about as basic as it gets - just starting

  • Thread starter Thread starter jimmylegs
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jimmylegs

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Well, let's see... how do I put this... ;)

I know almost nothing about recording... I've been playing guitar, bass and djembe for years, and it's only occurred to me now that it might be fun to record some tracks where I could play all instruments and sing, have some fun with it...

I guess I'm asking is what are the most basic options I have to get set up... not looking to spend a whole lot of money, maybe up to a $1000 or so (Canadian ;) ). What would I need in the way of mics, mixers, etc. to do some recording and some basic mixing? I'm an expert computer user, so I'm not adverse to using software packages, hardware, etc., but I think I'd like to do things in a more traditional way, so when I have my musician friends over, we don't have to crowd around my PC to record, mayber even eventually having a bit of a "studio" in my basement.

I'm sorry I can't be more specific, it's hard to know what questions to ask when you're starting at ground zero ;). Here's the equipment I own, if that helps;

- one steel string acoustic (Norman 6-string), no electronics.
- one classical (Martin N-20), no electronics
- one Yamaha bass guitar
- one Peavey Microbass amp
- one djembe
- one very crappy microphone


Essentially, what I'd like is to be able to record tracks, one instrument at a time, mix them, and burn them to CD. I have a PII-233 with 128 MB, large hard drive, running on Windows 98.

Thanks in advance for your help :)


jimmylegs
wjmd@mail.com
 
You will need a program to track into, and you'll need a program for editing.

Example........

Sonar 2.0 and Sound Forge 5.0

I'm sure other members here will elaborate......... ;)
 
For My money...

For my money I'd start out with one or two "really Good" Microphones and get one of the many inexpensive digital 4tracks

BOSS, KORG, ZOOM and TASCAM make some really nice recorders for under $400.00

They are portable...unlike a computer
They are reliable... " "
They have excellent sound specifications
Much better than cassette multitracks.

Some good Microphones are Shure SM58, SM57 under $100.00

RODE NT1 under $200.00
AUDIO TECHNICA....any thing
* If you get a condensor mic you will need a preamp with phantom power

Have fun

Dom Franco:cool:
 
I'm in Canada too, and on a budget, so I can relate. Unfortunately, you won't get a LOT with $1000, but you have some options. A dedicated 8-track digital multitracker will run you over your limit even before you buy a mic. Forget it. Software... Cubase is about 700 these days, I think, for the top of the line version. (when I bought the 16bit version of 3.6 it was $450, and then I bought a $200 upgrade to 5.0, which gives me 24 bit; now SX is out... you get the idea.) This is an area where you CAN cut corners depending on what you want the software to do. Cubasis is like the "little brother" program of Cubase, it has nearly all of the same features, but restricted in scope (ie. not as many inserts per channel, etc.) and is less than half the price. You might also look at N-Track, which I believe is about $35 and is shareware.

You'll need to upgrade your computer. What you have currently is inadequate, but with some upgrades, might be workable. You don't need anything elaborate, just more. I use a Celeron 466 processor, 384MB ram, Win98 computer. Two important specs though, are drive speed - anything less than 7200rpm will be a waste of time and money, but don't feel like you have to go RAID or SCSI. 7200 is fine. Depending on a lot of things, I can't give you ANY indication how much this upgrade will cost.

You'll also need a half-decent soundcard. A lot of people use, and use successfully, the Soundblaster Live and Audigy cards, though many will recommend against them. For a good budget audio card, check out the D-Man PCI. It has two ins/two outs/ and midi, and I believe mine was about $225.

Have at least one decent dynamic and one decent condensor mic. You can pick up an SM58 for about $130, and I bought my Rode NT1 for a little over $300. You can always buy used....

A mixer to organize all this stuff will be handy. I picked up a Behringer MX802 Eurorack mixer, which does the trick just nicely, and has phantom power to drive any condensor mic you might get, and mine was $239 new.

So.... if you get the Behringer mixer, an SM58 and Rode NT1, a D-Man PCI soundcard, N-Track recording software, you're looking at about $950. (Canadian) Then, you'll have to upgrade the computer.... Remember, don't be afraid to look into getting some stuff used....

Also consider, once you get started, you will realize the limitations of what you have and, like when you started with your first guitar, you'll want more and better. Be prepared, like a guitar, to have it continue to cost money buying more and better stuff.

Chris
 
Just wanted to say thanks for all the replies (and not one flame! ;)).

Much appreciated...
 
Chris Tondreau said:

A mixer to organize all this stuff will be handy. I picked up a Behringer MX802 Eurorack mixer, which does the trick just nicely, and has phantom power to drive any condensor mic you might get, and mine was $239 new.
Chris
Click to expand...

You spent $239 on a Behringer MX802?!?!?!??!! don't they retail for almost half of that
 
Axis said:


You spent $239 on a Behringer MX802?!?!?!??!! don't they retail for almost half of that
Click to expand...

ITS CALLED CANADA, we pay more than americans .
 
Protools Free

If you are running windows 98, you can input 2 tracks at a time through your PC sound card. Check out:
www.digidesign.com/ptfree/

This should get you started laying tracks on your PC.

--Chris
 
Check these sites -

www.audiomelody.com ---> freeware audio software

www.sonicspot.com ---> freeware & shareware software

www.thepluginlist.com ---> plugins of all types for your audio software.


I would recommend a computer based system over a cheap multitracker, if you have the computer. Yes, the multitrackers are less prone to OS crashes and are more portable. But a computer based system will give you more flexibility, more room to grow and more inter-operability with other studios & software. If I don't like the phaser that came with my multitrack software, I can probably download 5 others to try. If I don't like the one in my Zoom 4 track, I'm screwed.


another quick suggestion - if you are only laying one track at a time, and don't need lots of simultaneous ins & outs (mixing in the computer to burn to cd, for example), find a pair of decent condenser mics and a nice mic preamp. Guitar Center sells Oktava MK-012's for around $200 US per pair, and they are great. Rode NT 1's are pretty inexpensive and good, as well as Oktava 219's and 319's.

good luck.

- Housepig
 
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