Feedback On Killer Home Recording: Setting Up

[brandondrury]

For those of you who've downloaded Killer Home Recording: Setting Up and taken the time to read it, I'd love to hear what you think of it.

Go ahead and respond and tell me what you think!

---------------

For those of you who've somehow escaped my mega marketing tractor beam, I'm giving away Killer Home Recording: Setting Up for free.

The Ultimate Getting Started Guide for Home Recording


Here's a few comments so far:


I LOVE IT!!! It's got personality AND personability, to keep my A.D.D. brain interested, all the while, remaining wonderfully informative and comprehensive to this 'Newbie'. Thank you very much!
-- Peter James Howe

for a beginner like me it is the best book I have read on Home Recording
-- Hickle

wont be suprised if this becomes the home recording bible in the future!
-- Colyn Gypsy

In my opinion it's PERFECT even for a more advanced crowd
-- Erik Bosio

It's fucking awesome man. It's definitely helpful and more extensive than I thought it would be. Keep up the epic work!
-- Alden Marchand

I owe you a Beer for this free version of "the shitload of info"/Killer home recording: setting up
-- Paul Keuning

it's good info. I can't wait for the full version of KHR to be released.
-- Lizakowski

It's freaking awesome, dude! The home recording world really needed something like this.
-- Ernesto Vera

Excellent, you have managed to put pretty much everything in here, amazing, very well written and easy to understand,
-- Tuff

I think it's awesome for someone just getting into recording!
-- S. Gallassio

The book so far is great. Always interested in learning more, so this is perfect. I can't wait for the rest of the home recording package to go on sale
-- Todd J Nilsen

It's brilliant! A fantastic guide!
-- Jamie Fairhurst

It is sure to answer 98% of my questions at least.
-- Shane Mann

In a word... WOW. This is as bullshit free as it gets folks. You wont find a more unbiased text on the subject anywhere.
-- Jer

its great. its got in it everything that i learned the hard way over the past 10 years. wish i wouldve had it back then.
-- Paul Dehmer

It's the MOST profound read I've been able to find regarding Home Recording. (And I've spent enough at Barnes and Noble to start a small book store)
-- Jimmy Lawless

absolutely great work
-- Troy Willinger

Really loving it, looks to seriously be the ultimate resource for a beginner like me.
-- Josh Denyer

I' ve been reading through it and I have to say, you've really put together a great book. There is information in there that is priceless.
-- Matt B.

Its AWESOME!!!!! You have already saved me about $1,000 bucks and i only have read maybe half of it.
-- Jessy Martin

I think it's awesome! I took a road trip this weekend and read it over - twice. It's incredibly informative and I really like the "personal experience" stories and appreciate the do's/don'ts within.
-- Michael Belley

Its great - you did a brilliant job of explaining complex stuff in a simple and interesting way and your sound card finder is magic!!
-- Patrick Wright

Hey, It's awesome. You explain things much more clearly than any one else I've encountered.
-- Richard Webb

I just spent most of yesterday reading Setting Up. Awesome man, just Awesome.
-- Matt "Bear" Tinberg

Upon reading through a fair bit of the Setup book, I'm absolutely hooked! You have simplified things so that even the first-time recorder can easily understand them, yet it's still an interesting read when I fully understand the topic being discussed.
-- Dennis Deveaux

Fantastic,very,very cool.learned allot quickly
-- Todd Carriger

The book is cool. Quite logical, well thought out & easy to read - If only I had it when I started out!
-- Andrew Gosden

Great book! Enjoyable to read!
-- Leo Hart

Going through the setting up book now, great stuff and VERY WELL WRITTEN!!!!
-- Jer

I am very , very impressed with not only the amount of info you've jammed into this little package but at how clearly ( and entertainingly .....is that a word ?? ) you've presented the information...your product knowledge , technical expertise and experience ..etc. . Well done....seriously
-- Roysboy

I like the style you have, which strikes me as "WTNS" ("We Take No Sh*t")
-- Duane Mantick

