To Begin Let's Convert

As it is, I have not completely finished the remodeling of the studio but I have acquired  a majority of the basic tools I will use during this project. My budget is at a minimum for the time being so I have made a conscience decision to start small and work my way up to a more elaborate work environment when the funds become more available.

I will be using an analog to digital type of recording environment. Analog being the live vocals and instruments that I will play and digital being the computer and software that will capture and record the sounds. In order to accomplish this, an analog to digital converter will be needed. This device allows for a live instrument to be plugged directly into it whether through a 1/4" or XLR jack. The device then converts the incoming analog sounds internally into digital frequencies that are transported via USB or 1394a cable to the computer. Software which has been installed such as Cubase, Pro Tools or Cakewalk will then take the incoming digital signal and decipher it into audible sound. From here it is treated like any recording/playback device would treat a sound source by storing  it in a file form on the hard drive of the computer (usually a WAV file) instead of to tape or compact disc. You can now play, forward, rewind, loop, speed up tempo, slow down tempo, add effects and manipulate it just about anyway you could imagine. Your only limitations will in the size of the hard drive that you store your recordings to. I will get into my computer specifics in my next blog entry.
note: If you've already decided that Pro Tools will be the software you will be using, you will want to be careful when purchasing a converter. This is due to the fact that Pro Tools is proprietary to Digidesign and M-Audio converters only. It is not guaranteed to work with any other Brand of converter. Read over the requirements carefully when purchasing this or any software.

THE CONVERTER

Being that I am a solo enthusiast at the moment, I find that beginning with a 2-Track input converter will be more than sufficient for what I am trying to accomplish. This will allow me to record two separate analog inputs simultaneously (i.e; vocals and guitar) or a stereo analog instrument such as a keyboard running the left output of the device to input A of the converter and the right output to input B. Doing some price comparison shopping on the internet allowed me to find the best bang for my buck. I will be using a Tascam US-122 that cost around $199 US at the time I purchased mine. (You can read more on the specs of this device by clicking on the image).
Some things to take into consideration when deciding which converter to purchase are buffers and bit depth/sample rate conversion. These two things can ultimately effect the quality of your overall recording. Buffers work in conjunction with the Random Access Memory (or RAM) that your computer contains. Generally 256mb to 1024mb of RAM will suffice and give you a nice range of Buffers to choose from when recording (I will elaborate on RAM when I get into my computer specs later). With bit depth and sample rate conversion it is a lot more difficult to explain so I will just say that you should look for a device with a minimum of a 24 bit depth and 96 kHz conversion. With most converters this is standard. There is a more in depth article you can read here.

If you have a computer or plan on purchasing one, using the specs of your converter will give you a lot more insight to what you will need to buy or upgrade. In my next blog entry I will go over my computer specs.

Introduction

I love music.

Since my earliest memories music has played a substantial part in my life. As a toddler I remember sitting on the sofa and physically rocking back and forth to melodies that were performing in my mind. Not to any music that I heard on the radio or television, just random tunes that were manifesting themselves in my thoughts. I would hum the melodies and rock back and forth to the rhythm that, for whatever reason, was giving itself to me. Of course my parents, being concerned, brought this to the attention of my pediatrician who told them not to worry it was my way of releasing stress. Even to this day I find great relief from the everyday tribulations of life when I play my guitar or listen to relaxing music or sing. There is a great spiritual power to music whether it be easy listening, rock, classical, metal, hard core or pop. Music has the power to heal, to enlighten, to rally, to motivate and to set forth change in people's lives.

What I intend to put in place here is a bit of a journal of sorts. I've never gone to school for music or taken any courses in studio engineering. I have no clue on how to write (or read for that matter) sheet music. My credentials are simple. I have played guitar for over 25 years, performed professionally in a rock band for nearly 13 years with whom I  recorded a 12 song CD and been an avid listener of every genre of music my entire life. I am currently putting the finishing touches on a home recording studio and decided to document my projects here on this blog. Everything I learn, every mistake I make and every successful result will be logged by me in hopes that others will learn from what I have done. I will list any and all software and hardware I use and techniques (good and bad). Since I am doing this on a realistic budget I am hoping to surprise myself with better than expected results using less than top notch tools. I believe that the best tool any single recording artist can have is an ear for what sounds good and what doesn't.

So with that, welcome to my journey, I hope you enjoy the ride.