On air essentials
The basic equipment needed for dubbing are:
- Computer
- DAW
- Audio Interface
- Microphones
- Headphones
- Studio Monitors
- Cables
- Microphone Stands
- Pop Filter
1. Computer
These days, since recording studios are almost ALL digital…
The first thing you obviously need is a computer.
And while you can just use any old computer, at-first…
You should eventually invest in the best one you can afford.
Because today’s DAW’s can be EXTREMELY hard on processing
resources.
And making full-use of its features requires a blazing-fast computer
pro tools 12The digital audio
workstation is the primary software used to record, edit, and mix music on your
computer.
Originally designed to mimic look-and-feel
of analog mixing boards from the pre-digital era…
Their visual design has remained
basically the same ever since.
Pro Tools, which has long-been the
most famous DAW, great for studios of all levels…but it is by no means the only
option.
Depending on your budget and style of
music, the best one for you could be any one of around 10 possible options.
3. Audio Interface
Once
you’ve got the software, the next thing you’ll need is an audio interface…
Which
has the primary purpose of providing all the necessary connections to send your
music:
·
INTO the
computer when recording, and…
·
OUT the
computer during playback.
Originally,
this was pretty much all they did…
But
today’s modern interfaces have evolved into incorporate many other
features as well. Those include:
·
digital
conversion
·
mic
preamps
·
DI boxes
·
headphone amps
·
monitor
management
In pro studios,
each of these items normally exist as high-end stand-alone
units, organized within a rack.
In home studios though,
these “all-in-one” budget interfaces can be a great way to save money, and
still get exactly what you need.
4. Microphones
The
oldest item on this list by far…
Microphones
have been around since long before recording studios ever existed.
Yet
ironically, in all those years, very little about them has changed.
And
many of the top models from a half-century ago are still among the
industry standards of today.
That’s
not to say that microphones are a simple topic, because it’s actually quite the opposite.
Recording
studios typically carry several-dozen mics or more…each one used to achieve:
·
a different sound
·
from different instruments
·
in different situations
5. Headphones
Unlike
most studio gear, headphones are one item that we’re all thoroughly familiar
with.
At
least…that’s what most people assume.
But
truth is, while you may own a great pair of “consumer” headphones…
For
pro audio, there are 2 special types of studio
headphones intended for 2 very specific tasks:
1.
closed
back headphones
2.
open back
headphones
6. Studio Monitors
In
the pro audio world, we call them either studio
monitors, or nearfield
monitors.
And
while they might look similar to plain old speakers…THEY’RE NOT.
Compared
to consumer speakers,
which typically accentuate certain frequency bands in order to improve the
listening experience for certain audiences…
Studio
monitors are designed with the opposite goal of
providing a perfectly FLAT frequency response, so engineers can hear
a mix as it truly is, flaws and all…so they can adjust
accordingly.
7. Cables
In
a typical pro studio, you’re likely to find hundreds of cables…
With
dozens of connectors that you’ve probably never even heard of.
And
the time will come when you own more cables than you can count.
The
good news is…in the beginning, all you need is 3:
·
One XLR
cable to connect a mic to your audio interface.
·
And two
more to connect the interface to your monitors.
8. Microphone Stands
The
same concept applies with microphone stands as with studio cables.
Eventually
you’ll have many.
But
for now, all you need is 1 or 2.
And
while you might assume that all stands are pretty much the same…
They
actually come in many shapes and sizes, each designed for specific
tasks
9. Pop Filter
Despite
the fact that pop filters are in no way “essential” to a bedroom studio…
For
some strange reason, all newbies seem to want one.
And
most probably don’t even know what they’re for.
One
peculiar fact about your mouth is that it expels a strong burst of air whenever
you pronounce “p” or “b” sounds.
In
normal conversation, you don’t even notice it.
But
when singing into a microphone, that blast of air is heard as a low frequency
“thump” known as popping, which is both unpleasant
to the ears, and unacceptable on a recording.
Pop filters are
designed to solve this problem by catching the blast of air before it hits the
diaphragm of the mic.
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