Recording

[RenegadeMaster]

Lately I have started to record little riffs and rhythms that I come up with etc...

 

I would love to record multiple parts and put them together to make a song

 

Any suggestions from people what programs I could use etc.

 

Also equipment I might need? (The less the better)

 

I have a pretty poor microphone and thats it :P

 

But I do also video myself with my camera from time to time.

 

I'd love to produce a song by myself by combining Rhythm, Lead and Vocal :)

 

Thanks for any help given

[Lord Summerisle]

Lately I have started to record little riffs and rhythms that I come up with etc...

 

I would love to record multiple parts and put them together to make a song

 

Any suggestions from people what programs I could use etc.

 

Also equipment I might need? (The less the better)

 

I have a pretty poor microphone and thats it :P

 

But I do also video myself with my camera from time to time.

 

I'd love to produce a song by myself by combining Rhythm' date=' Lead and Vocal :)

 

Thanks for any help given[/quote']

 

Here's a cheap way to go about it, which should produce quite satisfactory results.

 

The recipe involves:

 

A PC (but I'm guessing you have one of those).

 

Audacity - free recording software that outperforms some expensive recording software I have used in the past. Audacity is a great, stable and reliable open access program. Get it here: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

 

A Line 6 Pod Studio: http://line6.com/products/computerbased/?foo=bar?utm_source=Index&utm_medium=DropDown&utm_campaign=Recording

 

Note, if you want to record vocals be sure to purchase at least the UX1. These are the best value USB recording interfaces I know of. I use the the Pod Studio's predecessor, the Line 6 Toneport, and I'm very happy with the results. The Pod Studio UX1 retails for around $140 in the U.S. If you see a used Toneport then it would be worth the risk, it's a very similar product although the new Pod Studio does have better software.

 

For recording video, I guess just use a webcam and then resync with your audio? Sorry, this part I am unsure about - I have never recorded video!

 

Good luck with your projects...

[taxman]

Why not just get a TASCAM portastudio? For the past quarter of a century these things have been the mainstay for everyone who tinkers around with home recording. Not expensive -- around $250 will get you a fine eight track recorder. Plus you can USB anything on there to your computer if you want to use your computer. No need to spend money on these interface things.

 

The TASCAM portastudios are just so much fun. Easy to use and the quality of the finished tracks is fantastic. My Rickenbacker 12 string sounds exactly how a Ric 12 should. My Epiphone Casino sounds amazing when I overdrive the TASCAM and record it -- just like what John did on the electric version of "Revolution." The TASCAM portastudios have been around for years and used by a multitude of home musicians. There's a reason -- they produce quality tracks, they're easy to use, and simply fun to own.

[Muskank Sally]

The TonePort UX2 (or Podfarm UX2 as I think it's been renamed) is a great interface for recording ..you can virtually plug anything into it. I have an older version of Magix Music Studio 7 DeLuxe (that is basically a Pro-Tools look a like)that I got for around $30 on close-out (was $75). It has 64 track capability so it's very usable and has all the editing and effect banks you need. It's amazing how easy things like vocals can be cleaned up. You can zoom in on the graph and edit out breathing and noises that don't need to be there. You can duplicate sounds and cut and paste to different areas, You can lengthen a section just by split/stretch/ auto-crossfade editing. You have multiple options for mixing and arranging, pitch control, time control, anything you need is there. Those options will never be available on a stand alone Tascam digital studio.

The Ableton 5 (lite) that comes with the new UX2 is supposed to have 8 track capability, but I don't think you can export audio from it (which is essential for testing a mix if you want to burn a CD of it)

[taxman]

Those options will never be available on a stand alone Tascam digital studio.

No, but then the actual hands on - sliding the faders, turning the pan dials left or right...the actual hands on fun of recording music -- will never be available on these computer program recorders. Moving and dragging a mouse is no substitute for using your hands to fade in a drum track. We are musicians and our hands, not computer clicking and dragging, are the true tools used to create to music.

 

And anyway, tracks from a TASCAM can be uploaded to any computer program. TASCAMS all have USB ports. Once on your computer, you can tinker away with any track, then download it back to your TASCAM and have the fun of creating with your hands. Yes, I use the computer to add effects to certain tracks, but the real fun of recording is sliding those faders, turning those knobs, pushing those buttons. Your hands are literally creating the music....which is the way it is supposed to be.

[jlg]

By far the best deal for software( free, $50 if you want to purchase a license, but full function even if you don't) is REAPER --

http://www.reaper.fm/

 

You can do everything from very basic recording to full-blown multitrack production level work.

There is a very active forum, lots of documentation for it, etc..

 

You can use your PC line-in or mic-in for recording and when ready, move up to a better interface. Lots of interface advice over in the reaper forums also!

[theFINGER]

LEXICON OMEGA!!!!

 

 

desk top size interface, great effects with top of the line, industry standard

lexicon PANTHEON reverbs. 35 USABLE pre sets and a great, easy to read

and understand tutorial booklet comes with it explaining how, when and

why of the reverbs and setting the parameters for your own sounds.

