Girl Band needs Help

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rebekha
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Rebekha

New member
Hiya everbody.

I hope everyone is having a good weekend. :)

I need some music help :confused:

A friend & I want to make our own music cd .

This is what we know of so far by researching stuff on the internet.

We already have a fast computer with cakewalk on it,
electric guitar/bass guitar (both with effect pedals),
drum machine, & a micrphone.

We just have a plain old creative labs soundcard with a live drive.

We don’t plan on externally microphoning our instruments,
we want to record them directly into the pc.

1st question:
What soundcard & “break-out” box
(is that what you call them :rolleyes: ) do you recommend?

2nd question:
What software do we need to master the cd? Is cakewalk enough?

3rd question:
How do we sell our own cd’s on the internet?
We don’t really care about getting signed.

Thank you all soooo much in advance for any help you can give.

If there is anything else you can recommend that I left out,
Pleazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzze feel free to write that down too.

Thank you thank you thank you! :)

Rebekha
 
oops!

sorry, i should have posted this on the newbie board. sorry again
 
Cakewalk what?

And yes I would recommend an external sound device... Something simple like a Presonus audio box would work great for a simple project.

Mastering really has nothing to do with the software you use, but the ear of the person mastering the track...

And you sell your CD on the internet by promoting your band; either on the internet or in person...

Sorry for the simplicity of the answer but there's no easy way to make a CD without some knowledge of how to record, and the only way to learn that is by trial-n-error.
 
some answers

It would help if we had some details.

1) Are you using Cakewalk SONAR? And if so, which version number?

2) Describe your FAST computer for us - i.e. which processor, how much RAM, desktop or laptop, and any other specs you can provide.


Shot in the gray: Let's say you have Sonar v.3 or higher on your system, and it's a desktop with at least a P4 3.0 ghtz chip and at least 1 MB RAM.

You should be able to record and produce a CD as it stands. But you asked about a breakout cable/box. So, I'm guessing you have learned a little bit about recording simultaneous instruments (the reason for the breakout cable).

The point is, you can record each instrument as a solo run, and then add additional layers forever, creating what sounds like a huge band, and add many vocal tracks, etc.

Or, if you wish to record bass and guitar and singing all at once in a single take, then those parts need to be fed into various inputs on the sound card via the breakout cables, OR, you can have your parts go into a mixer board and then run your L and R outs from the mixer into the inputs of the soundcard. You have options.

Read in this forum about sound cards. You'll find TONS of information. I'll give you the lowdown before you begin:

1) MAC vs. PC

2) internal card that you put into a vacant slot inside your PC vs. an external sound device that attaches to your PC via a USB cable, or Firewire cable.

3) If MAC, then use Firewire and from what I have learned, the MAC enthusiasts will warn you with all their might to make sure that your FIREWIRE device in your machine is made by Texas Instruments.

4) If PC, arguments go in both directions for USB with an external device vs. Internal card. (I have an internal card on my PC and am opinionated that it is best.)

5) Soundcards with or w/o MIDI

There are lots more features and things to debate, but at your present situation, you do not need much. You could buy a $99 sound card that will do just fine if your Soundblaster card does not do the job.
 
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Selling CDs

I'm sure there are others on here that will have lots of experience for you on this subject. I don't have experience.

But I know a little. I think you can create your bands profile on MYSPACE and sell your MP3s there. I think?

Also, I just recently discovered a music site dedicated to what you are interested in doing - www.ourstage.com They explain on that site how to do it.

Lastly, and most importantly - write music with great melodies, good groovy rhythms, and if you don't have great pipes (vocal ability), then add Reverb and Delay to your vocal tracks. <grin> Write lyrics that are meaningful, make us smile, or think deep, profound things. :P

Make music that is GOOD! Not RAP (which is not music), and Not Hip-Hop (which is barely music). I told you I was opinionated, didn't I?
 
Do some seraches using the search tool and you might find that she who seeks finds. Otherwise SEARCH.
LOTS of good advice & the soundcard vs usb interface vs firewire interface conundrum is well,canvas hereabouts.
 
Hmmm...girl band needs help. I can't help but wonder if that title wasn't designed to draw a little quick attention from the guys around here? :)I'm not saying it's a bad idea--but if you weren't a girl band, would you have said "guy band needs help?"

Nah...I wouldn't have either. Just sounds wrong.

As you were...
 
you guys are all thinking too big....they said they were not interrested in getting signed....
 
If your goal is to put a big, steaming pile of crap up on the internet and encourage people to waste their money on it ...

... then I think you're going about this the right way.

:D

Look, if you're talking about a CD that you're actually concerned about; something that will represent you well and will be a viable product to market and sell ... then have it done professionally by someone who knows what they're doing.

Figuring out this whole recording thing is going to be a lot tougher than it sounds. Actually accumulating the necessary experience and knowlege to have it sound halfway decent ... is something that will take years of practice and dedication to the craft. You don't even know what a breakout box is ... and suddenly you want to market your own music? This is a recipe for certain disaster.
 
Daisy said:
Figuring out this whole recording thing is going to be a lot tougher than it sounds. Actually accumulating the necessary experience and knowlege to have it sound halfway decent ... is something that will take years of practice and dedication to the craft. You don't even know what a breakout box is ... and suddenly you want to market your own music? This is a recipe for certain disaster.
Click to expand...

