Newbie's questions regarding recording and other crap.

[Kyoh]

What I want to do: Record some simple vocal & acoustic guitar tracks.

What I got: A Shure SM58 Mic hooked up to my computer, and a copy of Mixcraft 4 software.

The Problem: I dont know much when it comes to sound stuff, mixing, or recording in general. I tried recording the vocals today and had fluctuating volume and generally poor quality (like some background noise). Oh, and Im flat broke at the moment, so if I can I'd like to get by without any more hardware purchases.

Questions: Is Mixcraft 4 a decent program to record with, or are there better (new user friendly) programs I should be looking at? Any tips regarding getting a clear and steady vocal track recorded?

Any feedback would be much appreciated!

 

[kcearl]

mixcraft isnt your problem..its fine, the mics a fairly good mic to be starting with...but how are you connecting the two?


you will need some kind of audio interface, just plugging it straight onto the PC wont do Im afraid...good news is ebay is awash with people selling interfaces as they upgrade and move on...no reason not to find one sub $50

have a look at tascam or m audio and see what comes up

 

[Kyoh]

I'm connecting it straight to the PC via USB cable. Interfaces huh? Thanks for the tip!

 

[mjbphotos]

Are you sure you have a Shure SM58? It doesn't have a USB output!

 

[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):

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/04...mp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=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-Gui...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215734124&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/computermusic?entry=free_beginner_pdfs
http://www.harmony-central.com/articles/
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/tips-techniques/168409-tips-techniques.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 user-tested suggestions that work: http://www.tweakheadz.com/soundcards_for_the_home_studio.htm
(you'll want to bookmark and read through all of Tweak's Guide while you're there...)
Another good article: Choosing an audio interface - http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep08/articles/audiointerfaces.htm


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

Sony ACID Express (free 10-track sequencer): http://www.acidplanet.com/downloads/xpress/
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 and July 2009 issue they put out Samplitude10SE. FREE. It pays to watch 'em for giveaways...)

 

[Kyoh]

@mjbphotos I have a USB adapter for the SM58

@TimOBrien My god. Sooo much information. Thanks for the hoard.

 

[kcearl]

lol its funny but if you get through that information you will definitely be in a better place


i read for months before i even thought about doing a track...its definitely pays off and when you reach a ceiling just buy a book and/or do some research to get past it...sometimes twiddling the knobs on your computer screen will only get you so far

 

[IndustrialOkie]

lol its funny but if you get through that information you will definitely be in a better place


i read for months before i even thought about doing a track...its definitely pays off and when you reach a ceiling just buy a book and/or do some research to get past it...sometimes twiddling the knobs on your computer screen will only get you so far

Thread reported.

 

[kcearl]

DTAMOP's !

 

[VESSEL2020]

if you get through that information you will definitely be in a better place


i read for months before i even thought about doing a track...its definitely pays off

Listen to these guys,...they know what they're talkin' about.

 

[Dogbreath]

Thread reported.

neener neener....