Home Recording Studio Equipment
Choosing the best home recording studio equipment for your studio will take some research. Before you’re actually at the check out line in your favorite music store, it’s important that you do your homework. Take into consideration what you can afford and what kind of equipment you are looking for. You can find the different equipment in trade magazines, the web, or in your local music store. If the equipment is on display it would be wise to play with it and see if the feel suits you. Also, it is a good idea to talk to other people who already have the equipment and see what they think.
One piece of equipment that has changed the recording world is the Digital Audio Workstation, or “DAW”. The DAW is a computer based hardware system that offers a lot of production features such as multitrack recording, editing, midi and audio interfaces, support for plug in virtual instruments, mixdown capabilities, and much more. The DAW is affordable and that’s what makes it so great! There are different options when choosing a DAW. The first thing you would need to consider is if you have a MAC or PC. Some programs only work for Mac and some only for PC. There are also some programs that work for both. You will also need to consider your needs, and preferences. Another thing you need to check is if you have enough ram and if your computer is fast and powerful for the tasks that you are going to take on.
One piece of equipment you might want to consider getting is called the “Studio in a Box” or SIAB. The Studio in a Box is affordable and easy to use. You don’t need to be a computer expert to use this system, all you have to do is turn it, get the basics down, and start recording. This system is also portable; your not limited to your bedroom. These recorders draw little power and run on a battery, or you can hook it up to a solar panel. There are many choices of brands to choose from with the SIAB that are very affordable. You can get a SIAB for under $1,000. You can choose a SIAB with 4, 8, or 16 tracks. Some brands of SIAB systems are Roland, Boss, Yamaha, Tascam, and Fostex.
Some people prefer the stand alone recorder which can range from about 1,000 to 2,000 dollars. When you get a stand alone recorder you also have to buy mixers and a signal processor. Modern recorders have revolutionized home studios, and in the early 90′s many hits came from these devices. However stand-alone units are becoming less popular with home recordists because of the extra equipment you have to buy.
Before you buy this product make sure to check out the demos of each brand as the sound can vary slightly from unit to unit. One way to make your recording experience even more exciting would be to have a midi-intensive studio. Your midi-intensive studio can include a keyboard, synthesizer, sound module, or sampler. These can be nice to have because you can get drum sounds without having a live drum set or drummer.
After you get the basic equipment to start recording, all you have left to set up is a microphone, guitar, and any other instruments that you would like to record. Remember that there are endless possibilities in the types of equipment you can have, start with the basics and in time your little studio will grow with your needs.
