How to actually start production?

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harsh_dpskarnal

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Hi everyone
I and some of my friends decided to work together to release a music album.
But since we are not knowing anything , we need some guidance.
Following are the queries that we have:
1) After composing a song we need to record it so which mixer and mics would you recommend. I have searched quite lot. The condensers for the vocal and the acoustic instruments......... and few dynamics for the other instruments. Now Could you tell me some good mics for vocals , acoustics ,, drums?
2) We do have a band name but we have a little doubt if that name is copyrighted . How do we find if it is? and how to get our band name copyrighted?
3) After the band name is done , album and its songs are to be copyrighted. How to do that?
4) For the band we need to have a logo or a type of design too. If we use photoshop to design it and use crac_ked version . Can adobe put a case on us? How to get logo registered and copyrighted ?
5) To add some effects we need to use a software. Most probably FL Studio is our option. Which version should be OK to us? What are their costs? What if we use a crac_ked version? Can they have a case on us?
6) How to get the copies distributed? Can anyone tell me some printers that will do or some people who will make copies of our original cd and then distribute? Whats the system ? Please explain.
7) Are 500 copies enough for a start?
Also note we are teens but we can arrange money for the capital required....
I am sorry if i messed up with any rules or regulations of the forum.
 
What you need is education. That is typically found by doing research on a subject. Google is a good place to start. That is also a good place to find an attorney to copyright and and register your logo. You may find that he may also be helpful when you get thrown in Federal prison for criminal piracy.

Stay in school, learn things, play great music, and don't steal from your Grandma. :)
 
Thank You for your reply!
I have understood you quite much.
We have been into through the web. Just want to know whether a band name is already taken or not.
See in the mixers , there are many options like behringer , alesis , yamaha , etcc....
So we are not able to choose from them.
Another confusion is among the micing required.
So what we need is a list of mics and mixers we can use.
Also it would be great if you could tell me a few softwares other than fl studio for the work.

And Ya
Sure we wont steal from granny.... !
 
Band name; Google it. If someone has it already, and likely will if it is a good one, it is a race to see who sues who over it first. Back to the lawyer thing...

Your question about mixers for recording, shows that you have not even started to learn about what you need to record. A mixer is not what you should be looking for. An interface is.

Micing, required? sigh....

Try Reaper as your DAW. It don't get any cheaper, unless you steal Grandma's Nuendo.

Sorry, but I don't have much patience for those who are not interested in doing some ground work for themselves. Maybe someone else will come around to hold your hand.
 
First jimmy is right most stuff u ask takes a while to achieve reading and knowledge. Sounds like what u are looking for is a " quick way to fame" band start up kit. If I can put it lightly THERE IS NO SUCH THING!!! what jimmy gave was the best advice you should apply it MORE how do you think he knows it's through exp.
 
Jimmy has this sussed. Your questions show that you need to do a lot of reading before you make any moves.
There are stacks of stickys around here with basic info. I think there's even one about mixers (and why you almost definitely don't need one).

Putting and underscore in the word cracked doesn't make it any less illegal.
I suggest you edit it out of your post and I'll edit it out of mine.

Even suggesting the idea is enough to make a lot of enemies here, or at least fail to make friends.

If you have an existing desire to get into production for the love of production, then sure, stick around,
but honestly, if you just want to get a good CD done, save your pennies and research some local studios.

This game is a money pit, and what you don't spend in money you'll definitely spend in time.
 
harsh_dpskarnal said:
1) After composing a song we need to record it so which mixer and mics would you recommend. I have searched quite lot. The condensers for the vocal and the acoustic instruments......... and few dynamics for the other instruments. Now Could you tell me some good mics for vocals , acoustics ,, drums?
2) We do have a band name but we have a little doubt if that name is copyrighted . How do we find if it is? and how to get our band name copyrighted?
3) After the band name is done , album and its songs are to be copyrighted. How to do that?
4) For the band we need to have a logo or a type of design too. If we use photoshop to design it and use crac_ked version . Can adobe put a case on us? How to get logo registered and copyrighted ?
5) To add some effects we need to use a software. Most probably FL Studio is our option. Which version should be OK to us? What are their costs? What if we use a crac_ked version? Can they have a case on us?
6) How to get the copies distributed? Can anyone tell me some printers that will do or some people who will make copies of our original cd and then distribute? Whats the system ? Please explain.
7) Are 500 copies enough for a start?
Also note we are teens but we can arrange money for the capital required....
I am sorry if i messed up with any rules or regulations of the forum.
Click to expand...
Now I will attempt to answer some questions as best I can.
1.) who said u need a mixer to " record". You don't need a mixer at all. MHO. Get a very good computer a Mac preferably and a solid interface ( apogee duet 2) and a good vocal mic a nueman.

