Yes, a $69 USB interface is all you need to achieve album-quality vocal tracks. Here’s a quick list of things that you DO NOT NEED:
1) Expensive Microphone.
Expensive microphones can be fun to play with, but they aren’t the least bit necessary. If you can’t achieve pro-level results with a cheap condenser or dynamic microphone, it’s your skills that are lacking, not the microphone.
2) Pricey Audio Interface.
Modern-day interfaces (no matter how cheap) are fully capable of capturing sounds with ruler-flat accuracy and with extremely low noise. Expensive interfaces simply feature better build quality and more features, but you don’t need them.
3) High-End Microphone Preamp.
The preamps in your interface are more than good enough to capture sources accurately. High-end preamps can add mojo, color and vibe via saturation, but you can easily add that stuff after the fact with plugins in your DAW.
4) Outboard gear (of any kind).
It’s 2023…plugins are just as good as outboard gear. Unless you’re rich, SAVE YOUR MONEY.
5) Acoustically treated room or Vocal Booth.
Think of all of the amazing classic albums recorded in houses and all of the great live records recorded in non-studio spaces. The proof is out there…a perfectly treated room is not necessary for pro vocal recordings.
I also practice what I preach.
In this video, you’ll learn exactly how I recorded album-quality vocal tracks in my unfinished basement with a cheapo $69 Behringer Interface.
