Recording Studio Accessories for Home, Project and Pro Studios

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Tweak's Guide to Recording Success

Introduction For Noobs MIDI Basics Audio Basics Studio Rigs Studio Pics Past Studios Signal Flow System Guide Mac vs. PC Audio Interfaces Latency Install Issues Buy Gear Writing Music Inspiration Recorders Keyboards Controllers CC Events MIDI Routing Mixers Understanding your Mixer Digital Mixers Analog Mixers Mixer Hookup Control Surface Microphones Mic Preamps Converters Monitors MIDI Modules Effects Sequencers VST, AU, RTAS Soft Samplers Soft Synths Audio Plugins Synth Prg Tips MIDI to Audio Cables Impedance

Home Studio Setup Tips

and accessories for home, project, pro studios
by Rich the TweakMeister

Safari Power Saver Clique para iniciar plug-in do Flash

TweakLab at 4am, any given night

Organization is everything when it comes to building an efficient home recording studio. Its about space relative to your body, gear relative to your hands, ideas and possibilities close to your mind.

The most critical variable in the computer based studio is having a keyboard near your computer keyboard. Ideally, you want to be able to press record and play at the same time your other hand triggers notes. You also want to hear your music in perfect stereo when your head is pointed to the computer monitor, and also when you are at your mixing desk. Having 2 sets of speakers helps. I suggest near field monitors pointing at you when you look at your computer screen and larger mid field monitors when you are facing your mixing desk. You switch back and forth as you build the song. While you are editing the song on the computer you can use the near fields at a moderate-to-low volume to save ear fatigue, and as you do your final mix, you can use the big guns to critically evaluate depth, boominess, crispness, balance and other issues. Your tweeters should be at ear level. That's pretty important. Speakers sound different off axis. Build everything else around these considerations. Whatever you do, avoid putting speakers in corners. Move them a few feet out if it has to sit in a corner so you don't get an unwanted bass boost.

Rectangular rooms are better than square rooms. If possible have the big speakers pointing down the long side of the room to maximize the distance between the back wall and the back of your head. If your back is against the wall, the reections off the wall will play some tricks on your ears.
12 Space Rack
With 12 spaces of rack rail, you can make sure that all the effects you need are right where you need them with Music People's easily portable 12-space rack stand. It's easy transport and easy to place on stage, studio, home, or wherever you need it. Tweak writes: Cheap n' Cheerful I have Two. Perfect for a tabletop rack system. It's stronger than it looks and with no side, back or bottom panels you have full access

Tweak's Rig in 2003

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Impedance Patchbays Studio Setup Room Acoustics War on Hum Quiet Room Dual Monitors DJ studio Networking 16 vs 24 bit Word Clock Timecode Build a DAW Tracking Record Vocal Session Tips Vocal Editing AutoTune etc Using EQ Harmonizers Guitar Tracks Guitar Tone Drum Tips Drum Patterns Hip Hop Beats Cymbals Sampling Samplers Compressors Pan, Vol, FX Mixing 101 Mix Methods Mastering Field Recorders Archiving Songs Make Money Sound Dev Tips Surround Audio for Film Podcasting Publishing Congratulations! Final Exam Reviews Forums

Re-rigging my rig in a 2006 downsize When setting up or rearranging your studio, think of every possible angle by which you may need to access your equipment. This gets tricky with items that you may need to access from behind, as well as from the front-especially mixing boards. If the jackfield is against a wall in the middle of a table, I can guarantee you you won't be repatching very often. I recommend leaving at least 2 feet behind your racks free so you can get back there and troubleshoot. Get a good, comfortable chair on casters that is adjustable and supports your back properly. Many office supply stores have good ones. Make sure it does not squeak. (Though I have to admit, I've gotten some great really scary samples out of swivel chair squeaks, but normally you don't want these in the mix, lol.) Now stretch your arm out and spin around 360 degrees in your new swivel chair. The circle your arm makes is your prime studio real estate. If there is an object in this space you never touch when working on music, move it back. Move objects you do touch into this valued inner circle. You will not believe the difference this can make. Move all your set-once-and forget pieces to the back. That might include room EQs, effects boxes, synth modules, amps, midi interface racks, etc. Stuff that goes up front, obviously, you main keyboard, grooveboxs, synths with real time controllers, patchbays, and samplers (unless you edit them remotely).

