Home Recording Studio
April 3, 2004 7:02 AM Subscribe
I'd like to set up a cheap "recording studio" for dialogue (not music). I'm shooting for NPR/"This American Life" audio-quality. What do I need and how much will it cost me? I'll probably have to do this in my apartment, so considerations include sound-proofing a small room in addition to recording equipment. One thing I don't need is a PC or sound-editing software. I have that. But I need recommendations for recording devices, mics, etc. This is for "audio drama" in which several people might be talking at once.
Not to cut into grumblebee's question, but I happen to have found myself in the same position: guitarist/vocalist who'd like to lay down some acoustic tracks at a quality better than the static-filled computer mic I have.
I'd be interested in hearing what it'd take to make a good (inexpensive) and small home recording system, myself.
posted by precocious at 8:28 AM on April 3, 2004
I'd be interested in hearing what it'd take to make a good (inexpensive) and small home recording system, myself.
posted by precocious at 8:28 AM on April 3, 2004
I've been told the Shure SM58 ($100) is the mic you want for creamy vocals. Am I wrong?
posted by inksyndicate at 8:34 AM on April 3, 2004
posted by inksyndicate at 8:34 AM on April 3, 2004
Behringer also makes quite good mikes. You should also check out Rode. They are cheap, but good.
You should buy a large-diaghram condenser microphone with at least omni-, cardiod- and bi-directional pickup patterns. For example: AKG 414, Neumann U87 and Rode NT2000.
Buy a good microphone, don't save money there - you'll regret later.
on preview: SM58 is a stage mic, not the choice for studio.
posted by hoskala at 8:41 AM on April 3, 2004
You should buy a large-diaghram condenser microphone with at least omni-, cardiod- and bi-directional pickup patterns. For example: AKG 414, Neumann U87 and Rode NT2000.
Buy a good microphone, don't save money there - you'll regret later.
on preview: SM58 is a stage mic, not the choice for studio.
posted by hoskala at 8:41 AM on April 3, 2004
Behringer mixers are a good "budget" choice as long as you don't touch the equalizers... Thumb-rule: a good mic in a good position is always better than eq.
You don't necessarily need a hardware compressor if you have a software-plugin to calm down the dynamics afterwards.
posted by hoskala at 8:45 AM on April 3, 2004
You don't necessarily need a hardware compressor if you have a software-plugin to calm down the dynamics afterwards.
posted by hoskala at 8:45 AM on April 3, 2004
it's the shure sm57, inksyndicate. you can purchase one new for a little less than $100.
although i don't currently do any recording, i have a mackie 1202 (older model) mixer and a gadgetlabs wave 4/24 card that i bought on ebay from that purpose a couple of years ago. i was satisfied with the performance of both items (note: i am not a professional). they were approximately $150 each.
posted by lescour at 9:23 AM on April 3, 2004
although i don't currently do any recording, i have a mackie 1202 (older model) mixer and a gadgetlabs wave 4/24 card that i bought on ebay from that purpose a couple of years ago. i was satisfied with the performance of both items (note: i am not a professional). they were approximately $150 each.
posted by lescour at 9:23 AM on April 3, 2004
SM58 stage vocals, dynamic microphone
SM57 stage guitars, picked instruments, vocals, dynamic microphone
Both are standards. Have been since the 70s. A very good choice for stage.
For the home studio you should consider condenser microphones. ( I just bought a couple of Behringer B5 mics. 95E, very good value for the money.)
posted by hoskala at 9:54 AM on April 3, 2004
SM57 stage guitars, picked instruments, vocals, dynamic microphone
Both are standards. Have been since the 70s. A very good choice for stage.
