Rokket, I'm with'ya on this one!!
You make some good points.
Yes, the same bbs questions over & over can get tiresome. If users use the search function, it lessens the tedium, but whether we respond to a post is a choice. I always try to post in a value-added capacity.
For a lot of the posts I read the answers would often be:
-you need an RCA-to-1/8" Y-cable adapter; it's the belt; it's the difference between Buss mode & Direct mode recording; PAN controls track assignment; a mixer already has preamps so you don't need another one; it's sticky shed syndrome; you gotta use Type II cassettes in Portastudios; you're not using the CUE system properly and that's causing the bleed; call
Tascam to order your manuals.
Also, it might seem more courteous if people post something of substance to establish a presence and some credibility before asking to be critiqued in the MP3 forum!! The vibe's just better that way. A lot of people do a hit-&-run thing with their MP3 posting on bbs's, and I find that unpleasant. (YMMV).
As for me, I don't always sit on the web. I do lots of "preproduction" in my head, and in the studio. I practice regularly.
I'm not that good of a musician, but I believe it takes lots of dedication, that goes beyond just talking about it. Sometimes I struggle with creativity issues, energy & motivation issues, but I'll always hang in there and try to keep hands-on and moving forward with music.
As with most things, in musicanship and record production, you have to start at the basics & work your way up! Whether that's on a cassette 4-track Portastudio, or something fancy, ya'gotta learning the ropes by just doing it. Not to mention, it's just plain fun!
I've always believed a high end Portastudio is best for starters,... and I'm always inclined to recommend them. They're user friendly for beginners & also tech-loaded enough to sustain the more experienced users, in more complex productions.
I've gone up to 8-track reel, but I've never lost my Portastudio roots! I still have & use them. With proper technique, the cassette 4-track can deliver very robust sound. Not all 4-trackers are Portastudios, and not all Portastudios were created equal, but there are some gems out there, and the high-end Portastudios are very capable machines.
For people new to recording, I always like to remind them that computer isn't the only recording option, or necessarily the best in all cases. E'one's different, and for a certain type of people, the analog style of recording is preferrable. You know me, I'm heavily biased toward analog recorders and mixers. Puter recording is not for me, and only a handful of DAW's seem passable. For some people, the whole digital recording experience rocks, and there's no turning back. As always, YMMV.
I'm v'y much in favor of e'one to get into recording, in the hopes that it raises the bar in the home recording community. Sharing our experiences on home recording's what this board is all about.
I don't believe I'll ever record any big hits, but I'll always do it for fun!
Anyway,... what was the topic???
)...
