General Music Chat

For all those who don't have audio on their profiles and say they don't have the money for recording software perhaps this will be of use.

http://reaper.fm/index.php

Read up on it.

It is a shareware program (meaning free) that enables mulitrack recording on your computer. So if you have a microphone, you can multitrack record.

No more execuses!

For the record I have no involvement or connection to this. Just found it on line and passing the information along. Don't hold me accountable if you blow up your computer or ask me for support. They have a pretty good forum for support issues. I have played with it and it works pretty good. After a few days they will make you feel guilty to register it and pay a small fee but you don't have to.

For all you programmers out there the source code is available if you want to alter it.

Audacity is what I'm using, multitrack capable and works well. I only have one acoustic song uploaded right now, will be working on more soon.

Hi Paleopete.

Very cool. So your pretty happy with that one? I will have to play around with it. They appear very similair on first glance.

There is also an online collaborative software called Ninjam I messed around with but it doesn't work very well. To much latency. You ever hear of that one? Anyone hear of it, use it?

Thanks for input mate.

I will check out your tune when I have the chance.

I agree. Audacity is a great free program. It's better than most of the other programs that cost some bucks. It has everything you need to record and edit your music. Make sure to download all the free editing plugins and the mpg export plug as well.

Hi Mikegentry,

So two votes for Audacity. Cool. I never heard of it till now. Thanks for the input.

Hopefully this information will help those with recording/financial limitations put up some content.

I like to mess around with this stuff. I have a full 24track digital/analog studio, with an Alesis ADAT HD 24 multitrack and Mackie 24x8 console so I don't really need them. I still like to play with the computer based stuff like these programs and if I run across something that may help some one I make it public.

Good luck to you.

I'm surprised I don't hear more about PowerTracks Pro Audio around here..
48 tracks...
$49.00
One of the best I've seen for what you get vs $$
I've watched their feature list grow like crazy since the earlier releases..

MHO
Rich


http://www.pgmusic.com/powertracks.htm

Celticpiping,

Sweet! That looks like some cool stuff, and reasonably priced. I have to dig into that.

Have you worked at all with the audio chord feature or any of the notation pieces? How do the drum loops sound? That is one of my pet peeves. I don't have the patience to program my drum machine and after about 10 minutes I kind of want to launch it across the room. It would be cool to find an easier way since I am computer proffesional as well (systems analyst) so I think I would be more at home doing it on the computer.

Thanks for the info Celtic.

By the way that Guiness (extra stout I am assuming) on your profile looks quite tasty!

Guinness is indeed tasty... well said

Regarding drum loops..funny you say that. I was just talking to a friend today, and explaining how I sooo don;t have the patience for sequencing drum tracks.
Now, thankfully, I don't have to as we just bought a full drum set for our 9 year old son.
It's entry level, but is actually quite a nice 5 piece set: fully bale to be mic'd up & recorded.
And since I play drums as well, ...problem solved!!

))

Rich

Nice.

Anything is better then programming drum machines/loops. Drives me nuts. Tell me this. Is it because you already hear it your head and can't get the stupid machine to do what you want? That is my issue. I had a friend who was a master at it but he is 250 miles away and busy with a record company/side project he started.

I am going to look at that software you recommended. Thanks again for the input on that. Great price point and looks like it does alot of stuff.

You play drums also eh? A man of many parts. You sure the kit was for your son or hmmm..... Kinda like a bowling ball for the wife?

9 years old is a great age to start him out and I wish him the best. I started playing guitar when I was 8.

Who knows. You may have the next Neil Peart in your house!

Wegman, I see that you're on the 'Sony Acid' site.
All the Sony Acid software includes a few hundred pre-recorded drum loops with it. They're all Wavs . . .
You can 'paint' them onto separate tracks, and, if you want, mix and match different stuff.
You can also assemble you own drumming sequences, if you want, and then turn them into your own loops.
The cheapest Sony software I know of is $70, "Sony Acid Music Studio."
I've been using it for a year, now, and it's done all I need it to do.
You can hear the results of this software on my profile.
.
You probably want to listen to these 2 songs (not all my songs have drums; these do):
“Bouncing Interlude” (guitar, bass, drums),
and
“Folks I Knew (If You Catch Me Crying)," which has over a dozen tracks; guitar, bass, vocals, backup vocals, and 3 - 4 different percussion tracks included . . .
All the drums are mixed and matched off of the CD that came with the Sony software . . .
hmmm . . . well, also, possibly a few were some which I downloaded from "Looperman," I don't recall . . .

Hi Rhythmman,

I have played with Acid Pro. I find it to difficult to do any kind of time changes or fills or what. Perhaps it is ignorance/laziness on my part in learning how to do it but as stated, it frustrates me.

Give me a real drummer, and I have had the priveledge to play with a couple who are really good.

If anyone want to hear some great drumming check out my tunes The March to Victory and Escape.

Also I checked out your stuff, pretty cool. You have a style radically different then mine, and one I am not good at.

Wegman,
I agree that a good live drummer is better. Living is better than a machine, any day . . . .
.
Glad you thought my stuff is cool.
To tell you the truth, I'm always surprised when someone who plays a completely different style of music - likes my stuff.
Surprised - but pleased. Because I think that music 'likes' should transcend individual styles . . .
.
I listened to your "A little Acoustic Thing," and "I'm Alive."
I liked them both.

Wegman,
I agree that a good live drummer is better. Living is better than a machine, any day . . . .
.
Glad you thought my stuff is cool.
To tell you the truth, I'm always surprised when someone who plays a completely different style of music - likes my stuff.
Surprised - but pleased. Because I think that music 'likes' should transcend individual styles . . .
.
I listened to your "A little Acoustic Thing," and "I'm Alive."
I liked them both.

Exactly. IMO a well rounded musician should be able to appreciate all styles of music. I don't care for rap at all however, I can appreciate it as an art form and for the talent necessary to do it. I can't rap, also don't care to, but I can appreciate it.

I don't care for blues. Stevie Ray Vaughn along with Hendrix just irritate me and I would rather listen to an insurance seminar but I know how talented they are.

Thank you for the kind words on my stuff. Those tunes are pretty light. I have some way heavier more complicated stuff out there to.

Anyway I like your style. It's different, unique, and that's a good thing.

Paleopete,

I checked out your tune. I really like it. May I ask your permission to put a melody on top of it?

wegman .... just out of curiosity ... what would your services cost? Meaning ... If I had an artist or two that was a new starter talent without a band ... what would you charge for providing some instrumental to their voice tracks?