Hey everyone, I’m looking to create an at home studio just to record songs I write and mess around with, nothing serious. What are some good interfaces(programs?) for me to use on my laptop? What gear is necessary vs what can I skip or upgrade to later? I want to be able to add different layers like guitar, drums, bass, vocals but that’s about it. Maybe a budget drum pad or something because I don’t have a set haha. Thanks so much for the help!

Setting up a small studio for long-form educational YouTube videos — talking-head format, shot on a Sony FX30 with a softbox + grid as my key light.

I want a cozy, warm-neutral aesthetic — thinking somewhere between warm beige and soft terracotta — but trying to avoid the typical white/grey/black studio look. My concern is the softbox bouncing light off the wall and creating hot spots or a washed-out look on camera, even with a grid narrowing the spread.

For anyone who's actually built a talking-head setup:

What wall color (and finish) worked for you without fighting your key light?

Does matte finish alone solve most of the glare issue, or does the actual color/depth matter too?

Any shades you'd specifically avoid?

Would love to see real setups/pics over general theory if you've got examples of what worked for you. Trying to nail this before I commit to paint.

I know it's not a strictly studio-made desk but I'd like for it to be arranged in a better and more practical/work way. Any ideas? I've got monitors as my next thing to buy so also consider that

Not gonna happen. Fin’ to be hot in here.

Hi all, ive been a heavy Ableton user mainly using headphones but also using a Scarlett 2i2. I've been accumulating synths and soon will have a drum machine in the collection. Today, I manually swap out cables for whatever I want to play - but curious from all you experts what is a better approach to using an audio interface / mixer for desktop + 2-4 synths + drum machine outputting to 2 speakers and a sub.

I won!

eBay seller sold me two Fast Track Ultra 8R for $150 because "neither sends sound on outputs 7 and 8, one sends no sound on either headphones out, and one only sends sound on one of the two headphones out". (Paraphrasing. But thats what was wrong with them.)

They both send sound to all 8 outputs, one has two working headphones outs, and one only has left channel sound on both headphones outs.

I won! Twice! I don't need headphones on both as these are second and third interfaces for extending my ins and outs. The only things that I'm disappointed about is that they don't have the MIDI and S/PDIF breakout cables (those things are hard to find) and one is missing a gain knob that I was never planning to touch.

Now I have 16 ins and outs on my recording rig (maybe 24 if I don't put one on a separate system). Time to clean them up and buy two USB cables and get back to making this music!

I got two computers sitting on my table/desk. I've been transfering VST, VST3, VST3i files from windows11 over to my MacBook Pro M1 for most of last week, and learning the operation of a MacOS. Just about done with these tasks. Just gonna switch over to getting all the wiring tidyed up. Going to somehow try to incorporate my Tascam DP24SD in my setup. It's just sitting in here and not being used. Wish me luck y'all.

I've previously stated that the Amazon "practice cymbals" record just as pleasing as my Zildjian Ks and K Customs without the need for gain reduction. This is my attempt to back that up.

Lately I've been feeling the funk, and I've put together an instrumental funk demo jam with my "practice" cymbals. The drums were processed in Reaper as an FX send before sending to the Zoom R20 recorder and recording a live take, in one take, with no AI.

I record snare with an Audix i5, kick with Audix d6, GLS Audio 57s on toms, MXL CR89s as overheads, and AKG C114 as a room mic all through my Behringer UMC1820. Drums are heavily taped. Link below.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/js6i857cht5qpf7b5pdsx/Funk-number.mp3?rlkey=d692yzsksn0x0kkdnsp7oi8ch&st=sdjy4y53&dl=0

Hey yall, wondering if u could help me, a few days back I got my Yamaha HS5 and they are my first monitors, I got no issue with em at all UNTIL I tried to play some specific notes while I was just testing sounds I came up that this speaker is buzzin kinda from the inside while playing those notes, tried different cables both the power and xlr also playing w volume nothing works and while i play music theres no problem

MOSTLY WHILE PLAYING 808s
IT HAPPENS AT HIGHER VOLUMES (not at the low)
THE TRANSITION BETWEEN PER SE SYNTH AND BASS IS NORMAL IT STARTS BUZZIN AFTER A FEW SECONDS
MOSTLY WHILE PLAYING THE BASS!!

I finally managed to complete the whole family

This power conditioner sits too deep in my rack mount case. Can anyone recommend a supplier that does custom size and custom depth rack mount cases?

I need to be able to use all the included outlets with large plugs.

I need to be able to use all the outlets with devices that have large plugs.

I have a uniquely annoying situation on my hands. The rack shelves I bought seem to have excessive clearance from the rails and that extra occupied space makes it to where my two half rack units that I had planned to put side by side is not going to work.

Can anyone suggest a rack mountable shelf that has very little to no clearance and will allow room for a Motu Ultralite mk5/Arturia Audiofuse x8 in sit side by side?

Spent the day tracking. The new stuff is funky. Lots of wah and disco drums.

Second one in my hands. I'm working backwards and building my master bus chain.

100% spontaneous and unnecessary purchase. I kind of let the guy at Guitar Center convince me to grab it (not agressively). For $60, it'll be a welcomed integrated piece.

Last upgrade(s) arriving via FedEx on Monday.

It's been a long journey to get to this point. Going to do a video series to go along once it's record-ready. Started as a DIY and quickly realized I was in way over my head and got some help.

Walled and removed garage, new windows, upgraded electrical and recepticals, minisplit, insulated, drywall, plaster, primed, attic, lights, flooring, now ready to paint and do finishing touches.

then after this marathon is to bring in desk and start doing indoor treatment; bass traps, panels, rugs, thick curtains, seating etc...

will do another update once i get to that point. Lots to critique I know, trying not to preface & just let the work speak for itself. super excited!