Basic home studio set up. What do I need?
Discussion
I'm thinking of sinking a few quid (as few as I can get away with) into a basic set up for recording. I'm going to pick up a cheap bass,but that's about all on the instrument front.
What do I need to get rocking & rolling? I've a decent laptop running an SSD & plenty of storage. From what I can see, I'll require at the very least a dedicated soundcard/interface thing for plugging instruments in, something like Reason or cubase for yer actual recording & something I don't understand at all - some form of virtual instrument kit such as drums, percussion, keys etc. since I haven't got the room to kit out a full studio at mine.
As is probably blindingly obvious, I don't know much about this side of music, so I'd like to avoid the pitfalls if I can.
What do I need to get rocking & rolling? I've a decent laptop running an SSD & plenty of storage. From what I can see, I'll require at the very least a dedicated soundcard/interface thing for plugging instruments in, something like Reason or cubase for yer actual recording & something I don't understand at all - some form of virtual instrument kit such as drums, percussion, keys etc. since I haven't got the room to kit out a full studio at mine.
As is probably blindingly obvious, I don't know much about this side of music, so I'd like to avoid the pitfalls if I can.
I'm no expert on a modern home studio set up, or PC as I'm MAC based, but I do a lot of studio work from the other side of the glass.
So my options for a budget set up ...
"audacity" is a free open source audio recording & editing App, program or whatever they're called on a PC. Google it, surprisingly ok, and has built in effects.
You'll obviously need a sound card, check out Thoman if you're buying new. ..German company bit fast & reliable UK delivery, and cheap.
Re Sounds ,,,, not sure what software options are available for PC, but suspect if they are any good will eat RAM, and slow everything down. A mac has Garage band built in, which is ok, but don't know if it's available for PC
You could probably find a cheap s/h general midi module, that will do the job ...Roland Sound Canvas, Korg X5 .... or probably better, an old Korg M1 or D50, I have an M1 somewhere that cost £100, it will give you GM and a keyboard.
Something decent to listen/monitor/mix on .... so if you don't want to splash out on an amp/monitors get a decent pair of headphones, making sure they are comfortable to wear for a few hours, so probably not in ears....
Then forget the technology, and get creative !
So my options for a budget set up ...
"audacity" is a free open source audio recording & editing App, program or whatever they're called on a PC. Google it, surprisingly ok, and has built in effects.
You'll obviously need a sound card, check out Thoman if you're buying new. ..German company bit fast & reliable UK delivery, and cheap.
Re Sounds ,,,, not sure what software options are available for PC, but suspect if they are any good will eat RAM, and slow everything down. A mac has Garage band built in, which is ok, but don't know if it's available for PC
You could probably find a cheap s/h general midi module, that will do the job ...Roland Sound Canvas, Korg X5 .... or probably better, an old Korg M1 or D50, I have an M1 somewhere that cost £100, it will give you GM and a keyboard.
Something decent to listen/monitor/mix on .... so if you don't want to splash out on an amp/monitors get a decent pair of headphones, making sure they are comfortable to wear for a few hours, so probably not in ears....
Then forget the technology, and get creative !
DV247 may be a useful equipment source http://www.dv247.com/studio-equipment/active-monit...
I sell this stuff for a living, hopefully I can help.
You need an interface: Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 is a good shout. You can plug your bass straight in. As well as mics if needs be.
This should come with some basic cubase type software, so you are good to go out the box.
If you want additional instruments via midi, such as pianos and drums, get yourself a small USB/Midi keyboard. Akai LPK25 for example. Its cheap and does the job. Then download "plug ins" whiich are like add-on packs for your cubase program (or logic, reaper etc. whatever you use) these are specific to what you want, so you can add on a piano package, or drums etc. etc.
That's it! You're good to go. Should be less than £200 for that.
However, don't forget monitoring. Have you got decent monitors or headphones?
Any questions, feel free to ask.
You need an interface: Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 is a good shout. You can plug your bass straight in. As well as mics if needs be.
This should come with some basic cubase type software, so you are good to go out the box.
