General Music Chat

OK, To help recording, (Say). My originals on the computer? Are there websites with info. for beginners? Free Downloads? What type of software do I need to purchase? Type & Brand of Microphone into computer (Voice)? Just knowing, By seeing this information. { A serious request, = A serious reply }. roll: Thank You!

VB,

You will get alot of opinions on this topic and they will all be right. I have been pushing the recording software Reaper simply because I have used it and it is free, but there are others probably just as good or better.

You can download the Reaper software program here:

http://www.reaper.fm/


Really in it's most simplistic form you get a cheap microphone if your computer didn't come with one (like $9-$10) and plug into the mic input on your sound card. If your computer was built in the last century it should have a sound card capable.

Download and install the computer recording software of your choice.

Take 5 minutes and read the basics on using the software and start recording.

The Reaper software has very good directions and an excellent support forum where you can ask questions if you need help.

Lastly if you want to convert your files from WAV to MP3 there is a good converter called Switch, which is also free. You can download that here:

http://www.nch.com.au/switch/

As usual I give the disclaimer that I have no accountability if these programs were to cause computer problems and you download and use these at your own risk.

Really anyone out there if you have a computer you can be doing multitrack recording right now for the price of a $10 microphone if you don't have one already.

I'm using Audacity. Free and it works well, you'll need the lame encoder plugin to export to mp3 format, I'm not sure what else because I tend to keep it simple as possible. Audacity is multitrack capable and has a pretty good range of effects, so far just a few times tinkering with it I find it not too difficult to learn and use.

I use an old Shure PE35 mic plugged into a Tascam Portastudio 414 multitrack, which gives me the preamp and EQ plus an effects loop, which I haven't played with yet. I run the Monitor out signal into the computer and record straight into Audacity, bypassing the tape (and therefore tape noise) altogether, I don't even have to set it to record and pause it.

A standard condenser type computer mic will do, but for really good sound you'll want a good quality mic. I think some good condenser mics are available these days, but I haven't had a chance to check any of them out. Supposedly, according to articles I've read, good quality condenser mics do a very good job for home recording and for computer, I might try one later on if I can afford it, but for now my 30 year old Shure is doing the trick pretty well.

Needless, to say - plug your guitar directly into the computer, too.

The adapter cable is under $10 from Radios Shack (ask for a 1/4" male to a mini-plug)
And -
If you can afford it, go to Circuit City or somewhere, and buy the recording software.
For Less than $75 you'll get everything you need. No bugs, nothing done half-way; lots of extra stuff for when you're ready for it. . .
No plug-ins to download, - all sorts of fast, polite & knowlegeable online support to answer your questions . . .
Just plug in your guitar, and produce an MP3 . . .
Zip - bang! Done.
but -
Yep - lots of opinions, here.
Hey, you can start recording for free, but -consider working your way up . . .
Once you've purchased a program, you'll see why it's actually worth paying for it . . .
Ok, here I am: commence firing . . .

Needless, to say - plug your guitar directly into the computer, too.

Can also use the DI out from the amp if it is so equiped.

Paleopete,


There are alot of great condensor microphones out there and you will receive many opinions. My research on the matter points to the Shure KSM 27 as an excellent mic for the money and on par with much more expensive mics.. Your looking at about $300 new. I saw open box buys for around $216 shipped.

You like links eh? Here you go.

http://www.shure.com/ProAudio/Products/ ... SL_content

http://mixonline.com/products/review/au ... index.html

http://emusician.com/mics/emusic_shure_ksm/

http://www.digitalprosound.com/2002/06_ ... review.htm

I figured i'd throw in a free drum machine for those that would like to mess with them.
This one called Hammerhead is about the easiest one to get familiar with.
http://www.threechords.com/hammerhead/

Hey, Thanks everyone!, Now I have a new hobby. (Recording). I think alot of people will benefit by reading all the different individual opinions, advice, etc. on this subject. (post). Keep the threads posted....Peace.

VB,

Cool. If you have any other questions sing out (pun intended )

I will try to help as much as I can, and I am sure others out here will to. Recording via computer seems a little mystical at first, but it really is quite easy and cheap.

One thing you need to watch out for, when you're recording with the computer.
.
Keep a log, and you'll see what you need to watch out for . . . .
.
Write down the number of hours you spend typing, and write down the number of hours you spend playing . . .
Compare the two . . .
. . . nuff said . . .

Write down the number of hours you spend typing, and write down the number of hours you spend playing . . .
Compare the two . . .

Funny...but true...also try to keep an eye on disk space, I know my 60GB storage drive is still a bit small by today's standards, but wav files are huge, and that's the file type you need to export to for CDs, so a standard CD player can read it. The song on my profile, fairly small for an mp3, is almost 30MB exported to WAV for CD. That can add up fast, so if you plan to do any respectable amount of recording and use a file format readable by standard CD, you'll want to watch the drive space unless your drive is 200 GB and you add a second one just for songs.

Each track of a song eats up more space.
I have one song that takes up over 364MB.
I have about 45 songs on this one computer.
Each song has it's own folder. Some songs have 2-3 folders.
One of my typical song-folders is about 75MB to 100 MB.
.
If you want to record only a few songs, you can get by with a small drive.
But - if you're going to keep on living, you'll probably keep on recording. And you should plan for this.
.
Anyone who records should back up all the song files for every song. Not just the song itself, but everything you've done that has any association with the song at all.
.
Eventually you will be getting a bigger computer. Maybe not this year, maybe not next year. Maybe 5 years from now. Some of us might (unwisely) try to hold out for another 1o - 15 years or so.
But (unless you die first), eventually you will have another computer.
And you'll want a space to store all your music.
.
There is one rule of thumb when it comes to hard drives, and I can't over-emphasize this: BIGGER.

That would redundancy! When you get that bigger hard drive, buy two. Trust me, always back up those files! HD's do go bad, and typically at the worst possible time.

Good ole Murphy's law will get ya everytime !!

Hey VB,

When ya get ready with all this new fangled apparratiiii, you know ya COULD invite an old bastard up from Charleston to do some trackin with ya... I would really like to see someone actually use computer recording software....Yeah , Ive been writing music for this chick and recording on a new fangled 16 trk machine...It certainly does defy reason but Im kinda gettin the hang of it...Seriously, some SUN , THUR or FRI nite ya have free, I'd like to run up and check it out..My advice is to rid yourself of any common sense ways of doing things we've used for the last 40 yrs, and 50,000 clicks of a mouse later, you'll have 3-4 tracks laid down.... ....Let us know how your doing....

Later,
John

You have my phone number John, Give me a call for a time & date, And my brother & I will come down your way. You have more equipment set & ready to go for recording than we do. Thanks Brother! We'll bring Vocals, Bass, & Guitar.