Dennis Mount Joy

I have a mac so maybe that would help a bit, i just need it to sound like it was recorded professionally without spending a whole lot of money. Thanks!

Hi Ashley –

I know this can be an overwhelming hobby to get started in. But you can put together a great sounding studio for a lot less than you think. All you need is a few tips on what equipment you need and how it all comes together.

Check out this site for a step-by-step guide to building your home recording studio!

I have a laptop with GarageBand on it. I just want to know…preferably in great detail…what things I need and how to set them up. I want to record maybe a guitar, keyboard, voice, bass…maybe like 5 things? I know I need a mixer? and some things but I know nothing about recording equipment and I’d really like to learn. Right now I just use the mike built into my laptop and I’d like to change this.

Actually you probably do not need a mixer to record unless you intend to record all the instruments and voice all at the same time. Even then, you may not need the mixer.

Here is what you do need. You need an audio/digital USB interface that has a built in music quality sound card because the sound card in your lap top is not good for recording and playing back music. That interface needs to communicate with a digital audio workstation (DAW) software program running in your computer (Garage Band is a DAW – primitive but, it still records). Here is what I would recommend for both of these items. http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/FastTrackUltra.html (for the interface) This computer interface has 8-tracks that would allow to record 8 separate instruments or microphones or combination there of all at the same time (each one on a separate track). You will then use the mixing capability of your DAW to balance the sound of all the tracks after you have recorded them. For a DAW, I recommend Pro Tools M-powered 8 to go with this interface. The interface will work with other DAW software products but, Pro Tools is simply the best! http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/ProToolsMPowered8.html

You will also need a condenser microphones for voice and dynamic mics to record acoustic instruments or to mic an amplifier. You also need mic cables and mic stands. You should also have a studio monitor to listen to your recorded music http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/M-Audio-MAudio-Studio-Pro-3-Monitors-MXL-990991-Microphone-Package-?sku=476487 – and at least one set of studio quality headphones for recording http://www.guitarcenter.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-T44-Dynamic-Stereo-Headphones-244514-i1126224.gc (I use these headphones they sound awesome and they are extremely comfortable) and if you intend to record 8 tracks at once, you will need probably 9 sets of studio quality headphones so that each musician can hear what they are recording.

So, that is the basics of what you need and with this equipment you will be capable of producing broadcast quality recordings that you could actually have played on the radio or sold at Amazon.com or iTunes or CD Baby or Tunecore. I’m not sure you will get the same quality out of Garage Band as you will out of Pro Tools.

I’m a hip hop artist. Now I have paid for studio time but moneys tight and I wanted to really get serious so I’m making a recording studio at home. now so far all I have is a pc and headphones. What I’m asking is what will I need to get started, what programs should I use for editing and beats,what do I have to buy and its an apartment so what’s the cheapest way to keep sound out as well as in. Also I have a small budget which is about 300 max give or take a few dollars. Oh yeah and I’m not the best with tech stuff so please keep it all in dummy form for me lol

you can purchase a USB mic and download a copy of audacity and start recording vocals right away. i personally would recommend a two-input audio interface for recording better quality. the interface usually contains software for recording and editing. some of that software has virtual instruments and loops for beat making. a two input interface gives you the option of hooking up a turntable, or beat machine at some point if the situation needs. you can get smaller interfaces. the possitives is that it usually comes with a good sound card. with that you can get a studio quality mic with XLR connectivity. I’m not sure about the quality of USB mics, I haven’t used them too much.

for beats there is a program called FL Studio. i believe there is a free demo that can get you started. you can then purchase and get lifetime updates and a full version. i don’t know about the price, but i’ve heard that a lot of people use this. there are a number of different software available for recording and beat making. there are samplers and drum machines that are exact replicas of old 808’s and such. of course with the quality comes the higher price tag.

the good thing about hip-hop is that you can usually get a decent set-up for fairly cheap. i think Best Buy had a small interface for around $50-100, that would leave you close to $200 for a decent mic.

the mic is the most important thing you need to pick up. i suggest not spending any less than $100. you may be able to find something cheaper with a good sound, thats all up to you. I like the Rode NT1a for hip-hop vocals. it sells for about $240 so it would kill your budget, but its something to think about down the road.

check out the following sites for gear and prices:
sweetwater.com
musiciansfriend.com
guitarcenter.com

search for DAW’s or computer recording for interfaces. you can probably find a good article on wikipedia about more specifics when it comes to home recording.

one of the biggest things to remember is a ‘pop filter’. its the thing that sits in front of the mic to prevent you from spitting on the mic and to get rid of pop’s in your vocals. even if you use a coat hanger and panty hose, make sure you have some sort of pop-filter or your recordings will sound like shit. when recording vocals, use a closet, or another small isolated space to keep out excess room noise.

good luck, feel free to contact me with any other questions

Can a recording studio take a song and turn it into a track for me? Like cutting out the lead vocals but leaving the music and the backgroud vocals?