I'm really digging it! It's very user friendly and jargon free, very easy to understand and follow! It has helped me no bounds so far.
-- Mick Carey

I think the "Killer Home Recording: Setting up" is OUTSTANDING.
-- JP Friedman

yeah it's really great, i've never seen anything thats actually gives practical help with recording or setting up a home studio , it's always buy this and buy that
-- Edward Tierney

You did a great job and thanks for sharing with us! You are amazing.
-- Bob Craft

It's just a great all round reference document and one I'll use often for many years. A huge amount of work you put into it and to make it available for free is unbelievably generous of you. You're a legend mate.
-- Peter Hughes

I am super impressed at the detail that you have gone into. I am super excited to get my hands on the full product, ESPECIALLY the audio samples.
-- Sean Provost

Everything is so broken down I don't see how I could make any mistakes in getting my setup to work.
-- Rob Hutchison

I found your book very useful and enlightening and really is a must for all beginners that want to get into home recording. Well done
-- Henry Loram

I find it's very user friendly and 'down to earth', so its not like some textbook and it answers some questions that are not always easy to find.
-- David.A.Burdett

I really like it. You've done a great job.
-- Tamilyn Bacciarini

it will help me immensely when it comes time to start piecing together a home studio
-- Bryan

It's simple enough for beginners but also makes a great refresher for those of us with some experience. Plus, it's one of the few books I've read that contains technical information but manages to maintain a good deal of personality as well. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series!
-- Ian Bender

I think the "Killer Home Recording: Setting up" is OUTSTANDING. I really think it brings a lot of great points, explanations and tips to anyone think about serious about doing a Home Recording Studio.
-- JP Friedman

Loved it! Thanks fella. Wish I'd read it years ago - my first 5 years home recording were a nightmare
-- Dean Tainio

It's great - enjoying it a lot -- very accesable
-- Andy Mawson

I love it. Very very well written, easy to understand and funny! Great job.
-- Erik Bosio

I really like it. It is the first time I see a book REALLY made for home recording.
-- Martin Paré

Tons of informations, tons of tips in order to start corretly and that will keep me out of selling my organs for overpriced gears.
-- Mathrock

It's great! I'm sure it will be a very useful reference.
-- Dan Moyer

i'm having a great time with it, saves me tons and tons of time, thanks a lot man!
-- Pim Mulders

finally someone has written a tutorial on recording in a language that regular musician's can understand
-- Phil Sterrett

I found the manner in which you wrote it to be very easy to read, and as always it is nice to have the comedy thrown in while reading a subject that could get deep quickly.
-- James Clark

I think its great
-- Andrew Batkin

I like the comprehensiveness of the content. Items are not glossed over, but looked at in detail.
-- Mitch Cojocariu

You are awesome! The info has been so helpful to me.
-- Richard Da Producer

find it to be a faithful guide to avoid many of the pitfalls. I only wish that I had had it as a reference when I started home recording many years ago.
-- Steve F

It's really well written, and i like the humour you put into it too
-- Ian McIntosh

This is a great read Brandon. Thank You.
-- Mike Abercrombie

I'm digging it, definitely. Quite a wealth of information indeed.
-- Jonathan Thompson

For a guy I never met, you certainly cool! It appears you always take an interest in your clan. I admire that.
-- Robert Dean

I have had my studio set up for a while but there was still a great amount of information that I know I will be able to use.
-- Spencer Hansen

I like your humorous method of learning as opposed to just being another technocrat.
-- Steve Fornek

cool, lots of great info
-- Steve Legal

so far it's great! Very well put together, some great laughs (especially in the beginning) and what seems to be a good solid read with great info.
-- Jim 2Macs

your site and what I have read of Killer Home Recording are extremely helpful
-- Mike Worley

you did a great job!!!
-- Brian Iglesias

I think it is wonderful doc!
-- Ernest J. Walker

I do like the fact that you focus on skill more that stuff.
-- Jim Donelson



Okay, well that ended up being more than a few!
Brandon

[mindundermatter]

Got it. Haven't read it yet. I'll get back to you on that one.

