Reaper and what I need?

[All4Love]

Hey guys. Newbe here so forgive me for my ignorance on some of theses things. Im not a newbe to the music scene for sure. Have lots of musical back ground. Few national albums. Im use to people recording me but not the other way around.

I just started into this recording thing so im not really going play a big part for expensive items. Just items that are highly needed. Right now I only have the listed items below.

-1.8gz Desktop Compaq computer.
-Reaper and Audacity Software
-Crappy computer mic. I believe to be small
dynamic. Has great vocal pick up but hums.
-Martin 000-18
-Squier Classic Vibe 50's Telecaster that I swear was a actual Fender 52' telecaster ha.
-Epiphone Valve Junior with many mods. Great sound. Also, matched with a custom Vox cab with a Jensen C10Q.
-UBL Pro PC speakers and Sony Studio Headphones.
-Diamond Xtreme Sound 5.1 sound-card.

Don't know if its the mic or the fact I have plugged directly to the mic-in on the sound card but what I hear through my speakers during recording does not playback nearly as good. Lots of noise. Sound really airy and static like. If I can not fix it with new mic..how do I filter it out?

Would the CAD usb condenser mics work well? If I choice a Shure SM57 for other applications, how do I get good results through my sound card. Do I use a D.I box, preamp or both. The mic does not work from XLR to 1/8". Im dumb founded by this ha.

Seriously

[ShredRocket]

I would suggest you get a better interface that will deal with your mic or any mic for that matter. If you are like me and don't want to spend unnecessary funds, then you can get away with an AudioBuddy for about $50-70 usd. It has two inputs (two 1/4" and two XLR) as well as fathom power for the mic. It also works great with instruments such as a guitar/bass as the 1/4 inputs impedances are high enough to get the best possible clean sound. Try it.

However, some sound cards that do not take advantage of ASIO may not give you what you expect. Some side affects to using an ordinary sound card may be latency issues.

[TimOBrien]

Still using a built-in or GAMER soundcard?? Unfortunately, those are made with less than $1 worth of chips for beeps, boops and light gaming (not to mention cheapness for the manufacturer) and NOT quality music production. Just because they may say something like 'Pro' don't believe it....

#1 Rule of Recording: You MUST replace the built-in soundcard.

Here's a good guide and tested suggestions: http://www.tweakheadz.com/soundcards...ome_studio.htm


While I'm here:
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My obligatory standard reply-for-newbies that I keep in Wordpad so this is just a paste (I don't want to re-type this all the time):

First off, immediately get a good beginner recording book (spend $20 before spending hundred$/thousand$) that shows you what you need to get started and how to hook everything up in your studio:
Home Recording for Musicians by Jeff Strong - $15
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/047...SIN=0470385421
(Wish I'd had that when I started; would have saved me lots of money and time and grief)
You can also pick up this book in most any Borders or Barnes&Noble in the Music Books section!

Another good one is: Recording Guitar and Bass by Huw Price
http://www.amazon.com/Recording-Guit...5734124&sr=1-1
(I got my copy at a place called Half-Price Books for $6!!)

And you can get a FREE subscription to TapeOp magazine at www.tapeop.com

Barnes&Noble or Borders are great places to start --- they have recording books and you can go get a snack or coffee and read them for FREE! Don't pass by a good recording book --- this is a VERY technical hobby and you REALLY want to start a reference library!!!

Good Newbie guides that also explains all the basics and have good tips:
http://www.tweakheadz.com/guide.htm
http://www.computermusic.co.uk/page/..._beginner_pdfs
http://www.harmony-central.com/articles/
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/tips-...echniques.html

21 Ways To Assemble a Recording Rig: http://www.tweakheadz.com/rigs.htm

Also Good Info: http://www.theprojectstudiohandbook.com/directory.htm

Other recording books: http://musicbooksplus.com/home-recording-c-31.html

Still using a built-in soundcard?? Unfortunately, those are made with less than $1 worth of chips for beeps, boops and light gaming (not to mention cheapness for the manufacturer) and NOT quality music production.
#1 Rule of Recording: You MUST replace the built-in soundcard.
Here's a good guide and tested suggestions: http://www.tweakheadz.com/soundcards...ome_studio.htm


Plenty of software around to record for FREE to start out on:

Audacity: http://audacity.sourceforge.net (multi-track with VST support)
Wavosaur: http://www.wavosaur.com/ (a stereo audio file editor with VST support)\
Kristal: http://www.kreatives.org/kristal/
Other freebies and shareware: www.hitsquad.com/smm

Another great option is REAPER at http://www.cockos.com/reaper/ (It's $50 but runs for free until you get guilty enough to pay for it...)
I use Reaper and highly reccomend it...

Music Notation and MIDI recording: Melody Assistant ($25) and Harmony Assistant ($80) have the power of $600 notation packages - http://myriad-online.com
Demo you can try on the website.

And you can go out to any Barnes&Noble or Borders and pick up "Computer Music" magazine - they have a full FREE studio suite in every issue's DVD, including sequencers, plugins and tons of audio samples. (November 2006 they gave away a full copy of SamplitudeV8SE worth $150, November 2007-on the racks Dec in the US- they gave away SamplitudeV9SE. It pays to watch 'em for giveaways...)

[Aaron Cheney]

Originally Posted by TimOBrien

My obligatory standard reply-for-newbies that I keep in Wordpad so this is just a paste (I don't want to re-type this all the time):

Smartest thing ever. You just saved me a lot of typing.