My first home studio...need advice!!

[Bad_ooki]

Hey guys so within this week I will be beginning to build my first home studio. I plan on using it to record vocals and some guitar/bass/violin/miscellaneous instruments i get my hands on. I use FL studio 9 and make mostly hip-hop beats and some dubstep every blue moon, so simply put, bass heavy music. I have an Akai MPK25 which is amazing and I highly recommend. I've been narrowing my list of basic components down with a tight budget in mind and here is what I've got:

MICS: MXL 990/991 package - $80

- Everywhere I've read reviews I have heard great things about these two mics. I know they are obviously not top of the line but for the price I don't think I could get a better deal


MONITORS: Yamaha HS50m x2 - $350.00 (174.99 each)
- My biggest concern for monitors was getting the best possible set for mixing and mastering. Everywhere I've read I've heard these are the flattest "truest" sounding monitors available in my price range. I debated getting some KRK's but I've heard they are too "colored" and compensate for the bass too much so not the best for mixing. My biggest concern with these monitors are the fact that they have 5" woofers so the bass response might not be what I need. I'm thinking that for the price I'm getting them at I'm just going to have to adjust my ear and mix knowing they lack on the lower end until I save up for a sub.

INTERFACE/PREAMP: fOCUSRITE SCARLETT 2i2/ PRESONUS AUDIOBOX 2x2 $150

- OK so this is where I need help the most. I'm undecided between these two (but am open to other recommendations). I'm leaning more toward the focusrite because i've read that they have better preamps. The downside however is no MIDI ports (which I don't need now..but you never know right?). The audibox seems to be the most popular for it's price and seems like a good product, but apparently it is not meant to be used with line in instruments which seems like kind of a big drawback.

Any advice??

TREATMENT: TBA

- This is something I also need help with. I'm restricted to my bedroom which is obviously not the best setting (but you gotta work with what you've got). I've read about self made treatment which interests me, and i've also read about optimal positions to put them but this is an area i need help with. I attached a picture of my room to aid anyone willing to help

Miscellaneous: 2-4 XLR cables, one 1/4" cable, ?????

- any small factor I'm missing?


Overall: $580 +/-

- For the price I think the quality I'm getting is pretty good and I believe I have all the basics to get my production going to the next level. Being bound to a computer and midi controller setup for so long I feel like now is an appropriate time to invest in my craft. All input is appreciated and if I'm missing something PLEASE let me know!!




p.s. thanks to the ones who actually read my whole post

[B Side Producer]

Man, tbh, sounds like you got it pretty much figured out. You got your limitation noted already.
For A/I, take a look at Echo audio A/I. Pretty good reviews out there. I have an Echo gina 3g and very happy with it. Those monitors are nice. A lot of ppl with different opinions. Some say krks are good entry level monitors and others say they're crap. Same goes for those yamahas. I think they're ok tbh. I like the Yamahas a bit better than the KRKs. KRKs are cheaper though.
You say you want to take it to the next level and clearly you're already busy with producing. Getting the equipment is one big step, if you don't have monitors already or mics or a A/I with preamp. Those are pretty much necessary to take it to the next step I'd say.
On the other hand, I think you have a big win to get with some accoustic treatment. Doesn't need to be the most expensive you get, but there's some tricks you can do. Did you think about a mic stand with a shock mount and a pop filter? Not the most expensive but it does cost something. Also not having the cheapest stand is helpful. I have the cheapest there is and I already hate it for the fights it gives me with dropping the mic slowly every single time. Need to screw that thing so tight it's near breaking. Not good.
On ideas on how to work recordings in a home setting, check this vid for some ideas:
Propellerhead - Artist Stories - Amber Rubarth and Courtney Jones
This shows it doesn't need to be acoustic padding for 500 bucks the square inch for instance. Gotta be creative and gotta know what's gonna help and what is just pure BS. Also, did you do a silent treatment to your pc? Getting some bigger and quieter fans, or going fanless? Bit of a hassle if you don't have a nack for those kind of adjustments.
What you also could do is build yourself a recording booth in your room. Could also be one that you can build up in a corner and than take apart if you're done recording. Also needs you to be a bit handy, but it ain't that hard to do. Although, gotta keep looking at how much work something is gonna be and how much profit it's gonna give you and I don't mean money wise.
Also, you're theory needs to be at a certain level. You can throw so much fancy stuff in there, won't do you much good if you don't understand how to properly mix, master, eq, compress, process, etc.
On the recording part, you probably want to experiment with different mics on recording all those different instruments. In an ideal situation, you'd even want to experiment with different pre-amps but you're thinking about a cheap range of pre amps that come with A/Is that it doesn't matter that much. Different types of mics and different quality does though. For different types of instruments and different things you want to achieve you usually use different mics and sometimes different setups where multiple mics pick up the same instrument. You can slowly save for mics, you can buy them second hand or you can rent them. Those two mics you listed aren't too bad. Both condenser mics though. Would be nice to have some more types of mics around. But that's always something you can slowly upgrade.
GL!

[seveneleven247]

Sounds like an awesome setup so far, but I think you are missing one of the most important components on this list at least.

Headphones!

