Home Audio Recording
Over the past 20 years major advances in technology have brought high quality recording equipment within reach of the amateur musician. This article aims to give you an introduction to home recording, and suggests the equipment you need to achieve good quality recordings.
So what do you need to start making tracks? If you have looked at a recording magazine or audio equipment store recently you will see there are many options. For the purpose of this article I am assuming you play an instrument and maybe do some singing. A similar set-up would be suitable for a DJ wanting to write beats and overdub other instruments.
It makes sense to start with microphones as these are at the front end of the recording chain. There is no point spending big bucks on fancy equipment and using a free mic you got with a karaoke set.
There are two main types of microphones. Dynamic microphones are not powered. Capacitor, also known as Condenser microphones require a power source known as phantom power which is set at 48 volts. By using this power the microphone is made more sensitive allowing it to capture delicate instruments like acoustic guitar with more detail. If you plan to use the microphone only for recording you should try get a reasonably priced Condenser mic as they often produce better results. If you plan to use the microphone in a live situation, dynamic mics are usually better as they produce less feedback.
The next decision you need to make is what you will record onto. Stand alone multi-track recording devices have evolved from the cassette multi-trackers of the early 90s. Nowadays the recording medium is usually a built in hard drive. These do offer a nice package for the technologically limited musician. They will often offer phantom power for your condenser mics, some EQ and Effects, and the ability to mix down your tracks to a CD or wave file. The main drawback of something like this is that editing after laying down the tracks can be difficult. The screen size of the device, and the limited controls make precise work very difficult.
An alternative to a multi-tracker is using a computer to record onto. Most computers built in the last 5 years will be capable of recording at least 10 tracks of audio. The most recent ones are able to handle hundreds of tracks. More important than the specification of your computer is the sound card you use in it. Most sound cards you find in a standard PC are not suitable for recording. The demands of playing your latest CD or spitting out some sounds from a computer game do not compare to the workload of a recording computer.
Specialist recording sound cards come in a variety of forms, the most simple being a stereo in/out, i.e it allows you to record 2 tracks of audio at a time, and replay 2 at a time. If you only ever plan to record up to 2 things at once, i.e vocals and guitar/keyboard then this is all you need. If using a sound card it is necessary to provide microphone amplification, and phantom power if using condenser mics. This can be done my linking the output from a mic pre-amp or mixer to the input of the soundcard.
As well as cards you slot into your computer, there are also audio interfaces which use FireWire or USB to record audio onto the computer. These often allow more tracks to be recorded simultaneously. There are currently some FireWire audio interfaces that provide a mixer and 8 tracks of recording at a very reasonable price. The combination of a laptop, one of these mixers, a microphone and some headphones provide a very portable recording setup.
There is a huge range of recording software out there. Many of the companies offer entry level versions with limited features. These are a good idea to get to grips with the basics. Many of the features in the more expensive versions are only of real use to advanced users.
Most multi-track recording software is split into a number of windows. The arrange window contains an overview of the recorded tracks. The edit window allows you to alter individual tracks to a greater precision. The mixer window lets you balance levels and add Effects and E.Q.
Loudspeakers are often revered to as ‘monitors’ in sound recording circles. These are the last vital link in the recording chain. The range of frequencies which a speaker can produce will effect how you mix your tracks. Small speakers generally provide very little bass, this may mean you boost the low end to compensate. When replayed on a decent system the overly bassy mix will sound terrible. If you have a good quality Hi-Fi, the amp and speakers from that may be useable for mixing. Otherwise it is worthwhile buying some specialist recording monitors. The frequency response of these products is designed to be as flat as possible to aid in accurate mixing. If you are producing music than is intended for clubs it’s worth using a subwoofer to recreate the club sound system.
Posted on Sun 6th Sep 2009 12:09:28
