pcMusicStuff.com
Music Recording Software and Mixing Hardware
Copyright © 2005 - 2008 pcMusicStuff.com
Home Recording Studio Guide
Introduction
If you're serious about your music, you might want to invest some extra money into more advanced recording software and some type of mixing hardware.
As you probably know, many musicians have demo cds produced so they can get their music heard by record labels or others in the music industry. The quality of these demo cds is often poor unless they have been produced in a commercial recording studio. Unfortunately, this can be quite expensive. Many bands and artists have already realized the convenience and cost effectiveness of having a home computer recording studio.
This allows them great flexibility in both time scheduling and in the finished sound of their recordings. The saved audio files can be added to or edited at a later date, meaning the members of a band can actually record at separate times and the results can be edited to taste at an even later point in time.
While I won't recommend specific manufacturer's products, I will present a few options as to the kinds of equipment you might want to use, and how you can connect it.
If you're serious about your music, you might want to invest some extra money into more advanced recording software and some type of mixing hardware.
As you probably know, many musicians have demo cds produced so they can get their music heard by record labels or others in the music industry. The quality of these demo cds is often poor unless they have been produced in a commercial recording studio. Unfortunately, this can be quite expensive. Many bands and artists have already realized the convenience and cost effectiveness of having a home computer recording studio.
This allows them great flexibility in both time scheduling and in the finished sound of their recordings. The saved audio files can be added to or edited at a later date, meaning the members of a band can actually record at separate times and the results can be edited to taste at an even later point in time.
While I won't recommend specific manufacturer's products, I will present a few options as to the kinds of equipment you might want to use, and how you can connect it.
First Things First
The heart of the recording studio is the DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), composed of the computer and the accompanying software. Don't skimp on either of these items.
The computer you choose should be a powerful PC, with Windows XP or Vista. Macs are excellent machines, but since we don't sell Mac software, I won't attempt to comment on them. Here are some good computer specs for a dedicated DAW:
+ CPU: Intel Core 2 Intel Core 2 Duo E6550 2.33GHz or AMD Athlon 64X2 4000 Dual Core Processor
+ RAM: 2GB DDR-2 RAM (4GB Vista) 800MHz Dual Channel - Matched Pair
+ Video: GeForce 8600 GT PCI-E 256MB Video Card with Dual DVI-I Connectors
+ Operating System Drive: 250GB 7200RPM Ultra 300 SATA II with 16 MB buffer
+ Audio Drive: 500GB 7200RPM Ultra 300 SATA II with 16 MB buffer
+ Optical Drive: Dual Layer DVD±RW/CD-RW Combo Optical Drive w/LightScribe
+ USB Ports: 6 USB 2.0 (4 Rear/2 Front)
+ 1394 IEEE (FireWire): At least One FireWire Port
+ Card Reader: 5 in 1 Media Card Reader
+ Expansion Slots: One PCI Express x16 bus add-in card connector, three PCI Conventional bus connectors
+ LAN: 10/100/1000 Mbits/sec Ethernet Controller
+ Legacy I/O: 2-PS/2 Ports
+ Audio: 8-channel (7.1) Onboard Audio System
+ Power Supply: 450 Watt Silent Power Supply
+ CPU Cooling: Heat Tube/Heat Sinks w/Quiet Fan
+ Input: Multimedia Keyboard, Optical Mouse
+ Microsoft Windows XP (Home or Professional) or Windows Vista (Home Premium or Ultimate)
+ CD/DVD Creation Software
+ Backup/Hard Drive Image Software
+ 20" Widescreen DVI LCD Monitor
The heart of the recording studio is the DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), composed of the computer and the accompanying software. Don't skimp on either of these items.
The computer you choose should be a powerful PC, with Windows XP or Vista. Macs are excellent machines, but since we don't sell Mac software, I won't attempt to comment on them. Here are some good computer specs for a dedicated DAW:
+ CPU: Intel Core 2 Intel Core 2 Duo E6550 2.33GHz or AMD Athlon 64X2 4000 Dual Core Processor
+ RAM: 2GB DDR-2 RAM (4GB Vista) 800MHz Dual Channel - Matched Pair
+ Video: GeForce 8600 GT PCI-E 256MB Video Card with Dual DVI-I Connectors
+ Operating System Drive: 250GB 7200RPM Ultra 300 SATA II with 16 MB buffer
+ Audio Drive: 500GB 7200RPM Ultra 300 SATA II with 16 MB buffer
+ Optical Drive: Dual Layer DVD±RW/CD-RW Combo Optical Drive w/LightScribe
+ USB Ports: 6 USB 2.0 (4 Rear/2 Front)
+ 1394 IEEE (FireWire): At least One FireWire Port
+ Card Reader: 5 in 1 Media Card Reader
+ Expansion Slots: One PCI Express x16 bus add-in card connector, three PCI Conventional bus connectors
+ LAN: 10/100/1000 Mbits/sec Ethernet Controller
+ Legacy I/O: 2-PS/2 Ports
+ Audio: 8-channel (7.1) Onboard Audio System
+ Power Supply: 450 Watt Silent Power Supply
+ CPU Cooling: Heat Tube/Heat Sinks w/Quiet Fan
+ Input: Multimedia Keyboard, Optical Mouse
+ Microsoft Windows XP (Home or Professional) or Windows Vista (Home Premium or Ultimate)
+ CD/DVD Creation Software
+ Backup/Hard Drive Image Software
+ 20" Widescreen DVI LCD Monitor
Sound Hardware
Computer sound cards are not high quality audio devices and since they sit acoustically unprotected inside the computer case, they are susceptible to extraneous noise. That's the reason we don't want to run analog signals through the sound card. We want to use a good quality USB recording/mixing device. These devices come with software drivers that must be installed on the computer's hard drive in order for it to function. Many of them even come with their own recording software (a.k.a. audio sequencing software), usually a lite version of a more expensive application.
