Thursday, January 14, 2010
Post No. 6 - 316 Days Left - The First Hurdle
I've been intending to post sound quality tests of my new set up for the past week. Unfortunately, I came down with a cold and my voice is in bad enough condition that recording is a lost cause. I'll post examples as soon as I can sing reliably.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Post No. 5 - 321 Days Left - Pop Filters
When it comes to recording vocals, a pop filter is an essential tool that no studio would be caught dead without. In order to produce plosive consonants (such as "P" in the word "pop"and "T" in the word "Take"), vocalists must release a puff of breath which can be picked up as a "pop" by an unprotected microphone. To keep this "pop" from happening, a sheer shield, known as a pop filter, is placed between the vocalist and the microphone. The filter dissipates troublesome puffs of air while allowing sound to go reach the mic with negligible interference.
I found several decent pop filters for under $20 on amazon; however, I have heard of people making pop filters out of a wire coat hanger and a pair of nylon pantyhose. Simply bend the hanger to a desired shape, cover with the pantyhose and attach to the mic stand so that it stays between the mic and the vocalist. Since this is the Budget Album Project, I had to opt for this approach. I found an unused wire hanger in my closet, bummed a worn out pair of panty hose from of my mom and made a pop filter that has proven to be very effective. Here's what it looks like attached to my gear:
.jpg)
The price (free) was the best part. If you're not feeling this creative, I recommend the Nady MPF-6 Pop Filter, available on amazon for $17.25 (free shipping). As always, please consider buying through the following link. It won't cost you anything and it will help me add to this project.
Nady MPF-6 Nady 6-Inch Clamp On Microphone
Added to Gear/Expenses:
Homemade Pop Filter (Free)
I found several decent pop filters for under $20 on amazon; however, I have heard of people making pop filters out of a wire coat hanger and a pair of nylon pantyhose. Simply bend the hanger to a desired shape, cover with the pantyhose and attach to the mic stand so that it stays between the mic and the vocalist. Since this is the Budget Album Project, I had to opt for this approach. I found an unused wire hanger in my closet, bummed a worn out pair of panty hose from of my mom and made a pop filter that has proven to be very effective. Here's what it looks like attached to my gear:
.jpg)
The price (free) was the best part. If you're not feeling this creative, I recommend the Nady MPF-6 Pop Filter, available on amazon for $17.25 (free shipping). As always, please consider buying through the following link. It won't cost you anything and it will help me add to this project.
Nady MPF-6 Nady 6-Inch Clamp On Microphone
Added to Gear/Expenses:
Homemade Pop Filter (Free)
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Post No. 5 - 322 Days Left - Shock Mounts
Another piece of equipment that can greatly increase the quality of a recording with minimal investment is a shock mount. The shock mount acts as a buffer between the microphone and the microphone stand which further removes the microphone from vibrations that travel through the floor. They also tend to look really cool...
The Samson SP01 Shock Mount was designed for the C03U condenser microphone, so it was the obvious choice for The Budget Album Project. One reviewer said that the mount also accommodated his Audio Technica AT2020, which makes me think that other mics may fit as well. These mounts are available on Amazon for $29 (free shipping). I received mine yesterday and have been impressed how well it's made and how well it does its job. The price was a little more than I wanted to spend, but it is worth far more than $30 in retrospect. If you want to pick one of these up, please consider buying through the following link. It will not cost you anything and it will help me add to this project.
Samson SP01 Shock Mount
The Samson SP01 Shock Mount was designed for the C03U condenser microphone, so it was the obvious choice for The Budget Album Project. One reviewer said that the mount also accommodated his Audio Technica AT2020, which makes me think that other mics may fit as well. These mounts are available on Amazon for $29 (free shipping). I received mine yesterday and have been impressed how well it's made and how well it does its job. The price was a little more than I wanted to spend, but it is worth far more than $30 in retrospect. If you want to pick one of these up, please consider buying through the following link. It will not cost you anything and it will help me add to this project.
