Advice needed for adding tracks to emailed files

[Drum13]

Hi guys - first post here.

I'm looking for advice how to go about recording tracks at home on drums using files that will be emailed to me.

I have no recording equipment yet so advice on what direction to go is appreciated.

Main objectives: My former band member lives across the country and he would like to email me some tunes and have me record drum tracks on them. We don't have money to go into a pro studio and I see guys are able to do this at home on a laptop and would like to know how they get this done.

Not sure what files to use for email and what software will work well for uploading the incoming tracks and sending them out.

Thanks for any help!

 

[mjbphotos]

Read the stickies at the top of this thread about computer recording.
You will both need:
1) computer with half-decent processing speed/RAM
2) Audio interface (as many inputs with preamps as mics you will be using)
3) Headphones (for listening to pre-done tracks while recording with mics
4) DAW (recording software) - you don't need the same as your buddy, but if you do, you can send projects (which contain all the tracks plus any FX, routing and automation info) to each other rather than individual tracks. You wouldn't email them, but use a file sharing place like Dropbox.
If using different DAWs, you render each track to WAV or AIC format, then the other person imports/inserts them as new tracks into their DAW.

 

[Drum13]

Cool, thanks Mike. I see you're from Boston too! I live out in the Milford/Medway area.

Definitely will check out the computer recording stuff section as you recommended.

I guess what I'm confused about is the audio interfaces and mostly - all the different file types and compatibility.

I'd want a DAW that can upload tracks from any source/file-type to lay drums on and then send back so that it can be opened/used also on any other DAW.

Do you need file converter software or do the DAW's pretty much pick up any audio recording?

Dropbox is a great idea.

 

[polarity]

No DAW will open every type of file so what you really have to do is use the standard formats and just make sure you are both sticking to it. Using standard .wav or something would probably be the best way as all DAWs open wave files.

 

[BroKen_H]

Or, you can both get Reaper for $60 each...and have no problems. Cheap solution.
If you're going to record live drums...say bass, snare two overheads. You will need an interface with four mike inputs (and you'll need four mikes and cables) if you want to add mikes to toms and hi-hat, double that...
Tascam US1800 has 8 mike preamps and can be had reasonably.
Monitors: If you're just tracking, you'll get by with some nice closed back headphones. If you want to mix afterwards, you'll need some speakers. The better the speaker, the better the mix. But don't let people try to steer you toward high dollar. RAMI (on this site) makes so of the best mixes I've heard for home recording and up until middle of this year, he was using stereo speakers and amplifier...If I remember right. It's got as much to do with getting used to your sound and being clear on what your speakers are telling you.
Room Treatment. The best recording setup in the world will do you no good if your room sucks. Pick somewhere in your home where you can put up some rockwool insulation, or at least where there's a lot of diversity on the walls (ever notice how nice it sounds in a library? It's all those various size/depth books, sort of like a QRD).

Hope that's not overload. Ask lots of questions, we'll give you lots of answers...
Oh, and by the way, watch Craigslist for the mikes and monitors and a decent interface. It'll save you $$

 

[mjbphotos]

Oh, and by the way, watch Craigslist for the mikes and monitors and a decent interface. It'll save you $$

Except in the Boston area - there are NEVER any real deals on CL around here, believe me!

BTW, 'drum13': Welcome! It's better to ask more-specific questions than general ones, so hopefully we have got you steered in the right direction.