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Whether you’re in an ISO Booth in a professional studio or recording at home, selecting a good microphone is an essential part of any studio. The equipment needed for a recording studio can get expensive and escalate as your skills improve. Knowledge is the key to understanding the various types of studio gear so you don’t spend all your budget in one area. The microphone is a vital part of your studio and an investment. If you buy one that cost $20 sure it might do the trick, but your quality of recording instruments and vocal tracks will sound horrible. This an area to be wiser 
There are a lot of good quality microphones available for under $100. So when you’re shopping for microphones here are some guidelines to follow.
The microphone will pick up sound no matter where you place them. Some of the biggest differences in microphones is the construction of the body itself. Even though lighter weight plastic models are less durable, they can still have good recording qualities. High end microphones tend to be made of solid steel or brass construction which offers durability and better sound quality. Going cheap is not the best route to take. If you’re on a tight budget look, for a mid-range quality microphone for around $50-$100 to get you started. You can always upgrade down the road.
Recording Studios Use Two Types of Microphones
The dynamic microphone is considerably more durable than a condenser microphone. Dynamic mics are used for recording and live shows as they are built take a beating. They can withstand the vigors of playing live day in and day out. The dynamic microphone is great for recording vocals and instruments. But when you’re using this type of mic for recording vocals it’s a good idea to buy a pop filter. The pop filter will cut down on the popping and hissing sounds that a singers mouth will make. This type of mic doesn’t require it’s own power supply, simply plug it into an amplifier or PA System and it’s ready! Overall this is a good all purpose microphone, great for gigs and a home studio.
Condenser microphones need to be used in a more controlled environment. They can cost a lot more than a dynamic microphone and can’t be replaced as easily. They do need their own power supply either by an external source or internal battery supply. You’re more likely to see these in professional studios than on stage at a Five Finger Punch show. They are great for recording quality audio tracks and acoustic sounds. There is no reason why you couldn’t have one for your home recording studio as long as it stays there. Recording drums usually requires one or two dynamic mics placed by the bass drum and snare. While two condenser mics would be overhead of the drums. At Digital Sound Magic Studios, we have many different types of microphones which we use depending on the project and sound source.
Best advice is to go online and do some reviews and compare prices from different suppliers. The quality of the microphone will be a direct reflection of your sound quality for recording.
Wanting to play the guitar is a fascination for almost every individual. Whether it’s hip hop, rap, country or rock music, the guitar is the backbone of most musical songs. The interest usually starts in young teenagers who want to understand what makes their favorite songs so cool. It’s the guitar! Even adults who once had aspirations of playing regain interest and want to pursue their childhood dream. If you have never bought an electric guitar and are thinking of buying one, this article will be of great value and lead you in the right direction.
Things to Avoid In Purchasing Your First Electric Guitar.
If you’re serious about wanting to learn how to play, then you want a guitar that stays in tune! Learning to play on a cheap guitar will result in frustrations and your desire to learn will take a nose dive. Do not buy your first guitar at Wal-Mart or any other major retail department store. Here’s why: The body and neck may be properly constructed, but it’s the hardware that lacks quality. The tuning keys are the most vital piece of hardware on any guitar. If the tuning keys are made of poor construction material, they can’t hold the tension required to keep a string in tune. When you start to play, you’re adding small amounts of pressure to the strings and if the tunings key are cheap they will back off and loosen up, causing the string to go out of tune quickly and often. There is nothing worse than learning to play on a guitar that doesn’t stay in tune.
Secondly, the factory bridge or tremolo system is made very cheaply and using it will cause the strings to instantly go out of tune. Beginners should not use a whammy bar on a cheap bridge system. It’s better to leave the whammy bar off and pretend it doesn’t even exist. The guitar will stay in tune if you don’t use the factory tremolo system. In essence it will act as a fixed bridge.
Thirdly, the sound quality in the factory pick ups are horrible. Very cheaply made in overseas manufacturing sweat shops. All the electrical components are bottom end and will eventually fail. The output jack on cheap guitars will be the first thing to go. So now that you understand why you shouldn’t purchase a brand name First Act at Wal Mart lets talk about what brands are worth the money.
What Is A Good Electric Guitar for Beginners?
Buying a starter’s package is the way to go! They come with all the studio gear you need to start playing. Kits include: The guitar, amplifier, cord, picks, strap, tuner, gig bag and instructional book or DVD. Names like Dean, Peavey, Fender, Ibanez and Yamaha all have starter kits for around $200. Keep in mind the accessories (cords, amps etc) are cheap, but that’s not what’s important. It’s the guitar that’s the gem in the box. These guitars might say made in china, but they are no joke and very playable. Changing out amplifiers and upgrading cords is easy once you learn how to play. These kits will greatly improve your learning curve and maybe even land you in a recording studio one day.
I grew up singing. It had always been a part of my life. When I turned 24, I had to undergo a medical process that involved me taking a medication that seemed to take that away from me. Being someone who loves music, I was determined to find my voice again. I spent years breathing, pushing myself, trying different ranges, vocal lessons….but nothing was really getting me there. For a good four years, Richard kept telling me “You CAN!” but in my mind I had it set…”I can’t”. Continue reading
By: Kenny Auyoung
It is a curious paradox of the music industry: guitarists, particularly rock guitarists, are often thought of as trendsetters when it comes to fashion and culture; but when it comes to their instruments, they are notoriously conservative. Innovations such as active electronics, guitar synthesizers and Steinberger’s intrepid steps into the field of headless instruments in the 80′s have failed to make much of a dent in the market. Gibson and Fender continue to dominate the electric guitar market much as they did in the 1950′s and 60′s. Even with the entry of new competitors into the market over the years such as Ibanez, Paul Reed Smith and Charvel/Jackson, the electric guitar has remained essentially unchanged with one to three magnetic pickups and a mess of wires connecting them to the controls. But things may be about to change!
By: Rashi Singh
Congratulations! Your debut CD is now recorded, replicated, packaged, and ready for market. It’s an amazing feeling to see the fruit of your labor in front of you, nicely packaged as a CD that’s ready to be sold alongside the big wigs in the industry. One small problem: you don’t have the backing and capital that the big wigs do to promote your CD… and you just know your CD can be a huge success in the market.
By: Ty Cohen
If you want to get gigs, then you are going to have to do some schmoozing with club owners, bar owners and people of that nature. This means you are going to have to appear as professional and convincing as possible. You are going to have to come prepared with all the gear you need to successfully market yourself so you can book gigs and get paid.
Combining The Best Features Of Open Air And Enclosed Headphones
The German made Beyerdynamic DT 880 Pro headphones are semi-open air studio headphones. What this translates to is that they combine the transparent well balanced sound features of open air headphones with the power of enclosed headphones. This is achieved with minimal sound leakage from the headset. So if you like the feel of circumaural headphones and the sound clarity of open air headphones these headphones may be perfect for your requirements.
Here’s an interesting article I found online. Good information for any musician who deals with electronics!
Power amplifiers are at the very center of each home theater product. As the quality and output power requirements of today’s speakers increase, so do the requirements of power amplifiers. With the ever increasing amount of models and design topologies, like “tube amplifiers”, “class-A”, “class-D” as well as “t amp” types, it is becoming more and more complex to pick the amp which is ideal for a particular application. This post is going to describe a few of the most popular terms and clarify some of the technical jargon that amp manufacturers frequently use.
Here’s a short post on our behalf, but a very generous post from one of our clients at our sister recording studio “Digital Sound Magic Recording Studios Ltd”.
http://www.ryanfurber.com/2011/07/07/digital-sound-magic-recording-studios/
Enjoy
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