Samson SP01 Shock Mount
Added to Gear/Expenses:
- Samson SP01 Shock Mount ($29.00)
Photo courtesy of amazon.com
Photo courtesy of amazon.com
Post No. 4 - 322 Days Left - Mic Stands
One product that will benefit any recording situation is a microphone stand. If I were to record with a handheld microphone (which I have done many times in the past) the computer would pick up vibrations from my body as well as from the mic chord, which has a tendency to rub against things when I move around. A good mic stand will hold the mic still and ensure a quieter, more controlled recording. When I started searching for a microphone stand, I had three criteria that it had to meet.
1. It must be tall enough for me to stand while singing to record my album (for better breath support)
2. It must be sturdy (we can't afford any accidents)
3. It must be cheap!
After searching amazon, I came upon a stand that fit the bill perfectly. The Musicians Gear Die-Cast Mic Stand extends to over 5 feet tall, weighs a ton, and costs $12.99 (plus shipping). I got mine from amazon for $17.94 shipped! For those who are skeptical of such a cheap stand, mine arrived yesterday and the build quality is fantastic. It has rubber feet on the base to reduce vibrations transferred from the floor, which can cause the stand to wobble a little bit, but they can easily be removed for stability's sake. So if you want to buy a sturdy, affordable mic stand, head over to amazon and get the Musicians Gear Die-Cast Mic Stand. Please consider buying through the following link. It won't cost you anything and it will help me add to this project.
Musicians Gear Die-Cast Mic Stand
Added to Gear/Expenses:
Musicians Gear Die-Cast Mic Stand ($17.94)
Photo Courtesy of Amazon.com
1. It must be tall enough for me to stand while singing to record my album (for better breath support)
2. It must be sturdy (we can't afford any accidents)
3. It must be cheap!
After searching amazon, I came upon a stand that fit the bill perfectly. The Musicians Gear Die-Cast Mic Stand extends to over 5 feet tall, weighs a ton, and costs $12.99 (plus shipping). I got mine from amazon for $17.94 shipped! For those who are skeptical of such a cheap stand, mine arrived yesterday and the build quality is fantastic. It has rubber feet on the base to reduce vibrations transferred from the floor, which can cause the stand to wobble a little bit, but they can easily be removed for stability's sake. So if you want to buy a sturdy, affordable mic stand, head over to amazon and get the Musicians Gear Die-Cast Mic Stand. Please consider buying through the following link. It won't cost you anything and it will help me add to this project.
Musicians Gear Die-Cast Mic Stand
Musicians Gear Die-Cast Mic Stand ($17.94)
Photo Courtesy of Amazon.com
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Post No. 3 - 327 Days Left - Microphones
A microphone is one of the most important, if not THE most important piece of equipment in a recording studio. Microphones can be found for as little as $20, while high-end models can cost upwards of $10,000. Obviously, we will not be able to buy the best microphone in the world for the Budget Album Project, but we will find a suitable balance between price and quality. First, we must figure out what type of microphone suits our needs.
There are two main types of microphone, dynamic mics and condenser mics. Most dynamic microphones are very durable and can take some hard knocks with no resulting drop in performance, while condenser microphones are more fragile. Dynamic microphones truly shine when picking up loud sounds (such as a fortissimo trombone), while condensers are at their best while recording soft, tender sounds (strings or voice). Condenser microphones are the industry standard for most recording applications while dynamics are the king of live performance. There are exceptions to all of this, but it will serve as a general rule. After some research, I found that a Large-Diaphragm Condenser microphone would be ideal to record the cappella voice, and thus would be perfect for the Budget Album Project. If you want to look at the strengths and weaknesses of the different types to find the best fit for your album, check out Using Microphones and The Musician's Guide to Home Recording, which have a lot of well-presented, helpful info.
Decent, mid-price range condenser microphones, such as the Audio-Technica AT4040 and the Røde NT1A, can be found for under $500. These mics are not the best out there, but they do an excellent job on a moderately low budget. Unfortunately for the Budget Album Project, these mics require an additional interface to connect to a computer and supply power, which can cost another $100 - $500. We could not purchase the necessary equipment for one of these mics without eating up the entire $500 budget.
