Any suggests for equipment (Hardware/Software) for Home Recording

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killieblues

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Hi all,

Looking for some experienced heads to give me some idea about what to buy for home recording.

My current set up is to play my guitar and sing at the same time using 1 microphone (dynamic) which is plugged into my Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio soundcard on Windows XP. The software I currently use is Nero Wave Editor.

I don't use MIDIs and don't have the facility to do so.

I'm happy to spend up to £400 (British Pounds) on equipment/software but I don't know where to start.

I would like to be able to do the following;

Record my guitar into a separate channel
Record my voice into a separate channel
Have some counter guitar going in another one
Maybe a drum machine to add drums
If the software can be programmed for bass etc that would be good to add too.

Hopefully someone can point me in the right direction. :)
 
:rolleyes:Yo Killie Across the Channel:

I'll have a Laphroig neat please.

Get yourself a Yamaha AW1600 and a Boss 880 Drum machine. You will need a decent mic to sing. The unit can record 8 tracks at once. It contains all the FX, Dynamics, and mastering algorithms you will ever need for a long while.

Learning curve? Medium. Dedicated site At The Dijon Stock Yamaha --very nice folks there all willing to help. Also, a plethora of videos on the use/functions of the 1600.

Lastly, you will needs some cables and, perhaps a decent mic preamp. Oh, a nice set of monitors for mixing your tracks will get you some "very" good Cds.

And, that's the way it is her in the Colonies. Oh, there are two/three other multitrackers, and a gaggle of PC programs--pick your poison. The 1600 will burn a 55 minute CD in around 9 minutes or so and let you make as many copies as you want via the "Disc At Once" feature.

Cheers From the Colonies
Green Hornet:cool:
 
The Yamaha AW1600 is £600 alone! (£200 OVER my TOTAL budget!), and the drum machine would cost me nearly £250!

After some initial investigation of my own I have the following idea for equipment, but is it enough?!

  • Condenser Microphone (thinking about the AT2020)
  • Preamplifier (don't know what one...maybe an ART Tube?)
  • Multitrack mixing software (I've downloaded Audacity and Reaper to have a play with)

Anyone aware of any good freeware or shareware software for drums and bass line building? I'd rather play about with this type of software to get a feel for how to build on this area instead of buying expensive software and then realising that I don't have the ability!
 
:D:DYo Killie:Well, you've started the ball rolling with your gear selections. I still use an ART two channel mic pre--have my drum box plugged in to it to boost up to whatever level I need for a given song.* I also use a Grace Design 101 for vocals--nice box; not the best but in the mid-high-end level. But, the Grace only has one in/out which may not suit some folks. [Grace also makes two channel mic pres, and larger.]Sorry to crash your budget.* We all started somewhere.* You have started and when you make your first Platinum, send me a bottle of Laphroaig.:rolleyes::cool::p:D

Green Hornet
 
My PC stuttered!

Green Hornet
 
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Dump the Soundblaster. Get a *real* audio interface. The soundblaster is designed only to get sound *out* of the computer. An audio interface is designed to get sound *in and out* of the computer. There are half a dozen, or so, interfaces being sold for $150 to $200 dollars US.
 
I use a br-600 8-track which I purchased for around $300
A decent mic for $40
and various cables.
As for mixing software... Cakewalk is a fave of mine.

It has some great effects and great pre-built drum tracks. plus, a drum pad for creating your own beats. I use a standard cord to plug it directly into my laptop. In my opinion, it sounds great.
 
A new soundcard is a good idea but the sound blaster will make recording decent enough to get your feet wet. Rather than upgrading your card right now maybe get some decent software, I use an old version of Cakewalk Home Studio but there are many choices out there for about a hundred bucks or so and most of them come with some sort of programable drums but I don't have no experience with those. I did used to have a little Zoom drum machine that had bass in it too that was pretty cool and that was a hundred bucks or so. About a hundred bucks or so for a LD condensor and then another hundred for a preamp or small mixer and then any other remaining money use for cables, headphones etc. Eventually you will want to change your soundcard get decent monitors etc etc etc
 
I agree with Randy Yell. Your sound blaster should be able to record two channels, which is enough to start with. Won't be the best quality, but it'll work. If you really want to upgrade, there's a plethora of PCI, USB, and firewire interfaces you can can buy in your price range:
Audio Interfaces (sorry, i had to link to a US distributor because I don't know the UK ones)

For drums, maybe give EZ Drummer a shot?

No suggestions from me on software as i use Logic, and that's Mac only. If you end up getting a new interface, chances are it comes with software, and you can just use that.

Lastly you just need a decent mic (and a mic pre-amp depending on if you upgrade your card or not). I'll let others field that question.
 
If you are looking at Digital Recorders, there are only a few in your price bracket, the Tascam DP-01 £229 or the Fostex MR8 £299. Dawsons are selling the Sontronics STC5 for £79.99.
I would suggest you single source and try for a deal on a total package.
I used Dawsons for my Fostex MR-16 HD/CD. (Altrincham Branch)
 
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