Sunseed Music

Deciding on the ideal home recording studio equipment will take some thought. To prevent buying something you don’t need, be sure to do your homework before you’re at the check out line of your favorite music store. Keep in mind your budget and what kind of equipment suits you best. You can find the different equipment in trade magazines, the web, or in your local music store. Don’t be afraid to try out the display equipment to make sure it feels good. Also, it is a good idea to talk to other people who already have the item 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 a few things to consider when choosing a DAW. The first thing you would need to consider is if you have a MAC or PC. Some software programs work only for PC and others are just for MAC. 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 enough 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. Fortunately, there’s no need to be a computer genious to use this system, just turn it on, 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. A SIAB has 4, 8, or 16 tracks for you to choose from, depending on unit. Boss, Roland, Fostex, and Yamaha are some manufacturers of SIAB systems.

Some people prefer the stand alone recorder, which can range from about 1,000 to 2,000 dollars. If you choose the stand-alone option, you also need to buy a mixer and signal processor. Modern recorders have revolutionized the home music studio, 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. Make sure to check out the demos of each brand before you buy this product as the sound can differ slightly from model to model.

A neat way to make your recording session even more fun is to utilize a midi-intensive setup.  Your midi-intensive studio can include a keyboard, synthesizer, sound module, or sampler. These are cool to have because you get flawless drum sounds without having an actual drummer.

After you get the basic equipment to start recording, all you have left to setup 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.