Digital recording - to use a computer, or not to use?So you chose digital recording? That was a first smart decision. Now, you are confronted with several other questions that need answers to find out what equipment you need... Should I go the computer recording route, and use what I already have, or get a digital workstation? Sidebar: If you don't know what digital audio is all about, check out this page on digital recording. (Opens in a new window). Your answers here will vary, depending on what your needs are. Different people have different uses for their recording gear. Here are some questions to ask yourself when considering digital recording:
You can see that a bunch of these questions are dealing with the issue of portability. With most stand-alone digital recorders, you can just pick it up and take it with you to a friend’s house. You won’t have 2 million (OK, just joking!) cables to unhook and reconnect at the right places. When you have a computer, moving the system becomes a little more involved. That translates into keeping the whole recording system rather stationary. After all, who wants to spend 1 & 1/2 hours moving the computer to record for 45 minutes? So it seems like a stand-alone unit for recording your digital audio is the way to go? Just hang on a sec. There are many advantages with a computer recording system. You have a lot more power and flexibility when it comes to add-ons and digital effects. There is a vast amount of software available for computer, with very powerful options. Now with a standalone recorder, you will have access to different effects, but the options are rather limited compared to those available to a computer. Pricing varies a lot between the different digital recording systems. With a computer, you have the cost of the computer, monitor, keyboard, mouse (if you’re not using a laptop), audio interface, pre-amps & mics, and software. With a stand-alone, you have the cost of the main unit, plus any pre-amps & mics you want. Chances are, you already have a computer. So there is a lot of your investment right away! OK, what would I recommend? I think a computer recording setup is the best option to go, because of the flexibility and upgrade-ability. It will cost you a bit more, but think ahead to what you might expand your hobby into in the future. If you just want to get your feet wet, buying a cheap stand-alone digital recording unit might be the way for you. Keep in mind that I cannot decide for you what to get. Ultimately that is your decision; it’s your digital audio, and it’s for your studio! How does the whole recording process work?
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