In 2001, companies began making microphones that connected to a computer via USB port. These mics are truly "plug and play" and require no extra equipment to operate. Despite their low cost (many under $100) many produce clear recordings. The three most popular USB condenser mics available today are the Blue Snowball, the Audio-Technica AT2020 USB, and the Samson C03U. All three mics have similar specifications, which makes choosing between them difficult. Since they are all made well and produce a good sound, it is best to listen to samples recorded on each of the mics to find which one sounds the best to you. I searched for sound samples all over the web, finding few definitive, good-quality samples. However, I was impressed by the sample on the Samson C03U home page (linked above). The sample isn't perfect, but with the addition of a pop filter and proper mic placement(and maybe some reverb) I think it will handle recording wonderfully. Although I am sure any of the three mics would perform well, I prefer what I've heard from the Samson better than what I've heard from the others. So I went with my gut and bought the Samson C03U, which should arrive sometime next week.
If you want to purchase any of the equipment mentioned in this post, please consider buying through the following links. It will not cost you anything and it will help me continue to add to this project.
XLR Mics
- Audio Technica AT4040
- Rode NT1A (with accessories)
Added to Gear/Expenses:
Samson C03U ($97.19)
Photo Courtesy of samsontech.com
There are two main types of microphone, dynamic mics and condenser mics. Most dynamic microphones are very durable and can take some hard knocks with no resulting drop in performance, while condenser microphones are more fragile. Dynamic microphones truly shine when picking up loud sounds (such as a fortissimo trombone), while condensers are at their best while recording soft, tender sounds (strings or voice). Condenser microphones are the industry standard for most recording applications while dynamics are the king of live performance. There are exceptions to all of this, but it will serve as a general rule. After some research, I found that a Large-Diaphragm Condenser microphone would be ideal to record the cappella voice, and thus would be perfect for the Budget Album Project. If you want to look at the strengths and weaknesses of the different types to find the best fit for your album, check out Using Microphones and The Musician's Guide to Home Recording, which have a lot of well-presented, helpful info.
Decent, mid-price range condenser microphones, such as the Audio-Technica AT4040 and the Røde NT1A, can be found for under $500. These mics are not the best out there, but they do an excellent job on a moderately low budget. Unfortunately for the Budget Album Project, these mics require an additional interface to connect to a computer and supply power, which can cost another $100 - $500. We could not purchase the necessary equipment for one of these mics without eating up the entire $500 budget.
In 2001, companies began making microphones that connected to a computer via USB port. These mics are truly "plug and play" and require no extra equipment to operate. Despite their low cost (many under $100) many produce clear recordings. The three most popular USB condenser mics available today are the Blue Snowball, the Audio-Technica AT2020 USB, and the Samson C03U. All three mics have similar specifications, which makes choosing between them difficult. Since they are all made well and produce a good sound, it is best to listen to samples recorded on each of the mics to find which one sounds the best to you. I searched for sound samples all over the web, finding few definitive, good-quality samples. However, I was impressed by the sample on the Samson C03U home page (linked above). The sample isn't perfect, but with the addition of a pop filter and proper mic placement(and maybe some reverb) I think it will handle recording wonderfully. Although I am sure any of the three mics would perform well, I prefer what I've heard from the Samson better than what I've heard from the others. So I went with my gut and bought the Samson C03U, which should arrive sometime next week.
If you want to purchase any of the equipment mentioned in this post, please consider buying through the following links. It will not cost you anything and it will help me continue to add to this project.
USB Mics
(Project's Pick)
XLR Mics
- Audio Technica AT4040
- Rode NT1A (with accessories)
Samson C03U ($97.19)
Photo Courtesy of samsontech.com
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Post No. 2 - 330 Days Left - Recording Software
There are hundreds of recording programs floating around the internet that range widely in complexity, capability, and price. Digidisign's Pro Tools and Apple's Logic Studio are the industry leaders when it comes to the ultimate software; however, since these programs cost anywhere from $250 to upwards of $500, they are completely out of the question for the Budget Album Project. For our purposes the key word is "Free."
