Need really basic tools to make a demo/sampler

[Trymester]

Hello,

This is the same old question, so I'll just cut to the point. I want to record Hip-Hop at home. I know that the quality will be nothing like what I hear on the radio, but that's okay as it's just to provide a sample of myself. I have a Dell laptop and my girlfriend has a Mac. I would presumably be downloading the instrumentals and then just rapping over them (I myself don't make beats.). This sounds very basic, but how would I go about doing this so it doesn't sound as bad as if I was just rapping over a tape recorded beat?

I will need a microphone, and what else? My brother is the software connect, although I want things to be simple as I'm not really a computer guy.

Please help with basics. I would really appreciate it.

 

[vijsolo]

Hi there,

You will need Microphone, audio interface and software. Most of the interfaces come are coming with software included, so no need to spend extra here.

My suggestion for mic would be

Audio Technica AT2020
A very good beginner mic for home use.

As for the interface check out this one

Emu Tracker Pre USB 2.0 Audio Interface
A good quality interface that includes excesieve software bundle with lots of sounds delivered. And the price is attractive!

Cheerz!!

 

[Trymester]

Thanks.

So once I get the Audio Tracker, will it show me how to do things? Will it show me how to input the beats I download and my vocals into the software program? And then can I just save those files onto my desktop and drag and drop them onto a CD? (I'm really computer illiterate, man.)

 

[vijsolo]

Well, that is not 'a click of a mouse' thing for sure. Most of the recording softwares have tutorials included that can give you some insights where to start. And than it is just learning by doing and asking tons of questions on phorum!

Cheerz!!

 

[Trymester]

Any online stores you know of that will be having Black Friday deals for these things?

 

[TimOBrien]

My obligatory standard reply-for-newbies that I keep in Wordpad so this is just a paste (I don't want to re-type this all the time):

First off, immediately get a good beginner recording book (spend $20 before spending hundred$/thousand$) that shows you what you need to get started and how to hook everything up in your studio:
Home Recording for Musicians by Jeff Strong - $15
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/04...mp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0470385421
(Wish I'd had that when I started; would have saved me lots of money and time and grief)
You can also pick up this book in most any Borders or Barnes&Noble in the Music Books section!

Another good one is: Recording Guitar and Bass by Huw Price
http://www.amazon.com/Recording-Gui...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215734124&sr=1-1
(I got my copy at a place called Half-Price Books for $6!!)

And you can get a FREE subscription to TapeOp magazine at www.tapeop.com

Barnes&Noble or Borders are great places to start --- they have recording books and you can go get a snack or coffee and read them for FREE! Don't pass by a good recording book --- this is a VERY technical hobby and you REALLY want to start a reference library!!!

Good Newbie guides that also explains all the basics and have good tips:
http://www.tweakheadz.com/guide.htm
http://www.computermusic.co.uk/page/computermusic?entry=free_beginner_pdfs
http://www.harmony-central.com/articles/
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/tips-techniques/168409-tips-techniques.html

21 Ways To Assemble a Recording Rig: http://www.tweakheadz.com/rigs.htm

Also Good Info: http://www.theprojectstudiohandbook.com/directory.htm

Other recording books: http://musicbooksplus.com/home-recording-c-31.html

Still using a built-in soundcard?? Unfortunately, those are made with less than $1 worth of chips for beeps, boops and light gaming (not to mention cheapness for the manufacturer) and NOT quality music production.
#1 Rule of Recording: You MUST replace the built-in soundcard.
Here's a good guide and tested suggestions that WORK: http://www.tweakheadz.com/soundcards_for_the_home_studio.htm
(you'll want to bookmark and read through all of Tweak's Guide while you're there...)


Plenty of software around to record for FREE to start out on:

Audacity: http://audacity.sourceforge.net (multi-track with VST support)
Wavosaur: http://www.wavosaur.com/ (a stereo audio file editor with VST support)\
Kristal: http://www.kreatives.org/kristal/
Other freebies and shareware: www.hitsquad.com/smm

Another great option is REAPER at http://www.cockos.com/reaper/ (It's $50 but runs for free until you get guilty enough to pay for it...)
I use Reaper and highly reccomend it...

Music Notation and MIDI recording: Melody Assistant ($25) and Harmony Assistant ($80) have the power of $600 notation packages - http://myriad-online.com
Demo you can try on the website.

And you can go out to any Barnes&Noble or Borders and pick up "Computer Music" magazine - they have a full FREE studio suite in every issue's DVD, including sequencers, plugins and tons of audio samples. (November 2006 they gave away a full copy of SamplitudeV8SE worth $150, November 2007-on the racks Dec in the US- they gave away SamplitudeV9SE and July 2009 issue they put out Samplitude10SE. FREE. It pays to watch 'em for giveaways...)