Sure having nice monitors is great, but headphones are just as if not more important than monitors.
Monitors allow you to get a sense of what the bass will sound like(among many other benefits), but
the amount of accuracy that headphones have on all of the other frequencies and factors are extremely important as well.

I hope you start looking into some headphones, I HIGHLY recommend the Sony MDR-XD200(non affiliate link).
Extremely under priced for how accurate they are.

[Bad_ooki]

thanks for the quick response B-side! I have heard so many mixed reviews on ALL monitors that it was honestly just a matter of picking one, but I feel pretty confident about the yammys.

As for the mic stand/pop filter, yess!!!! I absolutely am getting those but it somehow slipped my mind when writing up the post. I was planning on buying some used mic stands but you're making me reconsider! As for the schock mount...whats the functional aspect of it? I know it looks really cool but how does it help?

I'll be watching that video ASAP, thanks for that! As for the pc, it's actually a laptop and once I have an interface I will be using an external hard drive with it. But yeah I'm not very handy with those so that might be a problem in the future.

As for the recording booth that is something that DEFINITELY interests me!! I've thought about it many times and if you have any videos or tutorials and how to build a nice one I'll definitely look into those!

---------- Post added at 07:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:33 PM ----------

Sounds like an awesome setup so far, but I think you are missing one of the most important components on this list at least.

Headphones!

Sure having nice monitors is great, but headphones are just as if not more important than monitors.
Monitors allow you to get a sense of what the bass will sound like(among many other benefits), but
the amount of accuracy that headphones have on all of the other frequencies and factors are extremely important as well.

I hope you start looking into some headphones, I HIGHLY recommend the sony mdr-xd200(non affiliate link).
Extremely under priced for how accurate they are.

Thanks for the reply seveneleven, I am actually reading your blog right now hahah

As for headphones I have 2, cheap Coby VC215 (which despite being cheap I REALLY like)

and Sony MDR-V150, which are a bit on the quiet side but have a very good chord and sound a lot cleaner than the coby's.


For $35 I think those Sony's might be my first purchase right after I dump all my money on all that other equipment! haha

[Dr.Strangelove]

Do not mix with headphones

[Bad_ooki]

Monitors for mixing

[Dr.Strangelove]

Monitors for mixing

Yes. I don't understand the comment, "headphones are just as if not more important than monitors". Why? If you're not mixing with them, why would they be just as important as monitors?

[B Side Producer]

thanks for the quick response B-side! I have heard so many mixed reviews on ALL monitors that it was honestly just a matter of picking one, but I feel pretty confident about the yammys.

As for the mic stand/pop filter, yess!!!! I absolutely am getting those but it somehow slipped my mind when writing up the post. I was planning on buying some used mic stands but you're making me reconsider! As for the schock mount...whats the functional aspect of it? I know it looks really cool but how does it help?

I'll be watching that video ASAP, thanks for that! As for the pc, it's actually a laptop and once I have an interface I will be using an external hard drive with it. But yeah I'm not very handy with those so that might be a problem in the future.

As for the recording booth that is something that DEFINITELY interests me!! I've thought about it many times and if you have any videos or tutorials and how to build a nice one I'll definitely look into those!

---------- Post added at 07:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:33 PM ----------




Thanks for the reply seveneleven, I am actually reading your blog right now hahah

As for headphones I have 2, cheap Coby VC215 (which despite being cheap I REALLY like)

and Sony MDR-V150, which are a bit on the quiet side but have a very good chord and sound a lot cleaner than the coby's.


For $35 I think those Sony's might be my first purchase right after I dump all my money on all that other equipment! haha

A pop filter comes in handy when you have a very sensitive condenser mic for instance. They tend to pick up every little thing. Some have some cut off function on it or pick up less on certain sides. But imagine tapping your feet on the floor or a buss passing by shaking the floor, that kinda stuff. That get's picked up by your mic and that's something a shock mount can seriously reduce. You can still buy a mic stand second hand, no problem, just check out if it's a bit of quality. Those cheap stands they usually don't sell second hand anyway though.
I don't have a vid layin around on how to build a booth. Watch that vid of Amber Rubarth to see what they did in the home recordings and try googling and/or youtubing to see if they have tips around on how to build a soundproof booth or recording booth.

[seveneleven247]

Well I guess everyone has their own style, shoulda' known!
I suppose that's just the way I learned, because back in the day I couldn't afford monitors.

However, that's pretty much the way it is. I like mixing on my monitors, but headphones really help me with the upper ranges.
I still say that there's no reason you shouldn't mix on headphones- but that's just my opinion- and that's all these posts really are.

@Bad_ookie

Thanks for reading my blog!

[Bad_ooki]

Y

Yeah I'll definitely be mixing with my monitors but headphones do come in handy at late hours of the night or just to hear the beat differently

.

Thanks B side, you are fullll of useful information, I'll definitely look into getting a shock mount hopefully at a good value. I'll be looking in youtube for some diy videos. Any opinions on the interfaces??

W

I hear ya, I like using headphones, but I definitely want to use my monitors as my main mixing tools. Thanks for the heads up though, and keep up the good work on that blog, I'm seeing useful info already!