Total(ish) newb wants to record almost everything..

[hotsnot]

I've got a lot of inspiration, ideas but limited equipment and even less knowledge.

Currently I possess an electric bass and guitar, an acoustic only guitar, an SM57 mic and a very crappy bass and guitar amp.

My question is, what is the easiest way for a newb like myself to record and transfer the recordings to a PC for manipulation/mixing/etc..?

 

[Steenamaroo]

search the forum,

try the newbies section.

 

[Rokket]

search the forum,

try the newbies section.

Please stop answering questions with this. That doesn't tell him anything, and it only creates other problems.






Dude, the easiest way for you to get started is to look into getting a multitrack recorder. Google Zoom, Tascam and Fostex just to get you started. Most of them come with USB capability and will allow you to transfer your recorded tracks to pc so you can mix in the software of your choice.

The other option you have is to invest in a dedicated pc that you only record to, buying an interface (fire wire is the best bet there), and learning the steep pc recording curve.

And search the forums, especially the computer forum if you decide to go that route. You can learn a few things before you spend your hard earned money for things you are not quite sure how to use, and thus spend all your time posting on here asking: how do I do this?

 

[hotsnot]

Yes, i know i need one of these multitrack recorders but i'm not really sure what to look for. What inputs/outputs do I need? And is there anything else I need to buy other than the recorder?

 

[Dave_M]

Yes, i know i need one of these multitrack recorders but i'm not really sure what to look for. What inputs/outputs do I need? And is there anything else I need to buy other than the recorder?

Monitors that will connect to your PC. Cheap PC speakers won't cut it.

And an input device (to plug in your guitar/bass/keys/mics) which might be a 2 channel "M-box" device or maybe a 8 channel Presonus or equivilent. If you're planning on keyboards now or in the near future, a MIDI input capability would be required.

Here, check this link:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/navigation/computer-hardware-recording-cards-audio-interfaces?N=100001+304891

 

[hotsnot]

Thanks for the link Dave. Only problem is I live in ozzie land which is a lame way of saying Australia.

So, I need a computer to which I would plug in a recorder(i'm seriously looking at a zoom h2) into which i would plug in a m-box, to which I THEN plug in my guitar/bass/mic? I figured I would need a amp or pre-amp or something to record guitar or bass if using line-in, but shouldn't I be able to plug a mic straight into the recorder?

 

[gecko zzed]

Thanks for the link Dave. Only problem is I live in ozzie land which is a lame way of saying Australia.

So, I need a computer to which I would plug in a recorder(i'm seriously looking at a zoom h2) into which i would plug in a m-box, to which I THEN plug in my guitar/bass/mic? I figured I would need a amp or pre-amp or something to record guitar or bass if using line-in, but shouldn't I be able to plug a mic straight into the recorder?

Decision number 1 is whether you want a stand-alone recorder, or whether you want to operate within a PC. (You can do both, but it means an investment in both).

Were I to be starting off, I would go for a PC-based system, and would consider:

1 A basic USB interface (e.g. Tascam, maybe Edirol) which will allow you to
feed in instruments, line levels or mikes and has midi capacity.

2 Software that lets you record via the interface and manipulate it later. Some interfaces come bundled with software packages (e.g. Cubase). Otherwise, Reaper and others are free on the web.

3 Some means of monitoring what you are doing. Any half-decent pair of speakers will do. If you are thinking budget, grab a reasonable set of headphones which will do this, and serve also to self-monitor while you are tracking against already-recorded bits.

With these interfaces you can plug straight in whatever it is you are using. You don't need separate pre-amps.

 

[Rokket]

Yes, i know i need one of these multitrack recorders but i'm not really sure what to look for. What inputs/outputs do I need? And is there anything else I need to buy other than the recorder?

How many inputs? What are you going to record? If you want to track drums, you will need at least 4 inputs (I know some who use as many as 10 mics on drums).

If you want to record a whole band, you will need inputs for them as well as the drums.

Outputs, would be the same.

If you are only going to record one track at a time, you may only need one or two inputs.

 

[pipelineaudio]

If hes just doing 1 track at a time, 49 bucks and the computer he's typing on is hard to beat:

http://www.jrrshop.com/line-6-toneport-gx-mini-usb-interface-p-6818.html




REAPER - Help and Chat
REAPER Shirts and Stuff

 

[Steenamaroo]

theres a whole thread dedicated to questions you hate hearing, and how people should use the search function, yet i'm the bad guy???

maybe i missjudged, but i just figured his question was one of the ones you don't need to ask.

 

[hotsnot]

I plan to record one thing at a time, then piece everything together later on the PC.

