Max signal without clipping?
He won't be recording to tape. We're in the digital realm, with huge signal to noise ratios and 24 bits. His signals should be peaking at -6dB max to give him room for processing. Get the loudness out of the master bus if he needs to.
Of course, the OP didn't understand a single thing I just said.
Here's what you need to know OP:
Since you've already got the computer, you will need these things:
1. An audio interface (preferably one that connects to the computer via a firewire port)
2. Recording Software
3. At least one microphone
4. Studio Monitors
5. A microphone stand, XLR cable, and pop filter, headphone extension cord, closed-ear headphones
As far as recording software, many people will recommend Garageband for beginners. It is certainly very user friendly, but once you start to learn more about recording, you will want something more robust. I recommend starting with a program called
Reaper. Reaper is a full-featured DAW (on the level of Logic and Pro Tools) but only costs $60. It is an incredible deal for someone who wants to learn the ins and outs of digital multi-track recording on the cheap.
Microphones are tricky. There are 3 main types of microphones: Dynamics, Condensers, and Ribbons. The right microphone is dependent on a few things -- mainly (a) the source: your voice and guitar and (b) your space: the place you will be recording.
Everyone has a different voice, and different microphones complement them in different ways. Personally, my voice is very sibilant in the 5k range. I need microphones that have a dip in their frequency response at around 5k in order for my S's to not sound brittle. Ribbon mics and dynamic mics tend to have less high end response, so they tend to sound best on my voice.
Your voice is not my voice. You may have other problems. The best way to find out what mic works best for you is to try them. Since you are new to recording, you wouldn't know the first thing to listen for when you tried your mic. So you'll probably have to take a shot in the dark.
I would go with a dynamic for your voice. Something like the Shure SM7 or the Electro-Voice RE20. The SM7 requires quite a bit of gain from your preamp, so depending on the audio interface you choose (and the quality of its preamps) you may have to avoid it. The RE20 is generally considered a great vocal mic, and would likely sound better on more voices than something like a cheaper Rode condenser.
You could record your acoustic guitar with the RE-20 but most people prefer pencil condensers on acoustic guitars. I'm personally not a big fan -- but I prefer nylon string guitar kind of person, so jangly high end isn't my thing.
As far as cheap pencil condensers -- there's Oktava MK12's, Rode NT4s/5s, etc.
The thing about using condenser mics is that they will tend to pick up a lot of room ambiance. I'm guessing that, since you're new to recording, you'll be recording in a small square bedroom. These rooms sound terrible, so the less "room" your mic will pick up, the better. Smaller square rooms tend to have flutter echo and other undesirable reflections. When I first started recording, I was oblivious to these. Listening back to my first recordings now, the room sticks out like a sore thumb.
I remedied my bad room situation with a
Realtraps Portable Vocal Booth. It attaches to your mic stand and stops the sound from escaping into your room (and back to your microphone). You can use it for vocals, or for recording your guitar -- even as a small gobo for electric guitar amps and what not. It's a very useful tool for a home recordist with a bad sounding space.
As far as microphone stands -- I like Hercules and K&M mic stands. I use Mogami cables because I don't have the knowhow to make my own, and they seem better than Monster cables. They're expensive, and I don't know if they're worth it -- but that's what I use.
You say you're a beginner, you may or may not know what a pop filter is. You will need a pop filter to record vocals. When you say words with P's or B's, you expel lot of air from your mouth. When this air hits the microphone, it creates a POP. Pop filters stop this from occurring. Any cheap pop filter will likely work for you.
One thing that a lot of beginning recordists overlook are the studio monitors. Literally everything that you record, you will make judgments about based on the sound coming out of your speakers. It is important that your speakers have a flat frequency response so that what you're hearing is what is actually there.
Now, you'll likely be recording in a bad room, so your space is going to affect the sound that you hear coming out of your studio monitors. People spend thousands of dollars on acoustic treatment for rooms so that there are no reflections inhibiting them from hearing their mix as it is. Since you are just beginning, you likely won't want to do this. I believe you should buy a nice pair of powered studio monitors to mix through.
KRK makes decent entry level studio monitors. Look into them. Remember to keep you speakers away from a wall (at least a foot or two away, if you can). If they are close to the wall, the bass response will be all out of whack (even more so than it necessarily would be in an untreated space).
If I were you, I'd get a pair of closed-ear headphones. You'll likely be recording to a metronome, and nothing is worse than getting done with a good take and realizing met leaked into the track. Closed ear headphones will reduce the amount of metronome and other tracks that leak into the track you are recording.
I'd also get a headphone extension cord. Record away from your computer and any other noise sources (refrigerators are especially annoying). Turn the air conditioner off while you are recording as well.
As far as audio interfaces -- I'd look into the Echo Audiofire 4. MOTU also makes a decent audio interface with two mic pres -- the Ultralite. Apogee makes a really good audio interface called the Duet. There are a lot out there, but any of those would do you just fine.
The most important piece of advice I can offer you is to
use your ears. Learning to listen is one of the hardest things about recording. Read as much information as you can about recording. I enjoy the
Tape Op Forum. Gearslutz is another option.
You're getting yourself into a big mess. It can be really frustrating and really rewarding. Best of luck.
-Pete
I only want to record acoustic guitar and possibly vocals--so I need to know what gear I need to set up my "rig." Here's what I have so far:
