i wanna do that!!

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fenderlikingood

fenderlikingood

New member
hey guys,
first let me start by saying what a great site this!! ya'll rock!
i,ve looking around in here for a month now and have got some really good recording techniques that ive been using with great results(especially mic placement)but that is all ive been doing is experimenting with recording and nothing else. like mixing down adding effects ect... ive just been listening to what ive been recording through headphones and then i move on(im going through alot of tapes) well im ready to do some finalizing, problem is i dont have anything to mix down on. my home stereo is dedicated to the home theatre. here is what i am working with.

an old tascam 424 mk nothing
a radio shack(by shure) 33-1070c mic
a audio technica pr 99 mic
a shure beta 52 kick mic
and all of the cables

this was all given to me a month ago from a friend.
except the beta which i recently puchased, the kick was driving me nuts!! so i decided to make my first upgrade.
ok, should i invest in a mix down deck or try to mix down from the tascam to the puter(if thats even possible) or bypass the tascam totally, get a mixer and some software like n-track and direct record to the puter, right now i have the sb live sound card,
but plenty of puter power. i definitly want a keep it simple stupid setup( as im not trying to make a demo or anything)but i do want a decent recording. i know i will have to upgrade mics, what i need to know is what the best "newbie" setup is for recording on a budget and for recreation(im hooked!!!)

im recording drums(acoustic kit)
electric gutar and bass
and acoustic guitar , i play them all my self because no one will commit to practice and i want to make a recording so my buds will get motivated, they all want to play, but were all beginners with not much free time and i just want to show them the end result. i am getting tired of playing the drums while i hum a bass line LOL!
im ranting now!!!!

if you even took the time to read this i cant thank you enough, but input and advice would be greatly appreciated.

i just want to be a junior member!!!!
 
For speed's sake (and to keep you busy while you decide on the next upgrade), you can mix down from the Tascam to the pooter. The SB oughta have a line input and a mic input. Use the line input. It's a stereo 1/8" "mini" jack.

You'll just need a sound recording program. Even the Windows Sound Recorder will work (there's tips on that somewhere in the articles section of this site. Another idea from the articles section here is to mix down to a hifi VCR.)

Recording to the pooter will generally sound better than recording on a 4-track cassette deck.


To record on the computer directly, you'll also need a mic preamp, though to start you could probably even use the Tascam as a preamp (hooked ot the pooter just as if you were mixing down). It won't be a pro-quality preamp, but it will work. (I don't know your model, but if it's a regular cassette 4-track then this'll work--and get the XLR-to-1/4" matching transformers at Radio Shack--$12 or so.) Of course, if you get a nice console with preamps and such you can ignore this paragraph. :)


To mix on the computer, you need a multitrack program. For cheap ones there's Tstar ($20 sharware download), Pro Tools Free (free version of the pro stuff), and Goldwave. Plenty of higher-end stuff around too. And you'll need a sound/wave editor, like Asia or Sound Forge.

One advantage to pooter recording is that you get to use your effects/plugins as often as you like (and the software essentially comes with a whole "rack" of them).

At this point, what you "should do" depends on your sound quality goals and your budget. However, for next to nothing you can start with my ideas here, and it'll sound plenty good enough to get your pals into the tunes.

I've recorded with a Yamaha 4-track as a preamp into a SB before. Not remotely pro, but the method is better than one might assume.
 
ESACTUN!!!!!!!!!!!

esactun, man thanks for the quick reply

great response, i think i will try the mix down from the tascam to the pooter like you said for speeds sake. and use what i have as far as recording software.

so here is another one for you (im such a newbie) how exactly do i hook the tascam to the sound card, the 4 track has rca ins and outs but the sb has the 1/8 jack you were talking about. does someone make a cable that has both rca at one end and 1/8 at the other (im so confused) or can you make one?(cringe) and if you can make one is it easy? and how?

again, thank you for the response this is exactly what i need !!
 
You can find a cable as such at a descent music store like Mars or Guitar Center......no problem
 
You can do that!

You're cool to start with the equipment you have, and there's no urgent need for a big upgrade, or change, necessarily, other than your basic gear lust. Ideally, as is, you could do multitrack production on the 424, and mix down to the 'puter, to burn CDs from the mixes.

You'll need WAV audio recording software, but Windows Sound Recorder may not cut it. I can't get Windows Sound Recorder to record over 60 seconds on my Win98 machine, but it's built into Windows, and you're welcome to experiment with it.

There are various inexpensive recording software titles. F/I, MAGIX Music Studio version 6 [24 track] is $19, and Magix Music Studio 'Deluxe' v6 [48 track] is $39 at Best Buy. Magix Music Studio Version 5 [16 track] was $9, a few weeks ago at GC. There are lots of other recording titles, if you search around.

