Essay

AUD114.2 Plan a Digital Recording System to a Supplied Brief

Benjamin Parkes

SAE Institute

Sydney

Submitted in partial fulfilment of the Bachelor of Audio

Student Details

Name: Benjamin Parkes

Number: 1011238
Module: AUD114
Date:
Word Count:

Unit Coordinator/Lecturer: Brani Gerun

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 Contents

Studio Equipment List .............................................................................................................. 3

Signal Flow Diagram ................................................................................................................ 4
Computer ................................................................................................................................... 5
Keyboard & Mouse.................................................................................................................... 6
Storage & USB Hub.................................................................................................................. 6
Digital Audio Workstation ........................................................................................................ 6
Audio Interfaces ........................................................................................................................ 6
Outboard Digital Effects Processor .......................................................................................... 7
Monitors .................................................................................................................................... 7
Headphones ............................................................................................................................... 7
Microphones .............................................................................................................................. 8
Microphone Accessories ........................................................................................................... 9
MIDI Controllers .................................................................................................................... 10
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... 11
Bibliography ............................................................................................................................ 12

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Studio Equipment List

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Signal Flow

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For my signal flow diagram, I wanted it to display it so it is similar to how it would look on a
desk, with the keyboard and mouse in front of the computer etc. I have a key for the colour of
the different cables, so it is easy to understand. I have taken into consideration cable input
and output, as well as equipment that has a stereo use (The M100 Multi-Effects Processor). I
made sure to display the two monitors and how they would look in the signal flow. I have the
different equipment colour coded, so it is easier to understand.

Computer

The computer I have chosen to purchase for my home studio is a 27-inch iMac with Retina
5K. “For music production, the i5 chips in Apple’s 5K iMac are sufficient, and you can upgrade
RAM from the base 8 GB up to 32 GB whenever you like, avoiding Apple’s hefty RAM
prices.” (Grannell, 2016). Although I use Windows and Macintosh operating systems, I believe
that Mac OS is more accessible to navigate around and is used more commonly amongst
musicians and producers in my own experiences. Both RAM and storage are critical for
constructing industry-level projects, as you need to make sure the equipment you have is
reliable to work to the best of its ability. This iMac has the ability for the user to upgrade the
ram from 8 GB to 64 GB if needed. An additional external hard drive can be purchased as well
to increase the amount of storage if required.

This iMac had a 3.8GHZ quad-core 7th-generation-Intel Core i5 processor. However, there
was an option to choose an improved processor. Therefore I decided to upgrade to 4.2GHZ
quad-core 7th generation Intel Core i7 processor. By selecting an enhanced processor, it adds
more longevity to the computer and allows the possibility of more professional plug-ins and
effects. I decided to expand my memory by increasing to 16GB of 2400MHz DDR4. “With the
majority of Macs no longer allowing you to upgrade RAM later, buy what you can afford
during purchase. Consider 16GB your minimum.” (Grannell, 2016). The reason for this was to
decrease rendering time and make the overall computer more reliable for the user. Having the
option to increase the processing power of the computer allows for potential future proofing to
a degree. For the storage amount, I decided to keep it at 2TB Fusion Drive as I will an external
hard drive.

I will be purchasing Pro-Tools for my digital audio workspace, which is compatible for
with this iMac. There are three USB 3 inputs, and two thunderbolts two inputs allowing for
additional accessories. The screen is 27 inches allows the user to have a clear, overall view of
the tracks without needing to scroll as much if using a smaller computer. Taking these aspects
into consideration I believe that the price of the machine is fair, and therefore I will purchase
it for my studio. Although the purchase of the iMac comes with a Magic Mouse 2, I will buy a
different mouse as the one given is Bluetooth and therefore requires charging.

I decided to have a second computer monitor for my set up, so I added a Dell 27 Monitor:
S2718HN to my list. I wanted a second screen to help workflow and allow the user to spread
their work across two displays so everything can be viewed easily. I made sure to choose a
monitor that would be the same size as the iMac for consistency. To connect the monitor, I
would use an USB-C to HMDI cable converter.

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Keyboard & Mouse

The keyboard that I chose was an Avid Pro Tools Mac keyboard. This particular keyboard
was selected as it displayed shortcuts that could be used within Pro Tools, therefore increasing
efficiency and work speed by providing keyboard shortcuts.

