VJ Heaven

So you’ve been playing guitar in your bedroom for years and have decided to purchase a Home Recording Studio Setup. There are so many audio Interfaces currently available that this seemingly simple task can easily become quite confusing. An audio interface or DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) is a device that handles input and output of audio and MIDI to and from your computer. Some of the questions you’re most likely to ask may sound a little like: ‘Should I spend as little as possible?’, ‘Do I spend a little more in the hope that I may need some of the features on the more expensive unit?’, ‘Do I lash out and find myself sitting in front of a unit with little knowledge as to what 90% of its features actually do!?’. Sound familiar?

Before investing in a home recording studio setup for the first time, I would strongly consider some of the following:

How many inputs at any given time will I need?

Given that there can be so many different projects in a recording scenario, 2 Inputs may be all you need. With today’s technologies, musicians can easily create ‘Commercial’ sounding recordings with drums, strings, keys, bass, guitars and vocals with only two audio inputs and a MIDI I/O. Or, do you wish to record a Live Band in which you’ll need at least 16 tracks? That’s not to say you can’t record a band with only 8 tracks, or 2 for that matter… you will just have less control of each individual instrument. Do you need the inputs to support Line Level, Accept a Bass or Electric Guitar (DI) and power my microphone with 48V Phantom power? Do you want to utilise the Digital output of your Guitar Amp Simulator or synthesizer? If so, you’ll be needing either a S/PDIF or optical input.

What programme is best for my needs?

Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Ableton Live, Sonar, Adobe Audition and Cubase are just a few of the many programmes users can choose from. But which one is best for you? Should you go with industry standard Pro Tools or, Logic Pro with better MIDI capabilities? Would Cubase suit your needs as you can use it with a broader range of Hardware? As you can guess, different programmes excel where others may not be as capable. Find out what programme suits the style of music you’re most likely going to be recording.
Will the programme work with your computer and operating system? Does it support MAC and PC? Check online forums for compatibility issues with your computer. Does the particular unit you’re thinking of buying require fire wire or USB? Does your computer have both of these inputs?

Does my studio have to be portable?

Some recording studios are used solely as editing suites where inputs are never needed. Thus, manufactures have invented USB styled portable hardware. Many of the units on today’s market are, in fact, portable. It’s only when you combine many other pieces of hardware where setups become difficult to transport. Do you want to have it placed in a rack so if down the track, you can add other pieces of gear?

Phil takes a look at the Zune Home Android launcher replacement, making your phone look a bit like the Zune and Windows Phone 7 UIs. www.androidcentral.com

visit www.menigma.com for more information… just a small home mapping thing using the modul8 and after effects. Music by Paul Kalkbrenner

I’m done with posting for this week as it’s time to overhaul my (very, very humble) apartment studio space and gear closet. But that seems the perfect time to ask you how you set up your musical workspace. (I think people imagine that I have rooms full of gear, but I really do a lot of work in-box on computer, which I’m gradually augmenting with some “boutique” – but reasonably affordable – DIY synth boxes. As an urbanist and someone on a limited budget with limited space, that works well.)

I’m a great fan of Lifehacker’s ongoing series on their readers’ workspaces, which show off marvels of productivity, efficiency, and attractive interior design:
Lifehacker Workspace Show and Tell [Flickr]
For some of the best examples: http://lifehacker.com/tag/workspace/

It’s funny; the notion of “bedroom producers” is often disparaged, but I think the ability to have personal workspaces are a great thing for music. Now, a musical workspace can range from an impromptu setup on a hotel room desk to a corner of an apartment to a space you’ve built in a barn to a traditional studio. Each of those locations has its own advantages (and in a way, make you appreciate what’s special about the conventional studio even more).

So, whether you’ve worked out a mobile rig with a Nintendo DS and a tape recorder or you’ve got a dream studio you get to work in — or you want to show off how you’ve managed to organize your closet full o’ gear and cables — we’d love to hear from you. Send us a link to a public gallery in comments, or upload to CDM’s Flickr pool:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/cdmu/pool/

Also, do us a favor. Either send a note explicitly allowing us to reproduce your image, or even better, license your photo on Flickr as Creative Commons ShareAlike. (Because CDM runs ads against content, we apparently do not qualify as a non-commercial use. ShareAlike, though, means that anyone using your content also needs to share their content, which helps protect against exploitation.) You can add the license directly on Flickr, and then it’s more likely that we can use your images. I’ve actually thought of doing regular round-ups of images on Flickr, but getting individual licenses would be too time-consuming; if people do start doing this, I will easily feature the images you’re sending in!

I’m really eager to see your musical environments. Part of the joy of music is that ability to take your mind and spirit to another place, and that means setting aside physical space. (I recall a Buddhist friend of mine and the importance that had for where he would chant. It wasn’t anything extravagant, just a decision to set aside a location for the activity.)

To kick things off, Thomas Dolby has the location most of us would dream of: he’s got a wind- and solar-powered restored lifeboat on the north coast of England.

Dolby talks about his studio and the ideas behind it, followed by a new song he wrote in the boat, at TED:

Keyboard Magazine took a tour of the boat and covers all the gear contained onboard):
On Board Thomas Dolby’s Solar Studio Boat

More photos at Tiny House Design

But I’d love to see your less-exotic music making locations, too.

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