help! im a newbie who wants to record

  • Thread starter Thread starter zrosen
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zrosen

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I need to create a home recording 'station' - to digitally record some guitar rock....

I want it to be under $500
it needs to be able to mix atleast 4 tracks, it needs to record digitally reasonably well... i plan on using mostly used equipment i can get off ebay or scrounge

I want suggestions on
-mics
-mixer
-recording device and make (DAT or mini disk? - has to be digital)


help is greatly appricated !
 
heres what i have:

- sm57 mic (got it for $80, normally about $120)
- guitar and amp ($400)
- pre amp ($70)
- cool edit pro (got it for $250, normally about $400)
- cd-r burner ($200)
- mic stands ($100)
- good computer ($1000)
- loads of cables and jack converters ($50)
- drum machine software ($25)
- bass guitar (borrowed)
- 2 borrowed condensor mic (borrowed)
-----------------------------
total: $2,275

sorry, but for $500 you wont get much...

its pathetic compared to most, but it works fine.
 
Let me prefrace this with I really dont know anything....I mean ANYTHING but that does help me a little as I can tell you from my level what I have...
First, I have analog 4 track for like a 150 bucks "Tascam". I have a mixing board and a SM-57 (70 bucks at Guitar center) and cables and the like. If you go ultra cheap, like an analog tape deck, you can run that to ADAT or mini disc, I think. Look at www.musiciansfriend.com and look up item #240763A or #240781A...both are probably good starts....for under 500 bucks...
If you want to skip the analog, look at the SM-57 mic for guitar and I have a Behringer mixing counsel that is, as far as I can tell (others here know what I obviously dont) its easy to use and good to go thus far. Digital stuff just confuses me. Although being a MAC user, all the software I have looked at is much more expensive than PC based, entry level software. Im looking at "Cubasis VST 5.0" an intro version of Cubas VST. Cakewalk is availible at every computer store but I dont know anyone who uses it. Most importantly, look at the posts on here and see what has been posted before. Every day I come on and look I see something I had just posted asking about or wondered about. Good luck...
Michael
Michael
 
OH yeah....for mics and the specifics....check all the postings...there is so much stuff out there for specifics on how to mic amps and the like...and reviews and discussions on which mics to use...
 
If you want to get started for under $500 you could get a digital four track like the Boss BR532 for about $400 and get a Shure SM57 for a mic.If you look hard enough you can probably find the SM57 for about $80 with cable and stand.

There are limits that these four tracks have in terms of how many tracks you can record simultaneously,ins and outs etc.What you have to do is figure out your needs and match those needs up as closely as you can within the limits of thr recorder you are checking out.I noticed a few new four tracks are coming out,take your time and do the research to find the best model for you.

Another option is buying used,that will certainly open up your options but be careful you don't buy a pig in a poke.

One of the reasons I mentioned the Boss unit specifically is that it records at cd quality 44.1 sampling rate,some of the other four tracks in this price range record at a lower sampling rate.

Your $500 won't get you a mixdown deck on top of a recorder but there are options you can use such as transfering to your computer if you have a burner,a stereo cassette deck or a HiFi stereo VCR.

Do your research and take your time but most of all,have fun!!
 
If you already have a PC you may be able to get alot outta that 500 bucks.

Otherwise, I'd suggest researching 4 tracks, or 8tracks, then looking for a used setup. Four tracks sucks, really it does, but it may be enough if you are just going to use it as a writting tool.
 
4 tracks suck

Oh Black of Buck,
Why do you say 4 tracks suck? Is 4 tracks just not enough for you to do your stuff? I may be reading you wrong, but you shouldn't assume that 4 tracks suck for everyone. I do agree, that if someone is just getting started and has the $$$, they should really look at 8 tracks, but I also would not take 4 tracks out of the equation. With some talent, practice, experimentation,
external bouncing, and the good people here on BBS, 4 tracks can go a long way.
dtb
 
Well, generally people who start with 4 end up wanting more tracks. Don't get me wrong, you can still make some good recordings/demos. If your recorder has "virtual tracking" that helps a ton. For me it really helps to have alot of tracks to experiment with- also depending on the recorder you can only do 1-2 tracks simulaneously, which can suck if you are trying to throw together a simple "live" recording of a band for a critique or something.
 
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