The mouse purchased was a Razer Abyssus V2. This mouse was chosen because it is a
well-made and non-wireless. I have had experience using this mouse and have found it to be
comfortable and has a good response when being used. I did not want to purchase a wireless
mouse as that would require charging, which would cause problems if not charged.

Storage & USB Hub

I decided to have an external hard drive with 4TB storage. The reason for having an external
hard drive would be to make sure the CPU of the computer would continue to run as fast as
possible. Copy production files and Pro Tools would save on this hard drive. A key feature of
this hard drive is that data can be transferred between Window and Mac computers when the
NTFS driver's installed, although this external hard drive would stay with the iMac, if an artist
has any files formatted for Windows, they can easily be accessed on the iMac.

With the number of USB connections, it would be essential to purchase a USB hub to have
the equipment plugged in. I decided to add an XCD 7 port USB hub. By having this hub, there
would be nine USB-3.0 ports altogether. However, two ports would be taken on the iMac up
by the USB hub and the hard drive, and two inputs would be occupied on the USB hub for the
mouse and keyboard. On this particular USB hub, all the ports are USB-2.0 and USB-1.1
backwards compatible, and have a transfer rate of 5Gbps.

Digital Audio Workstation

The DAW that I decided to buy was Pro Tools. I have only ever worked on Pro Tools and
therefore am more comfortable using this particular DAW. “This is perhaps the most popular
DAW in the professional world. For professional mixing and editing, this is the industry
standard.” (Mayzes, n/d)”. Pro Tools is the industry standard in high-end audio, therefore it
was vital for me to have to use a DAW that could provide the necessary aspects to develop
well-produced songs. I thought about purchasing Pro Tools Ultimate, however, felt that once
the studio receives some updates and upgrades in the future, then would be the right time to
purchase the more advanced version.

Audio Interfaces

For this assessment, it is required to be able to record twelve mic lines and four line inputs,
therefore a total of 16 inputs. I decided that the best choice would be to have a Focusrite Scarlett
18i20, and a Focusrite Scarlett 18i8. “The Scarlett 6i6. 18i8 and 18i20 are capable of
standalone mode. The 18i20 is capable of sending eight channels via ADAT.” (SweetCare,

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n/d). These interfaces would be daisy chained using ADAT cables. “This now means you have
16 analogue outputs in your setup.” (Focusrite Audio Engineering, n/d). Using the information
found written on the Focusrite Help Centre I was able to find out how to set up the two
interfaces, by taking eight line and mic inputs and adding an extra four line and mic inputs.
When choosing audio interfaces, I kept future-proofing in mind, which is why I decided a
Focusrite 18i20 and 18i8, as if I wanted to upgrade, I can replace the 18i8 with another 18i20.
Although both these audio interfaces would give me access to Pro Tools First and Ableton
Live, I will not be using either of those DAW versions.

Outboard Digital Effects Processor

Another requirement for this assessment was to have one outboard digital effects processor.
“An incredibly compact multi-effects processor, the M100 features 16 award-winning TC
ELECTRONIC presets including studio-grade reverb…” (Tceletronic, n/d). I wanted to find
an outboard unit that wasn’t going to take up too much space, and would easily connect with
the rest of my equipment. Therefore, I chose the TC Electronic M100 Stereo Multi-Effects
Processor. The unit can work in mono and stereo, and its input accepts balanced and unbalanced
¼” cables, this makes it easy for connecting as you don’t have to worry about impedance. The
output of the unit is impedance-balanced ¼” TRS connectors. For the input connections, I will
use two unbalanced ¼” cables as the component will not be far away from the audio interfaces.
The output will have two impedance- balanced TRS cables that will connect to the Focusrite
18i20. This particular effects processor includes multiple reverbs and effects that can be added
to a live or studio song in order to add depth, width or colour. There is also a dedicated mix
balance allowing the user to adjust the controls to their preferred adjustments.

Monitors

The monitors that I put down to purchase are the PreSonus Eris E5. “Eris E5 provides
balanced XLR, balanced ¼” TRS, and unbalanced RCA line-level inputs.” (PreSonus, n/d).
The main reason I decided to buy these monitors is that they allow input from balanced ¼”
TRS cables, which would be used by the M100. They have the option to change input cables
if I need to change in the future.

