extreme newbie

[Joben]

I am the newest of the new when it comes to this. I really want to get started on home recording but am finding it very difficult to understand exactly what to do. At the moment I'm using two tape players, one with an (oh dear) internal mic, the other without. I record a song then switch tapes and play what I recorded in the background whilst doing the next layer into the internal mic machine. Needless to say it sounds crap.

Are there any useful books for me? I would like to use a proper mic as the website suggests but my tape recorder has no jack, do I have to buy another, if so is it expensive and where can I get one (I live in the UK).

I've been after a mulitrack/mixer type things for an age, can anyone suggest a cheap but alright one?
Finally, I'm getting a new top of the line PC and wondered if it would be cheaper to record onto that instead. How would I do this/what with? I only have an acoustic and electric guitar with a Roland cube 30 amp. It has a recording out jack which I don't know how to use. Do the computer editing programs come with drum machines as I need one.

Sorry about this huge mass of cunfusion, there's still loads more I want to ask but if anyone can pick out anything they can solve, it would be a great help,

Joe

 

[mikeh]

Since you as such a newbie, I suggest you spend alot of time on this site reading - there are many knowledgeble & helpful people - but you really need to ask specific question to get the best answer and you are likely too new to know what questions to ask.

Regarding multitrack recording - both Fostex & Tascam have 4 track cassette recorders that cost $99. This will allow you to record a minimum of 4 tracks (one at a time) or by "ping ponging" you can get up to 6-8 tracks with fair quality. This is an improvement over what you are doing - but it's not a huge leap.

Certainly recording to a PC with recording/sequencing software is an option - but that may be too big a leap for you, until you have more gear knowledge.

There are tons of good books on home recording (the Mix Magazine bookshelf series are very good). There are also good magazines such as Home Recording, Recording, Electronic Musician, EQ & Mix (Mix may be too much for you as a newbie).

Most large bookstores (like Barnes & Noble) have large sections.

Hang out at this site and read everything you can.

 

[noisedude]

Hiya

I've read a few of the books and whilst they can be good reference tools, you can often learn quicker and more specifically to your gear by reading on sites like this!

I would go down the PC route, flexible and affordable as well as high quality for the money. You'll need a better soundcard because, whilst the Creative Soundblasters are pretty, their analog to digital converters are pretty cheapy and will make poor reproductions of your playing and singing.

You should look at an M-Audio Audiophile, great starter card with the same converters as in their more expensive 'studio' cards.

For mics and preamps/mixers, read the HomeRec.com Mic FAQ to get you thinking.

Come back and ask questions but try to do a little reading first so you can ask the real specifics that will benefit you.

Lots of people come on and go "my mic's not working on my computer, why?" and there's not much anyone can say to help with that....

Regards,
Nik

 

[SPINSTERWUN]

TON of reading for you....

http://www.theprojectstudiohandbook.com/directory.htm

 

[SPINSTERWUN]

FAQ's

http://www.phys.tue.nl/people/etimmerman/RecordingFAQ.html

 

[SPINSTERWUN]

Glossary 1

http://www.modernrecording.com/resources/glossary.shtml

 

[Calwood]

I am the newest of the new when it comes to this. I really want to get started on home recording but am finding it very difficult to understand exactly what to do. At the moment I'm using two tape players, one with an (oh dear) internal mic, the other without. I record a song then switch tapes and play what I recorded in the background whilst doing the next layer into the internal mic machine. Needless to say it sounds crap.

Are there any useful books for me? I would like to use a proper mic as the website suggests but my tape recorder has no jack, do I have to buy another, if so is it expensive and where can I get one (I live in the UK).

I've been after a mulitrack/mixer type things for an age, can anyone suggest a cheap but alright one?
Finally, I'm getting a new top of the line PC and wondered if it would be cheaper to record onto that instead. How would I do this/what with? I only have an acoustic and electric guitar with a Roland cube 30 amp. It has a recording out jack which I don't know how to use. Do the computer editing programs come with drum machines as I need one.

Sorry about this huge mass of cunfusion, there's still loads more I want to ask but if anyone can pick out anything they can solve, it would be a great help,

Joe

Man,...that is so cool. Thats just how I started recording. Two tape decks. ha ha ha ha,..oh man. Geez,..that was awhile ago! Yikes!!
Like the other guys said man,..stick around,..do re-search,....ask only one question at a time. Ya get better responses that way I think.
Welcome!!!
Happy recording.

Take 'er easy,...
Calwood

 

[SPINSTERWUN]

Glossary 2

http://www.rane.com/digi-dic.html

 

[SPINSTERWUN]

List of product manufacturers

http://www.theprojectstudiohandbook.com/mfgs.htm

 

[guido #2]

OMG! You are doing SOUND ON SOUND! and you figured it out on your own? you WILL rule . just keep doing what you are doing for awhile........

I cant believe it,,.. i need a drink ....
OMG
Its beautiful...... tweet tweet ...tweet

Man, if you didnt live overseas, id adopt you :^}

 

[cachero]

hey i can bounce the tracks, but i'm getting incredibly bad feedback,to the point of me having to turn the track down so low, that when i record a new track on either 1 2 or 3 , those tracks a much louder than the one i bounced so then i can't even hear it....can you help me out?

 

[cjacek]

Hey, I've also started out doing the one tape deck to another tape deck thang .. Ok, so it was cassette and not two, 4 track, 1 inch Studer machines like the Beatles did it in the 60's ... but still it was fun and I've learned a lot.

When you're confronted with limitations, you get creative, very creative with no distractions ..... You just record ..... I would thus recommend you get a proper 4 track cassette portastudio, study the manual (and info on this site) in depth and do what you can with that 4 tracker. Hey, if you can't make good demo quality stuff out of that setup then all you need is more practice .... Here's a cheap way to get started with some nice extras thrown in:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Tascam-Portastudio-414MKII-StartUp-Package?sku=241119

No bells and whistles here. Just a basic, easy to use and good sounding cassette 4 tracker.

Later on, if you wish to keep recording analog, you would naturally explore wider and more semi-pro / pro formats but that's still a while into the future. For now, just do as much as you can with that little portastudio.

Good luck.

 

[Crumbles]

Hey, I've also started out doing the one tape deck to another tape deck thang .. Ok, so it was cassette and not two, 4 track, 1 inch Studer machines like the Beatles did it in the 60's ... but still it was fun and I've learned a lot.

When you're confronted with limitations, you get creative, very creative with no distractions ..... You just record ..... I would thus recommend you get a proper 4 track cassette portastudio, study the manual (and info on this site) in depth and do what you can with that 4 tracker. Hey, if you can't make good demo quality stuff out of that setup then all you need is more practice .... Here's a cheap way to get started with some nice extras thrown in:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Tascam-Portastudio-414MKII-StartUp-Package?sku=241119

No bells and whistles here. Just a basic, easy to use and good sounding cassette 4 tracker.

Later on, if you wish to keep recording analog, you would naturally explore wider and more semi-pro / pro formats but that's still a while into the future. For now, just do as much as you can with that little portastudio.

Good luck.

Psst. 2 year old thread..

 

[cjacek]

Psst. 2 year old thread..

Oops!

 

[Gorty]

Psst. 2 year old thread..

Yer but I'm on dial-up!