I spent the last couple of months researching stuff with the idea of setting up my own home studio. I won't bore you with the false trails I followed and the blind alleys I went down, but between my own poking around and the advice of a few friends who have their own set-ups, I wound up blowing the budget and putting together the following kit:

Microphones: Marshall MXL Pro Pack Plus – two condenser microphones, one suited to voice the other suited for acoustic instrument such as guitar. CLICKY #1. Both mics and other goodies for $250. Comes complete with shock mounts, two 15 foot cables (professional XLR connectors), wind screens if necessary, and all in a stout padded case. A couple of friends have this mic kit and like it a lot. Got them from Front End Audio. These plug into

Lexicon Omega Desktop Studio – an analog to digital converter—and more—that plugs into a USB port in a computer. It has a number of inputs and outputs (1/4") for things such as headphones, and on the back are two XLR connectors (for the mic cables) and phantom power. $185 (list price, $420). I got it from Amazon. CLICKY #2.

I've been advised to get a really good set of headphones (ones that cover the ears) so you can really hear what you're recording. Studio quality. So I got a set of Audio Technica ATH-M50 Professional Studio Monitoring Headphones. $145. I also got them through Amazon. CLICKY #3. I notice that they've gone up to $170. In any case, get a good set of headphones.

After all this, I can't yet say how it all works because I just got the stuff. I'm waiting for a couple of mic stands and a pop filter that haven't come yet (condenser mics are fairly sensitive to popping "P's" and hissing "S's").

I've also been told that I need a fast hard drive—7200 rpm—to avoid "latency" (delay between what you sing and what you hear coming back through the phones, which can drive you nuts!), so I also bought an external USB hard drive (500 GB, 7200 rpm) to record to. I was going to get an external hard drive anyway, just on general principles, so I just made sure I got a fast one with good capacity. About $150.

One point about audio interfaces for the computer (e.g. the Lexicon Omega). It's a good idea to get one that exceeds the specifications of commercial CDs, if making such is your goal. A commercial CD can manage up to 16-bit, 44.1 sample rate. The Omega can record at up to 24-bit, 96 sample rate. I've been informed that if you do your recordings at the higher bit depth and sample rates, the CD can't actually reproduce the better sound, but somehow voodoo seems to kick in and the CD sounds fuller and richer.

I'm taking a lot of this on faith. When I get the rest of the gear and get the whole thing cobbled together, I'll give you a report. Might be a few weeks, though.

Now, if I could only do something about my "frog in a rain barrel" voice. . . .

Don Firth