Among the most popular free recording applications are Apple's GarageBand, which comes free on every mac, and the open source program Audacity. My first inclination was to use GarageBand because of the experience and comfort I have with it, but I found the chart at the bottom of This Page that compares the features of GarageBand and Audacity. After a brief look you will see that the two programs have complimentary features which, I believe, would work very well in tandem. Since there is no added cost for using one program or the other, I decided to utilize the strengths of both.
Added to the Gear/Expenses List:
- GarageBand 3.0.4 (Free)
.jpeg)
- Audacity 1.2.5 (Free)
.jpeg)
Do you have a favorite free recording program that you prefer over Garageband or Audacity?
Next Stop, Microphones!
~Ben
Photos courtesy of news.softpedia.com and uwgb.edu
Among the most popular free recording applications are Apple's GarageBand, which comes free on every mac, and the open source program Audacity. My first inclination was to use GarageBand because of the experience and comfort I have with it, but I found the chart at the bottom of This Page that compares the features of GarageBand and Audacity. After a brief look you will see that the two programs have complimentary features which, I believe, would work very well in tandem. Since there is no added cost for using one program or the other, I decided to utilize the strengths of both.
Added to the Gear/Expenses List:
- GarageBand 3.0.4 (Free)
.jpeg)
- Audacity 1.2.5 (Free)
.jpeg)
Do you have a favorite free recording program that you prefer over Garageband or Audacity?
Next Stop, Microphones!
~Ben
Photos courtesy of news.softpedia.com and uwgb.edu
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Post No. 1 - 331 Days to go
Can a musician with no gear record and mass-market a professional quality album for under $500?
The question above has been nagging me for years and after many hours of searching the internet, I still do not have a definitive answer. Thus, as a service to the world at large (or, perhaps, just to satisfy my own curiosity) I will try to find the answer on my own. My preliminary procedure is as follows...
I Will:
- Pick out 12-15 A Cappella arrangements of my favorite christmas songs
- Get the necessary rights to record and distribute them
- Purchase my own recording equipment (sans my existing computer)
- Record using only what I've purchased (and the computer)
- Have my album mastered by a professional
- Distribute the album over iTunes and other major music stores
- ALL for under $500.
Because this sort of project has a tendency to expand to years in duration, there will be a time limit from the start. I will release the album on Black Friday, Nov 25th, 2011.
I will regularly update this blog with a walk-through/journal of what I do and learn along the way so that anyone can follow this site and release an album of their own. In the right column, I will post my gear as I acquire it and keep track of my expenses. So far, I can only foresee one setback. As a newly-wed full-time college student, I do not have $500. I guess I will jump that hurtle when I get to it...
And now it's off to find arrangements and buy my equipment.
Enjoy!
~Ben
The question above has been nagging me for years and after many hours of searching the internet, I still do not have a definitive answer. Thus, as a service to the world at large (or, perhaps, just to satisfy my own curiosity) I will try to find the answer on my own. My preliminary procedure is as follows...
I Will:
- Pick out 12-15 A Cappella arrangements of my favorite christmas songs
- Get the necessary rights to record and distribute them
- Purchase my own recording equipment (sans my existing computer)
- Record using only what I've purchased (and the computer)
- Have my album mastered by a professional
- Distribute the album over iTunes and other major music stores
- ALL for under $500.
Because this sort of project has a tendency to expand to years in duration, there will be a time limit from the start. I will release the album on Black Friday, Nov 25th, 2011.
I will regularly update this blog with a walk-through/journal of what I do and learn along the way so that anyone can follow this site and release an album of their own. In the right column, I will post my gear as I acquire it and keep track of my expenses. So far, I can only foresee one setback. As a newly-wed full-time college student, I do not have $500. I guess I will jump that hurtle when I get to it...
And now it's off to find arrangements and buy my equipment.
Enjoy!
~Ben
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