Recording Your Own NAF muisc
A beginners guide
to
computer based audio recording.
Please support these
posts
 Distant Spirits Nominee: Native American Music Award _ _ |
 Sacred Dreams Winner: Native American Music Award _ _ |
 New Fire Nominee: Native American Music Award, Winner: Indian Summer Music Award. |
Recording
your Own NAF music One
of the questions I seem to get more than any other
is from people wanting to know how to record their
own flute playing. As I use fairly expensive
equipment and software for my recordings I'm never
sure how to answer this as I assume that most
people don't intend to spend a lot of
money. So
I called my friend Hal
Stevens
at West
LA Music
and picked his brain a little. Hal gave me a few
options for people wanting to put together a small,
inexpensive set-up to record themselves and we'll
look at two different options in this post. At the
bottom you'll find contact info for Hal and I
highly recommend you contact him before buying
anything. WHAT
IT ALL MEANS: Audio
Interfaces: A audio interface converts the
electronic impulses from a Mic into the 1s and
0s of digital code. The better the audio
interface the better the conversion into digital
code. Audio interfaces also convert the digital
code back to electrical impulses that go to your
Monitors (speakers). Again the better the audio
interface the better the sound delivered to your
speaks and thus your and your listeners ears.
Audio interfaces are also known by the name
Digital I/O. FireWire
and USB: These are types of cables that
carry the digital code between your computer and
the audio interface very quickly. Monitors:
Monitors are very refined speakers that ideally
give you a flat response across the frequency
spectrum. In others words they don't color the
sound. Monitors are like Mics in reverse.
Recording
Software: Recording Software is the
application that displays and edits whatever you
record to your computer. Think of it like a very
powerful Multitrack tape deck, mixing board and
studio effects like echo, EQ and others all in
your computer. Obviously
you need a computer and for this article unless
otherwise specified we'll be talking about PCs and
equipment and software that works with
PCs. OPTION
#1: Studio in a Box This
set up comes with a mic stand for table top use,
but for recording a Native American flute you'll
need a full studio/stage mic stand. Usually these
are not much money although you can certainly find
expensive ones. The manufacture's suggested price
for this is $1099.95 but should be able to get it
for about $750. Just like buying a car, you don't
pay the sticker price. That said retailer can only
haggle so much before they lose their profit. Again
not unlike purchasing a car. OPTION
#2 Build it Yourself The
total of these components adds up to $450.00.
However you still need to purchase some cables and
a Mic stand. Never-the-less you will most likely
spend about $100 less than the Studio in a Box
option. The
next step up is to move into Pro and Semi-Pro gear.
I use MOTU's Digital
Performer
(Mac only) and a couple of their audio interfaces
and a high quality Audio-Technica microphone. Each
of these cost between $750 and $1000.00. I also use
a stand alone a stand alone Aphex Tube Mic
Pre-Amp. SOME
PERSPECTIVE: SOUND
CARDS WHERE
TO BUY: I
mention this because a lot of music/guitar stores
are full of a bunch on no nothing, air-head rocker,
sales people that try to give you the hard sell and
I don't wish that kind of grief on anyone. Plus,
just like the flute makers on my web site, I want
to recommend someone I know and trust. OTHER
POSTS IN THIS SERIES You
can also find all the
articles
HERE DO YOU
NEED A FLUTE? MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT THE NATIVE AMERICAN FLUTE You
can listen to samples from all three and purchase
them online. Members of my E-Mailing
list
get an extra 10% off all online purchases.
©
2006 Cedar Mesa Music. All rights
reserved.
Before we start let's talk about a some of the
components and what they do.Microphones:
A Mic converts sound waves to electronic
impulses. The better the Mic the better the
conversion, e.g. the better the sound
recorded.
The first option that is out there is to buy
everything you need in one box. There is a package
just like this put together by Røde
Microphones called The
Røde to Recording
System.
It includes:1
Røde Microphone
2 Studio Monitors
1 Firewire Audio Interface
1 Steinberg Cubase LE (the recording
software)
Cables, a setup manual and some other
goodies.
This second option is to put together all the
components yourself. This give you more control
over each piece and could end up saving you money.
The prices listed below for each component is a
ballpark as to what the unit should cost, not the
sticker price. The actual price may vary but not
much.M-Audio
Mobliepre
USB
Audio Interface. $150.00
M-Audio
StudioPro 3
Studio Monitors. $100.00
Audio-Technica
AT 2020
Microphone. $100
Cakewalk
Home Studio 4
Recording Software. $100
I know that for many of you spending $500.00
might be a lot of money, but to put this into
perspective a top of the line iPod costs about $350
and all it does is play back music. Most studios
spend thousand of dollars on their equipment and
software. A single microphone can cost $3,000 and
up.
Many of you have asked me if your sound card on
your computer will do the stuff that an Audio
Interface does. As a Mac user I don't really have a
true sound card, but I do know that the process of
crunching the digital numbers from your mic to your
computer and back to your speakers takes a lot of
computer power. If you have your sound card do that
work it takes power away from your computer's built
in processor and will slow things down. Also most
sound cards are not built for professional sounding
recording and are not made using the best and
cleanest components. However, if you're really on a
tight budget you could use option #2 and not
purchase the Audio Interface right away and use
your sound card temporary. Trust me, you'll want a
better sounding I/0 sooner than later.
To find out more about all this and to purchase
gear I recommend you call Hal
Stevens
at West
LA Music.
I buy 90% of my studio equipment from Hal. I find
him to be straight forward and knowledgeable. While
West LA Music does sell to the average Wannabe
Rocker they also sell a lot to professional
musicians like myself and understand our needs.
Plus I think Hal is just a nice guy and easy to
deal with. In my opinion in the LA retail music
market West LA Music has great prices too! Don't
forget that out of state purchases don't pay sales
tax and West LA Music ships all over the world. Hal
can be reached at (310) 477-1945 or at
hals@westlamusic.com
How
to Buy a NAF, part
1
How
to Buy a NAF, part
2
How
to care for your
NAF
Playing
your first NAF
scale
Strengthening
your Fingers
Playing
from the Heart
Part-1
Playing
from the Heart Part-2
Visit the Cedar
Mesa Music Store.
You can also find a list of makers
who's flutes I play on my web site.
NAF
History and Construction
Distant
Spirits
Nominee:
Native American Music Award
_
_
Sacred
Dreams
Winner:
Native American Music Award
_
_
New
Fire
Nominee:
Native American Music Award,
Winner: Indian Summer Music
Award.
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Recordings
by
Scott
August