| You can copy me and take away all the guesswork. If | | | | any music stores!) I finally built a really cheap and |
| there's one thing I know how to do, it's build a beginner | | | | top-functioning beginner home recording studio on your |
| home recording studio from scratch for very little | | | | computer. |
| money. | | | | Here's what I use and recommend to all beginners |
| It's hard when you're first starting out, I know. You're | | | | looking to get started: |
| confused about what to buy, what you can get for | | | | The software, which is the foundation of your studio, is |
| free, if the components are compatible with each | | | | very important. Get the wrong one, and you will be |
| other, if you're going to have to buy something else to | | | | either stuck not being able to do much with it (the free |
| get this or that gadget to work properly. | | | | stuff), or not being able to understand it and use it |
| It can be very frustrating. Let me tell you a short story | | | | easily (the expensive stuff). The one I use is EASY, |
| about an experience I had when starting out, and you | | | | CHEAP, and FEATURE-RICH. That's the winning |
| see if it sounds familiar. | | | | combo, folks, and I've only come across it once in my |
| I did some research on the internet and decided I | | | | search. |
| needed a new MIDI device, or a MIDI cable to hook up | | | | The microphone is the next most important factor. |
| my existing keyboard. I wasn't sure which. So I went to | | | | Most of them require extra equipment just to be able |
| a "reputable" music store. I asked the two salespeople | | | | to use it with your computer. I know a great one that is |
| what I needed, and do you know what I found? They | | | | a USB plug and play model (unusual), very high quality, |
| knew even less than I did! I was throwing out terms | | | | and also doubles as an audio interface for your guitar |
| that they had never heard of. I was shocked and | | | | or other instruments. |
| dismayed. | | | | Finally, the MIDI device. This is not required if you just |
| Then I went to another, even more reputable, music | | | | want to play guitar and sing, like unplugged recordings |
| store and asked about the MIDI device I had pretty | | | | or something. But if you want to add virtual instruments |
| much decided to purchase. But I had one | | | | to your mix, and control all the parts easily via a |
| question...whether or not I needed a new sound card. | | | | keyboard, then you need one of these. And I will |
| This salesman acted like he knew exactly what he | | | | personally confess that this is the coolest piece of |
| was talking about when he told me, "The sound card | | | | equipment you can get for your studio. Highly addictive |
| has nothing to do with it." | | | | and fun to play with. If you don't think you need it now, |
| Even I knew that wasn't right. So I decided I would | | | | you will wonder what you ever did without it after |
| have to go it alone. | | | | you've used it for a couple of weeks! |
| Through trial and error, (and NO help from anyone at | | | | |