So anybody who's spent more than 15 minutes with me knows that I spend a considerable amount of time & money working on my home recording studio. I've been interested in home recording for over 10 years now... ever since I took a music theory class in high school and was introduced to computer-based MIDI sequencing (on a Mac - yikes!). During college I was introduced to 4-track tape for recording, then after graduation I started recording on my PC using Digital Orchestrator Pro and later Cakewalk Pro Audio. Now, while I'm still using Cakewalk's Sonar 8.5 Producer to record on my PC, it's interesting to look back on how my recording setup has evolved over the past decade...
Here's my first recording computer, which technically didn't have much going for it aside from a SoundBlaster card and an external MIDI interface... not great, but about all I could do in an apartment...
Once I moved (~2000) I was able to upgrade the studio computer and put in a dedicated card for recording (Lexicon Core2), which gave me the ability to record up to 6 channels at once when combined with the SoundBlaster. Note the sudden proliferation of rack gear...
In late 2004 I built a new studio PC from scratch, using a pair of M-Audio Delta 1010LT cards to record up to 20 channels at once. Again, notice the completely new collection of rack gear...
Almost not worth mentioning (due to the utter disappointment), my next setup (January 2006) used a pair of Presonus FirePods to record up to 16 channels at once. While the promise of simplicity was great, the experience was horrible... almost every recording was plagued with snaps, crackles, and pops. Reformatting the PC and reinstalling all the software didn't help; neither did the constant finger-pointing between Presonus, Cakewalk, and Microsoft about whose fault it was that firewire wasn't performing as expected. After a few weeks of messing around with the FirePods, I sent them both back.
My current setup (as of April 2007) uses the same PC but with a pair of Frontier Audio Dakota/Montana cards. With the current preamps/converters from Presonus, I can now record up to 16 channels at once, but the Frontier cards support up to 32 channels at once with additional preamps/converters...
The whole room is set up as follows, which allows me to record a whole rock band (drums, bass, guitars, keys, scratch vocals) live...
And, of course, it wouldn't be complete without a powerpoint "mock-up" showing how it's typically wired up:
Anyway, while I've cycled through my fair share of computers, sound cards, & rack gear over the years, one thing that has remained fairly consistent is my use of recording software from Cakewalk. I started out with Cakewalk Pro Audio 8, moved to Pro Audio 9, to Sonar 2.2XL, to Sonar 4 Producer, then to Sonar 6 Producer, and recently to Sonar 8.5 Producer. I remember when Cakewalk switched from being a pure MIDI sequencing tool to supporting recording/playback of digital audio, when video editing support was added, when digital effect processors (DSP) were bundled in (so I could greatly reduce the amount of rack gear), and when virtual synthesizers/drums were added. These days, a full Sonar install (with all the plug-ins) can easily handle the job of rooms full of analog gear (effects, synthesizers, mixers). Whether or not it sounds the same is subject to debate, but nobody can argue that it doesn't provide a lot of capability and convenience for the money.
Just as interesting to me as the software evolution has been the developing market for interesting hardware: For mixing, I use a Cakewalk/Peavey StudioMix (can be seen in several of the pics above), which is basically a virtual mixing console... it has 8 channels worth of knobs and sliders which move knobs and sliders on the screen--no audio actually flows through the device. The Studiomix sliders are automated, so they will move in sync with the sliders on the screen during playback. Very cool for giving the "feel" of a real mixing console, since moving knobs and sliders on screen with the mouse isn't the most authentic experience. Also worthy of note is the Frontier Design Tranzport, which is essentially a wireless remote for Sonar. It allows me to play, record, rewind, fast foward, solo/mute individual tracks, and check levels from anywhere in the room. Very helpful little tool since most of the time when I'm recording a band, I'm doing double-duty as recording engineer and guitar player, so I can't always be sitting in front of the computer. Even relatively simple devices like SMPro's NanoPatch play a big role... the NanoPatch is basically a big standalone volume knob for studio monitors, which is necessary since most D/A converters do not have volume knobs and the volume knobs on most studio monitors are on the backside, where they can be hard to reach and adjust precisely.
With all this gear, a lot of reading/research, some hands-on experience, and a critical set of ears, I have been able to put together some decent recordings over the years, many of which are available on the Sounds/MP3's page.
Anyway, this provides a bit more insight into one of my big hobbies (er, obsessions). I'm always glad to talk shop with anybody else who's experimented with or looking to get into home recording.
red indicates recent acquisitions
purple indicates items for sale
Studio rack:
Home stereo (also used for monitoring):
Other studio gear:
|       |
Posts
1 comments:
I love all of your photos and the progression of your studio. I love the diagram, the only one I have found so far. But, think of me as pre your first studio even. Any chance you can somehow show me how (and with what types of wires) I can hook up a basic mic/and or guitar to a basic UB802 mixer, Alesis 3630 compressor then Mac computer? i acquired the items with no manuals and no connecting wires. I am a real plebe.
Post a Comment