I want to record a cd????

[smokeynichol]

i play country gospel music using my guitar plugged in to a Marshall amp-would like to know what equipment i would need to have to record a cd --btw i want to mix in my mandolin, accordion, and possibly a fiddle as well-thanks guys for any input. can i use a software program on my laptop to record???

 

[moresound]

Yes! A good program would be Reaper. It's a free full down load and if you like it you can purchase it. Then all you would need are the appropriate microphones -Read the stickys in the microphone forum- . Then you would also need an A/D converter.

 

[Supercreep]

i play country gospel music using my guitar plugged in to a Marshall amp-would like to know what equipment i would need to have to record a cd --btw i want to mix in my mandolin, accordion, and possibly a fiddle as well-thanks guys for any input. can i use a software program on my laptop to record???

What up, smokey?

If you're not looking at a long-term investment in making recordings, it may be cheaper and more fun to record in a professional studio.

There's a lot of skill and art that goes into recording, mixing, and mastering. It ain't just gear.

 

[newcomputeruser]

yes

i play country gospel music using my guitar plugged in to a Marshall amp-would like to know what equipment i would need to have to record a cd --btw i want to mix in my mandolin, accordion, and possibly a fiddle as well-thanks guys for any input. can i use a software program on my laptop to record???

laptops are harder than desktops as many of them have less built in audio capability. and take more fiddlign to get the options set right.

you could get a free program like audacity and plug a microphone into the internal sound card and record one track at a time. the laptop may have nero or roxio with it if it has a cd burner. so record, export a wav file from audacity, burn a cd.

better quality more flexibility if you get an external audio interface that connects via usb. you could use two mikes for stereo. may come with software that is better than audacity. if you really get into this then you may want to later on buy a better program to do everything.

 

[philbagg]

better quality more flexibility if you get an external audio interface that connects via usb. you could use two mikes for stereo. may come with software that is better than audacity. if you really get into this then you may want to later on buy a better program to do everything.

But... if there's software that does everything, why do you have such a hard time choosing it?

Oh, and I'd also advise Firewire over USB for an interface. They generally cost a little more but it doesn't go without reason.

 

[dastrick]

What are the plans for the finished cd's? Is it to pass out to friends & family or is it going to be a "professional" cd to sell and play on the radio? This will make a difference in what approach you need to take.

 

[newcomputeruser]

swoosh

But... if there's software that does everything, why do you have such a hard time choosing it?

Oh, and I'd also advise Firewire over USB for an interface. They generally cost a little more but it doesn't go without reason.

i plan to do a *lot* more than he is attempting
nobody has proven that any software does everything yet

my money is limited
so i will take time to make sure it will all work first

some kid getting his money from his parents can just keep buying stuff until he gets bored or he finds a combo that works

usb2 is as good as firewire
and usb3 blows them both away

 

[dastrick]

I wouldn't trust USB 2.0 with over 8 tracks. Would it record more than 8 tracks??? Probably, but I just wouldn't trust it. I'd prefer to use firewire. If your track count is not very high, USB 2.0 will be fine.

 

[philbagg]

usb2 is as good as firewire
and usb3 blows them both away

No. You're just wrong.

 

[Richard Monroe]

Here's the short form- I don't have the time today for one of my "War and Peace" posts. Recording is an art form and a profession. Even if you outsource the mixing and mastering, it will take you five times as long (or more) and most likely cost more money, and produce an inferior product recording yourself compared to a professional studio. That can be compensated for by the fact that you get the satisfaction of learning how to record music, and owning a studio, even if it's a small one. All I'm saying is- If what you want is a CD, get out of here, go to a studio, and be prepared to play your stuff as close to perfectly as possible. Know it cold. On the other hand, if you want to learn how to be a tracking engineer and study mics and preamps for the next five years, you've come to the right place. Welcome aboard!-Richie

 

[dastrick]

Here's the short form- I don't have the time today for one of my "War and Peace" posts. Recording is an art form and a profession. Even if you outsource the mixing and mastering, it will take you five times as long (or more) and most likely cost more money, and produce an inferior product recording yourself compared to a professional studio. That can be compensated for by the fact that you get the satisfaction of learning how to record music, and owning a studio, even if it's a small one. All I'm saying is- If what you want is a CD, get out of here, go to a studio, and be prepared to play your stuff as close to perfectly as possible. Know it cold. On the other hand, if you want to learn how to be a tracking engineer and study mics and preamps for the next five years, you've come to the right place. Welcome aboard!-Richie

Of course a studio would also be a great place to learn about mics, preamps, mixing, and such.

 

[dastrick]

usb2 is as good as firewire
and usb3 blows them both away

I don't know about USB 3.0, but USB 2.0 is not as good as firewire. It's been proven time and time again. There are lots of posts about. Something about USB using the computers processor along with some other stuff that I can't remember. What I do remember is that firewire has a better constant speed than USB.

 

[Seafroggys]

All USB ports on a computer share the same bus, so if you're using multiple USB ports at once, each one will be slower since the same potential is distributed. Every firewire port is on its own bus.

Also, USB uses data bursts, not constant streams. While over a period of time 2.0 may be slightly faster than Firewire 400, it is not constant like firewire. Meaning much more likely for hiccups and dropouts. You want constant data flow for recording audio.

 

[dastrick]

Yeah...what he said.