2.) this is found thru time spent with your band it will happen naturally don't force it just make music and build chemistry the name will come from that.

3.) copyright is as simple as submitting your song to copyright.com. Again thinking to far ahead you have nothing to copyright concentrate on makin good muisic first. GOOD QUALITY music that is.

4.) why worry of a logo you have no name. check in ur local area for logo designers. Again things that you know can be done at the ready don't worry about. Things you don't know can be done at the ready work on first like MAKE MUSIC.

5.) clearly you have no knowledge of how music is made FL is not an effects machine it's a beat makin software if you feel the need to create music on this particular software than your music will be nothing less than " fruity loops". You need a DAW. Logic pro tools etc. I strongly urge u to read more bout music production. It's not hard.

6-7) again far from your present task these things will take care if them selves when the time is correct. Getting music distributed is easy and can be done, odviously. So why waist time on that. And Good music distributes its self.

Before you go spending 1,000 of dollars on your " quick fame way to fame" band start up kit read more research more and jus concentrate on making good music 1st before name, copyright, music dustruburion all those things will be for nothing if you don't not have good product, he'll no product at all.
 
Book him, Danno.

Or....trade him and 10 others like him for one GregL.
 
harsh_dpskarnal said:
Following are the queries that we have:
1) After composing a song we need to record it so which mixer and mics would you recommend. I have searched quite lot. The condensers for the vocal and the acoustic instruments......... and few dynamics for the other instruments. Now Could you tell me some good mics for vocals , acoustics ,, drums?
2) We do have a band name but we have a little doubt if that name is copyrighted . How do we find if it is? and how to get our band name copyrighted?
3) After the band name is done , album and its songs are to be copyrighted. How to do that?
4) For the band we need to have a logo or a type of design too. If we use photoshop to design it and use crac_ked version . Can adobe put a case on us? How to get logo registered and copyrighted ?
5) To add some effects we need to use a software. Most probably FL Studio is our option. Which version should be OK to us? What are their costs? What if we use a crac_ked version? Can they have a case on us?
6) How to get the copies distributed? Can anyone tell me some printers that will do or some people who will make copies of our original cd and then distribute? Whats the system ? Please explain.
7) Are 500 copies enough for a start?
Also note we are teens but we can arrange money for the capital required....
I am sorry if i messed up with any rules or regulations of the forum.
Click to expand...

1) it all depends wildly on how you want to record. Do you want to just record everyone playing live at once in the same room or do you want to record the parts separately. The suggestions from everyone for audio interfaces over mixers is very good advice, but it does also depend on how you want to record. if it's everything at once you'll need either an audio interface with at least 8 mic inputs and then the micing/placement etc has to quite creative and well thought out to capture everything at once. if it's recording each part separately you will still need at least 4 mic inputs on an audio interface. In terms of mic's, well, it's depends on your setup, i.e how many guitarists? electric or acoustic? bass? keys? drummer? how many vocalists? any other strange and wonderful instruments?

2) as everyone else has said, just google it. if it doesn't come up, take it

3) depends on what country you're in (to my understanding). in the UK you can just post yourself the recorded songs and lyrics/sheet music to yourself via recorded delivery and DON'T OPEN IT. this is legal proof of what date the songs where written/recorded should you need it

4) *sigh* cracking software is never the right answer! Firstly, as someone else suggested, if you want a decent logo then go out and find someone locally who is good at designing stuff and ask them to do it. if you want to do it yourself either BUY photoshop, or try GIMP which is totally free and is pretty good for basic stuff

5) *sigh again* get Reaper; it's free to try forever and, when you decide to grow a conscious, it's dirt cheap to buy

6) Depends on what country you're in, and whether you want just physical distribution or online stuff as well. There's some CD printers in the UK who will distribute for you for an added price so just google stuff and see what's out there

7) i'd say 500 may be optimistic to sell but, at the same time, CD duplication is cheaper if you order in bigger quantities so it's up to you. The last two first runs of CD's i've done have been 250 copies (one for my solo stuff, one as our first band album). The solo one took a while to sell all the copies and i never ordered more, but the band album sold out in a couple of months so we ordered another 250 from the duplicators and it was slightly cheaper as they already had everything

Once again, steen has hit the nail on the head, and i couldn't agree more; if you want to just record the band's album/EP and aren't too fussed about getting into production personally in the long run, you're much better off finding a local studio and going there to record everything. you'll probably pay much less to record in a local studio than it would cost you to buy all the gear required and all the time you'd need to learn to use it properly
 
harsh_dpskarnal said:
Hi everyone
I and some of my friends decided to work together to release a music album.
But since we are not knowing anything , we need some guidance.

