Home Studio Tips

The Line 6 Bass Pod was to my bass recordings as light is to driving at night. Meaning you'll hit a lot of trees without the Line 6 Bass Pod...

I recently purchased a bass guitar. I really wanted to have bass on my recordings that I was producing. Bass recorded directly sounded ok, but I needed something more. I didn't have a bass amp, nor did I want to buy one. I went to a few music stores and tryed out the Bass Pod by Line 6.

I immediately fell in love with it. Suddenly, I had full control of my bass sound. The Line 6 Bass Pod gave me great tone while playing live or in the studio. It has over 50 stompbox, studio, and synth effects, and over 28 classic and modern amp models. The Bass Pod has everything you'll need to create a glorious bass tone.  Read More »

Ever wonder what's new in the world of home studio recording? Ever wonder how to find new recording equipment?

Every  six months or so, I get an item in the mail. It's not your usual junk mail. I really enjoy getting this. It's the Sweetwater Pro Gear Encyclopedia. Way back in the day, I ordered some recording equipment online from Sweetwater and ever since the've been sending the Pro Gear Encyclopedia out to me, for free!  Read More »

The M-Audio Audiophile 2496 should be your next soundcard. Don't settle for anything else in your home studio.

I have a few computers in my home studio. One that is super beefed up running Pro Tools and one that is used for everything else. I find that it's nice to have the freedom to use any piece of software I need, when I need it.  For my PC that is not running Pro Tools, I put in an M-Audio Audiophile 2496 soundcard. What an awesome investment. The 2496 ran me a little over one hundred bucks. But it was well worth every penny.

The Audiophile 2496 is a major leap in computer audio and performance unchallenged by any other audio card in its price range. This PCI soundcard features premium digital audio converters, elegant board design and ultra-stable drivers. The Audiophile 2496 also supports PC and Mac and most major recording software programs, ensuring seamless integration and killer performance.

Here's the specs:

• 2 x 2 analog I/O
• 24-bit/96kHz fidelity
• S/PDIF digital I/O with 2-channel PCM
• digital I/O supports surround-encoded AC-3 and DTS pass-through
• 1 x 1 MIDI I/O
• zero-latency monitoring
• gold-plated RCA jacks

The M-Audio Audiophile 2496 soundcard is also compatible with Pro Tools. Pro Tools M-Powered is a new version of Digidesign’s Pro Tools software created to work with certain M-Audio soundcards. With this card, you customize the multi-channel studio of your dreams, while remaining compatible with other Pro Tools projects.

It's really hard to say anything bad about the Audiophile 2496 soundcard. Look online, I guarantee you'll find nothing but great reviews about the Audiophile 2496. There are tons of soundcards in this price range, but don't get fooled. The M-Audio Audiophile 2496 soundcard should definately be on your list for home recording equipment.

For most people, recording a CD is a big commitment of both time and money, so it's a good idea to be prepared before you enter the studio. Here are a few tips to get you prepared for a productive recording session:

Check Your Guitars  Read More »

I was fortunate enough to inherit my grandfather's Hammond M-101 Organ. Real pain in the butt to move, but man does it sound great. This thing was built before I was born, back in 1967. I still have all of the original documents that have my grandfather's name on them. Plus all of the old songbooks, etc.

It does not have a leslie speaker. I couldn't even imagine how great it would sound if it did. All of the drawbars work perfectly. Keys, motor, speakers are all in great shape also. It's a little noisy when you set the mics up, mainly becase of the motor spinning. But if you crank it up really loud, it records pretty decently. It has a very percussive, Deep Purple kind of sound to it. And the foot pedals blast bass like crazy!!

I can always find room on a recording for organ. I also have tried some midi organs, syths, and other "fake" organs, nothing comes even close. You have to have the real thing. You have to have a Hammond.