I chose to have studio monitor stands for my recording studio, as it would allow me to fix
the monitors in a set position without taking up too much space on my desk so I could hear the
sound in a best-intended way. I chose the MS-70 Studio Monitor Stands to help me achieve
this.

Headphones

For headphones, I knew that I wanted closed back headphones for track recording, so the
user could get maximum sound isolation and therefore prevent any bleeding from the
headphones going into the mic and ruining the take. While checking online, I saw that there
was a special offer on Beyerdynamic DT770 Pros. After seeing review and watching some

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videos, I decided to have them on the list for equipment to purchase. The headphones come
with a ¼” adapter which would be able to plug into the Focusrite 18i20.

On top of closed back headphones, I wanted to get a pair of open back headphones. These
types of headphones are mostly used for mixing and if you’re recording an instrument that does
not require a microphone, for example, the Akai MPK249 MIDI Controller. Although the
monitors would be ideally used for mixing, I think it is responsible also for checking your
mixing with headphone, as primarily people are using headphones to listen to music. The
headphone that I thought would be the best pair for this is, are the AKG K240s Headphones. I
currently own a pair of these headphones and have enjoyed using them as they work and sound
great. One feature I appreciate the most from these headphones is that they have a 55 ohms
impedance plug-in cable. By having this cable able to plug in and out, it allows you to replace
the cable without needing to replace the whole headphone. These headphones also come with
a ¼” adapter which makes them suitable to plug into the audio interfaces if required, although
they will be more likely plugged into the computer or monitors. I also put a backup headphone
cable for this pair as a replacement.

For my headphones I included a Behringer Microamp as this would be used as a headphone

splitter junction box when artists are recording. The splitter has the option for each person
wearing headphones to change the level of what they are hearing. I made sure to include four
Beyerdyanminc headphones, as well as one extra as a backup in case one breaks. I also included
a headphone cable extension cable if the musicians are too far away from the audio interface.
As the headphones I purchased come with w ¼” adapter, those would be used to plug into the
junction box.

Microphones

Microphones are one of the most critical components when it comes to creating a studio.
Having a collection that is versatile and reliable is essential to be recognised as a professional
recording studio. I wanted to choose microphones that I believe are essential for beginner
studios.

The first type of microphone I added to the list was Rode NT5 (Cardioid Condenser). These
microphones were chosen because they are intended to record acoustic instruments such as
guitars, and can be used for drum overheads. As they come in a pair they can be used singularly
or in a stereo X-Y recording technique. I had also used these microphones before to record an
acoustic guitar and was very pleased with them. The output for these mics is XLR. Therefore
they will be connected to the Focusrite 18i20 when used.

The second microphone I chose was the Rode NT2-A (Condenser). “A professional large
capsule (1") studio microphone incorporating three-position pick-up patterns, PAD and high
pass filter switches conveniently located on the mic body.” (Rode Microphones, n/d). The
number of features that are available for this microphone makes it a must-have for building a
studio on a budget. There is the possibility to choose between a cardioid, omni, and bi-
directional polar patterns. As well as the ability to apply a -10dB or -5dB pad, and high pass
switches. This microphone would be mostly used to record vocals, however, if I decided to
purchase another one, using the bi-directional polar pattern I can use the Blumlein recording

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technique. This particular purchase includes a shock mount, dust cover, pop filter, and an XLR
Cable.

When it came to deciding on microphones for a drum kit I initially thought that I
wouldn’t need any overhead mics as the Rode NT5s could be used. However, I made sure to
leave room in my budget to purchase high-quality microphones. Therefore, I went ahead and
chose the Shure PGA 7-Piece Drum Microphone Kit. “The PGA DRUMKIT 7 includes a
complete microphone package for reinforcing kick drums, snare drums, rack toms, floor
toms, congas and cymbals for performance and recording.” (Storedj.com.au, n/d). Not only
does the kit include seven microphones, but also five XLR cables, three drum mounts and
three microphone clips.

The fourth microphone that I chose was the Shure SM57. "The SM57’s outstanding
performance, legendary reliability, and diversity of application make this "workhorse" the
choice of performers, producers, and sound engineers worldwide." (Shure, n/d). The Shure
SM57 is a dynamic microphone; meaning is it able to record under high sound pressure levels
with a dynamic range of sound, which is why it is useful for various applications. The most
serious operation this microphone is used for is for a snare drum. The receivers withstand to
high sound pressure levels makes it ideal for recording the loud "crack" coming from a snare
drum. The mic has a clear response when positioned correctly, especially for guitar
amplifiers. Other applications in which this microphone can be utilised are for any
instruments that produce a high SPL, such as brass instruments, as well as gentle instruments
such as an acoustic guitar. The microphone can be used for many possibilities, making it an
excellent overall mic.

