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Recording Setting up basic home studio

Jules

Formerly known as "nachoman"
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I’ve got an itch to get my home recording set up a bit slicker than the very basic Zoom 2H into laptop via USB (using Mixcraft). Has anyone got any tips on good value preamps and or condenser mic set ups? Specifically any thoughts if something like this is worth considering- here or this



@Veggie Dave I believe this might be your specialist area?
 
I'd find it difficult to justify more than about £300 all in for a set up. I'm looking for maximum 'band per buck' on mic, amp unit, speakers and cans .
 
I think this is one of those questions where there are as many responses as there are respondents. ;)

For me, I would go for speakers over cans every single time. I've tried mixing with cans and they're just so different from any speaker set-up you may encounter that I just think you're wasting your time.

These are on my 'next to buy' list. From all of the reviews and specs I've read, they seem the best bet for this price range.

Like many other people here, I've found Focusrite's Scarlett interfaces to be excellent. The only criticism I could think of is that I'd like the monitor output to be a little louder.

If you've got an SM57 or 58 floating around then I'd give it a go. I did find changing to a slightly more expensive condenser mic did make a positive difference, though. Again, I read as much as I could on the mics in my price range and narrowed it down to the Rode NT1-A and the Audio-Technica 2035. I ended up with the AT2035 as the Rode was supposed to be noticeably, and in the opinion of some unpleasantly, brighter than the AT.

If you have a half decent stereo then you can leave the speakers until a later date and monitor through the hi-fi instead. It's not ideal but if you're used to listening to music on it then you should be able to get a decent mix using it, too.

As for software, it has to be Reaper.

This should be in budget, give or take a couple of quid.
 
All due respect but an SM57 is NOT a very good mic for recording sax. Things to think on in the recording chain. The most accurate or best sounding mic (in your budget) is the most important part of the recording chain as one can only work with what comes in. Second most important parts of the equation is the preamp/digitizer(converting analog to digital) Least important parts are the speakers. I spendt years working in a high end HIFI shop and we proved that one time and again in a number of sonic experiments. A great input setup with a great preamp with crap power amp and speakers always blew the doors off a crap input/preamp with great power amp and speaker setup. Novices and experts all heard the same.

Spend some time at homerecording.com. Lots of useful threads about recording on a budget. Some great stickies on recording technology and how to. I learned a lot about recording 15 years ago when that site was still getting going.
 
I agree about the importance of the mic and the preamps.

My main mic is an Audio-Technica 3035, had it for years and use it for loads of stuff. I also have a nohype ribbon mic that's nice for some things, and various stage mics (sm58, e906, drum mics, etc). I don't think they make the AT3035 any more, so I'd definitely recommend the AT2035.

I also use recently got a Focusrite scarlett preamp (the 18i20), the latest models have really reduced recording latency and I don't have a problem with monitoring volume so maybe that's improved as well? Very low noise (it can cope with the extra gain needed for the ribbon mic without introducing any noise), so highly recommended.

I like monitoring on speakers, but your room environment really effects the sound, (room reflections, etc.). To test this, play some music on your studio speakers, and move forwards and backwards along the line that bisects them, so you're still getting a balanced sound from each. You may well find a spot where the music suddenly sounds louder/sweeter/better, that's because you've hit a frequency node in your room, so some acoustic treatment is always a good idea. Using hifi components also colours the sound as they are designed to flatter the music, not to accurately portray it. You can adjust for that if you know what you're listening for, but it's a bit hit and miss. I've got decent monitors, but have started using a set of AKG K701 headphones for mixing, as they have a very flat response. I can also use them at night when everyone's asleep :) I recently went on a Mastering course and took some of my music, mixed at home using my monitors. It didn't sound great over the studio setup that they had, but a couple of tracks that I'd mixed using the headphones sounded much better. Getting the stereo soundstage right using headphones can be a pain, so I usually switch between headphones and monitors to compare things.

Note that you'll need headphones when recording so that you can listen to the backing. The headphones I mentioned above wouldn't be suitable as they are open back (so your mic would pick up the sound from them as well as your instrument), so I have a couple of AKG K52 closed back headphones for tracking. A good mic stand is invaluable as well.

Finally, there's one thing that you can do which can usually improve audio recordings. Hang a duvet behind you. Seriously. When you record, the sound is bouncing off every surface in your room, and some of those reflections will end up going back into the mic, changing the sound. We are pretty good at filtering this out when we are in a room, but it really shows up on recordings. By hanging a duvet behind the recording source you help to attentuate these reflections, and end up with a drier recording.

As for the DAW, I use Sonar, but Reaper is a no brainer if you're starting from scratch.

Another good website with loads of info is Sound on Sound. The forums are particularly helpful.

So, I'd go for an AT2025 mic, a focusrite 2i2 preamp, a good set of closed back headphones and a mic stand.

And a duvet.
 
:gathering: Thanks to the various posters for useful replies and info. I need to get into recording stuff....
 
All due respect but an SM57 is NOT a very good mic for recording sax.

I wouldn't recommend buying one but as Jules plays in bands he may have a 57 floating around, and that means it's free. The saved money could then go towards better cans or monitors and the 57 can be replaced at a later date.

And let's be honest, any superior audio quality from a better mic can be instantly lost with mic placement or bad EQing anyway. ;)
 
I have made some very good saxophone recordings using an SM57, so if you do have one around I also agree it is useful. Sorry to disagree jazzaferri.(In fact I did a session for REM and after a bit of experimenting, the producer and engineer decided to use SM57s on the saxophones and trumpet.

