Best Setup for a Beginner?

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WelchRecording

WelchRecording

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I've recorded some of my stuff before using a M-AUDIO BlackBox / computer, but the quality is terrible and I want to add in some bass/drum tracks too.

So, what I'm wondering is what kind of multi-track recorder/related equipment is the easiest to use and easiest to setup and get going for someone that has limited experience like me. I've used Audacity and similar programs, but I don't want to use a computer because I've had bad experience with latency and such with it and its just too complicated.

I have speakers and will be ordering a good compressor microphone to record an acoustic guitar/drums and what not, but I just need to know what to buy as far as actually getting the tracks, mixing them, and putting them all together.

Thanks for reading,
Steven Welch
 
dist0rted said:
So, what I'm wondering is what kind of multi-track recorder/related equipment is the easiest to use and easiest to setup and get going for someone that has limited experience like me. I've used Audacity and similar programs, but I don't want to use a computer because I've had bad experience with latency and such with it and its just too complicated.

I have speakers and will be ordering a good compressor microphone to record an acoustic guitar/drums and what not, but I just need to know what to buy as far as actually getting the tracks, mixing them, and putting them all together.

Thanks for reading,
Steven Welch
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Hi Steven

Latency issues with computers normally has a lot to do with soundcard, RAM, PC setup and what other software is loaded on it. It can be overcome but if you're looking for a workstation-type recording device, there are heaps available, but you'll need to decide exactly what you're intending to use it for so you can purchase the one that will be most suitable for your needs.
ie: number of inputs? phantom power? USB-enabled for potentially connecting to a computer later on? fx routing internal or external? in-built CD burning? insert points for using external compressor? etc etc

Any workstation you purchase is going to have a learning curve to get used to for setting up the unit for recording and playback, fx usage, overdubbing, etc and the more features there are on it, the more complicated it will potentially be (generally). So be prepared to do a bit of RTFM :)

I haven't got an answer for you as to which unit you should buy - that will be up to you to decide after you have had a think about what kind of features you would like to have. Then you can do a google search for recording workstations with those features and when you've found a couple that sound good, do another search for user reviews of those units. I do it all the time to get a better idea of the performance of the product I am drooling over :)

Just as a general idea of what's available in the world of workstations, check out products made by Tascam, Korg, Boss and Yamaha.

Happy hunting!

Dags
 
Thanks a million dude. I'm thinking about getting an 8 track with built in CD burning, but I was just wondering if studio monitors (cheapos, like 200 bucks or less) would be worth buying if I already have a set of Peavey BlackWidow speakers (about 1.5' by 3' in size)? I want the best possible quality, but if its relatively the same I don't want to blow possibly $200.
 
Tough questions.... If you're looking for "quality" as opposed to "inexpensive" you are going to have to part with a lot more cash.

You can get a very good result from cheap gear, it just won't fool anyone into thinking it's "pro".

A pc-based DAW is going to give you flexibility and an upgrade path. The standalone is going to be a little simpler, but you may outgrow it and want to replace it later.

What is it you want to do, what have you got, and where do you want to go?


You're in the right place.


Hang in there and don't be hasty - that will be expensive.

-Casey
 
dist0rted said:
I've recorded some of my stuff before using a M-AUDIO BlackBox / computer, but the quality is terrible and I want to add in some bass/drum tracks too.

So, what I'm wondering is what kind of multi-track recorder/related equipment is the easiest to use and easiest to setup and get going for someone that has limited experience like me. I've used Audacity and similar programs, but I don't want to use a computer because I've had bad experience with latency and such with it and its just too complicated.

I have speakers and will be ordering a good compressor microphone to record an acoustic guitar/drums and what not, but I just need to know what to buy as far as actually getting the tracks, mixing them, and putting them all together.

Thanks for reading,
Steven Welch
Click to expand...

You can get around latency issues pretty easily if you are recording regular audio. I have been messing about for 3-4 years and with intelligent routing and set up I have been able to have zero latency. I for go any VST Synths and any effects on the tracks that I am in the act of recording and I get zero latency.

Reaper (www.reaper.fm) is a pretty darn easy program to use.

I would suggest looking at the Firestudio or the RME FF800. I have used both and currently own an RME. It was easy to set up and runs like a tape deck. I press record and go.

I think it would be worth your time to look into computer based recording again. My first go was a bit of a mess, but with a bit of learning it has gotten very plug and play for me.
 
Well, I've got a PC with a good sound card that I do my only recording with using Audacity and plugging my amp directly in (I need to get a mic so I can get that extra roar, too), and a couple of Peavey speakers that kind of distort the output a little and two Kustom speakers that are tall and skinny that I haven't used in a while.

What I was thinking was buying one of those Tascam DS-01 units to have some kind of a multi-track unit to record to, and I know I'll need to buy a mic to get quality recordings of my vocals/guitar/bass tracks. I'm just debating right now whether or not buying a pair of $200 monitors and a drum machine is worth the do or not or if I should just use what I've got.

My current recordings aren't really all that great as far as quality is concerned.

I'm not trying to spam in any way, but on my web site you can see a list of my equipment and even a little thing where you can click play and hear a little track I did last summer: welch23 (dot) com / equipment.php (I seperated it a little bit since it won't let me post links until I have 5 posts, probably to keep spammers away).
 
