First studio. For vocal only

[NoMusicNoFun999]

Hello guys.

I have a clear vision what I need and hope to get some advices from people who understand those things.

I think that is possible to fit in 500-1000$ for equipment.

First question is will be about equipment and second one about “studio building” (like sound acoustics etc.)

Ok lets start, the aim is best possible vocal quality. In most cases “studio” will be used to record man vocal (rap, rnb, .singing), maybe sometimes woman vocal also. However there will not be any instruments record (like guitars, drums or etc.) also no hard rock, metal or etc. Aim is to get best quality lets say for rap/rnb songs. The best what can be is to record in quality that is professional. That I can already send vocal to people who do mastering and other sound works and finish the song. That re-record in professional studio will not be necessary.

I checked a lot of information in internet (home studio tips, home studio begginer and etc.) and how I see I just need few things.

1. Audio interface
2. Microphone
3. Computer
4. Pop filter

I know there is also things like monitors, good quality headphones (for vocal record that you hear yourself) etc. but like I said in beggining I want to concentrate and invest just to best possible vocal record. Computer - Im using macbook pro and will use garageband at the beggining (later I think update to Logic). So I need advices what microphone and audio interface I need to buy to get best possible vocal record by my specifications. Pop filter also.

And the second part is to prepare place for recording. The “studio” will be in garage which is “under earth/underground”. And also, when you come in to garage which is already in underground, there is one more -1 floor. In this floor will be “studio”. Want to say that in my country in winter sometimes we have -15/-30 degrees Celsius and in winters we have same temperature just +15/30 degrees Celsius. The place for “studio” is not very wet but however a little bit wet feels. The place is around 18m2 size. This place have one, very small room. Really small, where you can put microphone and one person to record, nothings more. So first question is better make “recording room” in this small room or for better quality I need to use biggest space and do it in bigger room? I really dont know anything about acoustics but I want to make everything best I can. All building is made from concrete (in place where will be studio also all walls, floors, ceilings etc.) is from concrete. What is the best ways to prepare my record room that I will get best possible quality?

Talk about acoustics is hard because my English language is not very good also when in comes to terms from music/producting is more harder because I dont know these terms. So I be glad and if you just help me with first part and recommend what equipment I need to buy.

I tried to write everything in details like what is aim for studio and where it will be. I will answer any questions you have if its important to choose correct equipment.

Will approciate all you help. Thank you!

[djanthonyw]

First things first, you’re going to want to have a treated room, or vocal booth. No matter how expensive your mic is, you’re not going to get quality vocal recordings in a room with a bunch of reflections. Those reflections shields that you attach to mic stands don’t do much. An alternative to this which is a pain could actually be to record vocals in your car since they generally don’t have reflections.

If it’s between vocal booths and treated rooms, I think it makes more sense to treat the room since it will help you mix accurately too.

Once the recording space is situated, consider choosing a recording interface, and the mic. Sweetwater has a great mic shootout that you could listen to, to help you decide. https://www.sweetwater.com/feature/vocal-mic-shootout/

Although, keep in mind that there are some great mics that aren’t on there. The ones from Roswell are great.

[NoMusicNoFun999]

Hello, thanks for your reply.

So you mean the better is to have small room (it's maybe 3m2 on 3m2) and isolate it yes?

It's like put some material over all room? Like walls, floors, ceilings I understand correctly?

Maybe some opinions which material is best for isolate recording room?

[djanthonyw]

Bassically just look into acoustic treatment. A combination of panels and foam work well for me. The panels can be expensive, unless you build them yourself. I made mine out of wood frames, rockwool, and cloth.

[lingyai]

I've had to record in untreated places on a budget many times. I have gotten excellent results using a home-made vocal booth. Basically something like a tent which one person can stand up in, or like a "textile closet". Just by hang many blankets on some cheap lighting stands, get inside, and sing.

Here, google this

"how to make recording booth from blankets"

Here are some hits:

https://music.tutsplus.com/tutorials/di ... -cms-25370

I can't guarantee this will work 100% for you because I don't know the space; BUT at least, try it before you spend money on acoustic treatment or other things. If it does work, you can save yourself a lot of money this way, so you can invest in a good mic.

I am guessing, by the way, that you are in Russia? The Russian company Oktava makes GREAT condenser microphones.

Rode, Audio Technica, and AKG also make quite good -- certainly good enough for you -- pro-quality condenser microphones for around $150-$350. Search Amazon for condenser microphones, 4 star rating or better.

Focusrite makes great usb interfaces at good prices.

You can make a pop screen from a wire coat hanger and some pantyhose.

[moncholo]

If you're only interested in recording vocals, then I'd definitely recommend taking a look at the Kaotica Eyeball. It's like a blue fancy foam sphere that encapsulates your microphone and allows sound to come in only through where you sing. This does a great job of removing room reflections from your recordings. Definitely look at that and check out some reviews and comparisons on youtube. It can be a very effective and cheap solution. Hope this helps!

