Enjoying the Spire Studio
 

I have enjoyed recording with the Zoom H2 and also with a Blue Yeti USB mike directly into GarageBand, but my new favorite fun device is the Spire Studio paired with the Spire app on my iPad.

Geez, talk about intuitive and user-friendly. I was always struggling with the H2's tiny info screen, but with the iPad, I can easily see what I'm doing. The whole Spire process is ridiculously straightforward and simple, allowing me to record track after track without getting hung up with settings or details. I can wirelessly export the individual tracks to my Mac for import into GarageBand, where I can do further fine-tuning, although the Spire does have enough built-in effects and mixing features to create a basic multitrack demo. Not cheap at $350, but a lot of bang for the buck.

The Spire has a built-in mike, but I have also been plugging in a second mike in order to capture two "stereo" tracks of guitar, or to record guitar and vocal at the same time. Despite the bleed, I can still adjust each track separately for a better mix.

Not saying all this is achieving professional quality, as I'm not a pro. But sure is a lot of fun and best of all, simple.

i've heard a lot of good things about the spire. izotope puts out a lot of great products. i have their ozone 7 and it is great.

play music!

Speaking of iZotope; I just acquired RX 6 (Standard) a few days ago and have already removed finger squeaks and what I'm assuming was a headphone cable thump from a solo guitar track. Amazing!!!

Just checked this out online. So now you can carry your recording studio around in a lunch pail. Incredible! Congratulations on your new recording set-up.

Resurrecting an old thread.

I recently scored a Spire Studio.

Hope to do a little review soon.

Any other users here?

I just came across this - that Spire Studio looks very interesting. I have been using a Zoom H4n Pro, but it is a lot of rigamarole to move a track, or even get a click beat set up. This Spire looks easy.

Christmas is coming. ;)

I just got one and have been putting it through it's paces. So far, I really like it and use it every day.

The process is amazingly simple and fast... from setup to recording, multi tracking, mixing, playback .. Easy Transfer to PC and DAW.

I've never heard of this before.

I am a total recording newb.. I'm interested (and have been for a while) in being able to shoot simple guitar reviews and sound clips. I want to be able to get *decent*-to-good video, with good-to-very-good audio... WITHOUT a bunch of post processing/ editing/ syncing etc. I'm thinking about the Zoom Q2N .. but.. ehh.. I don't know.

Anyway, just popping over here to see about a solution.. I need to pick a direction and stop worrying about it ;)

I have been dabbling in home recordings for a few years.
Keeping it simple and getting high quality without too much setup is what I am after.

In the past I have owned the Zoom H5 recorder and also the Apogee MiC w/iPad.

I must say, I am totally impressed with the Spire Studio system.

Sound quality of course is subjective and there are so many variables.

Below are 2 simple recordings made with my Spire.
This is what my J-45 acoustic guitar sounds like..
FIRST one is Spire's internal mic only.
SECOND one is Spire with 2 Condenser mics attached.

Those sound great, Jake! Thanks for posting the clips - it convinced me; I ordered a Spire Studio this morning. Regular ground shipping, so it will probably be a week or so before I see it.

"Simple" and "easy" with decent sound is what I'm looking for. With the Zoom H4n Pro, the recording sounds decent, but it takes a lot of fussing to record with the stereo mics then transfer that to the 4 track. If I put in bass, drums, and vocal tracks, I am out of tracks, without blending down in other software. I am all about easy these days. I don't plan on giving up my day job of being retired to mess with recording. I have been making a catalog of songs at my wife's request. It's a grind being a trophy husband, but it's all I know.

Thanks again for that last push I needed.

Glad I could help ;)

Out for delivery. :)

Nice!

Did you Download the Spire App yet?

Hi Jake,

Yes, I played around with the app, but there are things not available until you can connect it to the Spire.

UPS came a knockin' around 5:00 this afternoon. Of course, I had to open it up and give it a try. Not ready for public consumption yet (I was messing with it between other tasks), but this is a slick unit... and, it sounds great.

I have a ceiling fan in my music room, and until I could see it graphically, I had no idea that the mic on the Spire was picking up that low hum. I made some sound checks with the guitar acoustically, plugged in, vocal through the inboard mic, bass, and drums... the sound check seems to do a fine job with setting the levels.

I'm impressed! Much easier to use compared to the Zoom H4n Pro. I need to play with the amps and effects to get a feel for their sound.

OK, one take with each track...



I will redo this in the right key for me, but I couldn't believe how easy this was - less than a half hour. This is going to be fun. :)

Awesome! Glad you are enjoying it Captain Jim.

It really is quick and easy to record multi tracks and mix. Your demo recording sounded great.