 

right now CUBASE LE 4 comes with it.

 

everything you would want, from tracking, to final mastering, and then right on

to a cd. 8 inputs and the ability to record 4 trax simultaniously. you can record

unlimited trax with this unit on your pc.

 

and, these go for 199.99 at musicians friend or you can get them all day on

e-bay or craigs list for around 100 bux.

 

i LOVE mine. very stable, easy to understand system and there are MANY forums

and web sites dedicated to these.

 

 

check this out and then go to lexicons site and read.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/LEXICON-OMEGA-COMPUTER-RECORDING-STUDIO-8-INPUT-4-TRACK_W0QQitemZ220380986887QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item220380986887&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1234%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

[Lord Summerisle]

The TonePort UX2 (or Podfarm UX2 as I think it's been renamed) is a great interface for recording ..you can virtually plug anything into it.

 

The Toneport is certainly a great option' date=' especially if you're on a tight budget. By the way Gas J, the new name for the Toneport is the "Pod Studio" - Podfarm is the software that Line 6 supplies with the product, basically an update of Line 6 Gearbox.

 

You have a number of options with Pod Studios, ranging upwards in price and features until you reach the top-of-the-line UX2 ($199).

 

The [b']Studio GX [/b]will get you started just fine - it has one input for a guitar cable, so if you want to use a dynamic mic you will have to buy an XLR to 1/4" jack:

 

 

 

The UX1 adds an XLR input:

 

 

 

The UX2 adds even more bells & whistles, including a power source for condenser mics:

 

 

 

Why not just get a TASCAM portastudio? For the past quarter of a century these things have been the mainstay for everyone who tinkers around with home recording. Not expensive -- around $250 will get you a fine eight track recorder. Plus you can USB anything on there to your computer if you want to use your computer. No need to spend money on these interface things.

 

Sorry BeatleNut' date=' but I just can't agree with you on this one. It took me a while to get used to digital recording (like many people here, I guess, I started off with Tascam and Fostex porta-studios in the days when they still used an old-fashioned audio cassette). I've come to the conclusion that there is nothing porta-studios can do that the right combination of USB interface and software can't do better and more efficiently.

 

No, but then the actual hands on - sliding the faders, turning the pan dials left or right...the actual hands on fun of recording music -- will never be available on these computer program recorders. Moving and dragging a mouse is no substitute for using your hands to fade in a drum track. We are musicians and our hands, not computer clicking and dragging, are the true tools used to create to music.

 

And anyway, tracks from a TASCAM can be uploaded to any computer program. TASCAMS all have USB ports. Once on your computer, you can tinker away with any track, then download it back to your TASCAM and have the fun of creating with your hands. Yes, I use the computer to add effects to certain tracks, but the real fun of recording is sliding those faders, turning those knobs, pushing those buttons. Your hands are literally creating the music....which is the way it is supposed to be.

 

Can't agree with that one either, I'm afraid. Turning a knob is turning a knob, whether its a physical item or a virtual knob on a computer screen. At the end of the day it's my music I'm editing, and it's my input that is manipulating the material I recorded in order to produce the final product - so I take 100% of the credit (or blame!) for the end result...

 

You can use your PC line-in or mic-in for recording and when ready' date=' move up to a better interface. Lots of interface advice over in the reaper forums also...[/quote']

 

Unless you've got a kick-*** soundcard in your PC, the sound quality is going to be pretty nasty if you just DI through your PC line-in. Recording from the headphone socket of your amp via the PC line-in will include all sorts of horrible, unwanted noises on your recordings (as will using a mic). Of course, programs like Audacity and Reaper allow you to filter out this noise, but you will damage the tone of your recording, at least to some extent, during this process.

 

I'm not here to evangelize Line 6 products (they do have their competitors, after all). But for ease of use coupled with a small budget, you'd be insane not to go down the USB interface route. The advantages they offer are clean, noiseless recordings, very low latency, and simplicity (the Line 6 models I mentioned are basically plug + play - you'll need a PC with Audacity (a free download) installed, your guitar, and a cable). If you don't want to use the Line 6 software for your tones, then you can just mic your amp and use it as a simple USB interface (I do this all the time).

 

So, with that in mind, I think I'll go ahead and carry on working on the EP that will be coming to a Myspace page near you before too much longer (I hope)...

 

Renegade - good luck with your recording projects.

[wheatlands]

I have a Fostex MR8 MKII, which uses a compact flash card, has a usb port to hook up to the computer. Its a very small unit, and easy to use. I can plug in a set of headphones to listen to what I recorded and to listen as I add another track. I can feed the guitar and mike directly to the unit. I use an AKG perception 120 mike. Its a pretty simple setup but it does the job. The only downside, is if I want to hook up a speaker I have to get a powered speaker. It doesn't have a whole lot of built in effects, but you can always add those later after you download your tracks to a computer.

