Doug Home Studio Project

Focusrite

• (310) 322-5500
  • Phone support is available Monday - Friday, 8am - 1pm and 2pm - 6pm Pacific

Hear Back Pro

Go for the GOLD! (Don't f#&*ing pussyfoot around with ghetto s**t)

1. HearTechnologies.com
2. Hear Technologies YouTube Channel
3. Hear Technologies PRO - Sweetwater

To Do List

1. Determine why Audio Inputs 1 and 2 of Scarlet are leaking through, even with no Pro Tools Track Input engaged
   • Consider calling Focusrite, or driving equipment to Reynolds for Bruce to help
2. Get separate Headphone Amplifiers for each musician
   • You don't "need" personal monitor 'mixers.' But you NEED individual headphone AMPLIFIERS for each musician.
   • Mount each Headphone Amplifier on a separate mic stand for every musician
   • Purchase or create clean, well groomed, cable runs to all the Headphone Amplifiers
   • Pro Audio LA could build some custom cable harnesses to distribute the headphone signals.
     • Very affordable. And having quality cables will help protect against hums, buzzes and intermittent problems.
     • Will also help tidy up the room and keep the floor clear
3. Audio Technica Headphones
   • Consider purchasing Audio Technica headphones for each musician
4. Once Headphone Amplifiers are configured and tested, experiment with setting the band up so that the vocal mics are faced away from (not pointing at) the drums
5. Get second set of speakers for Pro Tools playback to the band
   • PA speakers or any kind of speakers
   • Mackie Big Knob Passive 2x2 Studio Monitor Controller is a good, cost effective way to control this
6. Reposition Audio Interfaces so that:
   • All of the controls are within arm's reach
   • All of the controls and inputs are clearly visible
     • Not obstructed with other equipment

Studio Ergonomics

1. Maple Keyboard Studio Desk - YouTube
   • It would be very easy for Doug to build something like this
   • This design has a perfect amount of rack space
   • Not necessary for the MIDI keyboard to be a sliding tray
     • A stationary shelf for the keyboard is fine
2. Studio Ergonomics - Photos
3. Studio Desk Article with Examples
4. Check out Panda Studios!
   • It's all low budget DIU with Home Depot lumber
   • This studio is in Fremont and the owner would be happy to give a tour and tell Doug how he built the furniture

Sound Checks with Each Musician

Schedule dedicated time with each musician to experiment, ONE at a time, getting good sounds into Pro Tools. Probably best on separate days.

1. Guitar amps and mics
2. Drum set mics
3. Bass - Direct Box vs. guitar cable into Scarlet
   • Note: running an unbalanced line from the bass, across the room, will be susceptible to noise, hum and RF interface. Better to use a Direct Box with BALANCED output.

Suggested Homework for Doug

1. Create a song with Virtual Instruments and Pro Tools MIDI
   • Start to Finish
   • The end game = a stereo MP3 to listen to and share
2. Create a song recording Audio Tracks in Pro Tools
   • You playing everything
   • Same exercise as above, but not MIDI
3. Prep Guide Tracks for recording the band
4. Practice MIXING the recordings
   • Create a Folder of Stereo Mixes!

Equipment

1. Windows Laptop
   • OS
   • RAM
2. External Monitor
3. Focusrite Audio Interface
4. Headphone Amps

Input List

1. Kick - AKG 112
2. Snare - SM57
3. Tom 1
4. Tom 2
5. Tom 3
6. Hi Hat
7. Overhead Left
8. Overhead Right
9. Bass DI - SM57
10. Guitar 1 - SM57
11. Guitar 2
12. Keyboards Left
13. Keyboards Right
14. Vocals 1
15. Vocals 2
16. Vocals 3

If more than 3 mics are needed for vocals, forfeit the tom mics.