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Home recording

nick1977nick1977 Posts: 327
edited April 2004 in Musicians and Gearheads
I have recently begun to consider setting up a small, home recording studio. I do not want anything big, but just something that I can record a little music on as a hobby. The problem is, I know nothing about the equipment I need, how much it costs, or how to use it. I just know how to play guitar and piano.

Does anyone have any advice for an amateur musician who wants to record a little as a hobby?
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • BinFrogBinFrog MA Posts: 7,309
    I went that route last year and got an 8-track digital recorder for around $450. It took me a few weeks to figure out how to really use it, but now that I have the hang of it I love it. It's great to be able to get ideas out of my head.
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  • exhaustedexhausted Posts: 6,638
    like binfrog said, a digital 8-track with onboard effects and a cd burner to mix down to is really all you need nowadays.

    or a cassette 4-track and a tape deck to mix down to but you lose the effects and sound quality.

    for mics, a decent condenser for vocals/ instruments and a decent dynamic mic for instruments.

    this is my "studio" such as it is.
    http://www3.telus.net/alcoholiday/guitar_pics/recording.JPG

    it's been filled out a little bit over the years but i started out with only a 4-track, 2 dynamic mics and a cassette deck to mix to.


    - a recorder (4 or 8, digital or cassette)
    - a cd burner or cassette deck to mix to.
    - a couple mics
    - headphones to monitor while recording

    - monitors to hear while you're mixing (optional, headphones can work at first)
    - outboard effects units (optional)
    - fancier mics and preamps etc. etc. (optional)

    check out http://www.homerecording.com. all kinds of FAQs and tutorials and stuff. great info.
  • BinFrogBinFrog MA Posts: 7,309
    After a while I got sick of having to use headphones for every phase of the recording process so I got myself a nice set of powered monitor speakers. Now I just use my studio headphones for the mixdown phase (and occassionally when I have to record something w/o plugging in directly to the digital recorder).
    Bright eyed kid: "Wow Typo Man, you're the best!"
    Typo Man: "Thanks kidz, but remembir, stay in skool!"
  • beegrrlbeegrrl Posts: 4
    if you can afford a bit more, the best lower end (well in terms of pro audio) digital console i'd recommend is the mackie 1604. it is insanely solid, sounds as good as boards that cost 15x as much and is very portable. you can get one used on ebay or craigs list for $350 easy.

    16 channels.

    http://www.mackie.com/products/1604vlzpro/index.html
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  • BinFrogBinFrog MA Posts: 7,309
    Originally posted by beegrrl
    if you can afford a bit more, the best lower end (well in terms of pro audio) digital console i'd recommend is the mackie 1604. it is insanely solid, sounds as good as boards that cost 15x as much and is very portable. you can get one used on ebay or craigs list for $350 easy.

    16 channels.

    http://www.mackie.com/products/1604vlzpro/index.html



    A console is on my ever growing list of stuff I want for my setup.
    Bright eyed kid: "Wow Typo Man, you're the best!"
    Typo Man: "Thanks kidz, but remembir, stay in skool!"
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