hey guys, a few questions...

[idontknowyet]

hello, im a noob when it comes to home recording and i wanna do it for when my band records our demo. now i dont know how much i can spend, but probably not much more than 300$ (yea i know, tight budget). so id like to know what id need to be able to home record please, like the things id need to have to be able to start, like mics and mixers or w/e thanks

 

[Dogbreath]

Dude,
Do you have any gear at all yet? Whatever you've got to start with, list it. That'll give the knowledgeable ones here something to go by. $300 doesn't go far. (think ebay) If you don't have any gear at all, you might spend some time gathering info about this thing before you spend your money. It'll save you from buying stuff you'll grow out of in three months.

All I can really do is offer some links and say "Read......................alot." You're not gonna jump in, push record and go.

Basically, see if you want to go computer route or standalone. What kind of space do you have to record and mix in. Does that space have any acoustic treatment? (google realtraps/ethan winer, modularacoustics etc) If computer route, do you have one now? Does it have enough oomph to handle it? Read about LDC and SDC mics and what will sound better (usually) on what. Check out compression and preamps. Soundcards and different plug ins and stuff. There's alot more to this than what I thought when I first started. Just sayin...it'd be worth your time to do some homework.

Here's a couple links to get you started...
Happy tracking man.

http://www.tweakheadz.com/guide.htm
http://bruceamiller.us/bamaudioschool/crsindex.html

 

[undergroundtoon]

here is a better way

hello, im a noob when it comes to home recording and i wanna do it for when my band records our demo. now i dont know how much i can spend, but probably not much more than 300$ (yea i know, tight budget). so id like to know what id need to be able to home record please, like the things id need to have to be able to start, like mics and mixers or w/e thanks

Well you could get this if you dont mind tape, but this mic will make you sound like you used a regular tape recorder.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Tascam-Portastudio-414MKII-StartUp-Package?sku=241119
OR, If you know someone who has a computer (prob do since your typing on one)you could get this one. Again the mic is VERY BAD. You would however be able to make a cd(poor at best with this mic)
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fostex-MR8-Mk-II-Recording-Package?sku=240344
this is a decent cheap mic.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/MXL-MXL-990-Condenser-Microphone-with-Shockmount?sku=273156
OR, you could spend a grand and get a even better setup. you will need to add more mic's and learn how to use this.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/prod...-Recording-Package?sku=240284&c_tid=topseller

But,for good recording you need lots of mic's, pre-amps, monitors, a decent computer, computer recoring softwear and plug in's, etc....etc.....etc.... dont forget the steep learning curve. 5 years down the road you will have $5,000 or better in equiptment and a demo that is just OK!

Now for the better way. Why not call up some of the recoring studio's in your area (tell us where you live and we will post some phone numbers) and see how much they would charge you per hour to make a demo track. Not only will you get their years of knowledge, You will prob be singing into a mic that is worth more than $300 in your own isolation booth(plus a whole kit for your drummer ). You will feel like a million dollar rock star just walking thru the door! Think about it you are renting a pro that prob has $20,000(on the very low side) of equiptment and years of know how. even if it cost you $500-1000 it would be money well spent.

but most important practice, practice, practice. Hope this helps.

 

[idontknowyet]

ok heres what i have to start with, sorry i didnt mention this.

We have 3 Shure Mics (+ mic stands) and an Alesis Firewire Mixer (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Alesis-MultiMix-8-FireWire-8Channel-Analog-Mixer?sku=630151)

definitely computer, my friend has a laptop we're gonna use to do it

so what now?

 

[ciscokid70]

Under 300$ no problem

I'm still a broke newbee so here's what i did.
Bought me the Magix music maker 10 for kicks just to create some beats before even thinking of recording>>60$
i have a mic i bought from Radio Shack>>about 30$ with an 1/8" input.
the pc i have has a decent sound card for video games that gives me just what i need. other than the drums (i used some digital some live, included it software) i used my imagination and everysingle room in my house to get the right sound i need. and i created a song in about 2 days.
not studio quality but enough to impress some old schoolers. and enough to land us a bunch of gigs.

 

[TragikRemix]

well, your going to be ok then if you have the mixer and the mics already!

theres a shot, anyway.

300.... hmm still not much to work with.

ok definitly a kick drum mic, something cheap i guess, i think CAD makes a cheapo.

guitars line in, no doubt. use your three mics on the drums, one snare, two OH's. i dont know how well dynamics work as condensors though. im sure it'll be ok.

headphones? you need something to mix with too, i guess headphones would be better than computer speakers. something like AT m30's or 40's.

it can be done, you might have some money left over for a cheap condensor. maybe an at2020 will be good. you can use that on the drums and for vocals then.

 

[bubbagump]

Did I miss it? He doesn't have a DAW listed. You will have to have a DAW to record anything. A DAW is the software that actually does the recording from the firewire mixer. A few low cost DAWs that can get you going:

www.ntrack.com
www.tracktion.com
www.multitrackstudio.com

 

[ermghoti]

ok heres what i have to start with, sorry i didnt mention this.

We have 3 Shure Mics (+ mic stands) and an Alesis Firewire Mixer (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Alesis-MultiMix-8-FireWire-8Channel-Analog-Mixer?sku=630151)

definitely computer, my friend has a laptop we're gonna use to do it

so what now?

Ah. That helps a bunch. The ad copy says you can send each input individually, and you have phantom power. Good. In addition to the cheap DAW software mentioned, Kristal is freeware. The Cubase LE that is included apparantly is limited to two tracks at once, which is pretty lame, so skip it.

I would spend the $300 on a couple of Studio Projects B1's (a real Swiss Army Mic, IMO) and a good used kick mic, ATM-25, Audix D6, D-112, B-52, etc. Do some searches here, and figure which one(s) would be a good fit. If you want to break the bank, grab a Sansamp Bass DI, they're great, and it will free up your kick mic if you record the whole band at once.

Get some cables, and a few stands, and you're in good shape. Search "recorderman drums" for a technique to get great drums with three mics. Use it. Use the B1's on guitar cabs, and decide whether the Shures or the B1's win on vocals. Either use the kick mic for bass, or DI, or both. Heck, try the kick mic on guitar cabs and vocals, you have time.

So, record for the money one instrument at a time (you can record bass and drums simultaneously, if you DI the bass), and record scratch tracks or rehearsal recordings with everybody at once.

 

[idontknowyet]

ok thanks for the help guys! ill look into this, but i learned this week that my friend at church does recording too (as in live sound and recording) so he's gonna help us record our demo when the time comes. for now, we'll just make do. thanks again