Part 1 – Microphones and Interfaces for Home Recording

I’m sure many of you know this one, but essentially a microphone captures the sound of your voice and turns it into electrical energy. There are two most common types of microphones, Dynamic and Condenser. A Dynamic microphone doesn’t need power to operate; it uses sound pressure to create energy. A Condenser microphone does require power in order to work. In music lingo, this is often referred to as phantom power.

A Condenser microphone is generally more sensitive both to ‘bleed’ or outside noise and to physical damage. They have large capsules inside that can get easily tossed around and knocked out of place, causing misalignment. At our recording studio, we often use a combination of both depending on what we are recording.

If you are in a noisy home environment with a lot of external noise, I’d recommend opting for a dynamic microphone. You want something really directional (picks up sound in one direction) to cut a lot of ambient noises that might bleed in. Here is a list of some great dynamic microphone options:

• Shure SM58
• AKG D5
• Sennheiser E835
• Electro-Voice RE20
• Shure SM7B (be sure to use a preamp that can provide a good amount of clean gain)
• Shure SM57 (great for instruments and guitar amps)

These microphones are great options for recording vocals and instruments at home, although, ideally you’ll still want to make your environment as quiet as possible.

If you are part of the lucky few who can find a quiet place away from any noisy neighbours, a Condenser microphone is a great option for you. For vocals and even instruments, aim for what’s called a large-diaphragm condenser microphone. The large capsule inside will capture some amazing sounds, but remember that it will also capture everything else too (more on how to get a great recording in Part 3). Here are some great options to consider:

• Audio Technica AT2020
• Rode NT1
• AKG C214
• Neumann TLM102
• Neumann TLM103

When choosing your microphone, you will also want to purchase an XLR cable (male to female XLR), a pop filter, a microphone stand and some good quality headphones.

In addition to these much-needed gear, you’ll also need an audio interface. It’s basically an external soundcard that will process all the audio inputs and outputs and translate that information in a digital format to your computer. There are lots of walkthroughs and examples on how to use an interface and selecting the right one for your music (don’t forget to consult the manual!). Here are some great starter interfaces that we recommend for you consider:

• Focusrite Scarlett Solo (3rd Gen)
• Behringer U-Phoria UMC404HD
• Universal Audio Apollo Twin MKII
• Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 (good for recording multiple instruments and vocals at once, as it has more options for inputs)

Like most things in life, the quality of what you get is often determined by how much you pay for something. However, almost all modern audio interfaces are of reasonably good quality for the price and can get the job done. So don’t worry if you can’t afford higher-end models, chances are you don’t even need them. Amazing quality music starts at the source, so practice fine-tuning your sound and performance. Gear can be updated and improved as you gain more experience.

Great, but some things take a bit more time. Continue to Part 2 to learn about capturing the best possible recording in your home environment.