Whether you're a folkie writing songs on a trusty acoustic guitar, a keyboard-based New Age dreamer or an electric guitar shredder wannabe, recording your creations onto a computer has never been easier or cheaper.
Instructions
1. Make sure that your computer has sufficient memory to be able to record music. You'll need at least 1 GB of RAM for the computer to be able to perform well. However, 2 GB is preferable, so that the computer runs smoothly and is able to handle multi-track recording and any effects plug-ins you may want to use.
2. Invest in an external hard drive, and use it exclusively to record your files. Using the internal hard drive on your computer will soon gobble up space, and having a designated external drive that is only used for storing your music will make keeping things organized a lot easier. Not only that, it makes it convenient should you want to take your tracks to other recording or mixing facilities to work on later. For best results, make sure that the drive is fast (at least 5400 RPM), and use Firewire connectivity for smooth operation.
3. In order to get the signal from your instrument of choice into the computer, use an interface with preamps. The preamps in these hardware devices boost the level of low-output sources like electric guitars and condenser microphones, providing high-quality audio input and output to the computer. There is a huge choice of manufacturers and models to choose from (see Resources), and many are very economically priced, especially if you're a one-man band and will only need a pair of inputs. The more inputs you want, the more the price goes up. So, if you want to record a real drum kit or have multiple players recording live, then you'll have to shell out more money. Using more than a couple of inputs will also require a Firewire connection for smooth operation, otherwise good old USB should suffice.
4. Choose your software. The software is the application into which you'll be delivering your audio tracks to be processed and mixed. Choices are many, and each have their own cheerleaders and detractors. Some recordists won't touch anything other than Pro Tools; others prefer Cubase or Digital Performer. Top of the line pro versions of these applications can run many hundreds of dollars, but there are very reasonably priced applications out there that do a fine job in a home studio. Cakewalk Home Studio is one of the most popular consumer level ones and offers great features out-of-the-box. It's also easily upgradable should you master the learning curve and decide you want more features.
5. Once you've set up your computer system with the required hardware and software, you're ready to make music. If you're using electric instruments like keyboards or electric guitars and basses, then simply plug your instrument into an input jack on your interface. For acoustic instruments and voices you'll need to plug in your condenser microphone to capture the signal.
6. Open up your recording software program on your computer, and arm the first track to record. Test your pre-fader levels to avoid the nasty digital distortion known as clipping, tweak the EQ to taste, and press record. After you've finished recording your track, play it back to review the results. If you're happy with the take, repeat the process, assigning instruments and voices to other tracks in order to to build up your song.