Most home studios don't have all of the instruments (drums, organ, and piano), that's why most guys are using midi, or synths, or computer software, etc. My goal is to have all of it someday. Why not? If you want to produce good music, you need real instruments. The synths and the computers sound too synthetic. Plus, there's nothing like the sound of an instrument that was made over thirty years ago. Talk about character.

Here's the specs:  Read More »

When I first started recording music at home. I was using a 4 track and headphones for mixing. Let me just start by saying, if you're using nothing but headphones for mixing, your music is going to suffer. I guarantee it.

This is how I got by at first: I had a great stereo in my truck. So, I would actually make a mixdown in my living room using headphones. Burn it to a disk. Go out to my truck, drive around the block and listen to my mix. Go back home and change what I thought needed changing.

So, when I went to build my home studio, I knew I was going to be using Pro Tools so I had to get something of quality for my studio monitors. I had set aside about $700 as a budget for my monitors. I spent a lot of time at Mars Music and Guitar Center listening to monitors in my price range. The conclusion I came up with was that the Event PS-6 monitors sounded miles above everything else. So I bought them.

I can directly attribute great sounding recordings to my Event monitors. Suddenly, I could tell exactly what things sounded like. They sound so clear, so pure, so accurate, so detailed...even some of my bad mixes were sounding good.

For once I was confident that what I heard is what I was really getting. No more wondering if I had too little or too much bass. Just knowing that what I heard was real.

These monitors are powered. I've even used them as PA speakers with my mixer at a gig. Not recommended, but it worked in a pinch.

The Project Studio line has been discontinued, but Event has several other studio monitors to choose from. I highly recommend them. It will help your overall sound. And just think, no more running out to the car to check your mix!

The Digitech RP100a is an awesome little effects unit for the price.

When I was working as a recording studio intern, I learned one valuable lesson...that Digitech made kick *ss guitar processors. He had a big rack-mounted purple unit that had everything. I don't remember the model or what it was called, matter of fact it's probably been discontinued. But I do remember it bringing the rock.

When I thought about electric guitar and my studio at home, I needed an effects unit that was versatile. I needed a guitar processor that could do mellow, distortion, delay, reverb, chorus and any other cool effects that I fancied. I also needed an effects unit that was cheap.

I found all of these things, and more, in the Digitech RP100 Modeling Guitar Processor. Right out of the box, I liked this processor. It was built like a tank. I was smiling as soon as I plugged it in. I love new toys...especially ones that make my guitar sound better.

The Digitech RP100 features:  Read More »

The Behringer Eurorack MX802a is a small, versatile and very affordable mixing board.

When I purchased equipment for my home studio. I kept two things in mind. One, that I was mainly going to be recording me...solo, and two that I would like to be able to record a full band if the chance arose. I needed a mixer that was small, but had multiple XLR inputs. I also needed phantom power for my AKG C 1000 S condensor microphones.

I found the Behringer Eurorack MX802a at Guitar Center. The price was right. If I remember correctly, I got it around $150. The Behringer Eurorack MX802a was very cheap and powerful. Behringer had quite a few other mixers to chose from, however, the Eurorack MX802a had everything I needed. Plus it was right in line with my limited budget.

According to Behringer's website, this model has been discontinued. It looks like the closest mixer would be the 602a. Half the size, and the next one up is a 16 channel. Looks like they killed their midrange line of mixers. What a shame.

The Behringer Eurorack MX802a offers:

• Four mono mic/line channels with INVISIBLE MIC PREAMPs plus two stereo channels
• MIDI equipment or other stereo sound sources and a 2-track input/output for recording and playback
• 3-band equalizers in each channel plus switchable low-cut filters in the mono channels
• Two aux sends
• Two stereo returns
• Phantom power
• Accurate peak LED’s and level meters

I've also used the Behringer MX802a  as a PA for playing live. Paired it with my powered Event monitors and it sounded delicious in the "acoustic coffee shop" setting. The Behringer MX802A really sounded great with my 12 string and a cello.  Read More »