Home Studio Basics: What You Need To Start Recording!

Want to sound like the Pros?  We all do! And with today’s technology it is easier than ever to get great studio sounding recordings for your Youtube, Facebook or bands website.

Here are some of the essentials for your personal studio to be up and running in no time:

First, choose a computer format (PC or MAC). Both offer amazing features and most recording software will run on either a PC or Mac.

Second, and the most exciting is to choose an Interface with DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) Recording Software to change analog to digital to mix your recordings. Sounds complicated, but here it is in a nutshell:

The Interface will connect your microphones (and instruments) into your computer via a Firewire or USB cable. Computers “off the shelf” are not equipped with allowing multiple microphones (or instruments) to be plugged in and record simultaneously. Computers, in general, are not quite ‘audio friendly’ however the Interface will change all that! Make sure when you choose your interface that it does what you want it to do! For example, if you want to record two instruments at once (say your voice and acoustic guitar) make sure it has at least (2) inputs on the interface. If you want to record a drum kit (and have 6 drum mics) make sure the interface has at least (6) inputs.

When choosing your Interface, it may come with recording software to start. How cool is that? A good example of an easy and powerful system is the award-winning StudioOne recording software included in the Presonus AUDIOBOXUSB. The AUDIOBOXUSB is the interface and the StudioOne is the recording software.

Third, invest in a good Condenser microphone. This particular type of microphone is great for all instruments (vocals will be clean and crisp and acoustic instruments will sound full and warm). This type of microphone is used due to its greater frequency response and transient response (the ability to reproduce the "speed" of an instrument or voice). 

Fourth, and also important is your monitoring playback speakers. A good pair of monitors should have a flat frequency response meaning they don’t boost or cut certain frequencies. Flat studio monitors give you a clean slate on which you can build your mixes and get a true audio picture of what your mix is.

                                                                     

To finalize your home studio, don’t forget to invest in the following:

• Audio Cables (to hook up your studio monitors)
• Microphone Cables (for your microphones)
• Studio Headphones
• MIDI Controller to control your Virtual Instruments
• Pop Blocker for your microphone
• Tripod Music Stands

We’re here to help! If you need any help deciding on how to go forward with your setup contact us at 800-544-7625 and one of our Pro Audio professionals will help you!