First steps to making my first makeshift recording setup.

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autotech1011

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Hello all, new to the site (as if it weren't obvious). I've been playing guitar off and on since I was around twelve, and I played various things through Middle and High School, from Trumpet to Drums, French Horn and a few others. Anyhow, I suppose I should get to my desires/questions...

Now, if one day someone happens to hear a song that I recorded, I'd be interested to hear what they thought about it...good or bad...but I don't care if anyone ever listens to a note of it. Eventually I'd like to have higher quality equipment as well as a higher understanding of mixing and so on, but for right now, I'm really in search of advice and pointers on just how to get started with what I have to achieve what I want to accomplish. Simply put, if I could make my own drum tracks to just jam along with and make ideas come to life with, record it so that I don't forget it, lay down some more tracks later or just go back and change it all up completely, I would be STOKED. Here's a list of what I have to work with:

1) I play a set neck signature Dean Dimebag, and I use a Digitech GNX4 for all of my effects and compression/expression needs. Chorus and everything suits my needs just fine.

2 I recently purchased a Behringer UMA25S USB Audio/MIDI Controller. I bought this in hopes that it could be used to make the bass lines and traditional sounding drum tracks I'm longing for (I mainly play rock/metal...think Metallica, Zepplin, Pantera).

3) My computer is a Acer Aspire 5515, 3GB Ram, 1.6GHz processor running a 32-bit version of Windows 7.

4) Headphones are "Pro" series Beats by Dre

5) Software I have is limited to Audacity and Kristal (both of which came with the used UMA25S, but the Ableton Live 4 disk was missing.)

Aside from the obvious laptop specs being a little less than stellar, is there any reason why I couldn't be able to begin laying simple drum tracks with just what I have, as well as laying a few guitar tracks down and editing each on its' own? Does anyone have any experience with these types of software or equipment, or should I look into a different type of software? What would also be appreciated is if anyone could direct me to any sites or information/books on how to educate myself on how to use these different pieces of equipment as best I can. Yes, quality is important, but I understand that I'll have to eventually invest in equipment such as a more powerful laptop, mics and so on. For now, I'd be elated just to be able to it down and catch a beat or solo and record it without needing another degree in electronics, :).

Any help you folks could provide would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
 
I WAS going to suggest you get an Audio Interface to replace the Behringer but then I wondered, are you using the GNX as an interface?

I hope so because although this..Behringer UMA25S

Gives the keyboard a cautious welcome it does list a few "cons" one of which is 16 bit operation and that can be a limitation. So, I trust the GNX4 is the USB interface to the computer and the keyboard connects to that via the DIN MIDI ports? That setup should work but I have no idea how good it will be for "latency" and if you do find unacceptable delays you should consider a "proper" audio interface.
One that would be workable and has MIDI ports is the Steinberg UR22 but since you have several pieces of kit the extra connectivity, two extra line ins, of the Native Instruments KA6 would be a better choice IMO.

Both AIs come with cut down but nevertheless very powerful version of Cubase and the is no better recording software , "DAW", for MIDI. If a new AI is not possible look at Reaper as the next best option for a DAW.

You will need some monitor speakers and some room treatment down the line but headphones will serve for now. Can you burn some takes to CD and play them on a hi-fi or in a car? Even a boombox can give you good feedback about your progress.

The computer? No, no speedwagon but many of us started with a lot less! It will serve I am sure to build up to 10 or so tracks. It is CPU hungry plugins that will stop you, reverbs especially and get MIDI tracks bounced to audio asap.


Lastly for now (MUST go to bed!) I doubt there are many electronics graduates here, certainly not moir! But! DO learn some basics, amps volts and ohms and decibels and learn to solder! You have a lot of kit=a lot of leads=will fail 2am Sunday.

Dave.
 
Honestly, I wasn't quite sure just how to hook or "chain" everything together. I'm not only new to trying to do some recording, this is really my first big step into using effects and such, outside of a distortion pedal or chorus pedal. I really have a lot of self education ahead of me, but I hoped someone would be able to offer me a few pointers. I'll be sure to give your idea above a shot and see how that works out. Originally I imagined each would be hooked to the computer through their own USB cable.
 
autotech1011 said:
Honestly, I wasn't quite sure just how to hook or "chain" everything together. I'm not only new to trying to do some recording, this is really my first big step into using effects and such, outside of a distortion pedal or chorus pedal. I really have a lot of self education ahead of me, but I hoped someone would be able to offer me a few pointers. I'll be sure to give your idea above a shot and see how that works out. Originally I imagined each would be hooked to the computer through their own USB cable.
Click to expand...

Right! To save time I am going assume nothing.

Forget the Behinger keys for now. Find page 17 of the GNX4 manual and read section 16. Follow the driver installation instructions...TO the letter!

Now, assuming you can play audio files OUT of the PC thru the GNX go to page 29 and hook up a guitar and proceed from there. When you can listen to, record and playback guitar you can think about the MIDI keyboard. Initially plug it into a USB port AND install any driver software the book tells you to. You will now find I am sure that the keyboard will work but won't talk to the GNX. To do that you will need the DIN leads as in the P29 picture.

Do not worry about what you plug into what( obviously keep audio and MIDI apart!) you can do no harm.

Get back Jo-Jo!

Dave.
 
Good deal, and thanks. I'll dig the manual out in a moment and start from there. I've had and played through the GNX4 for a while now, but until now I only used it with headphones in place of an amp, and have never hooked it up to the laptop to try any recording or anything. I came across the chance to grab the UMA25S for under $50 at a pawn shop so I just jumped on it. I figured it would be capable of creating some drum tracks, and possibly the bass line as well, so I couldn't let myself pass it up. To be truthful, I don't own a single MIDI cable, never have...so this is all about as new as it can get to me.
 
I've used my Boss GT10 as a go between from the guitar to the computer. Worked out alright. I even figured out how to monitor what I was playing through the headphones at the same time as listening to the playback from Audacity. And there was no lag. Don't ask me how I did it, I don't remember. :( I can figure it out again though. I think I had the phones plugged into the pedal and had the playback from the PC running into the pedal and back out to me.
 
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