add. THESE ARE VERY VERY IMPORTANT!

Okay thats about it. Any more questions?

[usmarine911]

That stuff looks great. Any ideas on soundproofing. I dont think I have any slapback echo but I do have two closet doors that are hollow and may give me some problems.

[KKKKKocaine]

They pretty much give you a flat sound so that you can hear what the music sounds like without any added eq that your speakers add. THESE ARE VERY VERY IMPORTANT!


It's also equally as important to have a few domestic speakers to test it on as very few people sit at home and listen to their music with a pair of well set up nearfield monitors.

The mix needs to be tested on domestic headphones, a car audio system a basic hi-fi and some form of surround system as more and more people are getting surround sound as it's dropping in price. You need to ensure the mix still sounds good on a 5.1 or 7.1 set-up.

Also in regards to the Behringer Truth monitors they come in two types,
passive and active.

Passive require an external powersource such as a poweramp.
Active do not require this.

[KKKKKocaine]

That stuff looks great. Any ideas on soundproofing. I dont think I have any slapback echo but I do have two closet doors that are hollow and may give me some problems.

That'd be acoustic treatment, not soundproofing :)
Personally, I wouldn't bother unless the room sounds awful. If you're using basic gear with $20 mics then acoustics won't play too much part in your final product for the moment. You'll need to upgrade your mics to much more expensive models before room acoustics are stopping you from getting the sound you want.

[usmarine911]

Thanks a lot guys. I really appreciate it.

[KKKKKocaine]

Thanks a lot guys. I really appreciate it.

It's alright.
Just one more suggestion, if you're on a fairly low budget. I'd take out the Behringer Truth Monitors and just use some domestic pc speakers in good condition as it'll allow you to divert more money towards a good mic.
At this level of recording using domestic speakers won't compromise your sound as much as using a cheaper mic through studio speakers.

Also are you intending to record multiple instruments at once? or drums?
If so then you may need to bump up your budget to allow for better software and another interface.

You'll need the better software because Krystal is a basic and free audio editor. It's not really designed for much more than very basic work.
Say you mic up an acoustic guitar and vocals and record them both at the same time. Krystal and other basic free audio editors (such as Audacity) can only record this as 1 track together. So if when mixing you think 'Maybe the vocals need to be higher' you cannot raise them in volume without raising the acoustic guitar as well.
A firewire or usb interface* will also be essential for splitting tracks when recording live. Chances are you have a regular domestic pc soundcard which won't have enough inputs to record more than 1 or two seperate signals.
You can get around this by either buying a more expensive soundcard with more inputs or buying a firewire or usb interface.

*This works like either a simple or regular mixer. You plug your mics in and it connects up to your pc through firewire and usb.

[usmarine911]

You have no idea how much this is helping me. I am just getting into this. A buddy of mine and I usually play just acoustic and its usually just the two of us. But we're getting more into I'm thinking of just putting a few guys together and putting out some good stuff.

[KKKKKocaine]

You have no idea how much this is helping me. I am just getting into this. A buddy of mine and I usually play just acoustic and its usually just the two of us. But we're getting more into I'm thinking of just putting a few guys together and putting out some good stuff.

I've gotta get off to bed now but feel free to ask anything and I'll get on it.
In the meantime, http://www.band-101.net/diy.html (my site) currently has a couple of articles up on DIY recording that talk through the differences between set ups and such,with another articles all about mics, how they work and their common applications.

[fuzzyhair]

oh btw that mixer I recommended you connects through usb, but I am pretty sure it still shoots it out as one track. I still think its a great idea though because you will get much higher quality then using a crappy soundcard. A lot of home musicians use kristal. So if you are just recording 2 guitars and vocals you should be able to get by. Remember you are only as good as your weakest link. So if you have a $200 mic and a $5 chord, it still will proboably sound like **** because that chord is ****. So try to buy the best stuff you can, without going poor, and eventually you will keep building up to better things.

[usmarine911]

Good idea. Thanks man

[fuzzyhair]

Good idea. Thanks man
no problem good luck! Any other questions?

[usmarine911]

Not yet hahaha.