Home computer music recording has become extremely popular,
both as a hobby and as a legitimate means of live recording and mixing. For the
serious musician or recording technician, the computer/software combination
offers ease of use and lower cost, and it requires less space than traditional
methods of recording.
Recording can be accomplished by using a "mixing
board" to pre-mix multiple signals with their corresponding analog effects
(if desired) before sending them to the computer, or each "plain"
signal can be recorded independently to its own track through a computer audio
interface, software effects applied, and the individual tracks then mixed
together.
Using a mixer and analog effects, one could conceivably
record without the benefit of multiple tracks, resulting in the need for less
expensive, more simplistic software. For much greater control and a more
polished sound, a quality multitrack software with effects is preferred.
Although more difficult to learn and use, multitrack
software provides many more options for the user. The cost for quality
multitrack recording software can range from $40 to several hundred dollars.
Don't let the low prices fool you though, many a great recording has been made
with shareware recording software.
If you aren't experienced in multitrack recording,
purchasing at the low end of the spectrum makes sense. It's best to choose a
product that will accept plug-ins, though. Plug-ins are small pieces of
software that provide various functions (typically effects) that can be
installed into the multitrack software, providing greater flexibility to the
sound engineer. Several companies produce audio software plug-ins of the vst or
directx variety that will work with even low cost software. A number of the
plug-ins are actually offered free of charge.
For the more serious enthusiast, the computer (pc) should
contain at least a Pentium 4 or Athlon 64 processor, 200gb, 7200 rpm IDE or
Serial ATA hard drive, 1 gigabyte of dram, a good video card, and a high
quality sound card. Any on-board video should be disabled in the cmos setup and
a quality graphics card with at least 64mb ram installed.
A flat panel monitor with a 19" screen is preferred
over a crt. With the large viewing area, the video resolution can be set at
1280 x 1024, enabling more of the audio recording software to be viewed on the
screen at one time.
On-board audio (if available) should also be disabled and a
high quality sound card installed into the computer. Also, invest in a pair of
quality, amplified, near-field monitors. These speakers are designed
specifically for music recording. Remember, if you're serious about your
recordings, you'll want the music to be reproduced as realistically as
possible.
A computer audio interface of some sort is a real necessity.
It should have 1/4" inputs for instruments such as electric guitars or
keyboards, as well as XLR inputs for microphones. 48v phantom power should be
avaiable for condensor mics, as well. A mixer could even be plugged into the
audio interface if more flexibility is needed.
More and more, musicians are realizing the high quality and
low cost of producing their own recordings, while those interested in the
technical side of recording can see the benefits of digital recording, mixing and mastering services.
Related Post: Mixing And Mastering Audio: Tips To Mix Your Beats Like A Pro
Related Post: Mixing And Mastering Audio: Tips To Mix Your Beats Like A Pro
