| Hope you have been practicing singing in the past | | | | Much as we have seemingly maligned the computer, it |
| week and your vocal chords are now prepared to | | | | is still required even if you'll be recording externally as |
| take on the nuances of getting on with the real thing- | | | | you'll still need to get the sound into the computer for |
| the actual recording. | | | | audio mastering, burning, MP3 upload or whatever else. |
| Moving on from where we left off the last time around | | | | If you want to get it in a high quality, some of the |
| - here are the rest of the gadgets you will need to set | | | | factors to look for are types of input, quality and |
| up your very own recording studio. | | | | connectivity. |
| Gadget 2 - Your Microphone: | | | | The advantage of using a digital multitrack as |
| While your standard microphone may be adequate to | | | | compared to a purely analog one is that it doesn't lose |
| chat with your long distance friend, you may require | | | | music recording quality when copied to another device. |
| something more technical for your recording needs. | | | | Your digital multitrack can send it's music out digitally, so |
| You'll need one that will record your music perfectly. | | | | its better to have a sound card that can accept digital |
| Microphones are the most important feature in | | | | data as well. The standard formats are called "spdif", |
| recording your music because their quality varies | | | | and come in two categories, requiring two different |
| widely and they are what you hear. | | | | types of cables: optical (spdif/o) and electronic (spdif |
| There is a wide range of microphones available such | | | | e). |
| as condensers, dynamics, tubes and many more .It has | | | | Gadget 4 - Studio Headphones, Playback Gear: |
| been observed that live mics are not always great for | | | | As you will be playing the new vocals with the backing |
| the studio. Generally, wide diagram condensers are | | | | tracks you have to make sure your backing tracks |
| what you want for vocals. That again you have to | | | | are synchronized to the device you will be recording |
| decide seeing your pocket. Remember that if you are | | | | your vocals to. |
| going to record in groups, or different types of | | | | A computer program generally does this automatically. |
| instruments, you'll require more than one microphone. | | | | If, however, you are using a multitrack with a computer, |
| Another negative for using computer microphones is | | | | your synchronization may need to be tweaked a wee |
| the connectivity issue. Many microphones have a | | | | little bit. While doing your home recording, all you will be |
| balanced output cable. You are likely to be on the right | | | | required to do is connect the computer and multitrack |
| lines if your sound card or audio interface has the | | | | via a MIDI cable and then specifying on each (the |
| corresponding input slot. If not, you will have to go in for | | | | program and the multitrack) which sync signal (MMC, |
| an alternative like running it through a mixer or a | | | | MTC, SMPTE) is sent/received. Besides, you also |
| pre-amp. Another possibility is to acquire a pair of good | | | | need to check the frame rate, which device is the |
| dynamic microphones that use an unbalanced jack | | | | master and whether pressing 'Play' on the master |
| which you can insert to get the desired output. You | | | | starts playback at the beginning or at the song position |
| could also get an adapter for your sound card. As far | | | | of the master. |
| as recording into digital multitracks is concerned, it | | | | Use the tips of this article to have a wonderful |
| should not be a problem as they are usually made for | | | | recording experience. Soon your name will figure |
| all microphones. | | | | amongst the successful singers. |
| Gadget 3 - Audio Interface Recording Sound Card: | | | | |