Creating a recording studio

[tektonic]

I've been booking studio time up until now and I'm recording more and more frequently so I figured in the long run I would save money if I set up my recording booth.

I'm considering the Pro Tools package with the Rode NT1-A mic and the MBox 2.

Would this be adequate enough to record good enough quality tracks to record demos for local singers/rappers?

What should I do about bass trapping and acoustics?

I have a small closet I could use, I heard this would help the quality of the tracks.

I know that the quality also depends on the mixing and mastering of the tracks and I'm learning and working on this everyday.

Could someone answer any of these questions? I come across as stupid but I'm just confused with all these conflicting opinions I read on here.

Its all vocal recording by the way, no instruments yet

[Bill Moriarty]

What computer do you have?
What's your budget?
Are you trying to learn to be a recording & mixing engineer or is it just for production at home that you'll later take to another studio for mixing?
Can you throw up a couple photos of your room and the closet? That'll help us help you.

[cavern]

my opinon is if your a good singer and have good songs, you can get a good vocal recording on pretty much anything in that price range(nt-1/m-box 2).
while you decide your price range, this might help alot.

Tweak's Guide to the Home and Project Studio

[tektonic]

Originally Posted by Bill Moriarty

What computer do you have?
What's your budget?
Are you trying to learn to be a recording & mixing engineer or is it just for production at home that you'll later take to another studio for mixing?
Can you throw up a couple photos of your room and the closet? That'll help us help you.

My budget is about $500-$800. It can go higher, just needs I need to wait a bit more and save.

I have a Packard Bell IMedia 1959. Spec:

Intel® Pentium® D Processor 950 (Dual core processor 3.4ghz)
Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition
2 GB DDR2 Ram
400GB HDD
DVD Player

DVD+/-R9 (Writer)
NVidia GeForce 7500LE Graphics Card (512MB Turbo cache)


I want to learn to mix a vocal and instrumental track in a basic way. When I record a professional product with a proper budget I will get it mixed by a studio engineer but I just want to learn how I can make my myspace/mixtape tracks sound more professional with basic reverb and eq and other effects.

I'll get some photos up tomorrow, my brothers got my cam tonight


And thanks for the advice and site cavern. Looks like a really useful website.

[Riv]

The important question is:

Are you trying to learn to be a recording engineer or are you trying to make a great record?

IMO, if you build your studio because you're an artist trying to make a really great record, it's a waste of time, money, and you'll never end up with the results that you'd get if you go in to a great studio and have an objective, really experienced person work the technical ends of things. (Objectivity is the important part of that)

If you're on a quest to learn to record other people's music and learn about engineering, then build something at home.

Riv

[tektonic]

^ I am trying to learn how to record other artists.


Does anyone have any advice?

[Unclenny]

Go ahead....get yourself the Rode and the MBox and start recording. Don't spend any more time stewing about it. They are good enough to get some good sound. It is your skills that you'll need to work on.

Just do it.

The more you record the better you will get at it......and.....you will also learn what gear you need for better tracks by getting the most you can out of your Rode and MBox setup.

Hey...that's what I did.

[ianbryn11]

i agree with unclenny... The only way to figure it out is to start doing it... You will have the rest of your life to learn, might as well start now...

[RTR]

I would not get a mbox..I had mine for 4 days and could not get rid of it fast enough..it sucks man...get a m-audio 610..better pre's better ad/da and more i/o options..I use PT m-powered and PT le and I ain't missing anything when using m-powered!