Do-it-Yourself Recording

It used to be that to make a high-quality music or voice audio recording, the average person or organization would need to enlist the help of a local recording studio — a time-consuming and expensive proposition at best. Unless you were made of money, you had to have your act really together and cut the audio in as few takes as possible to save your budget. Creativity could be stifled because of the time constraint and the unfamiliar surroundings. And often you would finish the project wishing you only had more time and money to get things just right.

With the recent surge in digital audio technology, equipment is providing a wider range of functionality and much higher quality for less money. Consequently, it’s no surprise that more musicians and audio recordists are deciding to invest in equipment that will allow them to create their audio at the location and pace they choose.

CCI Solutions has a wide variety of products that can help you produce quality recording anywhere, at home, at church, wherever. Here are some basic ideas to help you decide what types of equipment might be right for you.

First ask this question: What do I want to record? Maybe your youth band needs to make a demo CD, or you need to record voice-overs or sound bites for your local radio station spot. Possibly your company training videos need quality narration and music, or you would just like to make better recordings of your church choir during services.Knowing what you want to record will lead you to the recording method to use. Simple voice recordings only require a mono or stereo recorder, some basic processing and a quality microphone. A music demo, on the other hand, could require a multitrack recorder, multiple mics, more in-depth processing with effects and the ability to mix down the multiple tracks into a stereo master for distribution. Audio for video presentations may require software that can play back and sync video & audio.

As you think about what you want to record, look over the topics below to get an idea of the equipment you’ll need to build a recording system that fits your needs.

Recorders
There are a variety of mono and stereo master recorders (analog or digital) that will give you quality results for basic recordings of a single source. If you are going to be recording more than one voice or source at a time, you will need a mixer to combine the sources and adjust the levels. You can browse our large selection of mixers here on the site or our trained sales staff can help you find the right style and size mixer for your application. If multi-track recording is what you need, there are several options for you to choose from. If you already have a quality mixer, or if you need to use your mixer for multiple tasks like live events as well as recording, a stand-alone or “modular” multitrack recorder may be best for you. Available in digital and analog formats, these units can record many separate tracks, and can be used in studio or live concert settings with the mixer of your choice.

Digital Editing
Many computer enthusiasts have found that their Mac or PC can be a very powerful recording and editing center. All that is really needed is an interface that connects your audio sources to the computer and some software that controls the recording, mixing and processing of the audio to be stored on the hard drive. Computer/software recording systems can be particularly useful to those wanting to edit spoken word, because of their ability to randomly zoom in on any portion of the audio and graphically edit and combine audio segments into a finished piece.

Portable Studios and Digital Workstations
One of the most exciting developments in audio recording technology in the last few years is the digital portable studio or workstation. These amazing units include studio-quality mixing, patching, recording, processing and even CD burning in one compact desk-top machine. Not only do they save money and space, they also eliminate the need for patching items together. And there are no incompatibility issues, since everything is integrated. Some of these units are quite compact (laptop or palm size) and allow you to make high-quality recordings at almost any location.

Microphones
One of the most important pieces of gear for your recording system is the microphone. You will want to choose a professional quality mic that is properly matched to your application. CCI has a large arsenal of microphones for virtually any application. A sales representative can help you select the right one. Many mics used in live sound situations are designed for use in PA sound systems and not necessarily for studio recording. In general, condenser mics, with their excellent sensitivity characteristics and flatter frequency response, work better in the studio than handheld dynamic mics.

Processors
Recorders, especially digital ones, operate best when the dynamic range of the audio fed into them is controlled and consistent. Some form of compressor/limiter is a must for good recordings. These devices keep the peaks from getting too strong and pull up signals that are too weak. You don't have to be an expert to get a good compressor setting either. Some models let you choose a preset patch for the type of recording you are doing and it does the work of automatically keeping dynamics in line. For voice applications, you can get great results using a dedicated voice processor that combines several processes in one unit. These processors can be patched through your mixer or connected directly to your recorder.

Monitor Speakers
Since your recordings will be played back on various sound systems, from home stereo to boom boxes to concert PA systems, you will need to accurately monitor the progress of your tracking and mixing to ensure proper levels and tonal settings. For this you will need studio monitor speakers. Studio monitors differ from other loudspeakers in that they are designed to be listened to in close proximity and have a narrow focal point or “sweet spot”. They need to accurately represent the entire frequency spectrum of the audio you are mixing so that you don’t overcompensate in the mix for the deficiencies in the speakers. Speaker manufacturers have moved toward including amplification in their speakers so they can ensure consistency of their product and match the amplification specifically to the characteristics of their speakers for the greatest efficiency. This is good news for you, because once again it saves space and wiring hassles.

Picking a Place To Record
The location you choose to record in can have a dramatic impact in how your recordings turn out. Probably the best setting is a sound-isolated studio that is acoustically treated on the inside to neutralize reflection and other sonic problems. It would be worth talking to a local acoustician to help you set up an acoustically neutral room. A room that is not acoustically neutral will actually add coloration to your recording that you may not want. But if you don’t have the the space or money to create a completely isolated and neutral room, there are things you can do to optimize the space you do have. CCI has a variety of solutions for problem rooms, from absorptive acoustic foam to sculptured deflection systems.

Furniture
Once you find an appropriate location to set up, you will need something to set your gear on. Standard tables will work, but there are companies that provide furniture specifically designed for audio applications that put all your recording tools within easy reach. We have several lines of racks and studio furniture to help you create the perfect work space to make great recordings.