Also note we are teens .
Click to expand...
There's alot of reading and absorbing that you need to do and some more information you need to give us. For example, have you ever recorded before and do you want to be recording yourself for some years to come ? What kind of space do you plan to record in ? What instruments does the band play ? Do you know what kind of machine you'll use to record ? Your mention of a mixer indicates not.
People will be reluctant to give information if you don't really want to be doing this with any seriousness because it takes time to record well. It's not like 'paint by numbers'.
I note that you are all teenagers so members here need to have some indication that you're serious and are prepared to put in the length of time and big effort that it will take to realize your goal.
It might take years.
Have a read of as many threads here at HR. com and try to build up some knowledge of the basics and the terms.
Learn to walk before you run. Your legs will take you so much further, for longer, faster.
 
harsh_dpskarnal said:
I and some of my friends decided to work together to release a music album.
But since we are not knowing anything , we need some guidance.
Click to expand...

In one way you gotta love the innocent naiveté of this kind of statement as it shows dreams are still the main fuel...but it also underscores the trivialization of the whole music making/recording process that probably stems from the You Tube, American Idol, Me Space generalization of what it takes to become an "artist" these days.

It's like the process has almost become irrelevant, forgotten, minimized and completely misunderstood, because it's taken a back seat to image, and that it's just a matter of desiring and expecting and that should/could yield satisfaction and results.
I recall that in the past, we had dreams, but there was also a good understanding that you can't just go directly to Boardwalk and Park Place. :)
Back in the day, if someone said something like that...it would be no different than saying "we've decided that we want to go to the moon, can someone give us a little guidance?" ;)

I don't mean that in ANY way to be a shot at the OP or his question, and his innocence doesn't imply that he and his friends are not willing to take the hard road once the right path is revealed to them (though they may change their minds)....
...I'm just noting how watered-down perspectives of reality have become. There's little comprehension of what work is required.
 
miroslav said:
In one way you gotta love the innocent naiveté of this kind of statement as it shows dreams are still the main fuel...but it also underscores the trivialization of the whole music making/recording process that probably stems from the You Tube, American Idol, Me Space generalization of what it takes to become an "artist" these days.

It's like the process has almost become irrelevant, forgotten, minimized and completely misunderstood.......
Back in the day, if someone said something like that...it would be no different than saying "we've decided that we want to go to the moon, can someone give us a little guidance?" ;)

There's little comprehension of what work is required.
Click to expand...
I wonder about all that, you know. I'd be surprized if many of us had any real comprehension of the hard slog required before we got into recording. I didn't. It was something that presented itself gradually and cumulatively and because I really wanted to record, however difficult the stages got, I persevered. Even at 16, my aims were to play an instrument, write songs, be in a band of some description and make records, preferably albums. I was reading about artists and absorbing what they went through but it didn't really register in the way it would at nearly 50. If I was thinking of retraining as a nurse or plumber I'd be well aware of what it takes now. Few would as teenagers before they actually started out on the path.
Also, if British punk railed against anything, it was against the idea that being able to play and enjoy it, write songs and record was some mystical process that took years and years. That, interestingly, was one of the things that many of the mainstream artists had against the punk bands; "We sweated for years honing our craft and these 'Johnny come latelys' just picked up guitars, banged on drums for three weeks and wailed crap and now they're writing all this shit and record companies are falling over themselves to sign them !". Similarly, that was and to a large extent still is pretty much the view that many mainstreamers have against rap artists. And when rock was exploding in the 60s and putting jazzers out of work, they and classical orchestral players said the same thing about pop and rock artists......
I totally agree that the OP's request is naive. That's pretty much what one would expect from most teens, certainly from the perspective of mature adults. But also bear in mind the second part of the quote you've chosen
But since we are not knowing anything , we need some guidance.
Click to expand...
. However misguided the OP may be, they've in effect said "this is what we'd like to do, we don't know how to do it, can you help us ?". Of course, part of that help, indeed, a major slice of that help is channelling the OP and friends onto the road to reality. If they're not aware of what is to follow {and they wouldn't be or the OP wouldn't make sense}, as they get into the process, they'll become aware. It's at those points that they'll give up or plough on.
They say necessity is the mother of invention. I'd add that naïveté is it's favourite uncle.
 
