Help Me Build an Inexpensive Yet Effective Home Recording Studio

shady4life

shady4life

1,451
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Joined
Feb 10, 2003
Here's the deal. I've always had a passion for hip-hop, always had a passion for writing, I've dabbled in writing music for many years, and I'mgonna go after a dream of mine, to make music. Whether it's for fun, or could be something someday, I don't care, I at least want to know that I gaveit a shot. Right now this is all I have:
1.My Computer- a Dell Inspiron 8600
2.JBL Creature Speakers and Subwoofer
3.Cady USB microphone.
4.Instrumentals from soundclick, and other spots.
5.Cool Edit Pro

That's all I have, and I know I can make decent sounding stuff with that, but in the past I just had the music coming out of the speakers and spit into thecomputer mic, but now that I have the mic is it best to wear headphones to hear the music and then just rap into the mic? I don't have any headphones otherthan my Skullcandy in-ear buds.

Ok, that's about it for my set-up. If anyone cares to venture to my site it's just www.myspace.com/adrennyline I only have one verse up from about 4summers ago that I wrote in a day, which is the reason I really want to get something else up soon.

Thanks dudies.
 
whats your budget, and ARE YOU SERIOUS or is this just a phase

that way i can help you build

and will you produce, rap, or record others
 
My budget is pretty tight right now, with student loans and a car payment kickin in this and next month, so I can't buy MUCH else right now, but couldprolly work out a couple hundred or so if needed. I'm definitely serious and have dreamed about this for years now, once I get in a groove I think I coulddo somethin. I would rap first and foremost, that's my deal, but one day could possibly check out producing.
 
bet, well since your rapping first, your 1st priority would be the sound of your vocals...
i recommend you get an interface and better mic - NOT an usb one - you need a cable one and make sure it is condenser, not dynamic

the interface can be m-audio oor m-box, mbox is easy to use
next you need a good daw - like reaper - which is cheap , cool edit is cool though
vst's such as reverb, eq, compressor for your vocals - go to kvraudio.com for free ones
 
Cable one? This one has a 10 foot cable/chord, is that what you mean, or do you mean I need a different connection. This interface, M-Box, I'm not reallysure what that is, it's different than say Cool Edit? No clue what Daw's or Vst's are, but I'll check out that site.
 
I'm saying instead of hooking the mic via usb, you need to buy a condenser mic that hooks up using a 3 pin mic cord

Daw is a program you record your vocals in, ex. Pro tools, cubase or reaper

Interface is what connects your mic to your computer to your daw ( aka recording program)

Vst is a virtual instrument or efx its like a piano or synth on your computer that has sounds
 
I hate to be a pain about the mic and cord, but any suggestions on one of each to buy that would sound pretty solid, yet be less than $100 for the 2?

I'll investigate as well, I realize it is a Friday night and we prolly won't be on the net, but thanks for the help so far guy!
 
audio technas, are pretty solid, for a first mic and you can find those for that range

everyone has their own taste as far as how they like their vocals to sound

check sweetwater.com for reviews and info of that matter, but i'll help with any questions you have, i dont mind
 
Get these but you need a firewire in on your computer :



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M-Audio Firewire Solo

nice interface with XLR, headphone in and a guitar in, all you need pretty much
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like homie said you DO NOT want to use a USB Mic, it will give mad distortion and you will get high latency (delay in your vocals) cause it's USB asopposed to firewire which is faster with a lot less interference if any, so get one thats XLR, here are the Condenser Mics at Guitar Center in the $50-$100range pick one you like : Condenser Mics $50 - $100 browse them, readthe reviews and get what you prefer but make sure it has an XLR connector on it, as that is what you need to connect it to the Solo pictured above which hasphantom power on it so no need to worry about that.

after this get an XLR cable here - XLR Cables

the 3 things above are all you need but eventually and for better music production you should do the following:

get better Headphones man, those skull candy ain't gonna do it...
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lookinto Sennheiser Studio Headphones or Sony StudioHeadphones

Sennheiser HD280's or Sony MDR-V6's are nice to stay in the $100 region

and Last but most importantly look into getting a pair of decent Monitors, those JBL speakers you got ain't gon give you good reference, you need goodMonitors to hear what's really going on in your music and those standard home computer speakers won't do... KRK's here : KRK Monitors
this way you will hear everything in order to have good sounding music in your finished product...
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they're all self powered except the Passive ST6's so you won't needan amp.


you can stick with Cool Edit Pro for now as I think it supports some VST's which are plugins basically, but you will want to look into something moreintricate as you progress... think Pro Tools or Sonar all of which can be acquired for free if you have the Wits
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Do you need a Macbook or can use any cpu for your setup? im looking to invest $2500 in a good portable setup...any suggestions on what to get? I will be goingthru sweetwater to purchase.
 
you can use any Machine as long as it has firewire and some decent processor speed and atleast 1GB of RAM however if on a PC you WILL NEED to use Windows XPHome or Pro but i'd go with Pro, as it will not work with Windows XP Media Center Edition and the site doesn't say Vista either so you will NEED XP, gohere and check the system requirements - http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/FireWireSolo.htmlhttp://www.m-audio.com/pr...s/en_us/FireWireSolo.html


with $2500 to burn kchildz i would get what i posted.

