I want to get a home studio started from scratch. The main reason is a band I used to be a songwriter in wants to reform, but there will be difficulties getting everyone together in the same room regularly enough to write and arrange new material so the hope is we can do a lot of the preliminary work via demos.
I have no experience of home recording and am mildly technophobic (or more accurately a bit techno-hopeless).
I do have some decisions already made:
For reasons not related to this project I'd prefer a Dell PC. I don't know much about which models are best for music though.
I will be buying some version of Ableton Live, because a fellow band member is using that and will help me get started. I don't know if I should start with intro with a view to upgrading later or move straight to a fuller version.
I know I need speakers and an audio interface but I don't know anything about which ones to buy.
I'm confused about Midi, which I've never used. Will I need a keyboard as a Midi controller? (I have no keyboard skills). Which one should I get?
Budget: is reasonably flexible but I need to be a bit cost-sensitive because my concern is I fail to make real headway and it ends up gathering dust in the corner of a room.
Any advice very much appreciated.
“To a man with a hammer every problem looks like a nail.”
Comments
You lakky BOY! One of the best interfaces ever made, the Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6 is presently available for just £139 (till Jan 1 I think)
The AI gives you two superb microphone/line/guitar inputs plus two more balanced line inputs, digital in and out and MIDI I/O. The interface has very solid, unfussy drivers and I have tried mine on XP. W7, W10 even the ghastly Vista. I know it also works on macs and even Linux. I cannot see a Dell being a problem*.
I am also going to suggest something controversial and don't normally say. Buy a small, two mic input mixer as well. Behringer Xenyx 802 (not the USB version) is fine or there are very good units by Yamaha, Mackie..... I am sure you will find a mixer very useful with a couple of the guys round for a jam and to lay down some tracks. You will need at least two sets of closed back headphones and the Sennheiser HD202 are quite good enough at this stage at about 15quid a pop.
Do you have any mics so far? If not at least look at a Shure SM57 (vocals and cabs) and one, preff two Small Diaphragm Capacitors (aka condenser) . These can be used on acoustic guitar, drums and V and C as well.
Some stands and a rake of cables and you can get started. No, you don't need a MIDI kbd as such but something with pads to smack can be handy.
Last thing for now, explore Cash Generator type shops, I have had several decent bits of kit from them over the years.
*Naturally go for the fastest processor you can and at least 4G of ram. At least one USB 3.0 port would be invaluable since a great future investment would be a USB 3.0 drive both to back up songs and keep the on board HDD uncluttered.
If you are up to it, remove all anti virus software from the Dell and replace with Msoft Security Essentials also use the free Malwarebytes once a week or so.
Dave.
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Is it acoustic guitar and vocal? A bit of electric guitar and bass? Sampled drumbeats on top?This determines mics and a few other things.
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Re Ableton etc, don't forget that the KA6 comes with a "lite" but still pretty powerful version of Cubase?
The learning curve is really no steeper than the others and there is arguably no better software for MIDI plus of course they INVENTED VST!
Yes, get Mcafee and other stuff off the computer but many, very serious studio people have internet capable recording computers these days. I would not use any form of Wi fi just a simple copper Ethernet cable twixt laptop and router which can be unplugged if needs be (tho' in nearly 10yrs I have never felt the need)
Worth too having a browse over at Home Recording and Sound on Sound forums.
Dave.
The Komplete interface will inculde some built in sounds but see if it has a step sequencer for basic drum beats, otherwise you will have to find one or use your controller to play the drums into the DAW to then snap to grid and fix later. (The drums bit is the biggest learning curve)
Tracking vox and guitar to a click is the simplest. An sm57 is ok for electric guitar cabs but If I had to pick one overall demo mic then it would be a Sennheiser MD-421. You can add a good condenser later if you are not tracking in a reflective box room. I still prefer a good dynamic for demos for utility and ease.
You should alse get a set of closed back headphones for the actual tracking.