Music Studio Phase II - sans condenser mic

I have decided to postpone the purchase of a new microphone, since I don't really have much opportunity to do this kind of recording. However, I have found a couple nice additions to my studio set-up (totaling just about $110). I recently made 2 purchases to allow a more flexible, complete, mobile solution to my DAW. I now have the ability to take my studio on the road and use my Sony Vaio.

First I have added a simple E-MU XMIDI 1x1 USB interface ($25) so I can use my midi keyboard with a USB port.

Secondly, I needed a USB audio interface / preamp. After some research I found an excellent solution that offers a substantial "bang-for-your-buck" using an ART USB Dual Pre ($80). The ART is a great solution for me so far. It is very portable, powered by USB, and requires no software drivers. When you plug it in you will find "USB audio codec" added to your sound I/O hardware options. However, you don't have to select this for your system if you run most of your studio software on top of JACK. Instead, just change the input and output preferences in the JACK setup and you are good to go!

I also found software designed to be a guitar effects simulator called Rackarrack which also has an on-board tuner and can route your guitar notes to midi events. Although it has limited sensitivity, this may be a good way to score midi data for someone (like me) who plays guitar/bass better than keyboard.

Home Recording Studio - Phase I

I think it is important to document my progress as I piece together a home recording studio. At this point I have come to a significant stage that I am designating Phase I. Phase I is basically setting up as much as I can without any new hardware purchases.

Phase I

Hardware:

1. In-The-Box:

- American Megatrends MoBo (add specs)
- Pentium IV 2.83 MHz microprocessor
- 2GB RAM (add specs)
- 80GB IDE 56k HD (check specs)
- Lite-On SATA DVD-RW
- SoundBlaster Audigy 1 sound card with mounted breakout box and midi "joystick" adapter

2. Out-The-Box:

- V-Tech vt-1030 dynamic mic w/ XLR3 cables
- radioshack dynamic mic
- Yamaha 12-string accoustic/electric
- Guild 6-string accoustic/electric (recently "set-up" including bridge reattachment $150)
- Epiphone Les Paul (recently "set-up" including jack-plate recplacement $50)
- Zoom Player Pro 4040 (ca. 1995) digital effects pedal
- Morley Wah pedal
- Crate PA-800 800W 8-Channel Power Mixer
- Cybersound 3 octave midi keyboard (given to me by a colleague)

I did, however, recently purchase a Boss RC-20 Loopstation ($150) which is not as much for recording as for assisting the writing process...and just a lot of fun to use!

Software (Ubuntu-9.10):

- Advanced Linux Sound Architecture (ALSA) audio driver.
- Jack Audio Connection Kit (JACK or Jack).
- QJackCtl with the Jack audio server engine which runs on top of an optimized low latency "real-time" kernel (linux-rt). Also acts as a convenient transporter that may control several programs simultaneously such as Hydrogen, Muse, Qtractor and Ardour.
- Ardour2-GTK professional-grade multi-track recorder, mixer and audio editor that syncs with JACK Transporter.
- Qtractor multi-track midi sequencer and audio recorder that syncs with JACK.
- Hydrogen percussion sequencer (syncs with JACK) supporting multiple drum-kits with on-board mixing console and song editor to organize drum patterns into a complete performance.
- JSampler gigedit .gig sample engine
- QSynth soundfount .sfs sample engine
- ZynAddSubFX addition/subtraction digital synth with built in effects

So in total I have spent $400, but that was mostly to refurbish my guitars and buy a looper "toy." As it stands now, I have enough equipment and know how to use what where enough that I have a really good start to being able to make music that someone other than me can hear.

Additions for Phase II:

Condenser Mic for enhanced vocal recording
Stereo Preamp with phantom power