[pljones]

Personally, I'd consider working out how many hours you'll spend in recording and find out how much that would cost in an existing studio. Locally, you could hire a room at around £10 an hour (not exactly sure what the mic hire costs). If you think getting a purpose built room plus your own gear is going to justify it against using somewhere that's been professionally constructed, go for it - but don't necessarily rule out the alternatives. Of course, you may not have anywhere suitable locally (or at a comparative cost). And you'd also get the benefit of it being available whenever you want, rather than needing to schedule things in.

[NoMusicNoFun999]

Hello!

Sorry for my late reply. Thanks to everyone who answered and helped! I really glad that there is people like you.

I posted this thread to two forums so I will post this answer to both forums same. Just to provide more information about my vision and what I want to do.

I will recod one vocal at one time. I’m making it for myself, I want to own my own studio where I can spend as much time I want and experiment as much I want. Also I making music (with garage band for now. For sure will move to Logic when I be good at garageband). So for beggining I just want to try record on my own beats or on bought (I understand that my own beats without master is not good idea, however if I will record something that looks good to me and I will want to finish this record to a song, Im planning to send all my project ((music and vocal)) to people which know how to master everything and makes job done).

I just want to see what I can now, last time I made records was 7-8 years ago. Now how I said I started creating music and is really interesting to me, I loved it. So I wanted to try make records and watch what I can. If I will see that I have potential in music industry at this time I will buy monitors, midi keyboard and other things. Will make my studio growth. But I not want invest a lot of money in the start. I want to try first. If it will be not what I hoped for is not be problem. I will can make some records when I want and leave it just like hobby.

You guys little bit scared me of saying that a lot depends on room not equipment. In one side is good - I can spend less money and have good quality if my room fits. But if not, I will just waste time and money for preparing room and installating sound isolation. Yes at day time is not best place for recordings because cars can ridding up to studio. However at night this place became absolutely quiet. Im not afraid of noise in room but Im afraid of room quality. Is not big and it is in underground. Lets imagine. There is ONE BIG PARKING PLACE underground with maybe 30-40 garages inside. Every garage has it owns doors (thick doors, thick walls. Because is made in SSRS times. When quality was not the best, but how we joking if things is made in SSRS it can’t be broken lol) and inside these garages are “pits” which are one more floor underground. In this “pit” I want to make studio. Im thinking maybe I just need to take video of the place, put on youtube and share it here? Then you can see what Im talking about and maybe can say to me it is worth to make it in place like this.

Talking about room moisture - for beggining if there will be only things like microphone and audio interface I think that is not be problem to bring this things with my self when I go for record and bring it back home that they will not stay at room with moisture (I know is not very comfortable however microphone and audio interface is not big or heavy things)

OK so now how I see equipment is not big problem and I have options if my start bugdet for microphone and audio interface is 500$. The biggest problem is, does my room can fit studio.
Does room can have affect to equipment I need to choose? For example if place is more cold than better to take microphones like this or this or if place is more warmer than better take microphone like this and this.. Or I can choose equipment by myself without looking at things like place climate, walls material etc.

And last thing for now. About headphones. Dont start hate me, I have Beats Solo 3. I know that is not best option for creating music and Beats “distors” real sound because of eq with more basses etc. just what you think, Beats be good for beggining or better instantly start with other headphones? Which thing is more important for start, to have good monitors or good headphones? Maybe better use Beats on my ears while I recording (to listen music) and monitors that I can listen after I done record?

Talking about mastering, music creating etc. yes I will want to do this, at least to try do this. But in first place for now is vocal quality, because I know that for this moment I dont have much time to learn mastering but I have experience in recording and working with voice. I just want that if I will make my studio growth and I will buy more equipment (like monitors etc.) that I will be not needed to replace equipment which I will buy now.

That was long text. Just trying to provide as much information as possible because is really cares to me. Thank you, have a good day!

[NoMusicNoFun999]

Hello again,

Want to share with you my “build” list. Can someone tell me will it be good for my needs (written in thread) or there is something I need to change?

(Also, I decided that I need monitors, because Im working also with Electronic music like deep house, progressive, minimal and how I see monitors isn’t very expensive so I need to try, want to learn make master by myself)

So:

Microphone - Shure SM7b
Audio interface - Steinberg UR22
Monitors - Mackie CR4

EVERYTHING WILL USED WITH MACBOOK PRO 2017 (maybe some of the items will not well work with Apple mcb?)

Short description where and for what equipment will be used:
Place - underground garage, around 16m2 (I dont know guys if you in USA or UK measure rooms size by other measure unit, if you tell me what unit I will convert)
For - Vocal record (mostly rap) and Electronic music creating/mastering.

I understand that with this cheap equipment I cant make world class quality
remixes and masters, however I just need equipment that I can handle sound and it will be playing clearly.

Thank you!