Its music, it’s not that serious. I was in the same position 5 years ago I thought I could buy an mbox and a condenser and be big in six months. It didn't happen, but I’m still here learning every day, no disaster just a reality check. I say good on them for wanting to learn more about this craft, determination and persistence will get you far.

Hope you guys come back with some questions once you've done a little reading of what’s available on this site and the rest of the net. Stick with it, its a long fun road.
 
Toddskins said:
4) If PC, arguments go in both directions for USB with an external device vs. Internal card. (I have an internal card on my PC and am opinionated that it is best.)
Click to expand...

I've never heard anyone argue that USB is the best choice for audio on PC. If anyone does, I have about eight hours worth of ranting for him/her. USB is okay if your goal is to get something as inexpensive as possible with one or two channels for beginner use, but 95% of USB hardware is barely a step up from SoundBlaster hardware.

The 5% of high end USB hardware is almost as expensive as the FireWire gear and tends to be less reliable because USB controllers generally share an interrupt with lots of other hardware; computer manufacturers generally assume nothing timing-sensitive will ever be on a USB bus, so they give it pretty low priority interrupt-wise.

The best choices are FireWire or PCI Express (assuming you have PCIe slots). PCI is okay for low end stuff (<$100) or if the manufacturer has a PCIe version of their card so you can upgrade later when you get a machine that doesn't have PCI slots (did I mention PCI is being phased out?) without having to replace the whole setup.
 
Daisy said:
If your goal is to put a big, steaming pile of crap up on the internet and encourage people to waste their money on it ...

... then I think you're going about this the right way.

:D

Look, if you're talking about a CD that you're actually concerned about; something that will represent you well and will be a viable product to market and sell ... then have it done professionally by someone who knows what they're doing.

Figuring out this whole recording thing is going to be a lot tougher than it sounds. Actually accumulating the necessary experience and knowlege to have it sound halfway decent ... is something that will take years of practice and dedication to the craft. You don't even know what a breakout box is ... and suddenly you want to market your own music? This is a recipe for certain disaster.
Click to expand...

really aint all that serious...on the marketing side just start to plan on what youd like to accomplish..i know a lot of artists who make music but don't do it intending to get a deal. set goals and what you want to have accomplished by what time..

juss be patient and know that to have a product that is going to sell its going to take time...id say work on ur music and get that down to a science and then worry about trying to record anything...

good luck though...juss remember rome wasnt built inna day
 
If I recall properly, a Creative Labs / Live Drive (essentially an internal sound card with extra inputs) Setup is what we would consider a low-end recording card.

One of my friends has one--seems perfectly fine for what these girls are trying to accomplish, assuming it has the proper inputs.

So, let me try to answer the questions from the askers' point of view, rather than get all technical.

First question:

You might be all set with what you have--we could use some more specific information about the type of sound card you presently have.

Second question:

I think you're actually asking about mixing. Mixing is getting all of the levels correct. Mastering (in its simplest terms) is getting the volume consistant and in the correct form for CD duplication. Mastering takes a good deal of experience (not to say that mixing doesn't), but it's a feat that I wouldn't risk myself.

Question Three:

I think the easiest way to do that would be CD Baby (www.cdbaby.com)
They can help you sell your CD online, through select retailers, and with digital distribution (iTunes, etc).

However, there are many more gaps in your line of questioning than just these.
Proper tracking and mixing is what I'm really getting at.


Hope this helps!
 
Daisy said:
If your goal is to put a big, steaming pile of crap up on the internet and encourage people to waste their money on it ...

... then I think you're going about this the right way.

:D

Look, if you're talking about a CD that you're actually concerned about; something that will represent you well and will be a viable product to market and sell ... then have it done professionally by someone who knows what they're doing.

Figuring out this whole recording thing is going to be a lot tougher than it sounds. Actually accumulating the necessary experience and knowlege to have it sound halfway decent ... is something that will take years of practice and dedication to the craft. You don't even know what a breakout box is ... and suddenly you want to market your own music? This is a recipe for certain disaster.
Click to expand...



Everyone has to start somewhere.
 
Has someone already said this...?

Forget the computer- nab yourself an all-in-one digital recorder- Tascam, etc. that records at least two channels at once, and learn to use that. Much easier than figuring out a computer, qualty will be good enough, and you get to spend more time making music, and less learning a new system.
 
stevieb said:
Has someone already said this...?

Forget the computer- nab yourself an all-in-one digital recorder- Tascam, etc. that records at least two channels at once, and learn to use that. Much easier than figuring out a computer, qualty will be good enough, and you get to spend more time making music, and less learning a new system.
Click to expand...

They already have the recording software and computer..why spend more money!!
 
stevieb said:
Has someone already said this...?

Forget the computer- nab yourself an all-in-one digital recorder- Tascam, etc. that records at least two channels at once, and learn to use that. Much easier than figuring out a computer, qualty will be good enough, and you get to spend more time making music, and less learning a new system.
Click to expand...


I've never understood why some think its easier to learn a hardware recorder than a computer. At least with a computer every second person has one, and if its a software problem you can post screen shots etc on the net.

Especially with so many great plugin's out there, I think you'd be crazy to go with hardware recording.
 
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