[geetsifly]

This first chapter alone would have saved me about a year's worth of research. I have asked a friend who is just now researching home recording to take a look because it had clear concise answers to literally all of the questions he was asking me. I also love the writing style which is in "regular speak". Its geared for us normal (not stupid) regular people.

Thanks Brandon

[Taylor_Nut]

Still trying to get it.....

[tvmind]

Still trying to get it.....

If you follow Brandon's link at the top of this thread it is very simple. 2 emails and 5 minutes later it was on my desktop. Maybe try it again and if you still have issues try shooting B.D. a message. It's worth the effort.

[aktech]

Excellent reference. Not only on hardware and software issues, but on the common sense issues that dog us all, especially equipment selection.

One question: Quad Core recommendation. I may have missed the boat on this, but my understanding is that one's choice of software must be able to take advantage of the processors. Not all DAW platforms and/or other music apps will utilize the available quad power, some are only written for dual core. (I vaguely recall reading the ProTools LE for Windows only supports dual.) The extra processing power, and the required additional electrical power (think about a PC running all the time), heat dissipation issues, etc. may be unnecessary if the software in question can't support quad.

Am I correct in that understanding?

[brandondrury]

I guess if you are using software that is 6 years old, you may not utilize your entire computer power. However, when writing Killer Home Recording, the LAST thing I wanted to do was to tell people to go out and get a dated computer because their software was a decade behind.

I'd assume by now all modern software can utilize a modern computer and therefore my recommendation on going with tremendously more powerful processors stands.

As for the heat dissipation, it's my experience and understanding that the 95W processors generate less heat than say a AMD XP2000 from 7 years ago. The fan on my Intel Q8200 runs WAY quiter than my old AMD ever did and APPEARS to run cooler (just my perception....it could be flawed.) How heat from a dual core and a quad core compare is not something I worry about. I've not noticed a difference in my electric bill.

Brandon

[Starliner]

Brandon,

Thanks for making the "Setting Up" volume of "Killer Home Recording" available to everyone. There is some really "good stuff" in it that other people need to hear, and the entire series is definitely recommended reading for those seriously interested in quality (and yet affordable) home recording.

Starliner

[waynepd]

Finally found some "Me Time" and I am now about 70 pages into it and have already learned stuff about mics and stand-alone vs computers. Great stuff for a complete Audio Newbie like me. Thanks Brandon this has been a great effort from you and much appreciated.
Wayne

[pinetop]

Brandon,

I'ts not often that something free is useful, and Killer Home Recording: Setting Up is the exception to the rule. A fine contribution to home recording. Like most I have dabbled in this home recording thing for awhile, but Setting Up offered alot of useful insights.

Thanks Man!

[medichugh]

I have registered, but am not receiving the link to download. Would love to read it.....

Have checked SPAM folder, not there either.

[brandondrury]

If anyone doesn't get the download, it's because my newsletter service goofed up. (They are supposed to be "the best" but they aren't THAT good.)

Just PM me if you don't get it.

Brandon

[hartofadyingsoul]

pretty sweet I have already used the tips for optimising my PC.

cheers!

[cky751]

I just read the book and it's an extremely easy read with a lot of wit and humor all combined with straight forward essential information. If you are newb to recording this is the book of books for you. If you are still in the analog world and want to start in with computers or vice versa (I don't know anyone like that) this is also the book for you. I am definitely going to get the mixing book. This book does a great job of telling you the recording routes you should choose based on your needs and budget. I really with Brandon had wrote this a year ago when I was building up my rig for it would have made things 100000000000000x easier!

[phillippowers]

Brandon...

Your book has really been helping me out. I have been sweating over a few things recently...like preamps (getting more of them), acoustic treatment, ditching my PC, and all kinds of other things.

Your book was really helpful because it showed me that I don't need to be in a hurry w/ these things. I can just chill and calm down a bit and work w/ what I have...and in the meantime, plan my next move wisely without being frantic or jumping to conclusions. Also the users on this forum have changed my life quite a bit, w/ all of their great advice.

