Multitrack

If you’re just starting out recording your own music at home, or for the band, getting set up is fairly painless these days. Your best bet is a computer, either Mac or PC, in addition to some other basic recording equipment. The other additions I’ll cover in a later article, but today, I want to talk a little about the computer.

Now, there are many truths and myths around the Internet regarding what kind of computer you need. Here are some simple pointers:

You Don’t need the Latest and Greatest

Although some people would like to tell you otherwise, you do not need the latest and greates PC or Mac to record some simple multitrack audio. In PC terms, something as old as an Intel Celeron 1.8Ghz CPU will get you a lot of mileage when recording.

Although not the Fastest, get the Best

What does that mean? Well, although there is equipment around that is fast and fantastic, it’s better to get a PC where the components are well designed and well made. For example, having a cheap quality power supply and motherboard in particular can cause siginificant problems down the line. So, don’t worry about the fastest, but get something good!

If you need further help with choosing parts and specs, post any questions in the comments feature below.

Go with what You are Comfortable with

Music is an art. That means that you want something that will help you create music, not get in the way. From start to finish, aim to choose your components, from the hardware to the software according to what you are comfortable with. Download some demo software and have a play around, find which is more suitable to your style and preferences.

These tips should get you on your way in finding the right computer for your home recording experiments. Please ask any questions below if anything is unclear.