Please...some suggestions

[Foo1]

Hello,

I posted some questions a while back and didn't get the responses I was looking for so let me try again with some more specifics...

I play instrumental guitar in the fusion style...I know nothing about recording. I don't want to play in a band but want to be able to record my music at home. Right now I am leaning towards more conventional 4-track recording. My music consists of guitar (two tracks), bass, and drums, with occasional keybaord. I own only my guitars and amp. I can play bass and some keyboard.

OK my initial question is this...

For bass and drums...do I get a stand alone drum machine, and play a live bass (which means I would have to buy one), or are there things that do BOTH bass and drums (and possibly even keyboard) with the SAME type of diversity and options as a stand alone drum machine?

In other words, with a 4-track what is the most efficient and effective way to record my drums, bass, and occasional keyboard with say a budget of around a $1,000.

Thanks!

Raouf

[foo]

The easiest way to do what you are trying to do is to buy a polyphonic, multitimbral synthesizer with a built-in sequencer.

That's a fancy name for a synth that will allow you to record bass and drums and keyboard parts, and play them all back simultaneously in stereo, straight in to two channels of your four-track. You can program them one note at a time, or play them in (real time) on the keyboard.
Most will have a good selection of sounds (various drum kits, assorted basses and pianos, string pads, Hammonds, etc.)

You should be able to get a pretty nice unit for < $1000.
Roland, Yamaha, Korg all make good stuff.
Of course, you can spend more (a lot more!).

Try these sites for more info, then head off down to your local Mars Music or Guitar Center to check them out.

http://www.8thstreet.com
http://www.fullcompass.com
http://www.zzounds.com
http://www.musiciansfriend.com
http://www.marsmusic.com

Good Luck

foo

[Foo1]

Thanks Foo!

Can you recommend some specific models that I can go check out at my local store?

Raouf

[foo]

I am in the process of buying a sampler for myself - I'm doing the research now.

So far, I've spent about a month surfing and reading this BBS (that's just for the sampler). I've narrowed it down to the EMU S5000 Ultra. The cheapest I've seen it is $1400. This doesn't include keyboard or sequencer.

The reason I went with a sampler is because I like real sounds, as opposed to the 'manufactured' sounds of synthesizers.

I haven't done any research in your price range, but if you go to any of the links and click on 'Keyboards', you will find many that fit the bill. $1,000 is at the low end of pro machines ($1,500 puts you right in the centre). You may want to get a module - the guts of the synth without the keyboard, and a cheaper keyboard and MIDI them together. MIDI is an interface that allows them to 'speak' to each other.

Do some research and come back to this board with more questions. We'll help you get what you need.

foo

[MISTERQCUE]

Hey. R-U guys related?

[foo]

Hmmm...

I knew it would come to this.
No, we're not.

I suspect that the large scaly one issued a login name to my erstwhile alias and that's how we have two of us with apparently one name.

I shall continue to use foo.

(c:]

foo

[GraveRocker]

The Zoom 234 ($225.00 +/-) will do both bass and drums. It has 4 tracks, 3 for drums and 1 for bass. Can be played on the fly or in increments for precise arrangements. The drum sounds are very good the bass sounds are ok. Lots of kits and sounds to chose from. Unit could use more capacity for song storage. Stereo outputs.

http://www.samsontech.com/zoom/personal.html