This is where the home recording setup cannot compete with the professional studio. So here the challenge is to record the audio in as neutral and clean a manner as possible without getting caught up too much in all the theory and expensive analog "solutions". Once recorded the gap between the very expensive "pro studio" and the reasonably cheap "home studio", diminishes substantially.

Scenario: Musician living in a block of flats, wants to record with their 100 watt Fender Twin Reverb guitar amp (Option 1). However, the amp is simply too loud, even when "quiet", and when too quiet the amp will output too much noise relative to signal. A good solution is to record the guitar direct to the mixer and monitor via SimulAnalog's Fender Twin VST Guitar amp emulator (Option 2), then apply the effect (with refinements) at a later stage (see diagram).

Unless a) you're in a fully insulated professional recording studio or b) you live in the countryside and your neighbour is a mile down the road Option 1 is not an option (especially when recording at night - which some musicians prefer).

With this setup we recommend monitoring with Kristal Audio Engine (see screenshot); using it as a VST effects host. This allows the musician to hear (and thus play accordingly) what the instrument will sound like with a particular effect, yet record the instrument without that effect actually being applied. It's much easier to apply effects and make adjustments after the performance than during; furthermore effects applied later can be considered, tweaked or completely altered in the context of the overall mix.

How you choose to record your instruments is a very personal choice and so-called "mistakes" and/or "unorthodox methods" can make a sound entirely unique. We're not going to say much about how to record, however we will offer a few basic tips that may save some time, effort and even heartbreak.

For most studio recording, an acoustically neutral space is preferable (i.e. avoid or dampen reflective and/or hard surfaces) and this is especially the case for vocals. Ambient sound and effects like reverb and delay can be added later once the sound has been recorded onto the PC.

Having both a dynamic mic and a condenser mic will give you a wider range of recording capabilities, however if you can only afford one, go for a good dynamic mic. For a good sturdy general purpose dynamic mic we recommend either the Shure SM57 or SM58.

For more on how to record and what equipment to use visit the SAE Institute.

Jump to the Mixer section.