Im ganna need some help here...

[sweetshoes18]

I have recently bought Adobe Audition. I would like to start recording my band but I do not have the equipment.

What is a decent set-up so that I can record my band for CHEAP.

Im talking Mic's and other things I am going to need to record. If possible I would like to use just 1 room mic for everthing but I dont know how the drums will sound with that.

Thanks for any help.

 

[mshilarious]

Im talking Mic's and other things I am going to need to record. If possible I would like to use just 1 room mic for everthing but I dont know how the drums will sound with that.

Thanks for any help.

Well, all recordings used to be done that way. The keys to making it work are:

- good sounding room

- good sounding band (everybody balanced, and not too loud)

- proper mic placement

- a decent mic (or two, those old recordings were mono)

- a decent preamp


Honestly all of the above isn't real easy to pull off. This is why many of us do one track at a time.

Tell us what else you have (like your PA gear, amps, etc.) and type of music, instruments, etc.

 

[chessrock]

What is a decent set-up so that I can record my band for CHEAP.

Get a mixer and some microphones . . . and have at it.

 

[Cloneboy Studio]

Personally a lot of the old, old recordings sound terrible.

A single mic is no way to record drums. If you want to record your band for cheap... rent some mics and a mixer. You will thank me later.

Or how about... OMG REVELATION TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Booking time in a real studio to let the professionals do it. Wow, amazing idea.

The only, ONLY ONLY ONLY ONLY reason that you should "record your own band" is because you want to learn how to record and it is an overriding passion. Otherwise you are just wasting time and money like a million other people that thought this was going to be easy and cheap. Your recordings will sound bad. You will give it up. The gear will collect dust.

At least if you go to a studio you'll have something listenable.

If you want to be a musician--BE A MUSICIAN.

If you want to record--BE AN AUDIO ENGINEER.

It's a little hard to try to be both.

 

[ssscientist]

Personally a lot of the old, old recordings sound terrible.

Like how old, old is old, old? Thirty years? Fifty? Seventy?

Duke Ellington made some records in the 1930's that I would put up against ANYTHING made since...

And, for example, your signature line begins with Big Black. The first Big Black record was made in a bedroom and the second in a basement. Home recording was the only option ever considered.

Before you piss on this guy's parade, consider that you might be pissing on the next Steve Albini.

 

[sweetshoes18]

So what am I ganna have to do here?
Buy some mics? What Kind?
Mixer? What kind?
Pre amp? What Kind?
Can I record direct to my computer?
How much will this cost?

Sorry for all the questions but I am really new to this.

And actully Cloneboy Studio I do want to start recording. I would like to start cheap, thats all. I asked for some help on items to buy and how to do it. Not criticism.

This is a type of Rock and Jazz Blend. Some of our songs are all rock or all jazz and some are blends.

I have a AX84 High Octane Tube amp (Self built) with a 4 pack of K-120 JBLs. I have the same set up going for the backup guitarist. Im not sure what kind of drum set or if it even matters but it is just a standerd set. The bass player uses an Marshell amp (not sure what kind) with yet again a pair of K-120 jbls. Boy do I love thoes K-120's... We also have a sax player.

 

[grn]

Personally a lot of the old, old recordings sound terrible.

Personally? What in the...?

He just wants to get his feet wet, he doesn't want to dive in. Adobe Audition is good in that you can record each instrument to separate tracks, but you need a sound card that supports that. For basic mics I would suggest getting a Shure SM57 (two maybe), a Shure SM58, and a Studio Projects B1 (one or two of those too)... then experiment. A mixer would be nice, but I don't know... it depends on the sound card as well.

Not sure what kind of sound you want, but you should be able to get a recording where you can hear all of your instruments (they may not sound the best), but you can balance the volume and add some effects (EQ, compression) and sound just fine if you want to record demo's for yourself. It depends what you want to do with it.

If you want to be a musician--BE A MUSICIAN.

If you want to record--BE AN AUDIO ENGINEER.

I suggest you just try both and see which you like. You can still have fun and be a musician and a home recording hobbyist. Both are addicting... several successful bands have recorded themselves... Weezer (Pinkerton), the White Stripes (the White Stripes)... probably many others.

A lot of people on these boards think they know what they're doing... and don't, but a lot actually do. Make sure you think about what you're doing and who you're listening too. I'm not the best at it, I'm just starting myself... Blue Bear and chessrock really seem to be know what they're talking about while other people have a stick up their asses.

 

[guitarfreak12]

grn....well said. It's funny how some people are so passionate on not condoning what they are here in this board doing.