It only gets better as I learn to use the system. I have been experimenting with a few different mics.. Of course, room treatment will come in to play. But it really records clean and not a lot of hiss or noise.

Another cool thing about this setup is how easy it is to export and make available. Once recorded then I have choices to email, send to social media or export file(s). I have been using the Export individual tracks. Then I click on iPad's iCloud (cloud storage).. Once sent to iCloud. I can retrieve and download files to my Win10 system. Bring into DAW for any additional clean up or mixing.

Here's my make shift setup... Just getting started and trying to figure out how to fix up the room. I mostly record acoustic guitar and sing. I have the Audio-Technica AT2035 Condenser and for vocals a Senn e935.


https://i.imgur.com/R98WwYgl.jpg

Here's a real test, with 6 tracks: 2 guitars, bass, drums, vocals. About an hour all in...



Using just the Spire Studio app - no additional mixing or leveling with a DAW. Easy.

That really sounded great!

Did you play/record all the instruments including bass and drums?

Thanks, Jake. Yes, I played each of the instruments. Bass and drums are a fun distraction. Easy to use the Spire with each of those; then a quick graphic mix.

My wife suggested the Spire last month when she saw something about it on Facebook. I thought it looked like a toy, and didn't pursue it at that time. Yes, I am an old dog... this is a new trick... but, and easy one. ;) Now she wants me to add some keyboard/horns on some other songs.

Great Jim ...
I'm getting pretty solid recordings past couple days. I've been working on room room treatment and also trying to find "better" places in my home to record. Which is helping the sound greatly.

I have no doubt my guitar room could benefit from some sound absorbing material - I did put an area rug in there, but it is a small room with a lot of hard surfaces. That said, I am happy to have the space I have and a wife who encourages my life-long guitar passion.

:)

Does anyone have experience using the Android App?

D

Hey D, I understand the Android app is fairly recent and doesn't have some of the features of the iOS version... yet.

https://www.spire.live/en/support/us...atibility.html

Here's a link to today's recording with the Spire...

Day 3, song 3 - a request from my Honey. A Beatles' "silly love song"...



7 tracks: one guitar (Emerald X20), bass, drums, shaker, 1 main vocal, 1 backup vocals. First time I've been on a time frame to finish - we're heading out to lunch with friends. Just under an hour for all 7 tracks, and a quick trim at the beginning and end.

Please stop! This site is costing me!
I just ordered mine yesterday......
But at least GC matched the Amazon price so the 20% helped.
Captain Jim has convinced me that the Spire is what I have been needing. A simple to operate recorder......at least I hope so. If it sounds anywhere remotely close to your recordings I will be thrilled.
Thanks, I hope 👏

JJ, I hope your experience with it is good. During the wait while mine was being shipped, I watched some videos to get an idea of how best to use it. It is surprisingly easy... there is a stylish "manual" (round) that comes in the box, but only 1 instruction (in a bunch of different languages) on each page. Not much of a learning curve. ;)

Day 4, song 4...



To get used to the Spire, I told myself I'd do one song each day for a week. As it turns out, the learning curve for this fun little unit is a snap. I keep experimenting with different settings, mics, and guitars acoustic through the onboard mic and plugged in. Easy.

Captain - Very cool .. your song sounds great!

Yeah, I have been experimenting a lot too. LOL.. I've recorded more in past 2 weeks.. Then in past 2 years!

It's a fun piece of gear!

The "selling" feature for me... it's a totally wireless recorder. I'm not tied to anything other than headphones. It doesn't even require the iPad to record.

That's it's Easy, clean sounding, fairly versatile with the iPad App.. Wireless export individual tracks to my PC and import into Reaper ..

This is your best yet Captain! You're going to make me spend this money, aren't you!
Happy Holidays,
frankie

Thanks for the kind words. I have been playing for a lot of years, but this recording stuff is fairly new to me. I appreciate how easy the Spire Studio is to use. I'm recording for the fun of it, at the urging of my wife; not self-promoting, nor looking to sell anything.

I enjoy playing the other instruments, and the mix is, likewise, easy with the Spire app.

Like Jake wrote, it is slick with the wireless set up. I plug the bass or electronic drums directly into it, and don't have to mess with an amp. I'm getting a better acoustic sound with it (to my ears) through the onboard mic, compared to the Zoom. As long as it's fun, I'll be using it. I told my wife, "One song a day for a week." I do have a life besides this. ;) I figure after a week or so with it, it should be usable without too much "over-thinking."

Captain,
I forgot to ask you this-can you record two tracks at a time? I see two inputs on the back. If so, how do you set the level for each when using two simultaneously?
Thank you,
fd