The fifth and final microphone I decided on was an AKG C414. "Engineered for highest
linearity and neutral sound, it is the most universal and versatile large diaphragm microphone
for decades" (Akg.com, n/d). Before choosing this microphone, I knew that I wanted to have
something that would add some warmth and colour to an instrument or vocal. This
microphone is a large-diaphragm condenser meaning it can pick up plenty of clarity and
precision making it a respected and well-known microphones in audio history. It has the
option of switching between nine different polar patterns, those being "Cardioid, Figure of
eight, Hypercardioid, Omnidirectional, and Wide Cardioid" (Akg.com, n/d). Making it
possible to be used in any application. There is also the option for a pad attenuation (-6,-12,-
18dB) making it great to use in close up micing situations. There is also the option to have a
bass-cut filter for three different options. These options would be used, "To reduce wind
noise, subsonic noise or proximity effect" (Akg.com, n/d). Taking into consideration the
number of possibilities with this microphone and its rich history makes it an incredible mic to
have in the collection.

Microphone Accessories

For the microphone stands I chose ten, Konig Meyer, 21070 Mic Stands. I decided to have
ten because I wanted to have extras in case one broke or more than six is wished to be used. I
also chose two Hamilton KB121M Lo-Profile Microphone Stands for the kick drum, and
another in case the first one breaks, or we want to record something else on the drum kit, like
the bottom of the snare.

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 For the number of XLR cables, without needing to buy any, I had six in total from coming
with the microphones in the list. I decided to purchase another twelve XLR cables. By having
this many, I would have backups and let more than twelve XLR cables connected. I chose
twelve Mogami Studio Gold XLR cables.

Although I already would receive a free pop filter from the Rode NT2a, I wanted to
purchase another if one breaks, or if another vocal microphone is purchased.

MIDI Controllers

Within my budget, I wanted to include a MIDI controller as it could allow virtual

instruments to be put into a track to add texture or variety to a song. It is also a creative and
exciting piece of technology to have within a studio. I decided to go with an Akai MPK249
MIDI Controller. “MPK249 features 49 semi-weighted keys with aftertouch, 8 assignable
knobs, faders, and switches, 16 MPC-style pads with RGB feedback, and onboard transport
buttons. Three banks expand the number of knobs, faders, and switches (up to 24 each), and
four pad banks expand the number of pads (up to 64 total).” (AKAI Professional, n.d.). The
amount of control you have with this MIDI makes it unique and allows the user to develop
their sound. There are a variety of exciting features on this MIDI, which I think would be
beneficial to designing and creating a song/ album. Another useful feature of this MIDI
controller is that it is USB input and output, making it simple to set up for the studio.

Music Production Software

I decided that I wanted to include music production software as it cheaper than purchasing
analogue gear, and it doesn’t take up any physical room. I chose to go with plug-in bundles as
they contain various options, and can save you money. All of these plugins are supported by
Pro Tools 10.3.5 or later.

The first piece of production software I included was the Waves Gold Bundle. “Gold brings
a wealth of mixing and mastering power to your studio…” (Waves, n/d). This particular bundle
include over 40 essentials plugins such as equalisation, compression, reverb and more which
are used for mixing and mastering. Within these plugins, it contains the L1 Ultramaximizer as
well as C4 Multiband Compressor. When utilised correctly it allows the user to take their mixes
to the next level. The bundle was also on sale at the time, which was another reason I purchased
it.

The second bundle I decided on was Soundtoys 5. The package includes 20 plugins that
are audio effects. There are a lot of presets for each of the plugins which help in creating and
developing a unique sound for each person. The variety of plugins include saturation,
compression, distortion, echo, delay, pitch, chorus, widening effects, as well as beat-synced
rhythmic effects. These audio effects have been used by credible producers such as Dave Tozer,
Tom Elmhirst, and Dave Pensado. This bundle is also on sale, giving it another good reason to
be purchased.