Studio Gear at zZounds

Avalon RM2 2-Unit Rackmount Kit for U5
The Avalon RM-2 joins 2 U5 or M5's together in a standard 19 in. rack. The RM-2 contains 2 stainless steel rack ears, 2 T-bars, and 10 stainless steel screws. Priced from 100.00

SKB 4 Caster Kit for Effects Racks

Tweak's DJ setup with slide out groove box door

Gator GDJ8X4 Slant Top Mix Station All that #$%@& DJ Gear. Hey, I Rack Case Gator GDJ cases are rotational molded like grooveboxs as much as anyone. polyethylene DJ Workstation cases. The cover No dudes. I really do. Yet while they is made from 420-Denier nylon. They also might be great in a DJ Coffin, they feature heavy-duty rack rails, molded-in carry handles. pose quite a problem in a home studio, Priced from 109.95 namely, they take too much vertical Protection Racket Rolling Hardware Bag space because they can't be racked. I Hardware is crucial to every musician, it's the mean if all my synths were "desktop apparatus that holds everything together and without it we're nothing, but it's awkward to modules" I'd have to install a little jet transport. Don't let that put you off, here's the pack to my chair to get to it all! answer. All Protection Racket hardware cases
have a central carrying handle and one at either end. All

SKB's Heavy Duty Caster Kit fits all standard SKB racks and attaches easily with nylon straps. Does NOT work with GigRig series. Priced from 104.95

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the hardware cases with wheels have hard bases that run Of course you could get rack drawers, but once you price those the full length of the base and up the ends and is fully you might think different. An attractive yet inexpensive solution padded throughout. Check out the clear inline skate is a budget computer desk, the kind parents buy for school kids. wheels, funky!! Rollin', rollin', rollin', rollin'. Yeah! They have a sliding drawer for a keyboard and are about 2-3 feet Priced from 109.95 QuikLok RS513 14-Space Steel Studio in length. Yep, you just put your electribe, your Kaoss pad, or Rack with Casters whatever else that is thin in the drawers and pu your heftier RS-500 series rack structures are more than grooveboxs on the top. And you get space underneath to store merely places to hold standard rack equipment. your mics, cds, zips, on one side and have some stackable space Priced from 109.95 on the other side for stuff like amps, tape decks, whatever else SKB 4-Space X-Rack Effect/Amp you have that can't be racked. You can even store books there, Rack (10.5-inch Deep) New 10-1/2 in. depth X-Racks accommodate like your manuals, which you have read cover to cover, right? smaller rackmountable equipment such as guitar effects and shallow depth studio effects. Why mount that stuff in larger racks when you don't need all of that extra depth and weight? With an X-Rack, you need not unplug these components to close the back panel. The X-Rack features a molded-in carry handle. Best of all, you can stack it right on top of your amp. Priced from 109.95

Lighting. Dimmers and florescent lamps may induce hum into your audio system. Invest in lo wattage bulbs if you like to work with low light. Make an atmosphere of lighting to make your studio a creative place that's easy on the eyes. Besides, VST looks better in low light. Ambient lighting is good, it saves eyestrain, especially if you are spending long sessions staring into a computer monitor. Avoid all situations of glare reflected from the monitor, it will save you headaches, and we don't need

Gator GRBW2U Rolling 2-Space Rack Bag with Handle

Close grained 9mm plywood cabinet covered in padded 600-denier nylon. Priced from 114.95

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Monitors Accessories Studio Racks Computer Music Audio Interfaces PCI USB Firewire Computers Software Sequencers Soft Synths/ Samplers Plugins and FX MIDI Interfaces Control Surfaces DSP Cards Keyboards Keyboard Synths Samplers Keyboard Accessories MIDI Modules Groove Boxes Sounds Keyboard Controllers Keyboard Amps Expansion Boards Guitars, Amps, and Effects Electric Guitars Guitar Effects Guitar Amps Acoustic Guitars Accessories Classical Guitars Folk

from the monitor, it will save you headaches, and we don't need pain when we create something beautiful, do we? Keep a well-stocked box of adapters. Yes. Go to Radio Shack. You have my permission. Don't let those smirking pros in the corner stop you.

