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Post subject: Home Recording
Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 6:33 am
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I was thinking about starting to do some home recording.

I was wondering if anyone out there can make some recomendations about where to start. I am not looking to turn my home into a professional recording studio, just to lay down some of my thoughts of ideas with decent sound quality.

Any help you have I would like to hear about it. Software, hardware, techniques...anything.


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Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 6:42 am
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Sure. let me ask you some questions:

* How powerful is your computer, and would you want to use it for recording (or are we talking about a stand-alone of some kind?

* How many tracks do you want to be able to record at one time (a whole band? one instrument at a time?)

* Do you want to be able to use MIDI as well as record audio?

In other words, describe in simple terms what you see yourself doing with your rig and what you'd like to get out of it. The answer to your question is different if you want to record lead guitar over jam tracks for fun than if you want to record master-quality songs with a group of musicians.


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Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 6:49 am
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For right now I would be mostly interested in recording just guitar. bass and vocal tracks. I do not need to record a whole band just yet.

My computer is alright not a super computer. I have already started looking at a new one(thats the easy part for me).

Most of my recordings would be rather simple, but I would like to have something that if I needed to I could take it to the next level.

I dont have a crazy budget for this, some of the software I was looking at easily got close to the 1000 dollar range. I was hoping to find something much less then that.


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Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 7:22 am
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If you're recording on a PC (or Mac), there is free multitrack recording software available (I haven't used but hear good things about Audacity). BTW, you don't need a massive supercomputer with smoke rolling out of the vents to record one or tracks at a time and play back fewer than 8 tracks. So we'll assume your computer is fine (because it probably is).

Next, you'll need an interface that lets you plug in guitars and mics and convert them to digital. Most home recordists get good results with basic USB interfaces: Digidesign, M-Audio, Lexicon and TASCAM all make them. (I use and recommend MOTU interfaces, but even the "smallest" of them is pretty feature heavy.) All you really need is a basic interface with a couple of mic pres, maybe a guitar level in, and a set of stereo line level ins and outs. This will let you connect a mic or two, a guitar and an externalk source like a CD player. Prices range right around $200.

Finally, you'll need a way to get guitar amp sounds into your computer. This can be a digital modeler (either a hardware unit like a POD or, if you already have a guitar in on your interface, software like Guitar Rig or Waves GTR) or a microphone stuck in front of your amp (for around $100, the Shure SM-57 is a good basic beginner's guitar amp mic).

So, there you go. Free software, a $200 or less interface, and $100 in software or a mic, and Bob's yer uncle. The only thing left now is to learn how to use them to get a good sound... a process that will take awhile (so don't get discouraged when your first efforts don't sound like the Foo Fighters). :D


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Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 7:46 am
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Thank you very much.

I already have a SM-57. So I guess I am already on my way. I look for the software today. I would rather mic my amp and record that way. I spent alot time looking for my tone, so I want to make sure thats the sound I capture. I know some of the pods are great for adding amp effects and what not. But I would like to keep it rather simple.

Thanks again.


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Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 7:48 am
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Alright now.

Don't think that sticking a 57 in front of your amp is instant tonal nirvana. A lot depends on the mic placement, the room, etc. What you hear is not what the recorder will hear, so take some time to experiment.


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Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 8:14 am
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Tonal Nirvana! Thats Gold!!!!

I know that I will have to try many different things. I m just gonna try different distances and postions. I m play a 65 Stratocaster Custom Shop Closet Classic through a Hot Rod. So I ll probably search this forum and google to see if any one has posted any info.

Thanks again


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Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 4:10 pm
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Get a Mac and use the included Garageband, you will thank me!


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Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 4:16 pm
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chris63 wrote:
Get a Mac and use the included Garageband, you will thank me!


agreed.... recording on my mac G5 is so easy with garagband, but with my macbook its a bit more difficult to get the guitar into the computer because a standard 1/4" to 1/8" cable signal doesn't seem to get picked up when i plug it into the correct port


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Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 8:14 am
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LilBoyBlues... if you see this on Wednesday, February 6, 2008..

The Stupid Deal Of The Day at Musicians Friend is a wicked cool little Tascam interface right up your alley.

Firewire (way faster than USB), two mic inputs with phantom power, a guitar input, PLUS a bunch of buttons, knobs and a jog-shuttle wheel that can be used to control your DAW, a copy of Abelton Live Lite DAW software inlcuded, and more, all for $150. That's, like 40% off the regular price.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/stupid

It's not an interface that just sits there, it's one you can actually use. This deal will be gone tomorrow.


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Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 9:18 am
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On a small deviation, Ableton Live is the best thing ever.


But I prefer G'band for simple multitracking.

I use quite a simple/primitive set up. I mic my amp, use my mp3 player as a mic amp, run the amplified level signal to my mac's line in and record straight off. As the signal is strong from the mic there is little or no noise from the computer that creeps in. Either that or take a line from the built in D.I. on my amp but that bypasses the EQ and us a weaker signal...(I cold amp it I guess but I shouldn't have to IMO >_<).


[edit] sorry for the excessive and verging on the obsessive use of the word 'amp'


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