Recording Equipment for Home Use

There is plenty of recording equipment for home use to help you record  your playing. 

 

What Can Recording Do For Your Playing?

It is fun playing pieces on your instrument to a performance level, whether it is for a music exam, playing to family or friends  or performing at a concert. Another way you can perform is to record yourself with recording equipment you can use at home.

A recording can

  1. help you improve yourself as it can pick up what you are doing well and what you need improving on eg any sound or timing issues you may have. 
  2. enable you to keep a copy of your hard earned practise. And you can pass it to others to hear. This can be in the form of an audio or video.
  3. enable you to create many different parts of “you” playing. This is fun to do. Take a listen to my recording of me playing Writing On The Walls on flute, piano and Keyboard.

 

What Equipment Do I Use?

To do my recording of Writing on the Walls and other pieces I use the following equipment. 

 

Laptop

Audio Interface

Headphones

Microphone

Microphone Stand

Acoustic Studio Foam

Recording software program called Cubase

Musical Instruments:   flute  piano keyboard

Video Software called VideoPad Video Editor – NCH Software. I used the free version but you can upgrade to a paid version with more features.

 

 Useful Recording Equipment to Have

So if you are interested in recording you will need some home recording equipment like I use.

If you want to create movies to your Audio, as seen in my audio of Writing’s on the Wall then you will need to either use  free video editing software or pay for software. Paid versions are obviously the better version but the Free VideoPad editor is good to use. 

Click the blue links in the following categories of interest.

 

Computer Recording

There is a wide range of computer recording gear to meet your needs.

 

Audi Interfaces

An audio interface is a piece of hardware which you attach to your computer to improve the sound output of your computer. The sound card on your computer is an audio interface but is not up to the job of recording. Adding an audio interface will greatly benefit your recording.

There are many to choose from. As a beginner I used the Focusrite Scarlett  2i2 (2nd Gen)  Audio Interface Recording Bundle but the 3rd Generation Audio Interface Recording bundle is available.  I bought my bundle locally and it came without the pop filter.  It is a great kit to use as a beginner as it has all you need to start recording and get results.

 

Midi Controllers

What are they?

A midi controller is a piece of hardware or software which is used with an external source like a computer, to generate and transmit MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface ) data from your musical performance. It has no sound output by themselves.

Keyboard MIDI Controllers

The most common type of MIDI controller is a  piano-style keyboard, which you attach to your computer, usually via a USB cable, to send the MIDI data to your music making software.

Normal Keyboards For MIDI

I did not use a MIDI controller in my recording as I have a Yamaha Keyboard which has a MIDI output which I attached to my audio interface which in turn was attached to my laptop.

You will find that most regular keyboards and hardware synthesizers can work as a MIDI keyboard controller as well.

Which MIDI controller for you?

If you want to just want to use midi controller for recording purposes only then a Keyboard MIDI would be good for you.

If you want to record as well as use a keyboard to enjoy its many sounds then get a normal keyboard which can host connectivity to MIDI.

 

Midi Interfaces

A MIDI Interface is a  device that allows MIDI equipment such as the MIDI controller, to be connected to and work with a computer.

 

Software

Apple products come with Garageband Installed.

You need to install a software program onto PC’s.

There are a range of free software and paid software on the market. I used Cubase Le8 as it came with my Scarlett recording Bundle. To date I have only just learned the basics of how to use it and have lots more to learn.

 

Headphones

I used the Scarlett Headphones which came with my recording bundle. These headphones and the latest bundle headphones are closed-back headphones which means that are completely sealed around the back, only allowing sound out where it can reach your ear and hence blocking out a lot more outside noise. This enables you to get honest and accurate feedback and to stay entirely focused whilst recording and mixing.

You can see when you visit the Headphones link there are a variety of headphones available with varying prices. Some are closed-back whilst other are not. 

 

Microphones

The microphone in the Scarlett bundle is a a large diaphragm condenser microphone that captures every detail of your sound.

 

Microphone Stand

I bought a full floor standing microphone stand. Click title for options.

 

Studio Environment

 

This includes Acoustic Treatments such as studio foam, studio speaker stands, racks, rack accessories and furniture.

 

Acoustic Studio Foam

The objective of acoustic foam is to control sound reflections within the room, to make better sounding recordings. The purpose is to reduce, but not entirely eliminate resonance within the room. This is achieved by placing similar sized pieces of foam, often in the shape of cones or triangles, on walls and ceiling.

If you are a beginner I would recommend getting getting a home recording bundle like the Focusrite Scarlett  2i2 (3nd Gen)  Audio Interface Recording Bundle . 

Don’t forget , you can take music lessons to improve your playing and during this process you can record yourself to gauge your progress.

Have fun Recording. 

P.S  I had a little fun recording an arrangement of Happy Birthday I did, on my Yamaha Keyboard using a few voice options. Here it is.