Dennis Mount Joy

Hi all: I am pretty new to studio lighting. I have been using my 3 Canon speedlites and homemade snoot/barndoor for my studio photo. I am planning to start a businesss in this field. Would you guys recommend on how to select lighting equipment? I have seen flash heads with price range from 150 to 1200 and I am getting a bit lost.

All you need to know at the link below. But simple is best .. I still use incandescent lighting for everything except some glamour photography.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/category/1161/Lighting_Studio.html

Only 4 of the shots shown on my profile link here were shot with studio strobes … the rest were either natural lighting or shot with one 750 watt Lowel Tota-lite with umbrella. In the studio, I use one 1000 w/s head with a softbox.

I’ve been using garageband for a while, but after my Mac broke down and I was stuck with Fruity Loops, I’m having trouble getting used to it.
I’m also trying to learn how to use Pro Tools.

Someone help me out, please

http://www.protoolsforum.com/
http://www.audioforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=32 (fruity loops)
http://forums.creativecow.net/forum/applegarageband

I would suggest going on a forum for the specific program your using and getting some tips from them….

I’m looking to buy a microphone for a home recording studio. I want a really clear mic for under $300. I’d love help from someone who has a good one, or knows one.

it really depend on what you want to record with it it. what are you recording to?
a good vocal mic you can use is an audio technica at4040 microphone.. is it a large daiphragm, condenser mic. so, it will need phantom power to make it work. you can also use it to record acoustic guitar, or just set it up in a room to record music.

another good mic is the akg c 1000 microphone. its an outstanding microphone to put in a room and just record what is happening. again, it is a condenser mic so you need phantom power.

another good mic is the shure sm57 and sm58. they are both dynamic mics so you dont need phantom power. these are good study mic that you can use from vocals, to guitar, to drums.

all in all, its hard to record music with one mic, but you can do it. its better to have a couple mics set up so you can get better levels on what you want to record.good luck.

I’m a teen who is extremely into music. . .I want to set up a recording studio at my home. Although I realize you get what you pay for, I don’t have money trees growing around me; what are the basic things I would need. I want to record acoustic guitar and voice. I also play the trombone, it would be very nice to record some of that as well. Any advice would be awesome. Don’t have much money though.

I recommend reading "How to Build a Home recording studio"
http://www.homerecorder.com/product.php?pid=124

This will give you an idea of the basic equipment needed to record at home.

Hope this helps!

I want to expand my recording capabilities and have been told to install a MIDI driver. I wanted to know if there is a way to contain my biggest equipment in my cpu or will I have to buy all the equipment and just control it with my pc? Any thoughts?

Install the MIDI driver, but make sure you have the industry standard of having ProTools. You can do virtually/sonically anything with this. You need total access in building a recording studio because even if you are building for consumers or for yourself to record, you need to be able to know problems and solutions.

which one is better? and why? and whats a good portable studio

A portable studio was strictly designed for music and a computer is more transformed into studio, i use an m-audio fast track pro external sound card on my computer and when I plug it into my studio I get much better/musical results than on my computer, no comparison.

I need something that’s not to expensive to start my own home music studio with multiple tracks and sampling capabilties.

I am sure you are likely using a windows system and while this will work very well I think you will find the Windows software price very steep. You might want to consider a dual boot Linux system (windows and Linux). You could use windows for most applications and then run Linux when you want to use the studio. You might try Ardour and I have attach the website with an extremely good article on how to set up a studio and get it running under Linux

I am an aspiring singer and I want to make a recording booth in my room. What do I need to buy if I already have a computer w/ a good size memory and speakers?

Once you figure out what software and recording device you would like to use, here’s a easy affordable vocal booth set-up.

Best setup would be in a walk-in closet. No need to empty it, the clothes will act a perfect reverb deadener. 90% of vocals need to be clean and sharp. Reverb and effects can be added later. Take out cardboard boxes and other non-cloth items though. You will need a mic stand with a boom like this one: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/OnStage-Stands-Tripod-Mic-Stand-with-Boom?sku=452061
Then for best sound use a phantom-powered studio condensor mic like this one: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/AKG-Perception-200-LargeDiaphragm-Condenser-Microphone?sku=271243 with a pop sheild in between you and the mic.

When singing, have your face level with the mic, about 5-8 inches away. If you have a stronger, louder than normal voice, raise the mic half a foot, pointing slightly down, remain singing straight forward. Don;t have your headphones louder than you need them. Pressing them against your head will keep the volume low enough to prevent bleedthrough.

When recorded and ready add effects, a fairly good amount of compression will help bring out the M’s L’s and N’s while keeping P’s and B’s down.
*Heavy reverb does not always sound good! For pop music, either no reverb or fast and short slapback delay. For Jazz, slight roomy sound, but short. Acoustic or piano, longer reverb can be fitting.

I wanna build a studio room in my basement and I was wondering if anybody knew of a site to help do the design and construction of the studio….Thanks

P.S. Imma young rapper tryna make it big…so get at me for serious business…

I recommend reading "How to Build a Home recording studio"
http://www.homerecorder.com/product.php?pid=124

Hope this helps!

I’m building a recording studio in the garage in my back garden. It’s not that big but it’s going to have a live room and a small control room and is big enough to fit a drum kit in. Should be pretty cool when it’s done.

I was just wondering if you had any advice on how I’d go about soundproofing the thing? Since I’m going to have drums in there and live in a residential area I need to make it as quiet as possible!

I’ve never soundproofed anything before so any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers.

Caulk all cracks, insulate walls and ceiling, cover ceiling walls and floor with soft material like carpet, mount egg carton trays randomly on walls and ceiling (use 2" styrofoam blocks to space away from wall/ceiling).