Home Recording Studio Basics - Here's What You Need to Record

After I had blown quite a few thousand dollars ininstructions. There are two options for this:
a recording studio, a sound engineer friend madeexternal and internal.
a cool suggestion. "Why don't you buy an ADAT,External sounds come in little boxes called sound
and do some tracking at home?" So I purchasedmodules (or keyboards with their own great
that venerable 8 track digital tape recorder andsounds). Sound modules have hundreds of
saved oodles of time and money putting all myhigh-quality patches that re-create every
synth tracks on tape. That was my start in homeinstrument in the orchestra, classic electronic
recording, and oh, the fun I've had since!sounds, spacey new synthesizer creations and
What are the basic pieces of equipment andsound effects. To use them, you send the MIDI
software one needs to record at home?back out from the sequencer program through
There are so many ways to do this! Well, sincethe audio interface's MIDI output and into the
you're reading this, you probably have asound module. You then take the audio output
computer, so let's base our home studio on thefrom the sound module back into your computer
computer. We'll start by understanding thevia the line input on your audio interface and
different functions we will need filled in homerecord it on a new audio track in the sequencer.
recording. Then we'll understand what the bestIt is now a real sound and is perfectly lined up
hardware and software products to do it are. Inwith the other tracks.
general, the principle I recommend is to use fewerInternal sounds come in lots of different types.
pieces of equipment with more functions. ThatInstruments that you use from within your audio
approach saves time and, usually, money. As youMIDI sequencer include VST instruments and
advance in your recording skills, you can go forsoftware synths. The latter may automatically
more specialized equipment.come with your audio interface, or require
There are two distinct phases in recording ainstallation like any other program. Option two is a
song. One is the "in" phase, referring to everythingfull-blown sampler/synthesizer program, such as
needed to get your music performance into a"Reason", that you connect your sequencer to
basic recorded form, with however many tracksthrough a software function called "Rewire." And
you need. The second phase is the "out" phase,there are also sound modules that come in the
where you will take that raw music, process itform of PCI cards that you physically install on
and create the final stereo version.your computer.
The "in" phase -- sending the music to yourFine tuning and effects
computerMost every song will use spatial effects such as
Music can be put into your computer either asreverb and echo. You may find that some tracks
audio or as MIDI. Audio is actual sound recordings.are slightly out of tune. On others, there may be
MIDI records no sounds, but only the digitala consistent buzz that needs to be removed. For
instructions for an instrument to play. It is muchall of these, you will want to have an audio editing
like a combination of a pianist and sheet music.program or plug-in. A plug-in is simply a function
Without an instrument, he can make no music.you can add to your basic sequencer program.
With MIDI, you are saving the note and volumePlug-ins exists for all kinds of functions, including
instructions to be played on the instruments ofreverb, compression, equalization, noise reduction,
your choice later on.pitch correction and so forth.
Although some programs let you put MIDI notesAn audio editing program is a standalone program
into your computer through your computerthat does all of these things. With most audio
keyboard, and other programs have musicMIDI sequencers, you can configure your
generation features that allow you to create ansoftware to call up the audio editing program and
entire backing band without playing a note, thefix the track without leaving the sequencer.
best solution is a velocity sensitive MIDI keyboard.Mixing down
It gives a much more realistic performance. ForOnce you have all of your tracks and sounds
example, playing a key softer will record a softerrecorded, you will need to mix them down to
note. Other features, such as aftertouch, allowstereo. Again, this can be done in an external or
you to add vibrato and other realistic effects.internal fashion. To do it externally, you would
Audio simply means actual sounds. Audio tracksneed a hardware mixer. This method limits you to
will include vocals, acoustic instruments, andthe number of tracks you can send independently
electronic instruments whose sounds you wish tothrough your audio interface and the number of
use. You will do well to get at least twotracks your mixer can handle. Nonetheless, mixers
microphones. Some microphones are bettergive you a real surface to work on, and often
constructed to record vocals, while others areinclude quality studio effects, reverbs and such.
optimized for instruments. In addition, having twoInternal mixing means using your audio/MIDI
mics allows you to record in stereo, or twosequencer to mix down the entire song to two
soloists performing at the same time.tracks. The advantage of doing it internally is the
Receiving the music into your computerexpanded number of tracks you can use. The
All of this will get your music up to yourdisadvantage is the difficulty of mixing with a
computer's door. How do you get it inside? Withmouse on a computer screen. There are,
an audio interface that has: a microphone jackhowever, hardware mixing surfaces which simply
that fits your microphone cable and preampcontrol your software program.
function (so that the signal is strong enough to beMastering and burning
properly recorded), phantom power (if you use aOnce you have your stereo mix, you want to
condenser mic that needs it), a line input forput the finishing touches on it. These touches
synths and sound modules, and a MIDI interface.include overall compression, equalization, noise
Remember the principle - less products that doreduction, fading in and out and bringing the
more. Some find it simpler to run every audiorecording up to a normalized level of volume. Your
sound, mics and all, through a hardware mixeraudio editing program should be able to handle
(with phantom power and effects) and sendingthese adequately, although there are specialized
that pre-processed signal to the audio interface'smastering programs which offer higher quality and
line input. You'll still need the MIDI interfacemany more enhancement features.
function for your MIDI recording, though.Then you're ready to burn your song to CD.
Once your audio and MIDI are inside yourOdds are that your CD writing drive came with a
computer, software takes over. For our recordingprogram that does just that and you won't need
we will use what's called an integrated audio/MIDIanything more. I did mention that you'll need a CD
sequencer. Famous names include Cubase,writing drive, didn't I? Well, now I did! And if it's
Cakewalk and so forth. These programs recordMP3 you're after, most audio programs encode
multiple tracks of audio and MIDI in perfectMP3s as well.
synchronization.And that's it! Now you have everything you need
Now you have all the equipment you need forto make your musical magic at home. Have fun,
the "in" phase. What will you need to take thebut I don't need to tell you that, because it just
many tracks of audio and MIDI you haveis.Seth Lutnick is a singer and songwriter who has
recorded and make a song out of them?been bitten by the bug of home music recording.
The "out" phase -- making MIDI into musicHis web site, offers detailed step-by-step plans
We mentioned that MIDI is simply digitalfor creating a home recording studio, song
instructions, it is not actual sounds. Now we willarranging and professional album recording.
need to create actual sounds from those