Hey everyone
We have decided the gear to choose from.
The first and foremost decided is the Rode NT1A Condenser Mic (The anniversary edition one) available through amazon. The number of Mics will depend on our requirement.
The next is few other condensers for acoustics etc. They will be most probably the AT2020s. Any other recommendations would be appreciated.

Now for the mixer thing.
We are going to use a USB mixer. That means not just a mixer but a mixer with USB interface.
The more the inputs the better it is to expand and use our creativity.
So we have found two budget USB mixers .
1) Behringer Xenyx USB mixer 1204
2) Yamaha mw10C

We aren't experts in this and can not decide which one to choose.
My preference is the yamaha one.

Also there is an offer at amazon of a recording package of behringer.
In the package there is a USB mixer , a condenser microphone and a pair monitors. The package is at a decent rate.
The yamaha mixer is at the same rate. Wondering what is the difference between the two?
Which one would you prefer on basis of quality?
 
harsh_dpskarnal said:
Hey everyone
We have decided the gear to choose from.
The first and foremost decided is the Rode NT1A Condenser Mic (The anniversary edition one) available through amazon. The number of Mics will depend on our requirement.
The next is few other condensers for acoustics etc. They will be most probably the AT2020s. Any other recommendations would be appreciated.

Now for the mixer thing.
We are going to use a USB mixer. That means not just a mixer but a mixer with USB interface.
The more the inputs the better it is to expand and use our creativity.
So we have found two budget USB mixers .
1) Behringer Xenyx USB mixer 1204
2) Yamaha mw10C

We aren't experts in this and can not decide which one to choose.
My preference is the yamaha one.

Also there is an offer at amazon of a recording package of behringer.
In the package there is a USB mixer , a condenser microphone and a pair monitors. The package is at a decent rate.
The yamaha mixer is at the same rate. Wondering what is the difference between the two?
Which one would you prefer on basis of quality?
Click to expand...

You've done some homework. That is good!

Before you buy anything, here is another question for you. When you do your recording, how many tracks do you want to be able to record at once and keep separate?
 
harsh_dpskarnal said:
Hey everyone
We have decided the gear to choose from.
The first and foremost decided is the Rode NT1A Condenser Mic (The anniversary edition one) available through amazon. The number of Mics will depend on our requirement.
The next is few other condensers for acoustics etc. They will be most probably the AT2020s. Any other recommendations would be appreciated.

Now for the mixer thing.
We are going to use a USB mixer. That means not just a mixer but a mixer with USB interface.
The more the inputs the better it is to expand and use our creativity.
So we have found two budget USB mixers .
1) Behringer Xenyx USB mixer 1204
2) Yamaha mw10C

We aren't experts in this and can not decide which one to choose.
My preference is the yamaha one.

Also there is an offer at amazon of a recording package of behringer.
In the package there is a USB mixer , a condenser microphone and a pair monitors. The package is at a decent rate.
The yamaha mixer is at the same rate. Wondering what is the difference between the two?
Which one would you prefer on basis of quality?
Click to expand...

You know that you can only record two tracks at a time into your DAW with one of those mixers. You would be best off starting with something like the Tascam US1800.
 
So please could you tell me a mixer that can record in multitracks?
And how i am i going to use multitracks for recording?
Also a budget interface can be an option for this.
The interface must have different types of inputs.
Like the mixers.
Please Help ASAP.
 
gecko zzed,

We will be recording in different tracks.
It will be like 1 track for guitar , 1 for vocals , 1 for chorus vocals , 1 for keys , 1 for drums and percussions etc... and more.
The list will go on
 
Thats good you done homework, good mic.
YOU DONT NOT NEED A MIXER WHO TOLD YOU NEED A MIXER HARSH!!! YOU DONT
Save you money seriously get a DAW and a affordable interface..Apogee Duet 2 can record your entire band just fine for under $500 refurbished you dont need a mixer period!
 
harsh_dpskarnal said:
Thank You !
What is Basically Multitracking?
Click to expand...
Multi-tracking is recording multiple tracks simultaneously.
You dont need a mixer to do this there are interfaces that do this

look at this
Recording Drums with Apogee Duet 2 | Apogee Videos > Apogee Electronics

and this
MOTU.com - Track16 Overview

These are used to do multi tracking and are portable and way more efficient then any cheap mixer that you would have to by extra components so it can work. You dont need a mixer its 2012
 
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