I just visited the Echo Echo Studios website and love your work. I also love your approach to getting the things done that you are doing. Your book really makes this available for ALL of us. I have tons of books...but, honestly your book was the most helpful to me in my situation...and so is this forum.

Having said all of that: You were nice enough to 'buy me a beer' so now I'd like to buy you a beer in return. I just wanted to offer you some drum tracks. I am a studio drummer from Indianapolis...I do alot of work w/ people via internet, so I'm all ready to go to throw you a track. (I can just send you each track via yousendit...so you can mix it at your own leisure.) If you are interested...hit me up dude. The stuff I've done has ended up on a few national records, movies and TV. I wanna do some good stuff for you. I'm down for whatever kinda style you want. If you want some background info, I can get more in detail via Private Messages or e-mails or whatever. All I need is an mp3 of something that has been recorded to a click...you know how it goes.

Thanks again for all of your contributions and let me know when you need something so I can buy you that beer back!!!!

[phillippowers]

Also, just wanted to say: I was originally a PC guy...I used Cubase and Sonar 1.0 through 6. I just wasn't able to optimize my computer to keep up w/ the workflow that I was trying to accomplish...

So...I purchased a Mac, ProTools, and a Digi003. To be honest, I love it...but, there are also things I love about Sonar, I mean hell, I've been using it since 2000 I think? I found the part in the book about optimizing your PC to be very helpful. So, I've decided to ressurect my PC. Thanks for all the info on that...I've never seen that put to where it was understandable in any books...let alone inspiring enough for me to ressurect my PC.

So, I'm using an HP Pavilion laptop from 2007. Let's see what I can get going on this thing: first order of business getting rid of all those ridiculous programs that are on there and all of the startup bullcrap...meanwhile updating my RAM a bit.

By the way, everyone I know that's into home recording gets referred to this site and your books from now on!

Thanks alot Brandon!

[lcero]

I found your forum last night around 11:00pm est. I came looking for information on what computer I needed to buy because I finally have the funds to do it right. Within a few minutes I downloaded the Killer Home Recording: Setting up manual and had it read, almost in entirety by 3:30am. You just saved me a few thousand bucks and a ton of headaches. Also busted some myths that in my heart I knew were the case but my head didn't have the answer.

Really glad I found your forums and that was one hell of a free manual. Going shopping today so thanks again.

Edit: I am now using my new AMD II Quad Core Desktop. Spent about $800 (monitor included). It has 8GB of Ram, 750GB Storage and it is quiet as a mouse. I couldn't be happier with it and the choice I made. I still have a few more things to buy but it looks like I will save a large chunk of change from this alone.

[pelagicmariner]

i'm essentially a music listener (and lover) who has quite a few musician friends. Living as i do in India; recording musicians either means going to some studios who spout a lot of jargon and cost the moon or dealing with some guys who are plain electricians.
Hence my hesitant entry into the world of 'recording'. This is where KHR comes in- it does not make me feel like a moron! Rather it is easy to understand (very little blah-blah).
i'm going to join the line of chaps willing to buy Brandon a beer!

[Neurologi]

Brandon. Thank you. I read the "Setting Up" freebie pretty soon after it became available. A very concise presentation of the essential elements that really helps me to not get sidetracked by not getting too bogged down in technicalities which I have a penchant for. I have come to similar conclusions on myriad aspects but the crucial factor for me is that I never feel as though I have all the pieces to make a concerted effort to really get this desire for home recording to become a reality. I have all the gear (have done for years and years - really) and continue to accumulate but have been stuck in a rut. I believe KHR: Setting Up gave me the excuse to quit stalling for it verified I am on the right track. Even without getting my hands on the full package (as yet still unreleased by the way ) you have already paid huge dividends for me. I am sure that the rest of the material will be even more so the case. REALLY looking forward to it.