The third bundle I chose was the iZoptope Music Production Sweet Suite. This bundle
contains six music production tools including, “Ozone 8 Advanced, Neutron 2 Advanced, RX

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6 Standard, Nectar 2 Production Suite, VocalSynth, and Trash 2 Expanded” (iZoptope, n/d).
These tools are used to mix and master a song and contain 34 plugins in total.

Conclusion

Before writing this assessment, I knew little about signal flow for a studio and how to go
about creating a recording studio. However, from researching and looking at online
resources, I was able to understand what was needed while still keeping in line with the
requirements for this assessment. By doing this assignment, I have a greater understanding of
the aspects that go into a functioning studio, as well as taking into consideration other audio
practitioners opinions on specific equipment to help make my studio be more effective. Being
given the ability to choose whatever products I wanted to use as long as it was justified made
the assignment more exciting. Overall I did enjoy writing this assessment and have now a
broader comprehension of the equipment and connectivity within a studio.

If I was to do this assignment again I would try my best to reach closer to the total budget
goal of $20,000. Although it is better to go under budget then above, I would of liked to have
been closer. I think to achieve this, I would look for essential pieces of equipment that was
higher in price.

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 Bibliography

Grannell, C. (2016). Wondering which Mac to get for making music? Here's our
recommendations. [online] Macworld UK. Available at: https://www.macworld.co.uk/feature/mac-
software/best-mac-making-music-apple-computer-for-editing-music-new-3446650/ [Accessed 16 Jul.
2018].

Mayzes, R. (2018). Best DAW 2018: Choose One of These Top DAWs Today. [online] Musician
on a Mission. Available at: https://www.musicianonamission.com/best-daw-2016/ [Accessed 16 Jul.
2018].

SweetCare. (n/d). Can I daisy-chain two Focusrite Scarlett interfaces? | Sweetwater. [online]
Available at: https://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/articles/can-i-daisy-chain-two-focusrite-scarlett-
interfaces/ [Accessed 16 Jul. 2018].

Focusrite Audio Engineering. (n/d). Using two 1st Gen Scarlett 18i20s to increase your channel
count. [online] Available at: https://support.focusrite.com/hc/en-gb/articles/207545975-Using-two-
1st-Gen-Scarlett-18i20s-to-increase-your-channel-count [Accessed 16 Jul. 2018].

Tcelectronic.com. (n/d). M100 | Effects | Signal Processors | TC Electronic | Categories | MUSIC

Group - TC Electronic. [online] Available at:
https://www.tcelectronic.com/Categories/Tcelectronic/Signal-Processors/Effects/M100/p/P0CAH
[Accessed 16 Jul. 2018].

PreSonus. (n/d). Eris E5 | PreSonus. [online] Available at:

https://www.presonus.com/products/Eris-E5 [Accessed 16 Jul. 2018].

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 RØDE Microphones. (n/d). RØDE Microphones - NT2-A Multi-Pattern Dual 1' Condenser
Microphone. [online] Available at: http://www.rode.com/microphones/nt2-a [Accessed 16 Jul. 2018].

Storedj.com.au. (n/d). Shure PGA 7-Piece Drum Microphone Kit | Dynamic Microphones - Store
DJ. [online] Available at: https://www.storedj.com.au/shure-pga-7-piece-drum-microphone-kit
[Accessed 16 Jul. 2018].

Shure.com. (n/d). SM57. [online] Available at:

http://www.shure.com/americas/products/microphones/sm/sm57-instrument-microphone [Accessed
16 Jul. 2018].

Akg.com. (n/d). C414 XLS | Reference multipattern condenser microphone. [online] Available at:
https://www.akg.com/Microphones/Condenser%20Microphones/C414XLS.html [Accessed 16 Jul.
2018].

AKAI Professional. (n.d.). MPK249. [online] Available at:

http://www.akaipro.com/products/keyboard-controllers/mpk-249 [Accessed 19 Jul. 2018].

waves.com. (n/d). Gold | Bundles | Waves. [online] Available at:

https://www.waves.com/bundles/gold [Accessed 16 Jul. 2018].

Izotope.com. (n/d). Music Production Suite. [online] Available at:

https://www.izotope.com/en/products/mix/music-production-
suite.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwmefOBRBJEiwAf7DstP37tYDV0KheYPaDj4vP5WanyqkZhS4LXCk1
KsUQPDp3bk_76kp5kBoCFZsQAvD_BwE [Accessed 16 Jul. 2018].

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