I think whatever the budget, the thing to bear in mind (and I may well be disagreeing with advice above but we can all have different opinions), it's best to not put too much budget into just one aspect, i.e. you should get a balance of quality.

e.g. don't put so much budget into you preamp, that the mic and or monitors are lacking. Don't put so much budget into monitors that your skimp on the preamp or mic. etc.

Having said that, if your monitors are the weak link, it's not so bad as something at the beginning being crap, because you could always do a remix once you can afford better monitors.

Hifi speakers can sometimes be OK, however even if very good quality (or especially if very good quality) then because they flatter the sound you end up with a mix that only sounds good when played back on those speakers. e.g. if the enhance/boost the low end a bit, your mix will lack low end on many other speakers.

This is why studio monitors are designed to be a "flat" response.

Good headphones are cheaper than good monitor speakers, and they don't have the big disadvantage you get with speakers in a home studio, i.e. a very far from optimally acoustic mixing environment. This is in fact the metaphorical elephant in the room because people tend to think the budget goes on mic, preamp, A/D converters and monitoring. But if the room acoustics then banjax your mix, that's a whole big part of the chain that you forgot about. (The good news is that most home rooms can be brought up to reasonable spec using DIY treatment)

Most of my work in my studio these days is for music for TV, and it used to be that I would mix for little TV speakers That's no longer the case what with spiffy home cinema systems so I mix as I would for anything, which involves mixing on the studio monitors, then checking back on headphones, my living room stereo, my TV, the car and a little bluetooth speaker. If it sounds good on all those then I know my monitors are doing the job.
 
Perhaps its best if I just say I am no good at getting a sound I like out of an SM57, I find I end up fighting a bright/edgy quality that I don't like.

What I would recommend is so budget dependant. What we use is either my Neumann KMS 105 or the recording engineer's Neumann (ARML moment).

@Pete Thomas I also think that what a professional recording engineer/producer will select for sound to fit into a mix is possibly very different from a home recording guy. The engineer who does our work has some computer apps that can make anything sound like anything practically. He takes my guitar signal straight onto the board and there are like dozens of different amp sounds he can use. Fender tube, Marshall, old early tube etc etc. Boggles the mind, but that's what thousands of dollars of recording software can get you. Probably could even make my sax sound like a bassoon.

If you have access to any decent mic for free then obviously if setting up on a budget that is the way to go for now and I absolutely agree with Pete about not going overboard on any one component. Just bear in mind that unlike pro recording studios, the sound going in is very likely going to form the major part of the sound going out.

If you want to hear the sound of the Neumann on Soprano listen to my PS I love You ballad of the month post.

Oh and as far as HiFi speakers go, I think you willfind that true HiFi speakers and monitor speakers are made to be extremely accurate. In the Hi Fi world, anything that colours the sound would be considered MidFi. Bose bass boost etc etc.
 
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stuff you'll need -
microphone, xlr cable, mic stand, audio interface, usb cable, computer, recording software, headphones, amplifier, speakers, perseverance...
If you've already got some of these things them use them - a stage mic like an SM58 may not be ideal, but it'll work and better than nothing. Otherwise the Audio Technica AT2020 is probably the best of the low budget mics..
Audio interface - I got a cheap Alesis off ebay, but there can be compatibility issues with older interfaces and newer operating systems and drivers may not work with Windows 7, 8.10 - ASIO4All often works
As far as what's available new - Behringer are the cheapest - their stuff ain't always the best, but it'll do, other than that Steinberg, Alesis, M Audio, PreSonus, Focisrite, Lexicon and a few others do a range of products in the sub £100 area - generally inpits for XLR and 1/ inch jacks, phantom for a condenser mic, latency free monitoring, a midi socket if yo have midi gear and level controls for inpits and outputs are the kind of functions you should look for - also it's handy having a range of outpit sockets - phono outs come in useful if you're using a hifi amp for monitoring
I'm not familiar with Apple Macs, so can't comment on that area
Software - most audio interfaces come with some free recording software - Cubase is my preferred choice, but that's because it's what I learnt on, so I'm used to it - whatever you end up with there will be a steep learning curve and lots of cursing and googling and watching youtube tutorial videos..
Headphones - you'll want these to listen to the backing tracks when you're overdubbing your sax - closed back designs are preferable so you don't get any of the tinny headphone noises spilling into your recordings... having said that I've overdubbed stuff while listening back over speakers and the spillage wasn't noticeable in the final mix and there are many classic albums that have the drums and guitars bleeding over into each others mics but still sound great, so don't get too hung up on getting perfect isolation.. Beyer Dynamic, Sennheiser, AKG, Audio Technica and Sony all make good headphones, get some that are comfortable, you'll be wearing them for hours..
Headphones designed for DJ's may not be very neutral sounding
Speakers - a lot of the cheaper speakers sold as studio monitors aren't worth bothering with, a good pair of hi fi speakers from a reputable company like Kef, B&W, Castle, Mordant Short etc will be quite fine for home use. I've been mixing and mastering for clients using my old Kef's for years and they work for me because I'm used to them and know what every album in my collection sounds like through them. I wouldn't touch Yamaha NS-10's with someone else's bargepole, I just end up trying to EQ all that ugly midrange.
I have mixed on headphones, but prefer a pair of speakers so I can listen while I'm in the kitchen - and it's less tiring on the ears
 
Many thanks everyone, a lot of very handy info here. I’m rather looking forward to a big, nerdy project with lots of reviews to read and comparisons to check out! This could take some time to pick the bones out of, or I may just “Eenie Meenie Minie Mo” it within certain parameters …

The other major task here is to find a permanent kid and cat free corner of my house where I can set myself up! Therein lies a challenge
 
The other major task here is to find a permanent kid and cat free corner of my house where I can set myself up! Therein lies a challenge

Good luck :)

Have fun and we want to hear some of the results

Jx
 

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