Band wishing to record and sound GOOD

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yllwsnow92

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hey everyone. i'm a noob and just wanted some answers from people that probably know what they are doing (at least more so than I). I'm in a band and we've been playing for about 3 years now. We've tried recording on everything from a cell phone to a digital camera to an ipod to a $10 headset mic. After so many years we've finally found our sound and are making great music which we would like to seriously record without having to go to a studio. We want to know how to make our recordings sound better. We are currently using the free version of Audacity (don't know if i can have that name here, if not then we're using a version of software most noobs are). I've been trying to fool around with the settings to make the humming and other background noises stop but it's not working. Any help is very much appreciated. -Thanx
 
You need to list your entire signal chain before anyone can take an educated guess at where the hum is coming from. What is your mic, pre, interface or mixer, computer, sound card? Give some info, then maybe you'll get an intelligent answer.
 
You'd be FAR better off just going to a studio. Even a cheap studio. You don't learn how to "seriously record" overnight. You could spend a few thousand on a ultra-basic rig and spend a couple years tweaking and learning how to use it, or you could spend half that, book a studio for a few days and be done with it.
 
Hum and background noise aren't likely to be comming from Audacity, or any other recording software for that matter. Start by checking cables and conections, use shielded cables wherever you can. Being too cloce or dirrectly in front of your monitor with electric guitar will cause a lot of noise. Poorly grounded or ungrounded outlets will often cause noise too. Other appliances (ac, fans, refridgerators, etc...) can cause hum and other noises, turn them off if possible when recording. Setting the gain (recording volume) lower can help with background noise. Pedals and efx units often are a source of noise. Florescent lights and dimmer switches can cause hum. These are some of the main things to check, hope you find what is causing the noise.
 
we have the most basic tools on the planet. (there is no doubt you are going to laugh but here it goes) we have a laptop with all the necesarry memory and RAM needed to record anything comfortably, Audacity, and a simple usb mic. i just want to know how to record the sound we are making so it plays back close to what it sounds like live. thanx again
 
Massive master is right. A studio is your best bet. Don't think you'll get a full band sounding good with one mic, unless you record each instrument one at a time, which even then with a USB mic won't sound "professional".
 
There's no way unless you really know what you are doing to record drums with one mic. Most attempts I've heard sound like crap.

Go into the studio. You'll thank yourself later.


Or, I could post a basic list of what you will need to buy to get started on a two or three year project to learn to record yourself...
 
basic gear list

hey,

I can totally sympathize with wanting to record youselves. Since I'm new to the forum I can't put a link, so here's the gear list I recommend to start. keep in mind: $1000 is really the minimum cost of getting started.

I've come to call this the B-Rig, (the name is kind of an inside joke)...

* Microphones:
o 2 x Marshall MXL 990
o 1 x Shure SM57
o 1 x Nady cm-88

* Microphone Accessories
o 4 x Mic stands w/boom
o 4 x XLR Microphone cables
o 2 x Mic Preamps (Fast Track Pro has 2 preamps for a total of 4)

* Listening Hardware
o 1 x M-Audio StudioPro 3 Desktop Audio Monitors
o 1 x Stereo RCA cable (for the StudioPro 3's)
o 1 x AKG M 80 Studio Headphones
o 1 x Headphone extension cable

* Audio Interface
o 1 x M-Audio Fast Track Pro
o 1 x Steinberg Cubase

TOTAL: $977 (approx- I rounded each item up to the next dollar)
 
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First off, we are all here on this board cause we want to record oursevles and sound GOOD.
Few of us do without spending more than you might for a few studio sessions.
If you REALLY want to record it yourself, at the very least record drums in a cheap studio that can use at least 4 mics. Everything else you can track with only 1 mic, but forget drums with only one mic.
If you want to do everything yourself you need

1) 4 mics at the very least. One good dynamic for guitar amps (Shure SM57), 2 overheads, one good condensor.
www.nainant.com has cheap and good mics.

2) An audio interface that converts the signal to digital and to your comp. Your stock soundblaster soundcard wont do. Here you have lots of choices. Some USB, some firewire, some PCI. Go to www.musiciansfriend.com and look at "audio interfaces" under the recording tab.

3) A good comp and software. You have a good comp, now you need good software. Reaper is a good program, look it up on google.

4) The know how. www.tweakheadz.com will get you started.

5) A good room to record in. Under the Studio Build forums you will find good examples. Acoustic treatment would be a plus.

All this costs money, and time. You might just be better off spending the money in a real studio.


Mike
 
Massive Master said:
You'd be FAR better off just going to a studio. Even a cheap studio. You don't learn how to "seriously record" overnight. You could spend a few thousand on a ultra-basic rig and spend a couple years tweaking and learning how to use it, or you could spend half that, book a studio for a few days and be done with it.
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Amen! You are far far better off going with a studio. The cost might be a very pleasant surprise! You will have a far better signal chain, can experiment with different mics and signal processors, and have the brains and expertise of a professional at hand.

This is the route that Snoop Doggy Dog went.

Or, of course, you can dick around for three or more years trying to learn audio recording. In which case share your current gear and budget and someone will get back to you.
 
