Audio Recording

LaneyAH200 is a multipurpose power amplifier for live band and recording use. This is an actual review of the capabilities of this amplifier and highlights its best practices and limitations.

AH200 in Live Venue Use: Power Rating

LaneyAH200 is rated with 160 watts output. This is suitable for a live venue with at most 45 people.
Bear in mind that each person in the venue would absorb the sound coming out from your PA system, so if you are planning to buy a power amplifier you need to examine the number of your audience.

If you are using a power amplifier for a live venue more than 45 people (say for example 100 or more), you need to have a power amplifier with more than 160 watts (e.g. 300 watts or more).

Below is rough guideline in determining how much PA wattage you need:

Since Laney AH200 is rated at 160 watts, it can handle:

Recommended number of audience for each specific application:

Speech only application = 160/0.75= 213 audience
Solo music performance or duets= 160/2.5 =64 audience Read the rest of this entry »

I received this common inquiry by mail, so I decided to write a post on this to clarify these common questions.

Hi

I read your article about how to make quality recordings and have a couple of questions.

First I am planning buying an audio interface with built-in preamps and wonder which is best. I have read some reviews about presonus fireproject and motu and mackie onyx, and its very confusing to choose one.

I also wonder if I need some external effects like compressor and processor between the different instruments and the audio interface.

Many internet sites are writing about using DI boxes when recording guitar and bass, and compressor on drums and vocal.

Thank you in advance.

Importance of Preamps on Audio interface

First, buying an audio interface with built-in preamps should not be that hard. You can refer to this article buying an audio interface tips for beginner.

I cannot advise you which is good or great because of the lot of factors involved, such as your budget, number of inputs, etc. But since you are talking about quality of recordings and the importance of having a quality signal chain; I would put a strong importance on the quality of the pre-amps.

Researching further, I found out that some audio interface have decent and award winning preamps, such as Focusrite. I do not know with the others, but currently I am using Saffire Pro 40 which is a great sounding audio interface.

Saffire Pro 40 has eight inputs, although this might look too much for your needs, you can use one with lesser inputs. Manufacturers such as Focusrite use the same preamps both in their high-end and low end audio interface. So for example, if you purchase a Saffire USB 6 (one of the cheapest on the Focusrite line of audio interface) it uses the same preamp with the Saffire Pro 40; only that it has two inputs.

If you plan to buy another brand whether Presonus, Mackie or M-audio, try to read their manual or reviews and make sure you got a decent sounding preamps.
Read the rest of this entry »

This guide will help you to start in building your home recording studio. Bear in mind that as technology might change in the near future; the concepts illustrated in this guide would hardly change. So the implementation concepts would be applicable in the many years to come. There are 4 stages in building a home studio:

a.) Getting a PC or Mac with the multi-track recording software. This is your digital audio workstation or DAW software. Example of this includes Protools, Reaper, Cubase, etc.

b.) Getting the necessary recording gears
c.) Interfacing your recording gears with DAW.
d.) Treating your room acoustics for balance mix.

Understanding how a Digital Recording System Works

Unlike analog which is a common recording technology in the 70’s and 80’s; home recording studio today is commonly using a digital recording system to cut cost and simplify the process. The heart of the system is your personal computer.

Since you’re a beginner; you are clueless as to how these things works and how your computer interacts with the recording gears. Begin with examining the diagram below as well as the direction of the arrows:

Read the rest of this entry »