basic recording setup...

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nybeat84

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Hello,
I'm looking to get a home recording setup that is fairly cheap and simple. I really only need to record two tracks, vocal and guitar. I'm just getting started in music but am quickly realizing how important it is to have a website with some songs on it, and it seems like a computer based recording program would make it very simple to do this. I guess I'm hoping to spend less than $200, maybe $300. I have no software, soundcard, interface, any thing like that. I have a 4 year old compaq laptop. Any suggestions, what would you do? Thanks!!!
 
Well youll need an interface that has pre-amps on it if you want to save money on an external pre-amp, youll need some multitrack software, something cheap like reaper, you will also need a mic, ill say go with a Shure SM57, if you can also buy some cheap condenser something like a Behringer mic for the guitar, well even better... if you have electroacoustic guitar that wont be necessary, finally youll need a cable to connect the mic to the interface. Thats like the most basic setup of all, although a 4 year old compaq laptop may be the problem, you may end-up just fine if you only want cheap demos... now youll need some type of monitoring, but with your budget.. ill go with some nice headphones...
 
Thanks for the reply! I'm thinking I might be better off getting one of those multi-track recorders that allows me to save songs on cds or memory cards and then transfer them to computer. It seems that a computer based recording system might just be better if you want to get real into the details but for me...maybe not. Am I on the right track?
 
Thanks for the reply! I'm thinking I might be better off getting one of those multi-track recorders that allows me to save songs on cds or memory cards and then transfer them to computer. It seems that a computer based recording system might just be better if you want to get real into the details but for me...maybe not. Am I on the right track?

Yes you can also do that, you would still have to buy some microphones 1 minimun 2 recomended.., and a recorder that has 1 or more pre-amps... the thing is that i dont really know if it will end up costing more than buying a cheap interface... but look around and let me know...
 
My obligatory standard reply-for-newbies that I keep in Wordpad:

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/07...ce&n=283155&n=507846&s=books&v=glance
(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!!)

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:
http://www.tweakheadz.com/guide.htm
http://www.computermusic.co.uk/page/computermusic?entry=free_beginner_pdfs

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) not quality music production.
#1 Rule of Recording: You MUST replace the built-in soundcard.
Here's a good guide and suggestions:
http://www.tweakheadz.com/soundcards_for_the_home_studio.htm


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

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

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. It pays to watch 'em for giveaways...)
 
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