Using the ideas put forward in KHR: Setting Up as a springboard for my own research, I have just completed a full system (re)build with a purpose to owning a "Quiet PC" verging upon the lofty realms of the "Silent PC". All well and good but a bit early to bask in the glory as now I notice that by far the noisiest component in the whole apartment is the outboard analog mixer. Unfortunately, I can't really re-route all the gear without it eg. no mic inputs on the sound card for instance. Therefore it must remain on when doing anything serious in the way of tracking/mixing/mastering. This long winded explanation leads me to ask a question of you Brandon (in your infinite wisdom) or any fellow HRF'ers of like-mind. What the hell can I do to quieten my outboard mixer? From what I can tell there is no fan. The components themselves are making the noise. I suppose a "powered" mixer comes at the expense of added noise?

It seems I joined your forum well over two years ago and only now see fit to submit my first post?!!

[garageband]

What the hell can I do to quieten my outboard mixer? From what I can tell there is no fan. The components themselves are making the noise. I suppose a "powered" mixer comes at the expense of added noise?

You should not be using a powered mixer to record with.

[Neurologi]

You should not be using a powered mixer to record with.

It isn't used to record. It is a mixer. I use its mic preamps which feed the line inputs on the soundcard, its headphone out for monitoring if need be, the line outputs of the soundcard feed the line inputs of the mixer out to the line inputs of self-powered monitors etc. Care to elaborate? How is it unsuitable? Pardon me if I seem a little incredulous without further clarification. A mixer is a mixer.

[garageband]

It isn't used to record.

You just said you were using it to record, before and after.

A mixer is a mixer.

Funny. My mixer isn't noisy and yours is. I guess a mixer isn't a mixer after all.

[Neurologi]

You just said you were using it to record, before and after.
Funny. My mixer isn't noisy and yours is. I guess a mixer isn't a mixer after all.

Ok. Suppose it was too much to ask for a constructive suggestion or two. Noisy is relative when the only thing making noise is the mixer. Thanks for your help.

[Starliner]

I read your post, and was wondering if the noise you mentioned is acoustic noise of some sort, or if it is electronic (signal chain) noise? Also, what kind of mixer is it?

Starliner

[Neurologi]

I read your post, and was wondering if the noise you mentioned is acoustic noise of some sort, or if it is electronic (signal chain) noise? Also, what kind of mixer is it?

Starliner

It is a Yamaha EMX2000 powered mixer which was bought back in the day for band rehearsal. In particular, to hear the vocalist over the racket the drummer and I as guitarist with a ridiculously powerful full tube rig were making. It now serves rather as a means to route outboard analog gear in my home studio. I still have the live monitor wedges connected to the power amplifier but are nowadays mostly muted for the purposes of recording etc. as I now have more appropriate speakers for those duties.

To clarify and dispel any confusion as regards my earlier comment about it not being used for recording by way of example. I still have a multi-function Mini-Disc 4-track mixer/recorder which was put out of commission a decade ago as a portable recorder. There are now far more convenient means available to the budding guy in the field. That unit records to a medium. The EMX2000 does not. It is a mixer only.

I forked out for it a good nigh on $2000 Australian brand new. The build is tough, reliable and sturdy. The preamps and signal chain are clean enough not to be heard down or up stream of the mixer. As you correctly surmised, the noise I speak of is airborne (acoustic) and is the physical properties of the electrical components which contribute to it. I am guessing the culprit here is the transformer for there seems to be no internal fan as all I can see are large heatsinks instead. I am only hearing this now more clearly as the ambient or background noise has been reduced substantially (rough calculation at close to 10dB) due to my recent (re)build of the PC in an already very quiet apartment overall. Before I could hear only the PC noise. Now I can only hear the airborne noise of the powered mixer when it is fired up. Hence, my question. Anything one can do without buying a new mixer? I am hoping for a practical alternative to decommissioning yet another mixer. Storage space is at a premium!

Cheers, Starliner. I appreciate your concern and non-dogmatic tone.

PS I am thinking of replacing the fan on the 2x100W tube power amp (guitar) for a quieter one. It sure makes quite the mighty racket that I can't stand anymore! So yes. My ears are sensitive enough to complain about it.