A recording mixer is part of the equipment needed in a home music studio.
Setting up a music studio on your home computer is a lot easier than you might think. The most difficult part in the process will be picking through all of the available options and choosing the computer, software, hardware and microphones that best fit your recording needs and budget. Three software options are Digidesign Protools, Cubase LE and Garage Band.
Instructions
Installing a Home Studio on your Computer with Protools LE
1. Install the Digidesign Protools LE audio production software on your computer.
2. Locate the USB cable that came with Protools and plug the square end into your Digidesign hardware. Plug the other end into an available USB port on your computer.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the hardware installation.
4. Plug the XLR cable into the microphone. Use the end with the three female pin holes. Plug the other end into the one of the Digidesign hardware's inputs.
5. Launch Protools by clicking on the Protools icon that was installed. From the top menu Select "File," "New Session."
6. Click "Track," "Add Track" from the top menu.
7. Click "View," "Mix Window" from the top menu.
8. Select the source input for the track you created. Make sure to select the same one your microphone is plugged into.
9. Click the Record button on the channel you selected. This record enables the track but does not start the recording process.
10. Plug in your headphones into the headphone output on the Digidesign hardware device.
11. Start singing or playing an instrument into the microphone.
12. Observe the meter on the channel you created and make sure the signal is not in the red. If it is, turn down the source output on the hardware device. If it's too low bring up the source output.
13. Click "View," "Transport" on the top menu. This will launch the transport window.
14. Click the "Play" button and then the "Record" button. You are now ready to record your first song in Protools. To add tracks simply repeat this process over again starting at Step 9.
15. Save your project by choosing "File," "Save" from the top menu.
Install a Home Studio on an Apple Macintosh OSX Computer with Garage Band
16. Install a USB audio interface that is compatible with Garage Band. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the hardware installation.
17.Plug the XLR cable into the microphone. Use the end with the three female pin holes. Plug the other end into one of the Garage Band audio interface inputs.
18. Launch Garage Band from an Apple Macintosh computer running OSX. The program icon can be found on your toolbar or in the "Applications" folder.
19. Select "File," "Create New Music Project" from the menu that pops up.
20. Name your song in the "Save As:" dialog box, choose a location to save your project on your computer and then click "Create" at the bottom of the window.
21. Select "Track," "New Track" from the top menu.
22. Click on "Real Instrument Track" and then click the "Create" button.
23. Start singing or playing an instrument in the microphone.
24. Observe the meter on the channel you created and make sure the signal is not in the red. If it is, turn down the source output on the hardware device. If it's too low bring up the source output.
25. Click the "Record" button. You are now ready to record your first song in Garage Band. To add tracks simply repeat this process over again starting at Step 7.
Install a Home Studio on a Computer with Cubase LE
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Install the Steinberg Cubase LE audio production software on your computer. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the hardware installation.
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Plug the XLR cable into the microphone. Use the end with the three female pin holes. Plug the other end into the one of the Cubase LE compatible audio interface inputs.
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Launch Cubasa LE by clicking on the Cubase icon that was installed. From the top menu Select "File," "New Project."
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Select "Empty" on the templates dialog and click the "OK" button.
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Select a location on your computer to store the project in the "Set Project Folder" dialog and then click the "Choose" button.
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Select "Project," "Add Track," "Audio" from the top menu.
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Select via drop down arrow the input you plugged the microphone into on the left pane. This is located next to the "in:" dialog box.
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Select the "Record Enable" button on the track you created.
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Start singing or playing an instrument into the microphone.
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Observe the meter on the channel you created and make sure the signal is not in the red. If it is, turn down the source output on the hardware device. If it's too low bring up the source output.
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Click the "Play" button and then the "Record" button to being recording. To add tracks simply repeat this process over again starting at Step 6.
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Click the "Stop" button when you are finished recording.
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Select "File," "Save" to save your session.
Tags: Garage Band, source output, into microphone, hardware device, menu Select, other into