If you’re recording music, make sure the input is stereo and not mono - unless you want the music to sound flat. This will give you enough ‘head room’ to play with when you come to mixing the audio. You want to avoid clipping and distortion at all costs, so err on the side of caution and lower the levels if you’re unsure.Įssentially, the optimum recording levels will depend on what you’re recording, but as a general rule of thumb you’ll want the audio to bounce between -20 and -12 when recording into a device like the Zoom H4n. The first mistake people usually make is recording the audio too loudly. This basic and user-friendly tool is great if you’re simply looking to record and upload.īut if you’re planning to record 4 or more channels and you want to get your hands dirty adding effects and mixing the levels, then it’s worth recording directly into more robust software, such as Logic Pro X or Ableton Live 9. If you don’t want to add to your budget, then go for the best free option available: Audacity. You’ll also need DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) software to record the signal from the interface onto your laptop. The more inputs you want, the more it will cost you. The go-to audio interface for people starting out is the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, which comes in at around $150 new. ![]() Likewise, if you’re recording a DJ mix for and you want to introduce each song, recording your vocals onto a different channel means you can fix mistakes or add professional effects like sidechaining (more on that later). Recording each guest into separate channels gives you the flexibility to edit the volume of each channel before you share it for the world to hear. If you’re not bothered about portability, then having a semi-permanent setup at home with a multi-channel interface will give you lots of flexibility.Ī ‘multi-channel’ interface essentially means you can record multiple inputs at once.įor example, imagine you’re interviewing 3 or 4 people for your radio show and one of your guests speaks a lot louder than everyone else. ![]() This means another piece of equipment and more hassle if you’re recording on location. If you want your shows to sound professional, recording directly to your computer will require an audio interface, which effectively converts the audio signal from the mixer so it’s recognised by your computer. As soon as you stop recording, everything you need is ready and waiting on your laptop or computer.īut it’s not necessarily as simple as it first sounds. Recording directly to your computer obviously skips the need to copy files from an external device. This effectively means you can use your smartphone as the recording device, saving you lots of cash. The Zoom H1 costs roughly half the price, but it only has one input, which will limit what you can record and might impact the quality of the recording.Īnd remember…you’ll be recording onto an external device, so you’ll then need to copy the files over to your computer before you can share it anywhere.īut, for an even cheaper solution, you can find microphones that will attach to your smartphone. We use the H4n to record voiceovers and occasionally interviews for our Audio Culture podcast. One of the most popular recorders is the Zoom H4n, which you can pick up for around $200 new. Recording a 6 hour DJ set or talk show might drain the batteries, so you will need a recorder that comes with a power supply. ![]() Just make sure you keep an eye on the battery usage. The fact this approach is easily portable means it’s ideal for DJs who want to record live sets and radio presenters who want to record podcasts and interviews on location. As soon as you’ve mastered how to use the recorder, it’s a case of connecting directly to microphones or a mixer, monitoring the levels and away you go. You either record to an external recorder or directly to your computer. There are a variety of ways you can record shows, but for small budgets it essentially comes down to two solutions.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |