Home Studio Essentials Book

Introduction xiii

Chapter 1 Computers 1

Nuts and Bolts 2

CPU (Central Processing Unit) 2

RAM (Random Access Memory) 3

Hard Drive Memory (HD Memory) 3

Do I Have to Get a Computer? 3

Where Do I Start? 4

Navigating the Computer Maze 7

Fire Wire 8

USB 8

PCI Slots 8

Don't Fail Me Now 9

Towers versus Notebook Computers 11

Don't Undervalue Your Monitor 13

Something for Everyone 13

Profile: Shaul Dover 14

Chapter 2 Microphones 21

The Right Mic 24

How Microphones Work 25

Respecting the Role of the Microphone in the Signal Path 26

Dynamics, Condensers, and Ribbons 26

Microphone Choices for the Home Studio 28

Reading Frequency Response Charts 28

Polar Patterns 30

Tube Microphones 36

Quality, Consistency, and Sound Character 37

Expanding Your Mic Collection 37

Recording Instruments 38

A Special Note on Recording Drums 39

Listen, Listen, Listen 44

Miking a Piano 46

Recording Vocals 47

Recording Horns and Woodwinds 48

Recording Electrict Guitar 48

Recording Acoustic Instruments 49

Basic Stereo Miking Techniques 50

AB Stereo Miking (or Spaced Pair) 50

XY Stereo Miking 51

Budget Considerations 52

Voiceovers and Spoken Word 52

Mics for Other Applications 53

Inside the Home Studio of Joe Griffin 55

Chapter 3 Monitors 63

Why You Need Good Monitors 64

Choosing a System 64

Other Considerations 67

Speaker Positioning 69

A Note on Headphones 72

A Final Note on Budgeting 73

Interview with Ian Catt 73

Chapter 4 Preamplifiers and Channel Strips: What Goes in Must Come Out 81

What Is a Preamp Supposed to Do, Anyway? 82

Know Thy Application 84

The Importance of Impedance Matching 85

Factor in thePhantom 86

Consider the Chemistry 87

Seek Quality First 88

Trust Your Sonic Senses 89

Why You Need External Pres 90

Get the Features You Need 92

The Great Debate: Tubes versus Solid State 93

Practical Differences 95

Quality, Reliability, and Maintenance 96

Budget Considerations 97

Profile: David Malekpour 98

Chapter 5 Mixers and Controllers 105

Define What You Want to Do 109

The Mixer's Role in the Recording Process 110

Pre - or Post-DAW? 110

How Does a Signal Flow through a Mixer? 111

Core Elements of a Mixer 112

Channels 112

Inserts 112

Sends 113

Busses 113

Pan 113

Mute/Solo 113

Faders 114

It's Entirely Your Decision 114

Summing Up 114

Command and Control 116

What Does a Controller Do? 116

A Range of Options 117

More for Less 118

Profile: Frank Di Minno and Studio Z 118

Chapter 6 Effects and Processors: Altering Your Sonic Landscape 125

What Do Signal Processors Actually Do, Anyway? 126

How Do Signal Processors Fit into What You're Trying to Achieve? 126

Learn How the Tools You Have Can Creatively Impact Your Results 127

What Are the Basic Family Groups of Signal Processors? 128

Vintage Gear: What Has Changed and What Has Stayed the Same? 128

Spotting the Trends in the Professional and Home Studio Markets 131

Channel Strips: The Best of All Possible Worlds 132

Digital Connections: Hooking Up in the 21st Century 133

USB and Fire Wire 133

AES/EBU 135

S/PDIF 135

ADAT 136

TDIF 137

MADI 137

A Few Notes on MIDI 138

mLAN 138

Synching Up and Netting It Out 138

Home Studio Profile: Henry Leyva 139

Chapter 7 Power Management and Backup: Use It or Lose It 145

What Is Power Management? 148

Why Is Power Management Important in the Home Studio? 149

Where Does Power Management Fit into an Overall Home Studio Scheme? 150

What Are Some of the Threats? 150

Surges 151

Spikes 151

Sags 152

What Are Some of the Issues, and What Tools Do You Have at Your Disposal to Properly Manage Power? 152

Power Regulation 153

Voltage-Regulation Devices 153

UPSs (Uninterruptible Power Supplies) 153

Surge Suppression 154

Keeping It Clean: Filtration and the Home Studio 156

EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) and RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) 156

Filtration Solutions 156

How Do You Choose Which Gear Is Right for Your Setup? 158

What Are You Protecting? 158

How Much Equipment Do You Have? 158

How Reliable Is the Power in Your Region? 158

Identifying Manufacturing Quality 158

Other Purchasing Considerations around Power Management 159

Budget Considerations 160

The Last Word on Backing Up 161

Home Studio Profile: Christos Desalernos 163

Chapter 8 Acoustics 171

A Good-Sounding Room 172

Some Very Basic Acoustic Principles 173

Monitoring in the Control Room Environment 175

How Sound Behaves in the Home Studio Environment 177

Comb Filtering 178

Understanding Your Application and Establishing Your Program 180

Location, Location, Location 181

Architecture and Design 181

Construction Considerations 183

Internal Room Treatment Considerations 188

Testing and Evaluating 191

Budget Considerations 192

Robert Clivillés: Recording in Paradise 194

Appendix A Astoria: The "Ultimate" Home Studio 203

Index 249