If you want additional instruments via midi, such as pianos and drums, get yourself a small USB/Midi keyboard. Akai LPK25 for example. Its cheap and does the job. Then download "plug ins" whiich are like add-on packs for your cubase program (or logic, reaper etc. whatever you use) these are specific to what you want, so you can add on a piano package, or drums etc. etc.
That's it! You're good to go. Should be less than £200 for that.
However, don't forget monitoring. Have you got decent monitors or headphones?
Any questions, feel free to ask.
Justin Cyder said:
Brilliant! Thanks everyone for the help. I feel like I know where I'm going with it now.
ETA Just ordered up the Focusrite & Akai controller with an LP8 pad too. Time to get the songs out of the system.
GOod work.ETA Just ordered up the Focusrite & Akai controller with an LP8 pad too. Time to get the songs out of the system.
Edited by Justin Cyder on Thursday 17th January 14:48
Where did you order from?
cheers!
Ideal thread for me also, as a complete begginer at this type of thing.
If I wanted to record an instrumental on the guitar and lay down a backing track through cubase/audacity is this the kind of setup I need?
aAso, where would the amp fit in, mic'd up from the focusrite 2i2?
Hope you don't mind me jumping in your thread Justin
If I wanted to record an instrumental on the guitar and lay down a backing track through cubase/audacity is this the kind of setup I need?
aAso, where would the amp fit in, mic'd up from the focusrite 2i2?
Hope you don't mind me jumping in your thread Justin
Laplace said:
Ideal thread for me also, as a complete begginer at this type of thing.
If I wanted to record an instrumental on the guitar and lay down a backing track through cubase/audacity is this the kind of setup I need?
aAso, where would the amp fit in, mic'd up from the focusrite 2i2?
Hope you don't mind me jumping in your thread Justin
Not sure I get what you want to do. In short, the 2i2 allows you to plug in a mic or an instrument.If I wanted to record an instrumental on the guitar and lay down a backing track through cubase/audacity is this the kind of setup I need?
aAso, where would the amp fit in, mic'd up from the focusrite 2i2?
Hope you don't mind me jumping in your thread Justin
If you have an amp, then you would mic up your amp, and run the mic into your 2i2. It has xlr inputs
If your amp has a line out... then you might run that as well, but if you are new to it, i wouldn't worry too much about this.
Cubase or some other such software, a pre-amp (i have a CME Matrix), decent PC with lots of memory, decent soundcard (i have an Audiophile 2496), a microphone, and you will be ready to go. I spent about £200 for a basic low end set up, but it does me fine and the results if you persevere can be amazing.
Direct into the Focusrite and then use a Software amp simulator will probably give a better result for home recording unless you have a really good amp and mic. You can then tweak it in post production. Don't like the Marshall sound? try an AC30 instead without re-recording.
kvraudio is a good resource for plugins, may of them cheap or free (you don't always get what you pay for)
I'd advise playing to a click if you are going to lay down drums afterwards, your timing will vary.
kvraudio is a good resource for plugins, may of them cheap or free (you don't always get what you pay for)
I'd advise playing to a click if you are going to lay down drums afterwards, your timing will vary.
gbbird said:
Cubase or some other such software, a pre-amp (i have a CME Matrix), decent PC with lots of memory, decent soundcard (i have an Audiophile 2496), a microphone, and you will be ready to go. I spent about £200 for a basic low end set up, but it does me fine and the results if you persevere can be amazing.
Soundcards are not the best solution. They can be very noisy and suffer from interferance. They do work, but a USB interface is easier, without the drawbacks.Bullett said:
Direct into the Focusrite and then use a Software amp simulator will probably give a better result for home recording unless you have a really good amp and mic. You can then tweak it in post production. Don't like the Marshall sound? try an AC30 instead without re-recording.
kvraudio is a good resource for plugins, may of them cheap or free (you don't always get what you pay for)
I'd advise playing to a click if you are going to lay down drums afterwards, your timing will vary.
Always put drums down first for that reason kvraudio is a good resource for plugins, may of them cheap or free (you don't always get what you pay for)
I'd advise playing to a click if you are going to lay down drums afterwards, your timing will vary.
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