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21 ways to assemble a home recording RIG
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KRK RP5G2 Rokit Powered 2-Way Active Monitor or monitors of choice |
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The nice thing about these units is that they have much of what home recordists want in an easy to deal with format. There's a built in 40 GB drive, effects, XLR mic inputs--with phantom power--so you can use nice condenser mics. Thanks to S/PDIF and USB 2.0 you can export tracks to a computer if you want. Nice for recording somewhere else in the house then editing later. The Korg is a bit newer and I like the no nonsense design on both. None of that data compression going on here. In the end, you get CD quality 16 bit/44.1 recordings on either.
The critical things to note when shopping for a multi-track recorder: 1. can it record at a 24 bit depth 2. number of inputs/preamps should match your needs (i.e., for recording a band you need a lot) 3. storage 4. the method used to transfer tracks to a computer.
I choose the KRK RP5 again because for the money, they are hard to beat. For Mics there are of course many options, but if I had to go with one, the NT1a will excel at vocals and acoustic guitars.
Its pretty unbelievable the quality that the inexpensive solid state recorders can achieve. By virtue of not using hard drives or tapes, the machine is lighter, quieter and cheaper! The tradeoffs here are how many tracks you can record at the same time, the necessity of freeing up data storage by backing up to a computer more often.
A great MTR in this range is the Zoom R16, which, amazingly, can also function as an audio interface. Great for the studio guy who might want to take the MTR to a bandmates house or to a gig, take it home and mix it down on the computer. Tweak says: That's Hott Baybay!!
Tascam DP008 8-Track Digital Pocketstudio
TASCAM's DP-008 is an eight-track recorder that captures CD-quality audio, two tracks at a time. You can use built-in microphones to grab ideas, plug condenser mics into the XLR inputs or plug a guitar directly in to lay tracks. There's even a metronome and chromatic tuner built-in for tight-sounding tracks. The DP-008 also allows you to digitally bounce tracks to make room for more, and touches like editing and undo make recording stress-free.
Tascam's DP-004 Digital Pocketstudio is based on 30 years of
easy-to-use cassette Portastudios, updated with four tracks of
CD-quality digital recording. Like those groundbreaking
Portastudios, a row of knobs set levels and pan instead of a
list of menus. Tweak: The knobs thing is
definitely a good idea. Dealing with constant menus on an
MTR can really wear one down. 4 tracks is great for the
acoustic guitarist/vocalist. More if you want. Did
you know the Beatles made the album Sgt Peppers on only 4
tracks? Unbelievable, but true.
Tascam DP-004 4-Track Digital Pocketstudio
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Zoom H4n Portable Digital Recorder The Zoom H4 has a 4 track mode. You can actually carry this recorder with you and hum the parts of your next magnum opus as you stroll through park on a lunch break. Built in condenser mics will record in full fidelity. You can record at 24bit/96khz if you need to or at MP3 economical bitrates. Naturally its great for sampling stuff for your samplers at the studio. There are more removable media digital multitrack recorders. Check out some new models |
Who it is for:
These are going away after over 25 years in bedroom studios. In fact as of 11/2009 they are gone! Tape is Dead!
People that just want to get the idea down and don't give a flip whether it sounds like it was recorded in a studio. In fact they may want it to sound like it was done at home. These people are into an old school gestalt. Well they better hurry. The cassette multitracks are no longer in stock at zzounds as of this writing x-mas 08. Those of you with dead 4 tracks and 200 master tapes from the 80's better get one quick before they are gone for good.
Hooking it up:
OK, it does not get simpler than this. You stick a tape in, plug something in to record and press a few buttons and it works. A great song on tape will still win more hearts than an average song done in Pro Tools HD. Hook it up to your stereo and have some fun. If you want to record with a XLR studio mic with these you can, but you'll have to get a mic preamp.
 Fostex X-12 or Tascam MFP01 or the Tascam Porta 02 Four track cassette studios |
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 ART Tube MP Studio Microphone Preamp
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 Shure SM57 Cardioid Dynamic Microphone
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Add the monitors of your choiceFor a passive system, considerAlesis Monitor One MK2 Studio Monitors
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 Headphones of choice |
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Hope that helps a bit to give you a sense of how many different products fit into the overall scheme of things. Of course you can mix and match many items and substitute the ones I have shown with higher and lesser quality items. There's many ways to do it right, but many more ways to do it wrong. My hope is that I have helped you find the combination that works for you.
Want to Discuss this topic? Go to the CONFIGURING your RIG Forum
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Cool Quote: "I have learned that there lies dormant in the souls of all men a penchant for some particular musical instrument, and an unsuspected yearning to learn to play on it, that are bound to wake up and demand attention some day." Mark Twain |
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