No. Once tracks are combined into a stereo format, the best one can do is select right or left channels.

To cut out vocals, one would need the original multi-track recording that was used to create the final mix.

The next best option is to use filtering and attenuate the audio around the vocal frequencies (which also attenuates any instrument notes/frequencies around that same frequency). In that case the vocals will still be audible, but at a lower volume than the rest of the music. You can approximate a similar effect using an equalizer.

I.E. Recording equipment. Or synthesizers?

simple answer buy better quality recording equipment.
it is hard to diagnose your problem from the limited amount of information you have given. the most probably suspect is internal noise, the cheaper the equipment the more internal noise it has,

one solution would to be to increase the input levels of the instruments you are trying to record. this (up to a point) will mask the internal noise of your recording equipment.
however too much input may result in over saturation or distortion. creating even more problems. of course if you are using an old tube type of amplifier some distortion may be a good thing.
OR you could try just the opposite and lower the input of the instrument and let the internal amplifier of your recording equipment handle the load. its going to be a lot of trial and error i’m afraid, since there are so many variables involved, but you have to find the weakest link and work around (or upgrade) that.

try varying the gain on your inputs and outputs, it can be a hit or miss kind of thing and it really depends on what type of equipment you have, what power levels you are working with and the various instruments you have. that’s why sound engineers get paid big bucks to make things sound perfect. very hard to do in a home studio.
another thing you need to be concerned with is your wiring and connections, make sure to use good quality wire, keep the wires separated as much as possible (to eliminate crosstalk between wires) and use good quality connectors, if you have the old type bare wire into the spring loaded or screw down clamp, twist the end of the wire tightly and apply some solder to it. this will prevent fraying and to some degree oxidation of the copper wire, giving a much better connection.
hope this improves your quality

Please be specific =)

You need a computer with adequate CPU speed and memory (that depends on the requirements of your DAW software.

You need a dedicated hard drive with at least 1 TB storage capacity. (Ideally you also need a backup drive with the same capacity.)

You need DAW (digital audio workstation) software.

You need a music quality sound card and an audio/digital interface to your computer.

You need a good set of studio quality headphones (frequency response = 20 Hz to 20 kHz) – Ideally you will need one set of headphones for every performer. If you are the only one doing the recording, you only need one set.

You should have at least two microphones. One condenser mic and one dynamic mic and microphone cables and mic stands.

You should also have a keyboard workstation/synthesizer.

You need a studio monitor to listen to your recording.

There are other things you might want but, you can get by without them. A mixer is a nice to have item. A subwoofer is a huge plus. You might want other instruments like an acoustic guitar, electric guitar and an electric bass. A good PA amplifier is a huge plus. Guitar effects and voice effects pedals. A good sampler/sequencer like the Roland SP-555. Software plug-ins for your DAW that provide additional effects not included with the DAW. Band-in-a-box, RP2000 Musicord software, Master Writer software, CD ROM burner, Digital Video Editing software, and a supply of blank CDs, USB drives, every possible plug and cable adapter combination, and an online library of web links, video links, user manuals, and various beats and sounds.

Starting out the cheapest and easiest way to get started and acquire all the essentials for one low price, you should consider getting the Pro Tools LE Factory Bundle recording studio package. http://www.guitarcenter.com/Digidesign-Pro-Tools-Mbox-2-Factory-Package-773407-i1177447.gc

You don’t need everything at one time. I have tried to give you a complete list of everything you might ultimately like to have. It’s taken me more than a year to build my studio but, I started out with the package I recommended above and was writing and recording my own broadcast quality music within a couple of weeks.

http://PhantomCityStudio.com Call (407)-876-9130 Recording Studios in Orlando, Florida. Record your music at Phantom City Studio recording studios in Orlando, Florida. Comfortable Control Rooms, Recording Studio, Live Rooms, Isolation booths, and Entertainment Lounge. Phantom City Studio Recording Studios in Orlando, Fl. Near Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World, Orlando International Airport, and International Drive. We will guide you through the recording process. Productions, Recording, Mixing, Mastering, Editing, Commercial, Radio, Demos, Instruments, Karaoke, Audio Books, Voice Over, Audio, Music, Songs, Albums… Pro tools HD, Reel to Reel, Analog, Digital, Vintage, Reason, Auto Tune, Melodyne, Apogee, Rosetta 800, Sound Forge, Neumann, SSL, Focusrite, McDsp, Neve, Bomb Factory, Pro Tools 8, Universal Audio, Avalon, how to get signed record label deal how to pro tools logic sonar nuendo cubase fl in the recording studio pro tools recording sessions… Mixing Editing Mastering Producing Songs Pro Tools instruction video http://PhantomCityStudio.com

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The Anne Frank Centers Multicultural Recording Project is a
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The bag is the Crumpler Muffin Top 2500, the Mic is a M-Audio Nova and the portable recorder is the Zoom H4n.

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