Looking to create your own home recording studio with an Apple computer. For some, it is getting harder and harder to find the best deal in town, or even a good price on rental equipment/studio time. For professional stereo music recording and audio gear that will deliver quality results in your next recording endeavor there is a good deal of recording equipment for Mac at reasonable prices. Whether it is voice, a podcast, or even your next album your looking to record, the reviews on this site will hopefully help you along the way. Create professional sounding recording from home, and slowly build your own Mac recording studio.
Digital Audio Interface
M-Audio Fast Track USB 2 Computer Audio Interface
Music Recording Software for Mac
Gear isn't the only thing that set pro music studio apart from basements. The proper software for recording with Apple can provide additional recording and mixing options (including higher bit-rate and additional studio effects), that can turn a would-be demo into a full-scale album. DAWs (digital audio workstations) tend provide unique user interfaces (usually centered around a certain task), that draw users to continued use. While Pro Tools may work for many (as it is the industry standard), it might not be the greatest for you.
Analog and Digital Microphones
Mics are one of the most important elements of any professional sounding recording. While some computers offer built-in mics, or direct-input for instrument pick-ups, nothing will deliver as quality of audio as a good microphone. Until recently, this meant picking up an analog mic and connecting to an audio interface in order to get a digital recording. Now, podcasters or solo musician may use a pro quality USB mic to easily get the same results. However, a home studio would still have much better results with a Mac compatible audio interface and some studio mics.
Digital Mixing Consoles
If you crave the feeling of an analogue station, but the convenience of digital backup, a digital console is the way to go. There are economic and professional models of these digital consoles. Often companies lack proper driver for Mac (making it $1500 of uselessness), but the proper console can provide a very enjoyable mixing experience. Giving the right board, some are capable of standalone usage (and even feature internal or external storage methods), making a mobile and professional recording environment.
Alesis MultiMix 8 USB 2.0 Mixer
Studio Quality Headphones and Audio Reference Monitors
After recording any home project its best to give it a listen or two. High quality studio reference monitors are ideal for providing exact audio reproduction. If your interested in mixing in a studio space (and with a group of people), a set on studio monitors will provide excellent audio quality throughout the room. Despite their sometime hefty price, these speakers will permit focus on the most minute of detail, and do not color or distort tracks during playback. A pair of studio quality headphones will deliver nearly the same results, but in a more personal manner. With the best headphones for Mac recording, you can affordably inspect each nuance of a performance. The greatest part is, headphones can travel with you.
M-Audio Studiophile BX5a Bi-amplified Studio Reference Monitors