Skip to main content

Equipment Needed for Audio Recordings - and Software Too


So, you want to make a decent audio recording of some music, or speech and want to know how? There are lots of blogs and YouTube videos out there on this, but some have way too much equipment listed. Here are the bare essentials:

  1. Condenser microphone as per the picture
  2. Audio interface
  3. Cables - XLR, USB, etc.
  4. A pop filter (for speech and vocals)
  5. A DAW - digital analogue workstation - which is the software you need
  6. A room or booth ('yurt') that has been sound-proofed and acoustically deadened
None of this will cost very much, in fact the software (the DAW) can be obtained for free. Some people swear by Audacity, but I prefer Cakewalk by Bandlab. The other option is just to look for an audio interface that has free software bundled with it. I got a very basic version of Ableton bundled with my Komplete Audio 2. Ableton does way more than you need it to, as it can be used for live performances, but is easy to use for recording. Another popular audio interface is the Focusrite Scarlett. 

In terms of getting your room deadened - pick a room that already has soft furnishings - then put mattresses over the windows and door. Or create a 'yurt' by hanging blankets over a structure you can sit inside. You might not want to do your recordings in 40 degrees C (104F) or more temperatures though!

If you want to use any electric instruments you'll also need a jack-to-jack or 'instrument' cable. Most audio interfaces will take these as well as XLR inputs from mics.

It's important that your audio interface has an option to output 48V phantom power for your mic, if you use a traditional condenser mic.

USB mics aren't a good idea if you want to use them with DAWs, but with audacity you could just use something like a FiFine USB mic and do away with the audio interface, if you want to keep things really simple.

So, have a look at some of the other YouTube videos, blogs etc. on this topic, but don't forget most of them are aimed at people who want to make home studios. If you just want to make occasional ad hoc recordings, this is the blog for you - and all the best with your recordings - but don't forget to get your levels right (see my other blog on this topic).

Oh, and by the way, if you want to record a synth, the best option is probably to buy a Midi Controller keyboard. These are also fairly inexpensive, but you'll need Cakewalk or Ableton or whatever to create the virtual instruments you'll use to make the actual sounds. There are lots of free VST (virtual instrument software) plugins out there you can use.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Asset Based Bible Translation (ABBT)

Many of you will have heard of asset-based community development (ABCD). How can Bible translation programmes be asset based, rather than deficit based? The best way to look at this is a comparison table: Deficit based Asset based Driven by outsiders Driven by the community Outside funding Community funded Done to meet a need Done to help the community grow Quality control done by a consultant Community checked and approved Control from outside-in Lead by stepping back Products not accepted? Products are accepted Little engagement Engagement with products Scientific Organic Not sustainable Sustainable Of course many translation programmes these days are neither one nor t'other, they are somewhere between these two extremes. Nevertheless, this illustrates a point, and shows that the current
Post a Comment
Read more

A Flow Chart for Bible Translation (a Relevance Theory Approach)

One of the current theories behind modern translation work is Relevance Theory. [1] Here is a flow chart that explains the process often used to produce a draft when using such an approach: *Make sure your translation committee makes the decision as to what kind of translation they want. A domesticated translation is one that submits to dominant values in the target language [2] whereas a foreignized translation is one that is happy to import foreign terms and ideas from Hebrew, Greek, or the language of wider communication such as the Greek term baptizo . The chart looks something like this: Text                                   Communicated Ideas                  Context A sower went out to sow  A farmer went out to sow grain   People scattered/threw seed etc. The text has very little information, but behind it is the idea that seed was scatted by throwing it from a bag carried round the farmer's shoulder. This could be explained in the para-
Post a Comment
Read more

Asking the Right Questions in Bible Translation and Scripture Engagement Planning

If you want to get useful answers you have to ask the right questions. Do you agree? Yes, of course you do. In the Bible translation world we often ask a very narrow question when planning for the next stage of work: 'What would you like to see translated next?' Now, if you simply want to translate, and that's it, that question is fine, but what if you want to see some kind of result from your translation work? What if, for instance, you want to see transformation occur? Then a more powerful question to ask the community and positive stakeholders in the project would be: 'What kingdom goals would you like to see reached?' These kingdom goals should meet felt needs of the community - they should solve problems that are apparent to most or all in the community. See below on how those can be met. If that's too abstract, then try, 'What kinds of things, in your extended family, do you tend to worry about?' This will help establish some felt needs, from which
7 comments
Read more