Home Audio Recording

My tryst with audio recording started when I once got an old-style tape recorder as a Christmas present. I remember thinking it was then an impressive piece of electronics. I felt it was cool looking and was very proud to own it. It was a lot of fun to use it.

It was a monographic, reel to reel tape deck that had its own plug-in microphone. It was possible to hold that mic up to my transistor radio's speaker and record the songs onto the tape. I could play the guitar and sing and record the music. I could hide and record conversations of family members. It was certainly fun.

Many years later I owned an 8 track stereo recording deck. I also once had a stereo cassette recording deck that could physically flip the tape over when one side was finished playing. Now I have a conventional stereo dual cassette deck, but I no longer use it for recording or for anything else for that matter.

All my audio playing and recording is now done on my computer system. The audio software available for computer audio is quite fantastic. You can record multiple tracks, add special effects and edit the recordings as you wish. Most audio recording programs come with their native special effects such as compression, reverb, flanger, and chorus, just to name a few. Some recording software can even accept third party audio effects like vocal removers and tube amp effects.

Multitrack audio recording software allows you to record live instruments and vocals onto individual tracks. Once you record a track, you can play it back while recording another track. Finally you can mix all the individual tracks into one stereo track. Some recording software is able to import and record only audio, while some support both audio and MIDI. If you own a MIDI keyboard or other instrument, be sure to choose software that can handle both formats.

You can have a simple home audio recording studio. An audio and/or MIDI interface allows you to plug in all kinds of audio components, microphones and instruments into your computer for live recording. You can record from tape or even from old vinyl LP's. You are also able to use a home stereo system as an interface for audio components by connecting it to your system's sound card. A laptop with an USB interface and recording software can function as a portable recording studio. Again, if you have MIDI instruments to take care of, get an interface that allows you to connect them in addition to audio components.

Anyone with a computer can now do music recording easily, thanks to the digital revolution. If you enjoy music and want to do more than just download MP3s for listening, get some multitrack audio recording software and work on your own home audio studio.