When starting to learn about recording, you might find yourself bombarded with terms that you find a little confusing. Looking at microphones, some may be described as “needing an audio interface” and others might be described as “needing phantom power”. Therefore, it is easy to assume they are the same thing. Is this the case?…
This is a question I get asked a lot, people will often email me asking if a specific model of condenser microphone, for example the Rode nt1a, the Rode nt1 or the Audio Technica AT2020 need phantom power to work. Well I thought I would do one article which answers this question for…
Today I am attempting to answer another question which I frequently get asked via email. Frequent readers of the blog will know that I say a key part of any home studio is a good audio interface. But is this the same as an external soundcard? Yes, an audio interface IS an external soundcard that…
You’ve bought yourself a pair of monitor speakers (studio monitors) and when you try to connect them to your computer you see that everyone seems to say you need to also buy an audio interface. But is this true? You do not need an audio interface to connect your monitor speakers to a laptop or…
Practising bass guitar without an amplifier just doesn’t sound the same. All you can hear is an annoying twang and not the deep bass sound we all know and love. But with more of us living in apartments or wanting to practice late into the night, using an amplifier isn’t really an option. This leaves…
Recording audio is something that both professional musicians and at-home enthusiasts can participate in. It is a process that seems complex to those starting out, and quite a few components can be involved. Many people wonder: what exactly do you need to record audio? Do you need an audio interface to record anything?…
Monitor speakers are one of the key components of any home recording studio. They allow you to accurately listen back to the masterpieces you’ve created and tweak till you have that perfect sound. But most monitor speakers come with a variety of inputs and not only that but there are a variety of different…
When you’re loading up your home music studio, you’ll be looking to find a balance between quality and cost-efficiency. So, you may opt for used equipment when looking at audio interfaces. But finding that balance can be tricky, and you want to make sure you have all the facts before diving into a…
If you’re new to recording music and other audio at home, you’re going to need to know the difference between a preamp and an audio interface. So, preamp vs. audio interface: what’s the difference? A preamp is a single piece of recording equipment designed to amplify low level signals, while an audio interface…
If you are interested in high-quality home music recording, chances are you have looked into a sound mixer and an audio interface to take your digital recording to the next level. Sound mixers (also called soundboards or audio mixers) let you control the volume and effects of each microphone or instrument input separately. Audio…