SKB R4 US Series 4-Space Roto Rack

The new US Series is the ultimate in American technology with its roto-molded tuff shell, front and rear lids, recessed heavy-duty twist latches, molded in handles, shock absorbing rubber feet and the recognizable patented deep Roto-X pattern for solid stackability. The unique molded-in unbendable valance and steel threaded rails with self tapping screws make the US Series racks convenient to use and the most durable. Priced from 114.95

Gator Deluxe 19 Inch Rack Case

Gator's deluxe rack cases are molded from incredibly durable high-density military grade Polyethylene. This lightweight yet superstrong material ensures maximum protection at a weight you can easily handle. Priced from 119.95

Do you have a Patchbay? Don't think you need one? Take this little test. Have you ever run out of mixer channels? (Who hasn't!) Is there ever an unused mixer channel in any of your mixes because it was tied up with a synth you didn't need for the piece? Do you ignore the sub outs on your synths and run everything from the main outs? If you answered all 3 of these as YES then you NEED a patchbay and if you answered yes to 2 of the three you will really appreciate having one. Sure it's a bit of a pain to set up and you have to buy lots more cables, but it is very much worth it because you can make your studio as flexible as you want. Here's the class on setting up your patchbay. Get all your old gear out of the closet and patch it into the bay. If you ever want to use it again, it will be about 2 seconds away from being live and patched into your board. Using the sub outs of synths and samplers dramatically increases your mix quality. If you dedicate a mixer channel to just the bass drum alone you improve your mix greatly. If you do go with a Patchbay, make a list of what gear is connected to each in and out. A standard 24 point patchbay has 96 jacks on it. Don't trust yourself to remember all of them. When you change your rig, update the list.

Middle Atlantic 3 Space (5 1/4 in.) Rack Drawer, Black Brushed Finish
This 5-1/4 in. (3 rack space) heavy-duty drawer has a faceplate with a black anodized finish. Fully enclosed with inside dimensions measuring 15-7/8 in. wide by 14-1/2 in. deep, the D and TD Series drawers feature spring-loaded latches and rugged, straightforward construction. Priced from 119.95

RaXXess 20-Space Economy Rack (Black Oak)

The simplest of designs, these knock down economy racks are black laminate over 5/8" medium density fiberboard. Priced from 119.95

SKB 4-Space Rack Drawer

This 4-space rack drawer fits in all racks, and is Rotomolded to be lightweight, but durable and strong. The double-action ball bearings support the heaviest load you can give it while at the same time easily sliding in and out. Priced from 119.95

SKB 84DJ DJ Shuttle Rack

Designed to accommodate entry-level gear, this roto-molded winner has molded-in handles and a durable padded cover, with 8 rackable spaces on top and 4 rackable spaces underneath. With an incredible MSRP, this product is certain to become another SKB industry icon. Priced from 119.95

Digidesign Digi 003 Rack Music Production System

Kill the Hum. When laying out your studio, route all the AC I/O, high-definition audio resolution, the cords first. Put them in a pathway that will cross audio cables at a 90 degree angle. Should you use cable ties? I say no, though clearly your studio will look neater if you do. However, you might find that if you ever want to move a piece of gear you have to undo the harness and it's a pain. Avoid all situations where an audio cable travels parallel with an a/c cable as the audio cable will pick up dreaded 60 cycle HUM. Keep audio cables away from wallwarts (adapters). At a normal listening level, with nothing playing, gates switched off, your audio should be silent. Now, carefully put all your faders to 100% and slowly turn up your amp till you hear noises, hums, rfi. Isolate the most offensive of these noises to single pieces of gear and see if moving the ac/audio cable paths helps. Usually, you can improve your signal-to-noise ratio substantially by running this test, and you learn which pieces in your studio are the noisiest. This helps during the mix as you can make better decisions about boosting a single level or cutting everything else to make an instrument cut the mix.

With an extensive range of audio and MIDI

Drums Electronic Acoustic Drum Machines Drum Hardware Cymbals Accessories Other Drums Accessories Cables Bass Guitars, Live Sound/PA DJ

