A simple home recording set up

CAD M179

A number of people have asked me how I record at home, and what gear I use.

While the possibilities are endless, my budget was not. My home recording set up is not high end, but that's not what I set out to build. Rather, I wanted something quick and easy to set up, and something relatively portable so I could capture jams and spontaneous improvisational arrangements at the homes of friends. And I wanted to stay around $500 and focus on the components that matter most to sound quality (I already had a computer, so I didn't need to figure that into my budget).

When I was looking for advice, a friend of mine who designs mics over at Kel Audio recommended an M179 mic from CAD Audio. At the time, he was not yet manufacturing a mic tweaked for the acoustic style I play. Today, I'd likely order one of his - but not because the M179 isn't up to the job. The CAD M179 is an excellent mic.Though it may not be the last or only mic you will buy, it offers incredible recording quality at a great price point (under $200).

I connect my M179 to a MicPort Pro (also under $200). It's an XLR to USB preamp convertor/connector all in one tiny package. Since it's a USB device, it's more-or-less plug and play. I did have a problem with a loose mini-USB connector - but the company fixed the problem and returned it to me promptly at no cost, even though it was off its one year warranty. 

MicPort Pro - Mic Input

MicPort Pro - Output to USB

MicPort Pro with XLR Mic Cable

MicPort Pro with Mini USB Cable

Audacity Screen Capture

For software, I use the free, open source Audacity. I've found the recently released 1.3.12 Beta version to be more stable and reliable than the previous version - though the previous version worked pretty well. There are a lot of tutorials and training available online for Audacity. The online help is worth your time and will save you frustration. It's also important to make sure your hardware requirements are up to snuff if you expect Audacity (or any reasonably good sound recording software) to run smoothly.

CAD M179 with pop filter

A pop filter and a mic stand later, and I had everything I needed to begin capturing and tweaking my tunes.