If I had on one of these USB interfaces, would that allow me to record assuming I had the software for it? Will it allow me to record guitar/bass directly and through an amp, a mic and from a keyboard?

Sorry, I know these are rather newb questions. I jsut want to make sure i'm doing things right and not wasting money

 

[gecko zzed]

If I had on one of these USB interfaces, would that allow me to record assuming I had the software for it? Will it allow me to record guitar/bass directly and through an amp, a mic and from a keyboard?

the answer is yes

 

[hotsnot]

So, that would imply that keyboards usually have a line-out?
Also, what about amplification for the guitars? OR is it easily do-able with software?

And btw, thanks very much for all the posts so far, they've been really helpful.

 

[gecko zzed]

most contemporary keyboards have a line out and a midi out, both of which can feed into something like an Edirol or Tascam. Newer keyboards also have USB, which connects directly with the PC.

For guitars, you plug straight into the interface. You don't need a separate amplifier. However, if you are keen on getting that particular sound of guitar played through amplifier, then, of course, you do need one, in which case you would record that by putting a mike in front of the amp, and plugging the mike into the interface.

 

[Rokket]

theres a whole thread dedicated to questions you hate hearing, and how people should use the search function, yet i'm the bad guy???

maybe i missjudged, but i just figured his question was one of the ones you don't need to ask.

At one time there was an FAQ section on this board, and Dragon used to post a lot of the most asked questions there. No one was using it. The new search function is good, but telling people to use it and them actually using it are two different things. Plus most of the time, they preface their questions with "I used the search function, but I didn't find anything like my question." So it's just easier and nicer to just answer it.

IMHO, those who complain about newbies asking the same tired questions (and I was one of them at one time who complained) should just stay out of the newbie section, or just close the thread and not respond.

You were not the bad guy here, and I thought I was being nice about it. Sorry.

 

[hotsnot]

Well I'd like to give a huge thanks to everyone here, you've all been extremely helpful

In case you guys are wondering, I've decided on buying a Tascam US-122L, which has more ins than I have things to stick into it

Oh well, wish me luck with my terrible recordings to come, and thanks again to everyone

 

[WhiteStrat]

Well I'd like to give a huge thanks to everyone here, you've all been extremely helpful

In case you guys are wondering, I've decided on buying a Tascam US-122L, which has more ins than I have things to stick into it

Oh well, wish me luck with my terrible recordings to come, and thanks again to everyone

Congratulations! We look forward to hearing those terrible (your word! ) recordings as soon as you're ready to share them with us!

 

[MCI2424]

I've got a lot of inspiration, ideas but limited equipment and even less knowledge.

Currently I possess an electric bass and guitar, an acoustic only guitar, an SM57 mic and a very crappy bass and guitar amp.

My question is, what is the easiest way for a newb like myself to record and transfer the recordings to a PC for manipulation/mixing/etc..?

Its not the gear, its the ear
A great recording is all in the performance.
You need a great sounding room, great sounding instruments and excellent musicians to make a great recording.
It is a poor craftsman who blames his tools
It is a poorer crafstman who uses inferior tools
A great experienced engineer can get a grammy award winning recording on a porta-studio and a pair of SM57s (never understood this one, every great engineer I have ever known or read about have boatloads of high-end equipment, wny would they do this if they only needed a porta-studio and a pair of SM57s?)


Anyway, I am sure there are literally dozens of prime quotes like these to delude a person into thinking they can geat a great recording at home with little experience, Cakewalk and a soundcard.

And, no, I am not insulting you in the least. You have to read, practice and get good, solid equipment built up over time to achieve wht you want.



The actual answer to your question is to set up the mics you have, play and record that the best you can. Keep recording until you are satisfied (which will be never if you are truly gifted).

 

[suprstar]

A great experienced engineer can get a grammy award winning recording on a porta-studio and a pair of SM57s (never understood this one, every great engineer I have ever known or read about have boatloads of high-end equipment, wny would they do this if they only needed a porta-studio and a pair of SM57s?)

Cuz with the porta studio and sm57's, the great engineer can pull off a recording that's 95% as great as it could be. (and 200% greater than anything 95% of this forum will produce) He spends $100k on all that high end stuff to squeeze out the last 5% of greatness.

 

[MCI2424]

Cuz with the porta studio and sm57's, the great engineer can pull off a recording that's 95% as great as it could be. (and 200% greater than anything 95% of this forum will produce) He spends $100k on all that high end stuff to squeeze out the last 5% of greatness.

Thanks. You came up with the other great quote!

I forgot that one!