The interface should also accept 1/4" instrument phono plugs (such as for a guitar or analog keyboard) and have XLR inputs for microphones. It should also have switchable 48V phantom power so you can use high quality condenser microphones, particularly for voices. Drums can be tricky to mic properly, but you can always use drum beat software to provide this aspect of your recording instead of live drums. Drum beats are also available on many MIDI keyboards.
If you plan on using a MIDI keyboard/synthesizer that uses the standard round MIDI plug, you will need both hardware and software that are designed for it. You will need to look for audio recording software that can record MIDI signals and a mixer/interface that has a MIDI input. Most new MIDI keyboards have a USB connector instead of the old MIDI plug, so you can plug it directly into your computer. You still need the software though. Even if you don't own or want a MIDI keyboard you can purchase a MIDI converter for your guitar that will then convert the analog signals into MIDI notes. This will allow you to record your guitar licks and change the sound to any one of thousands of instruments (even drums).
The USB audio interface you choose should meet your needs as far as features, inputs and outputs. The hardware doesn't need to have effects since those can be added through the software, but if you're a guitarist and want to use your effects pedals, that's ok, too. You can tweak those effects later in the software.
A good quality condenser microphone is important for vocals. For acoustic instuments, you could use any high quality unidirectional mic. You could even run combinations of stuff through a mixing board before getting to the audio interface if you found some need to do so. You'll definitely want to experiment a lot.
One more thing that is vitally important: You'll need a high quality set of nearfield studio monitors (speakers). The only way to know what your recording really sounds like is to hear it through nearfield monitors. Unlike stereo system speakers that tend to make just about everything sound good, studio monitors offer very flat response so you can clearly hear the sound in its purest form and adjust your mix accordingly.
Studio monitors come in both powered (active) and unpowered (inactive) models. The powered models typically have plenty of RMS wattage to provide clean, unaltered sound even at higher decibel levels. You won't want to crank them up too loud though, as the monitors are typically set within just a couple of feet of the listener's ears (thus the name nearfield monitors). Obviously, the upowered models will need to be run through a low distortion power amplifier suitable for studio use.
Computer sound cards are not high quality audio devices and since they sit acoustically unprotected inside the computer case, they are susceptible to extraneous noise. That's the reason we don't want to run analog signals through the sound card. We want to use a good quality USB recording/mixing device. These devices come with software drivers that must be installed on the computer's hard drive in order for it to function. Many of them even come with their own recording software (a.k.a. audio sequencing software), usually a lite version of a more expensive application.
The interface should also accept 1/4" instrument phono plugs (such as for a guitar or analog keyboard) and have XLR inputs for microphones. It should also have switchable 48V phantom power so you can use high quality condenser microphones, particularly for voices. Drums can be tricky to mic properly, but you can always use drum beat software to provide this aspect of your recording instead of live drums. Drum beats are also available on many MIDI keyboards.
If you plan on using a MIDI keyboard/synthesizer that uses the standard round MIDI plug, you will need both hardware and software that are designed for it. You will need to look for audio recording software that can record MIDI signals and a mixer/interface that has a MIDI input. Most new MIDI keyboards have a USB connector instead of the old MIDI plug, so you can plug it directly into your computer. You still need the software though. Even if you don't own or want a MIDI keyboard you can purchase a MIDI converter for your guitar that will then convert the analog signals into MIDI notes. This will allow you to record your guitar licks and change the sound to any one of thousands of instruments (even drums).
The USB audio interface you choose should meet your needs as far as features, inputs and outputs. The hardware doesn't need to have effects since those can be added through the software, but if you're a guitarist and want to use your effects pedals, that's ok, too. You can tweak those effects later in the software.
A good quality condenser microphone is important for vocals. For acoustic instuments, you could use any high quality unidirectional mic. You could even run combinations of stuff through a mixing board before getting to the audio interface if you found some need to do so. You'll definitely want to experiment a lot.
One more thing that is vitally important: You'll need a high quality set of nearfield studio monitors (speakers). The only way to know what your recording really sounds like is to hear it through nearfield monitors. Unlike stereo system speakers that tend to make just about everything sound good, studio monitors offer very flat response so you can clearly hear the sound in its purest form and adjust your mix accordingly.
Studio monitors come in both powered (active) and unpowered (inactive) models. The powered models typically have plenty of RMS wattage to provide clean, unaltered sound even at higher decibel levels. You won't want to crank them up too loud though, as the monitors are typically set within just a couple of feet of the listener's ears (thus the name nearfield monitors). Obviously, the upowered models will need to be run through a low distortion power amplifier suitable for studio use.
The audio software you choose should be fairly easy to use, handle an unlimited number of tracks (depending on your computer's capabilities), have a compressor and some quality effects included and allow for the installation of third party VST effects plug-ins.
It should also have a good manual, either paper or digital, online help and possibly a forum where users kick around ideas and problems.
The software need not cost an arm and a leg. I would recommend starting with a quality audio program like Mixcraft 3 or n-Track Studio. If you want to record MIDI as well as audio, n-Track Studio will do both. MIDI can be converted to audio format after recording.
It should also have a good manual, either paper or digital, online help and possibly a forum where users kick around ideas and problems.
The software need not cost an arm and a leg. I would recommend starting with a quality audio program like Mixcraft 3 or n-Track Studio. If you want to record MIDI as well as audio, n-Track Studio will do both. MIDI can be converted to audio format after recording.