Massive Master said:
You'd be FAR better off just going to a studio. Even a cheap studio. You don't learn how to "seriously record" overnight. You could spend a few thousand on a ultra-basic rig and spend a couple years tweaking and learning how to use it, or you could spend half that, book a studio for a few days and be done with it.
Click to expand...


This is true. Nothing says you can't do both, but if you want it done and with in the next year or so practice your ass' off and go to a studio.
I have a pretty nice set up my self and I still went to a studio a couple years ago cause I was on a time frame.

You can always get the raw tracks from the studio and re-mix them later once you learn the craft.

F.S.
 
If you are really insistent on recording yourself... consider everything that you'll be recording...

if your recording drums... you might want an audio interface that can mic around 8 inputs. if its firewire... then it can split the tracks in your recording software (ditch audacity if you can and go with something like cubase, logic, reaper, sonar, protools... i suggest reaper, or the more expensive cubase)

then you need mics to get the drums... for a good sound I'd say at least bass mic a snare mic and two overhead condensers to pick up cymbals and toms. My friend said he picked up his entire kit with two cheap matched pair of condensers called the behringer c-2s... but if you want to do extensive editing on the individual drums you'll need a firewire (or usb... but preferrably firewire) interface to send each signal to its own track.

of course you should have the computer to do this on to... if you are using one that is... you can always go to a hard disk recording machine.. I have a zoom one that works fairly well. Editing is a pain in the butt, so I leave that to computers with good software. You'll want good speakers (monitors) and if not... good head phones to mix your songs.

here's what I would get (i haven't got a great amount of gear) :

presonus firepod (audio interface with 8 ins i think)
4 drum mics in a kit ( go cheap for $150)
good software (i want logic express)
a solid mic on guitar amps -- sm57 (debatable i know) I've heard good sounds from it...

now... you don't need a firewire audio interface. It just makes everything a lot easier. You can always get an analog mixer ( I have like a 8 channel* techincally 12 with stereo) behringer mixer... and you can just mix down to a stereo track. Of course this will make editing your drums really hard, say your snare beat in one measure is off... you can't move it because that will be moving the entire kit.

you should probably just go for the studio option if you have the time and money. Heck, learning all this stuff will take a lot of time. I'd prefer to do it myself because I love this stuff... you however may think otherwise..

good luck with whatever you choose.
 
Before you begin to record, make sure your drummer can play to a clicktrack (or metrenome).

If he can't keep tight to a clicktrack, you simply won't be successful in the studio unless you sound tight as a band under pretty much any circumstances.
 
yllwsnow92 said:
we have the most basic tools on the planet. (there is no doubt you are going to laugh but here it goes) we have a laptop with all the necesarry memory and RAM needed to record anything comfortably, Audacity, and a simple usb mic. i just want to know how to record the sound we are making so it plays back close to what it sounds like live. thanx again
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I was where you were 4 year ago. It took me about $5000 in gear and about 2 years of learning and messing around to record and mix this album: http://www.americana-uk.com/auk/mod...me=Reviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=3693

If you want to press and release a CD I would say go to a studio.

If you want to learn about recording, make some CD's to sell at shows and put songs on myspace I think you could do it like the B-rig guy said. I think you could actually do it cheaper.

Presonus Firestudio $400 (used)
Reaper software $50
Some SM57 Mics $300 (used)
1 Beta 52 mic $80 (used)

Throw in a set of headphones and some mic cables and you are off and running. I like this set up because you will likely keep the mics forever and could use them live too. The Reaper Software is great. The Presonus may be something you replace at some point, but it is usable.

Get that stuff. Set the mics in front of the instruments and hit record then play your songs. When you are done you will have is each mic's sound on a different channel that you can then eq and pan and change the volume on.

It is not rocket science to get stuff recorded... but it can take a long long time to make it sound even close to professional.

For me, doing it myself was the right way. I have a lot of patience, I learned a lot, I met some great people, I bought some cool books, I got great info from guys like Fletcher, Warren, Ethan Winer, Charles Dye, J. Hall, Rip Rowan and others.... then I just kept at it and wound up with a product I liked.

Be warned though, you will likely spend more money for a product that does not sound as good as a studio project.



You know, one other thought... If you really want to just do it up cheap. Buy a Toneport UX2, 2 SM57 mics, and then download the free version of reaper... Set up in a room that sounds pretty good and put the mics in locations in the room that sound good. This could take a whole weekend... just finding the right places for the mics. Play a song... listen, repeat ad-nauseum.

Once it is sounding decent, then play your songs without any singing or guitar solos. Then go back and overdub the solos and vocals.

IF'n you wanted to get all super fancy you could even do drums alone with 2 mics, then over dub bass, then overdub guitars and so on.

You could do worse. The velvet underground album Live at Max's Kansas City was done with one mic in the back of a loud room and that album rocks.

Whatever you do, try to have fun and continue to work on making the songs good. Bad Songs recorded well = shite... Great songs recorded decently = possibly genius.

good luck.
 
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Massive Master said:
You'd be FAR better off just going to a studio. Even a cheap studio. You don't learn how to "seriously record" overnight. You could spend a few thousand on a ultra-basic rig and spend a couple years tweaking and learning how to use it, or you could spend half that, book a studio for a few days and be done with it.
Click to expand...

Listen to this man. He knows what he's talking about.
 
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