For the home studio you should consider condenser microphones. ( I just bought a couple of Behringer B5 mics. 95E, very good value for the money.)
posted by hoskala at 9:54 AM on April 3, 2004
This previous thread on soundproofing a room may you some offer valuable tips.
posted by Danelope at 9:59 AM on April 3, 2004
posted by Danelope at 9:59 AM on April 3, 2004
grumblebee: What do you mean by "cheap"? I'm betting the cost of a decent condenser mic will itself be more than you may want to spend.
posted by mischief at 10:27 AM on April 3, 2004
posted by mischief at 10:27 AM on April 3, 2004
Response by poster: I don't have a set budget yet, though I'd love to keep everything under $1000. Under $500 would be even better. But I'm not sure what's realistic. Ultimately, I need to get the job done. So I'm interested in the cheapest solution, whatever that is.
posted by grumblebee at 11:02 AM on April 3, 2004
posted by grumblebee at 11:02 AM on April 3, 2004
What will you be using to input the audio into your computer? A normal sound card really won't cut it. M-Audio has a line of decently-priced pro/prosumer audio cards that are a good starting point for audio I/O.
posted by zsazsa at 11:10 AM on April 3, 2004
posted by zsazsa at 11:10 AM on April 3, 2004
under $500 is certaintly do-able. my recommendation is to get a m-audio usb duo and a nice condensor mic. you actually don't have to spend a fortune to get a really good one. a company called studio projects makes a copy of afforementioned u87 called a c1 that's gotten good reviews.
posted by mcsweetie at 12:48 PM on April 3, 2004
posted by mcsweetie at 12:48 PM on April 3, 2004
hey mcsweetie, thanks for posting that link to the c1 mic. that looks really interesting!
posted by edlundart at 2:47 PM on April 3, 2004
posted by edlundart at 2:47 PM on April 3, 2004
no worries! I've got one at home and I've been more than impressed by it. you can get one off of this fella for $200 with a free cable and free shipping.
posted by mcsweetie at 2:52 PM on April 3, 2004
posted by mcsweetie at 2:52 PM on April 3, 2004
I've found the Homerecording.com BBS a good resource for this kind of questions.
posted by mr.marx at 3:28 PM on April 3, 2004
posted by mr.marx at 3:28 PM on April 3, 2004
Second hoskala's opinion: the SMs are workhorse stage mics, not studio mics.
You want to consider a number of things about your signal chain:
(1) Your room. The room you use should be as dead as possible. You want surfaces that absorb sound rather than reflect, and getting more serious means you want non-parallel walls or at least items (foam, wood) placed on the wall that make the surface irregular.
(2) Your mic. Decent condenser mic. Recommendations vary widely, but I doubt you're going to get out of this without spending at least $200.
(3) Microphone pre-amp. Again, recommendations vary. I've heard people get surprisingly good results out of a $100 ART Tube pre-amp. I've got a friend who isn't happy without spending insane amounts on this.
(4) A/D converter. The quality of the circuit that converts the analog signal to digital is pretty important.
Getting a box like the M-Audio Duo or Digidesign M-Box or Lexicon Omega combines steps 3 and 4, and will probably get you an adequate pre-amp and A/D converter for voice work and most home music studio work.
posted by weston at 3:52 PM on April 3, 2004
You want to consider a number of things about your signal chain:
(1) Your room. The room you use should be as dead as possible. You want surfaces that absorb sound rather than reflect, and getting more serious means you want non-parallel walls or at least items (foam, wood) placed on the wall that make the surface irregular.
(2) Your mic. Decent condenser mic. Recommendations vary widely, but I doubt you're going to get out of this without spending at least $200.
(3) Microphone pre-amp. Again, recommendations vary. I've heard people get surprisingly good results out of a $100 ART Tube pre-amp. I've got a friend who isn't happy without spending insane amounts on this.
(4) A/D converter. The quality of the circuit that converts the analog signal to digital is pretty important.
Getting a box like the M-Audio Duo or Digidesign M-Box or Lexicon Omega combines steps 3 and 4, and will probably get you an adequate pre-amp and A/D converter for voice work and most home music studio work.
posted by weston at 3:52 PM on April 3, 2004
I'm planning on doing exactly the same thing grumblebee (recording audio drama, that is), and eventually I decided that using the local public access station's studio would be much more cost-effective. Here in Sacramento the public access station does both television and radio, and for the cost of membership and one class on how to use the equipment, I can get practically unlimited studio time. Then I can take the recordings home for mixing on my computer. I get to use better equipment than I could afford otherwise, and I don't have to worry about soundproofing my apartment.
posted by Acetylene at 12:52 PM on April 4, 2004
posted by Acetylene at 12:52 PM on April 4, 2004
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posted by bobo123 at 7:43 AM on April 3, 2004