[Gashole]

I use a Boss BR 600 digital 8 track. You can do everything through and including mastering with it. Has drums (not bad either) plenty of vocal and guitar effects, onboard stereo mics (good for live recording a band or solo acoustic-I use sm57 otherwise for tracking)

 

Each track has 8 virtual tracks...so you can do 64 takes basically, should you want to. Best thing, it's around 400 bucks. It's a great low budget, do nearly everything device. I think. Been using mine for about a year and a half now, improving with it all the time. Google them...the other BR recorders in the line are good too. There's a micro one, even less expensive, and then ones that are large enough to burn CD's that cost more. I network w/ a computer to do that-BR 600 doesn't burn CD's. If you have a good gear and ear, and a good sounding room, you can get a pretty damn high quality recording out of them.

[jlg]

 

Unless you've got a kick-*** soundcard in your PC' date=' the sound quality is going to be pretty nasty if you just DI through your PC line-in. Recording from the headphone socket of your amp via the PC line-in will include all sorts of horrible, unwanted noises on your recordings (as will using a mic). Of course, programs like Audacity and Reaper allow you to filter out this noise, but you will damage the tone of your recording, at least to some extent, during this process.

 

[/quote']

 

Agree 100% - I wasn't suggesting a PC internal card was GOOD, but it WILL let you record sounds.

I have the M-Audio Fast Track Ultra that works great with Reaper. I was more trying to indicate that REAPER is a great audio tool (WAY more functionality than Audacity for the same price - it is a real DAW instead of an audio editor like Audacity), and a way to start getting sounds recorded to the PC.

[Sjael]

REAPER is a great audio tool (WAY more functionality than Audacity for the same price - it is a real DAW instead of an audio editor like Audacity)

I was under the impression REAPER costs $50 and Audacity is free

[stumblinman]

And here I thought that TASCAMs use electricity just like a computer for "fading in and out", it must be made of twigs and berries to have your hands being the only thing making the music, rather than using a mouse in a GUI to turn said knobs and move sliders. Any capacitors or circuits involved in a TASCAM? All computers have done is made it more accessible to the layman to record his ideas and distribute them.

 

I don't enjoy sarcasm, in fact, I completely agree with your opinion on the front of tactile feedback and the satisfaction that comes from doing it that way, but in MY opinion (which matters to noone but me, but I like to see my own opinion in text form) software for home recording makes it much easier for the general population. No more ping-ponging tracks to get more out of that old recorder etc..

[Lord Summerisle]

 

I wasn't suggesting a PC internal card was GOOD' date=' but it WILL let you record sounds.

I have the M-Audio Fast Track Ultra that works great with Reaper. I was more trying to indicate that REAPER is a great audio tool (WAY more functionality than Audacity for the same price - it is a real DAW instead of an audio editor like Audacity), and a way to start getting sounds recorded to the PC.[/quote']

 

I totally agree with you re: Reaper. It's a very powerful tool.

 

I only suggested Audacity because I got the impression that he hadn't used audio software before, and Audacity is a very easy way to get started. It's basically no harder to use than a 'real' tape recorder. Also, Audacity is genuinely free. With Reaper, you should pay $50 for after your initial evaluation of the product...

 

Your M-Audio Fast Track Ultra + Reaper sounds like a great set-up! Recently, we had thread going in the Epiphone Lounge section in which people uploaded their recordings. You should upload some of your stuff, it would be great to hear it!

[jlg]

I was under the impression REAPER costs $50 and Audacity is free :D

Correct -- and worth WAY more than the $50. My point was that you can evaluate the program with NO restrictions (many other programs do have functional/saving/etc. shortcomings on any "test" version). Once you see if Reaper is what you need (may be overkill for what they want to do), the $50 is a ton more reasonable than the $250-$400 for some of the other "pro" DAW packages. Audacity is always free, but is also not a DAW. It is an audio editor and while it is a great program (I use it as my audio editor inside Reaper), it's not really for doing any real multitrack recording.

[pohatu771]

A passive input on your computer will give you a better sound, if you must go directly to your sound card... that's "Line In" rather than "Microphone."

 

I run my mixer into the line in on my MacBook Pro.

[ericlees]

currently im studying audi engineering and im member of the aes (audio engineering society) if youre on a budget go for the line 6 ux2 great interface for the price and the software pod farm and gear box are great, or you can buy a digidesign mbox and record with pro tools industry standard....

[chewy1281734128]

i recorded demos of a good standard just by plugging my guitar info my pc and playing in a sequencer like cool edit, cubase etc, then you just listen back, record your next trac and bobs your uncle.

 

if you're just making demos, dont spend much money.

 

i just bought a zoom h2, which is a great little recorder, records in better than cd quality or straight to mp3. i lay the 1st track down, then listen to it through headphones as i record the 2nd track etc etc.

 

put them on a sequencer, add fxs (reverb etc) and you're done.

 

check out www.myspace.com/mockandroll

 

theres 3 demos on there that were done by recording directly into my pc, i added some drums from a programme i downloaded and fx. job done.