Most of the audio recording software titles you'll see will be full blown multitrack software, and recording onto your computer is also feasible, if that's the way you want to go. If this were the case, you could use your 424 as a mixer/front end to the 'puter.

Either way, you'll need cd-writer software, to actually record the cds from wav files on your hard disc. Easy CD Creator is a popular title. Apparently Magix Music Studio V6 will burn cds right from the wav files within it's own projects, but I have not tried this feature.

The cable you need is an RCA to 1/8" stereo adapter cable, and your SB card should be fine. Plug the 424's LINE OUT to the SB's LINE IN. Make sure you record in WAV format, 16-bit/44.1khz/stereo, the standard CD format.

Geez, I guess I just repeated the previous guy's post, almost verbatim. Anyway, that's my 2c worth of opinion.

I use the 424mkII, Magix Music Studio v5, and Adaptec Easy CD creator. I record primary tracks on the 424, mix down to the 'puter, and burn cds. You can too!

/DA
 
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Only thing I'd add is that yes, Windows Sound Recorder does suck, but it's free!! There is a page in the articles section on this site that describes how to mess with Sound Recorder and get recordings as long as you like (more or less). Reel Person's other software ideas will serve you much better in the end though!

Another thing (yeah yeah yeah, I lied), the cord you need is the same kind that usually comes as an accessory with a portable CD player. You can get em at Guitar Center, Radio Shack, and most places that sell stereo equipment. I wouldn't bother with the fancy schmancy gold-plated stuff either. :)
 
ESACTUN, A REEL PERSON AND STEALTHTECH

WOW!!! thanks alot guys, you go to work, come back, log on and BAM!!!!!!!!!! more info than you can shake a stick at, toooooooo cooolllllll. it's good to know i can just buy a wire like that , i was a little worried. i was poking around with all the sb's functions last night and i seem to have a creative recorder with this card, would this be better than the windows recorder?? i also have something called vienna soundfont studio 2 SF personal preset editor( what ever that means) could i use this???

now dont get me wrong, im on a budget but i will spring for some decent software will n-track and cooledit pro and all the others dicussed in this forum have what i need for mixing down with the 424? or is the software that a reel person recommended better?? i noticed that a reel person has over five hundred posts and uses his mkII and mixes down on the puter , that makes me feel much better about this.

again thanks for all the great info

KEEP IT COMING.!!!!!!
 
Soundfonts are for MIDI

Unless you intend to use MIDI devices for recording and playback, you will not use the Vienna Soundfont editor. It is for customizing sounds to replace those that are utilized in the GM (General MIDI) standard. GM sounds like poop so using the Soundfont library and downloading soundfonts, you are able to replace GM sounds with ones that sound halfway decent.

The easiest way to find the best software for you are to download demos and try them out before buying them. I've heard pretty good reviews of people using N-tracks and Cool Edit but I haven't used them so I can't say whether they are good or bad. I use Cakewalk SONAR which right now is probably out of your price range, and would probably be a little bit of overkill at this stage.

I would agree with all of the above mentioned advice.

Dick
 
evildick!!!( i've been called that a few times my self)

great name!!
thanks for the info. you said you havent used cool edit or n-track but would you happen to know if this software would have a recorder? or do i need different software on top of that??

dahh!! i guess i could just visit the websites!!

as im writing im looking at my programs and bam!!!!!!!! something else is in here called creative wave studio. maybe this one will work?? i dont know man, i had this pc built by a family friend and he put all kinds of goodies in here(which i know nothing about)

thanks alot evildick! i just had to type it again!
 
Onto bigger things

Once you start recording more and more on your new DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), if that's the route you choose to take, you may want to upgrade your soundcard first. This is probably one of the single most important things with recording to a computer. Many brands are out there with a wide range of price tags that offer better sound quality to that of a "gaming" card.

Once you get the hang of recording to a DAW, you may want to look into a dedicated audio card for your recordings. RME, Echo, Motu are just a couple of suggestions. These things make great Christmas/Birthday gifts. hehehe.

Play around with the progs that you have and can get free demos for. Once you get a taste for it, you'll have a better idea of what you need and won't dump a load of cash into something that you will never use. Mess around, make noise until it doesn't make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Then you are getting somewhere. :)

Dick
 
evildick(thats just too funny)

thanks again man, your right, i thinks its a forgone conclusion that im going to have to upgrade my sound card in the future. every one on this site bashes the sb in one way or another, so i think i should take the hint. but like you said, i'll learn with what i have first then,i'll invest in a card. WAIT!! the birthday thing is the ticket, YEAH!!! "honey i really need this sound card type thingy so i can record you some love songs" BINGO!!!!!
HA HA, the wheels have begun to spin.

thanks again evildick!!
 
My opinions are just that, and post count doesn't mean anything.

