Trumpet Studio

[recording rookie]

I'm a trumpet player and I'm new to audio recording. I would like to make a home studio to record myself and my small jazz band(small jazz combo), and my budget is about $2000 dollars. I know its not much, but i could start small and expand my studio over time. I'm looking for help for a complete system to make recordings from start to finish.

Sincerely,
Recording Rookie

[tlennon]

Originally Posted by recording rookie

II would like to make a home studio to record .... and my budget is about $200 dollars. ......I'm looking for help for a complete system to make recordings from start to finish.

All I can say is....GOOD LUCK WITH THAT! Certainly a stretch of the imagination may do it. You can probably get an all in one tape machine from Toy R Us with a built in mic and speakers for that price but don't expect anything remotely close to a quality result.

A better way to invest the little money you've budgeted is to practice with you band and rent studio time somewhere when you are ready to record.

[hbphotoav]

Originally Posted by recording rookie

I'm a trumpet player and I'm new to audio recording. I would like to make a home studio to record myself and my small jazz band(small jazz combo), and my budget is about $200 dollars. I know its not much, but i could start small and expand my studio over time. I'm looking for help for a complete system to make recordings from start to finish.

Sincerely,
Recording Rookie

If it's not a typo, and your budget is truly $200... look for a used Zoom or Tascam or Edirol digital recorder. They all have passable mics and are relatively quiet. Set up your band so as to be able to get a decent L/R image, find the sweet spot where the sound comes together, put the little dude up on a mic stand, press "REC" and go. Might be helpful to learn to play together, balanced, and in real time before you start tracking anything. Your live audiences will appreciate it, as well.

If you have Garage Band and a Mac, you might look for a used RODE, Samson or BLUE USB mic. No stereo recording, but you can track one input at a time into the computer.

In a field where a decent mic can be twice (to 10 times) your budget, then with the computer, then with the DAW, then with the micamps, then with the nearfield monitors... well, $200 is sales tax on a starter system.

[Corran]

Used Zoom H4 or equivalent would be the only possibility...that's not just a low budget, it's no budget.

[jnorman]

i assume you may at least have a computer at your disposal, yes? you can start with the wonderful free (for trial period) DAW software, Reaper. Reaper comes with tons of capability and lots of included effects plugins.

next you will need an audio interface and a couple of mics. you can pick up a used two channel interface on ebay for $100 or less, either firewire or USB2 (dont bother with older USB 1 gear). the preamps in cheap units arent going to be very good, but they will get you going. a pair of small diaphragm condenser mics will allow you to record your group as a whole - try an ORTF mic setup at 6-8 feet out from your ensemble. there are various SDCs you might fit into your budget, though again, most cheap mics sound fairly cheap, and will be the first thing you will want to upgrade. you might look at behringer C2's, karma k10's, mxl 603s or 604s, or similar. you will also need a mic stand and stereo bar to mount the mics, and a pair of XLR mic cables.

[recording rookie]

sorry that was a typo, I meant $2000, not $200