The M-Audio Firewire Solo - $199
Condenser Mic w/XLR of your liking - $100
Monster XLR cables - $19.95
KRK Rokit Powered 6's - $299.98 for the Pair
Sennheiser HD280 Pro Closed Back Headphones - $99.99

and that's it $718.92 for everything with $1781.08 left over
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usethat for a good laptop if you don't already have one but make sure it HAS Firewire on it!!! and there you have it... portability!
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phantom powered portability at that
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oh and yeah OP ditch that Inspiron 8600, it has what Pentium M in it?

get something Core 2 Duo... Duo units are fairly cheap these days, if not get Quad, cause Duo is on its way out anyway
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^ you mean this one : MXL USB Mic ?


i just don't see USB outperforming Phantom Powered XLR Mic of equivalent value through a decent interface, regardless of studio quality or $350-$400 price
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might still give good sound but $400 XLR > $400 USB
 
Originally Posted by EnergeeGod

oh and yeah OP ditch that Inspiron 8600, it has what Pentium M in it?

get something Core 2 Duo... Duo units are fairly cheap these days, if not get Quad, cause Duo is on its way out anyway
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Click to expand...

Wouldn't it be cheaper to upgrade the computer manually w/ a new motherboard, RAM, and processor? I'm spendin $600 on a costum built computer I'mdoin.

But OP, RAM is important when recording, as well as the processor. Since u're only runnin a x32 4gb of RAM is the max the system will acknowledge. U canbuy some off new egg or tiger direct for cheap. The processor is a lil trickier. That is IF u wanna do the upgrading urself.

I personally like Acid Pro. I have Acid Pro 7 (which I still don't know why it don't recognize my Axiom 49 even w/ it on the cover of the software
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) But make sure if u don't, that u get an external hdd cause u will needit.

As far as interfaces, if I'm not mistaken, the Behringer BCF 2000 has phantom power so u can kill 2 birds w/ 1 stone and get that control surface sinceu'll end up gettin one sooner or later.

Just my 2 pennies.
 
xlr is the pin cord that hooks up to the plug on the left of that m audio picture

and no usb can out perform an xlr - the converter cable is just better quality - studio standard is usually mogami as well
 
Originally Posted by Barack 0drama

Yea, That's it.

The XLR you talking about is compatible with a laptop?
Click to expand...

with that Firewire Solo interface Yes... it pretty much an external sound card
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you'd connect it to your laptop via firewire and then connect the XLR to the Solo interface



Wouldn't it be cheaper to upgrade the computer manually w/ a new motherboard, RAM, and processor? I'm spendin $600 on a costum built computer I'm doin.


if i'm not mistaken the computer he has is a Laptop so i don't think you can do that
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it's not like it's an ATX or BTX tower where it fits almost anything
Click to expand...
 
I wanted to cop a portable studio because I move around alot, But it seems I have a lot to learn...

Tell what I need to cop...This is what I know so far...

Portable Booth

416Pqw%2BdPdL._SS400_.jpg

In addition to the XLR Energee recommended...

According to Dathbgboy I'll need a laptop with mad RAM and a good processor? Recommendations?

Plus an external HD...

And I'm not an engineer by any means...What programs would you suggest? I can get Pro Tools, But is there anything that's just as good with an easy topick up interface?

I'd just be recording myself basically, Then sending the files off to be mixed...Cuz iono how to do that *%*#...
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that portable booth looks cool dude i'm about to build one
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2GB of RAM will suffice as well as 2.2 Ghz and up of processor speed given it's Core 2 Duo
 
Originally Posted by Barack 0drama

I wanted to cop a portable studio because I move around alot, But it seems I have a lot to learn...

Tell what I need to cop...This is what I know so far...

Portable Booth

416Pqw%2BdPdL._SS400_.jpg

In addition to the XLR Energee recommended...

According to Dathbgboy I'll need a laptop with mad RAM and a good processor? Recommendations?

Plus an external HD...

And I'm not an engineer by any means...What programs would you suggest? I can get Pro Tools, But is there anything that's just as good with an easy to pick up interface?

I'd just be recording myself basically, Then sending the files off to be mixed...Cuz iono how to do that *%*#...
laugh.gif
Click to expand...

1gb of RAM would be good but I'd get more to be on the safe side. But I was thinking u were running a desktop for some reason, the "Inspiron"escaped my eyes
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. I would recommend any laptop w/ a min 1gb RAM and aCore 2 Duo processor.

U can easily upgrade the RAM, the processor not so much.
Go to ur local Wally World (Walmart) or just get a Dell. Do not buy a laptop w/ an AMD processor in it. It won't run programs to efficiently from whatI've read.

I woldn't suggest a portable studio b/c it will be harder to set up and bring all the essential external things you will need to get good quality out ofyour music. I don't even know if that portable booth u posted even works
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I heard it was coo for podcasts and what not but haven't heard too much as far as music recording.
 
is the solo the best firewire interface for the buck? are there any cheaper ones? i want to record my serato mixes but i don't have a line input and usbinterfaces take up too much usb buffer to use with serato.
 
that portable booth is not good, simply b/c it will cancel out alot of your natural sound, causing your vocals to sound boxy (sp) cause of the small area,

your vocals have to breathe... bounce around... thats why major studios , give vocal treatment an open area
 
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