Supercreep said:
A pc-based DAW is going to give you flexibility and an upgrade path. The standalone is going to be a little simpler, but you may outgrow it and want to replace it later.
Click to expand...

That's a very good point, especially if you're intending on adding drums, bass and vocal overdubs to your music.
An 8 track stand-alone DAW will always be an 8 track device and the only option for expansion is to create mixdowns of several tracks into two channels to free up the other 6 for re-recording.

dist0rted said:
I'm just debating right now whether or not buying a pair of $200 monitors and a drum machine is worth the do or not or if I should just use what I've got.
Click to expand...

Tascam brought out an 8 track unit with a built-in drum machine (can't remember the model number offhand) which will kill two birds with the one credit card transaction ;)

For your vocals, and even potentially for recording the guitar amp, a condenser mic may be a good all-rounder but will require phantom power to drive it. The larger stand-alone DAWs usually provide at least 2 channels of phantom-powered XLR input so you may be ok there as well.

I can't find any references to the Tascam DS-01 you mentioned. Is it a new product?

Dags
 
Don't hook an amp directly into a PC. Not only is it guaranteed to sound bad, it can damage the amp and/or sound card. Unless the output is labeled "Line Out" and outputs a line-level signal and it is being plugged into the line-input on your sound card. It will still probably sound bad.

Get an SM57 to mic your amp. And get a good preamp like the M-Audio DMP3. I wouldn't worry about monitors until you got that.
 
Yeah its a Spider III (which has the direct line out) and my sound card is build to have a line-in plugged through it. And yeah, the DS-01 is really a DP-01 (my bad). It's the one that was talked about and I'm set on getting that.

I'll look into the SM-57 and what kind of condenser mic to get.

Now all I need to know is how good of quality of sound would cheaper monitors provide? The speakers I have distort the sound just a tad bit, and while screaming volume is not needed I don't want them to not be able to give me a good idea of what the track would sound like if I was playing it at one of the many house parties I have hahaha.
 
if you want to keep running direct into the soundcard, the shure sm94 is a really nice little condenser mic that is powered by a AA battery. just something to think about if you're looking for cheap :cool:
 
dist0rted said:
Yeah its a Spider III (which has the direct line out) and my sound card is build to have a line-in plugged through it. And yeah, the DS-01 is really a DP-01 (my bad). It's the one that was talked about and I'm set on getting that.

I'll look into the SM-57 and what kind of condenser mic to get.
Hi again -thanks for clarifying!

The DP-01 doesn't have XLR phantom-powered inputs, so if you're looking at getting a condensor microphone for your vocals you'll also need to get hold of a preamp of some description.

I'd recommend getting one anyway, even if you were to use your SM-57 as a vocal mic to start with, because there's no way of amplifying the level of the mic within the box if you were thinking of plugging directly in using a jack cable from the SM-57. Don't rely too much on the internal trim pot - could be noisy when turned all the way to the right to get the correct gain for use with a dynamic mic.

Dags
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Click to expand...
 
Man this is invaluable help, thanks a million to everyone I'm pretty sure on what I'm going to get now. This has been awesome. I promise to help out other peeps like this when I get the experience!

I'm planning on getting the DP-01, an Alesis SR-16 drum machine, and a cheaper mic w/ a preamp to start with and get used to. Home studio here I come !
 
standalone

I'm using a Boss BR600, an Alesis Multimix6, a pair of (the B word) near-fields, a B-5 condenser, and an SM-58 for recording my acoustic music, and it's working out pretty well. I'm still having some problems with making vocals sound full, but the guitar work is coming out amazing.

The recorder cost me 385 dollars, the nearfields 150, and the condenser 120. The rest of the stuff was given to me.

If you are looking to just record yourself, I'd go with a standalone.
 
dist0rted said:
Man this is invaluable help, thanks a million to everyone I'm pretty sure on what I'm going to get now. This has been awesome. I promise to help out other peeps like this when I get the experience!

I'm planning on getting the DP-01, an Alesis SR-16 drum machine, and a cheaper mic w/ a preamp to start with and get used to. Home studio here I come !
Click to expand...

if you get the dp 01 fx it does have preamps for your condenser mics. and there is a dp 01 fx cd that can burn cd's as well.
 
Nicole_Rose said:
if you get the dp 01 fx it does have preamps for your condenser mics. and there is a dp 01 fx cd that can burn cd's as well.
Click to expand...

Excellent bit of research, Nicole.

There you go, _dist0rted_
By spending a bit more you can get the recorder you are wanting with all the bells and whistles you need!

Dags
 
I have gone through the same things trying to get to a recording and a setup I could live with.

I recently bought a ZOOM MRS-8 to replace the one I sold hastily....
I use it with my laptop(Pc for now but I want a Mac Book) and when I'm all done with a song I can dump it to my Laptop for final edits(trimming the silence at beginning or end) and upload or burn CD's....

I found that if I was to use a Hybrid of Stand alone and computer I could get great results and have the best of both worlds.

I use a Tube MP with a MXL 990s and have a few other mic's it all works well.

I will say I tried one of the Tascam's you are talking about (DP series), I liked it but the only complaint I had was when using the pan controls it had serious effect on the gain of each channel.
Centered it was loud and clear but when you pan r/l it would drop volume in a very serious amount. Too much so.

Good Luck hope all works out!:)
 
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