Acoustics: the really simple way. Treat the walls in your studio. Clap your hands loud in your studio. No, not to find the remote, but to listen for any ringing or resonance. You don't want resonance here, you analog filter heads! (smile). Do the foam thing till the only ringing you hear is your tinitus. Ouch! I mean till you clap and the sound does not bounce back. Shoot for a room where instruments sound full and clear, neither sproingy or muffled. Half dead, half alive. You know, the way you feel after 2 weeks of all night sessions. Half and Half rule. If you have carpet, don't treat the ceiling. If you treat the north wall, don't treat the south wall, ditto for east and west. Square rooms are not good as they create standing waves where a certain frequency will resonate. Of course this is all a simplification to get you going. A more scientific way is place some of them where they will diffuse the early reflections coming off the walls and ceiling over your head and on the wall area your ears point to. But even just adding some foam will help. Sound travels fast (at the speed of sound!) and the more diffusion you add, the more dead the room will sound. You don't want totally dead, but a room where things sound good. A professional approach will carefully analyze the room and place a variety of bass traps and sound absorbers/diffusers at strategic locations. Bass is a problem, particularly in small studios. Bass frequencies bounce around the room in such a fashion to give uneven bass response, depending on where you sit or stand. A Bass trap is normally put close to the corners, where they can be effective at "trapping" the bass frequencies. But this is just to foreshadow the next article, which will deal with acoustics in more detail.

Keep you cables where you will need them. Behind your rack is a great place.
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Keeping it clean. You'll be happier in your studio if you dust it every now and then. I use cotton cloths with either a little Windex or Endust for electronics sprayed on them. Just a little. Best not to spray on the gear directly. A featherduster is very useful for getting dust off of mixers, where the knobs are so close together its hard to get the surface.

Invest in the absolute best all purpose Phillips screwdriver you can find. Get a good pair of needle nose pliers, jewelers screwdrivers, and wire cutters. Heavy drapes over windows will keep outdoor noises from ruining your tracks. Also, tell the neighbors to keep it down after 3am, you're trying to make music in here. Every time you burn a CD don't forget to write down what's on it on the cd itself. You will thank me 10 years from now when you have thousands of songs. Access is everything. Think like this: Anything you fail to mark is lost.

zZounds Multitrack Accessory Package

It's hard to get professional-sounding tracks without the right equipment, but zZounds has you covered. This Multitrack Accessory Package provides everything you need for a tight, efficient recording experience. You get dead-on accuracy with KRK's studio monitors, comfortable Audio Technica headphones for long studio sessions, industrystandard recording microphones, and all the extras you need to take your tracks from good to great!

zZounds Tour Pro Portable PA System

Includes: Behringer PMP5000 powered mixer, Behringer EP1500 monitor amplifier, Yamaha S115V speakers, Yamaha SM12V stage monitors, Stagg speaker cables, On-Stage speaker stands, Shure SM58 microphones, CBI LowZ mic cables, CBI TRS (for monitors) cable, and On-Stage 7701B tripod/boom microphone stands.

Monster Cable Pro 3500 12-Outlet Power Conditioner

Monster, the industry leader, now offers the safest and best way to protect your entire system.

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Studio-Central Member's Link

You can learn a lot about Room acoustics and solutions to common problems at www.realtraps.com Also see Acoustic Treatment and Design for Recording Studios and Listening Rooms by Ethan Winer

Have fun in your studio! Go to the Next Class

Go to the Previous Class

Want to talk about Studio Setup? Benefit from other's experiences! Join the discussion at Studio-Central!

Want to read more about soundproofing and building a great studio room? Read Acoustics 101, courtesy of Auralex

Cool Quote:
"Music has its own alphabet of only seven letters, as compared with the twenty-six of the English alphabet. ...Several words form a phrase, and several phrases a complete sentence, and the same thing is true in music."
Sigmund Spaeth (18851965), U.S. musicologist.

Tweak's Articles on Essential Studio Concepts

Hooking Up Audio MIDI Basics The Many Functions of MIDI Data The Audio Interface Signal Flow Computer-based Studio Signal Flow of an MPC Hip Hop Studio Signal Flow of a MultiTrack Studio Assembling Your Studio Rig Studio setup in a Nutshell 5 Hot Tips Building a Quiet Room Understanding MIDI Interfaces The War on Hum Multiple Video Displays Latency and how to Deal Word Clock TimeCode Everything About Cables Digital Audio Converters Bit Depth and Sample Rate Studio Monitors Impedance for Musicicans How to setup a Patchbay Room Acoustics Basics Studio Monitors Price List Acoustic Products Catalog of MIDI Interfaces
TweakHeadz Lab | Studio-Central | Audio-Pro-Central | Master INDEX | Store Affiliations | Site Map | Support the Lab | Privacy Policy | 2010 TweakHeadz.com

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