| Home computer music recording has become | | | | companies produce audio software plug-ins of the |
| extremely popular, both as a hobby and as a | | | | vst or directx variety that will work with even low |
| legitimate means of live recording and mixing. For the | | | | cost software. A number of the plug-ins are actually |
| serious musician or recording technician, the computer | | | | offered free of charge. |
| software combination offers ease of use and lower | | | | For the more serious enthusiast, the computer (pc) |
| cost, and it requires less space than traditional | | | | should contain at least a Pentium 4 or Athlon 64 |
| methods of recording. | | | | processor, 200gb, 7200 rpm IDE or Serial ATA hard |
| Recording can be accomplished by using a "mixing | | | | drive, 1 gigabyte of dram, a good video card, and a |
| board" to pre-mix multiple signals with their | | | | high quality sound card. Any on-board video should be |
| corresponding analog effects (if desired) before | | | | disabled in the cmos setup and a quality graphics card |
| sending them to the computer, or each "plain" signal | | | | with at least 64mb ram installed. |
| can be recorded independently to its own track | | | | A flat panel monitor with a 19" screen is preferred |
| through a computer audio interface, software | | | | over a crt. With the large viewing area, the video |
| effects applied, and the individual tracks then mixed | | | | resolution can be set at 1280 x 1024, enabling more |
| together. | | | | of the audio recording software to be viewed on the |
| Using a mixer and analog effects, one could | | | | screen at one time. |
| conceivably record without the benefit of multiple | | | | On-board audio (if available) should also be disabled |
| tracks, resulting in the need for less expensive, more | | | | and a high quality sound card installed into the |
| simplistic software. For much greater control and a | | | | computer. Also, invest in a pair of quality, amplified, |
| more polished sound, a quality multitrack software | | | | near-field monitors. These speakers are designed |
| with effects is preferred. | | | | specifically for music recording. Remember, if you're |
| Although more difficult to learn and use, multitrack | | | | serious about your recordings, you'll want the music |
| software provides many more options for the user. | | | | to be reproduced as realistically as possible. |
| The cost for quality multitrack recording software | | | | A computer audio interface of some sort is a real |
| can range from $40 to several hundred dollars. Don't | | | | necessity. It should have 1/4" inputs for instruments |
| let the low prices fool you though, many a great | | | | such as electric guitars or keyboards, as well as XLR |
| recording has been made with shareware recording | | | | inputs for microphones. 48v phantom power should |
| software. | | | | be avaiable for condensor mics, as well. A mixer could |
| If you aren't experienced in multitrack recording, | | | | even be plugged into the audio interface if more |
| purchasing at the low end of the spectrum makes | | | | flexibility is needed. |
| sense. It's best to choose a product that will accept | | | | More and more, musicians are realizing the high quality |
| plug-ins, though. Plug-ins are small pieces of software | | | | and low costs associated with producing their own |
| that provide various functions (typically effects) that | | | | recordings, while those interested in the technical side |
| can be installed into the multitrack software, providing | | | | of recording can see the increased benefits of digital |
| greater flexibility to the sound engineer. Several | | | | recording, mixing and mastering. |