Hardware and Recording Primer
Free 20-chapter guide to audio hardware and recording — microphones, interfaces, cables, digital audio, studio acoustics, stereo technique, and session workflow. From Beat Kitchen School.
- 1. Sound, Electricity, and Transduction How sound becomes a recording: sound waves, voltage, current, resistance, AC vs DC, grounding, and the transduction chain from vibration to digital signal.
- 2. Microphones: Types, Patterns, and Selection How to choose a microphone: dynamic vs condenser vs ribbon, polar patterns (cardioid, omni, figure-8), phantom power, and which mic to use for vocals, guitar, and drums.
- 3. Cables, Connectors, and Balanced Audio XLR, TRS, TS, and RCA cables explained — what balanced vs unbalanced audio means, why it matters for noise rejection, and how to wrap cables properly.
- 4. The Audio Interface and Signal Levels What an audio interface actually does: preamps, A/D conversion, gain staging, Hi-Z inputs, and DI boxes — the hub between your microphone and your DAW.
- 5. Digital Audio: Sampling, Bits, and Conversion Sample rate vs bit depth explained — 44.1 vs 48 kHz, 16-bit vs 24-bit, the Nyquist frequency, what dither does, and how buffer size affects latency.
- 6. Recording in Mono How to record vocals and acoustic instruments: mic selection, placement distance, pop filter setup, gain staging, monitoring options, and getting a clean take.
- 7. Working with Vocalists Vocal recording sessions: building a headphone mix singers can perform to, managing multiple takes and comping, light compression while tracking, and session psychology.
- 8. Recording in Stereo Stereo recording techniques compared: X/Y, ORTF, spaced pair, Blumlein, Decca tree, NOS, and binaural — when to use each and how they affect phase and width.
- 9. Mid/Side: Sum, Difference, and the Stereo Field Mid/side recording and processing explained — how M/S encoding works, the sum and difference matrix, correlation meters, the goniometer, and using M/S EQ in mastering.
- 10. Recording Instruments How to record electric guitar, bass, and keyboards — SM57 on a cab, DI boxes, pickup types, re-amping, and when to mic vs go direct.
- 11. Speakers and Studio Monitors Studio monitor guide: how speakers work, active vs passive, nearfield vs midfield placement, the equilateral triangle, boundary effects, and calibration.
- 12. Headphones and Monitoring Open-back vs closed-back headphones for recording and mixing — when to use each, building cue mixes for performers, and why headphone mixing requires extra care.
- 13. Studio Acoustics and Room Treatment Home studio acoustic treatment: soundproofing vs sound treatment, bass traps, absorption panels, first reflection points, room modes, and what to prioritize on a budget.
- 14. Metering, Levels, and Phase Audio metering explained: peak, RMS, VU, and LUFS meters, gain staging targets through the signal chain, and how phase cancellation and comb filtering affect recordings.
- 15. Patchbays and Signal Routing How patchbays work: normalled, half-normalled, and open configurations explained — plus mults, Y-cables, TT connectors, and studio signal routing fundamentals.
- 16. MIDI, Sync, and Networked Audio MIDI protocol fundamentals, clock and sync between devices, and networked audio over Ethernet.
- 17. Controllers and External Hardware MIDI controllers, hardware synths, effects processors, and integrating external gear with your DAW.
- 18. Cable Repair and Soldering How to solder audio cables: XLR and TRS pin assignments, basic soldering technique, cable testing with a multimeter, and diagnosing broken connections.
- 19. Session Planning and Workflow What to prepare before pressing record — templates, track naming, headphone mixes, backups, and session management.
- 20. Gear: What to Buy and When Home studio gear guide: what to buy first, what can wait, why mic placement beats mic cost, and when upgrading your interface or monitors actually makes a difference.
- 21. Sources and Further Reading Curriculum contributors, glossary, and further reading for this guide.