I just speak of what I'm most familiar with. Magix software works for me, 'cause it's full function DAW audio recording software, and it's inexpensive. There are other competing titles, that are all pretty similar in function, so shop around.

Also, duly noted by the previous member, the RCA-to-1/8" adapter cable can be found at any Radio Shack, Best Buy, Circuit City, Fry's, etc.

Your SB 'recorder' might very well be better than Windows Sound Recorder, so it's worth experimenting with. Anything's better than Windows Sound Recorder, isn't it?

Regarding going from the 424 to the PC, then burning cds: I've done it, and you can do it too!

/DA
 
Re: My opinions are just that, and post count doesn't mean anything.

A Reel Person said:
Your SB 'recorder' might very well be better than Windows Sound Recorder, so it's worth experimenting with. Anything's better than Windows Sound Recorder, isn't it?
/DA
Click to expand...

I'd be willing to bet that you're right. I know for sure that the SB PCI playback sounds much better than the Windows Sound Mapper.
 
what i meant was>>>>>>>

that seeing that you had over 500 posts, but are still using your recording technique that i want to learn to use, makes me feel that it cant be a bad way to go. and that has motivated me to work with what i have without the dreaded(as you called it )gear lust , because i know it takes alot of time to get that many posts up. you have soaked up a whole lot of info off these forums to maximize your set up, and probably get decent recording quality with it. you took the time to help me out , so i was throwing some appreciation your way, thats all. and appreciated it is!!!!!!

im going to try to hook it all up this weekend, and start with the sb recorder first(just to check it out)

again thanks to all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Yeah, that's cool. I didn't realize I topped 500 posts, 'til recently.

And, along with 500+ posts, I got the snappy little subtitle of "Force of Nature", under my user name, ahah. I used to think you got those 'snappy little subtitles' under your user name by sleeping with the moderator! HAhahaha.

Anyone who remembers back when I was first registered, [as a Newbie], I used to go on tirades about "all you Forces of Nature" [throwing around you-suck attitudes], etc, etc, [ahah]. Now, I guess I'm a "Force of Nature", and so I can now criticize myself, right??? [Haha].

Despite my post count now being elevated over 500, trust me, I'm not the 'Force of Nature' that I used to rail against, when I was a Newbie. Haha. Now I have more perspective, and I've come to regard HRcom as a big interrelated community, one big happy disfunctional family, if you will.

I have learned a lot on this bbs, but mostly about bbs's and personalities, and maybe less about recording, itself. Sure, I've gotten a few recording tips, here & there, but my recording philosophy and methods were well set, long before I logged on to HRcom. I do like to share tips on what I'd consider practical, or best practices, when it comes to recording, and I appreciate it if I can help someone to do something that I've already done, to help someone through the process of recording, to get the best sound, and to get the most out of their equipment, and equipment buying dollar.

Mostly, what I've learned here at HRcom, is the depth of the talent pool, of home recording musicians, which goes way beyond my original assumptions. I now realize there are many, many talented musicians and songwriters here, who deserve some notice and respect.

Thanx & good luck. I hope you stick around long enough to become a "Force of Nature", or beyond, and I hope the tips & tricks you get off this board, from myself and others, will help you get the most out of your home recording experience.

If I have any more useful tips, I'll throw them your way. BTW, thanx for the respect you've shown to me, and remember, we're all friends here, with common ideas and goals. We're all on a different part of the journey, but we're on the same journey. /DA
 
Lawrenceville, huh?

One of my better buds "fast eddie" lives there and has a similar setup - I hope he didn't give away his gear... that would be depressing... we used to jam back in the day...
 
Shut-up, Dave... I mean damn... give a guy a title and the next thing you know... :D
 
Ha, Force of Nature. Just the title itself is a lightning rod for criticizm.

I never really paid attention to post count, 'cause I don't think it's that important, and also 'cause I post a lot in the Cave, which I heard doesn't increase your post count.

I really didn't realize that my posts had gone over 500 recently, or that the subtitle under my name changed. It kind of surprised me. Hopefully, in 500+ friggin posts, I've said something relevant and/or entertaining. YMMV.

Obviously, there were vast numbers of 'Davemania' related posts, and let's not forget the 'Yoko's Cool' thread! Haha!

/DA:D ;) :p :)
 
larryville

yeah im in good old larryville.

i dont no anyone named fast eddie, so his gear is probably safe.

are you up in lafayette,trion, summerville area, man i didnt know they let inmates have computers ha ha. i did some work in rossville , fort oglethorpe area just yesterday. how about that pile up on 75 the other day, man that was nuts!!!!!!!!! i was headed that way the day it happened , so i turned my ass around.

and reel, im sure i will have alot more for you to answer, you force of nature you, ha ha.

thanks again!!!!!!!!
 
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