 

[manning1]

heres a decent set up for computer recording.
1. amd athlon , 2 hard drives 7200 rpm with dma enabled and 512 mb memory. if you have one currently please tell us your current confign.
so we can spot any potential problems. the athlon ive listed should do 48 tracks easy. (advice - stay away from usb sound card solutions.
read on the bbs and other bbs's some of the problems people have with usb !!)
of course all the other usual stuff like mics, monitor etc and a cd writer for burning.
put a delta 44 or 1010 pci sound card in your pc is one option of many.
DONT PUT ANYTHING IN ANY OTHER PCI SLOT thus giving the sound card free rein on the bus. NO SPECIAL PCI GAMING CARDS.
2. monitors - yorkvilles powered if you want to save money by a home hi fi amp.
3. mixer - try a yamaha mg series mixer or one i tried recently was an alto.
seemed pretty decent for cheap.
4. mics ....cheap recommendations...
ev dynamics are good on guitar amps. also suggest you check out
cad m179 and for a cheap 50 buck LDC mic that looks nice the CAD GXL.
try it on lead vocals and drum ohds.
if you ever come across a used crown pzm mic cheap grab it. great for drum ohds and many other instrmnts. if yopu can get beyer mics cheap grab them. i love all things beyer.

excluding the computer all this will probably cost you around 1100 bucks or less if you shop wisely. maybe even much less if you look around for used mic deals. you can even make your own mics for 20 bucks. search google for the tapeop article on building a cheap mic.
but i think ive covered the basics that will get you a good sound.
the heart of any good daw is the sound card quality. lots of folks like deltas.
but if your rich check out rme or lynx that a lot of pro's like.
in fact you can spend tens of thousands just on convertors but i would advise against it. imho the delta is excellent value for money.
also check out staudio.com as another possibility.

 

[manning1]

and sweetshoes - if you get a huge world wide hit based on what i told you,
just remember lil ole me and throw me some tickets to your big first concert
and a nice meal. just kidding !!

 

[sweetshoes18]

Dont worry. Once I get the recording down, you will be the first to hear it since you are really the only one who has helped...

 

[sweetshoes18]

That is a bit to pricy for me... Is there anyway, anyway in the world i can drop the price?

 

[Bulls Hit]

Yeah what manning said.

You could go with
Yamaha mg12/4 mixer - $200
Delta1010lt 8 input soundcard - $220. You could get the 4-input delta 44 for $150, but if recording drums, it's nice to have a few spare inputs.
Couple of 57s and a Studio Projects B1 - $280

All up $700 to get you started

 

[manning1]

bulls hit i respect a lot of your posts. would appreciate your input.
i'm hearing a lot of positives about the cheap 50 buck LDC mic from cad called the gxl 1200. some friends of mine are in the market for a cheapie
LDC. i KNOW the price is very low but whaddya think as a starter LDC for someone. what have you heard - good or bad - thnx.
my friends dont want ultra high end just a cheap starter LDC.

 

[manning1]

by the way sweetshoes if you need a great midi sequencer. because if i remember audition doesnt do midi does it ?
try the one i use powertracks from pgmusic.com. only 29 bucks.
just an idea.

 

[Bulls Hit]

i'm hearing a lot of positives about the cheap 50 buck LDC mic from cad called the gxl 1200. some friends of mine are in the market for a cheapie
LDC. i KNOW the price is very low but whaddya think as a starter LDC for someone. what have you heard - good or bad - thnx..

manning I haven't heard anything about this mic. But you know, for $50, it's almost like what have you got to lose?
Even if it turns out to be not the greatest overhead, it would do your friends until they can afford something 'better'

 

[manning1]

thnx bulls. yeh i'm having trouble finding unbiased reviews on that gxl.
i said the same thing to my friends. cant really loose for the price.
thnx.
ps - have you seen some of the track counts folks are getting with amd64's and opterons. WOW ! i was reading a board where a guy claimed 200 damn tracks. blew me away. think i'm upgrading soon.

 

[Cloneboy Studio]

And actully Cloneboy Studio I do want to start recording. I would like to start cheap, thats all. I asked for some help on items to buy and how to do it. Not criticism.

You want cheap? Buy a few dozen books on recording, audio engineering and so on. That's how everyone should start. Then see if you can sit in on a few sessions at a studio in your hometown and absorb what you can, maybe assist a few sessions.

THEN lay down the cold hard cash.

Honestly, recording is one of the worst things to just 'jump into' because before you know it you've wasted 5 thousand bucks on stuff you don't need. I'm glad I took my time and went from borrowing a 4 track, to getting my own and using that for 7 or 8 years and then thinking about going into digital because it finally became affordable.

If you're serious about wanting to learn the craft by all means do it. If you are trying to save a few bucks and record your band... you need to go to a studio and record.

 

[Cloneboy Studio]

That is a bit to pricy for me... Is there anyway, anyway in the world i can drop the price?

Oh man, you're going to be in for a rough ride!

Thinking about that studio yet?

 

[sweetshoes18]

Actully, by the time I get an appartment (Next year I graduate WOOT WOOT) I will invest in one.

I am just looking for some stuff to fool around with for now and maybe make a demo for the band and some of our friends.

(If you guys want one, I can mail you one. Tell me how it is.)

--------------------------------------------

If you guys have any requests for us to put on the cd, just say it. We do alot of Rock, Jazz, and COVER's. So if you know a song you want us to play or cover ill send you our version of it and you can see if you like us