need some recommendations for recording demos

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thrashermaniac

thrashermaniac

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Hi I have band and after some time talking about the demos and that stuff, we decided to make them. And well i dont have any experience recording and that kind of stuff so i need some help to what thing we need to record our demos. The most we can spend are between $200-$300.
Other thing about the recording is that dont put something expensive and that kind of things, we only what something simple and easy to use.
And other question, if there any way to record something without using the PC?? If is possible, how and what we need to record at this way? (like using a mic and an amp that kind of stuff, i think is analog recording:confused:)
Also in other forum they told me that the Zoom H1 or the H4n it can help for recording. It can??:confused:

Thanks In Advance

Sorry for my bad english
 
My honest opinion probably isn't what you want,
but with your level of knowledge and experience, your budget would definitely be better spent at a local studio.

Recording is a huuuge learning curve, and anyone would be lucky if they were remotely happy with the outcome of their 100th session, let alone their first.

Hope that's useful.
 
well i dont know any local studio, but i only want something that we can record easily, and the Zoom H1 or H4n can help?? If not, well what we can use??
 
as far as i know, those are both handheld stereo recorders, so you're not going to get a studio quality demo from them.

You could certainly record your band with one of them, but the recording will be reasonably true to how the band sound in the room.

If all your after is a quick recording to listen back to or whatever, then sure, go for it,

But if you're aiming for something better (editing, tweaking etc) then finding a studio might be a better option.
 
Steenamaro is right. You have a difficult choice between: (a) something within your budget that will record your band but the finished product won't be good enough to pass to anyone outside the band, and (b) getting decent enough quality but with costs that will exceed your budget.

Let me give you something else to consider, one idea with two variations.

tascam-dp-004-recorder-lg.jpg


Some portastudios will be within your budget, eg. Tascam DP-004 at under $200. It comes with built-in mics so you can get started with what comes in the box but youi will need a computer with a CD burner to export the files to for making CDs.

tascam_dp03-thumb-450x300.jpg


To have a self-contained unit with CD burner, so that you can avoid PCs altogether, will be beyond your budget at $500.

Either of these and other similar options come with built-in mics so you can get started. You can plug instruments (guitar, bass, keyboards) direct in if you want, and you can always plug in your own microphones should you decide you want and can afford something better than the built-in ones.

If you choose to buy a Zoom H1, H4n or a portastudio you are choosing a course of action, not a single use purchase, so these will take some time to learn how to get the best out of them and also how to set up your studio and gear so that you record the best possible sound. Think of it as an investment on your band's future. Make sure you all agree so that you can all share the mistakes and the successes.
 
good advice.

This is a hard thing to advise on.

If someone asks what to buy because they want to get into home recording, that's one thing,
But if they ask what to buy because they want to make a demo, i always discourage. It almost never works the way you want.
 
well thanks for the advices and i would talk with my bandmates about this. thanks capriccio for the recommendations, also i found this on Musicians Friend:
PreSonus Audiobox USB Recording Package: Shop Pro Audio & Other Musical Instruments | Musician's Friend
Something like that it would be good or not. Anyway about the price i would accept the price if is over my range.
Because is:
Think of it as an investment on your band's future.
Click to expand...

Also i would keep open for more recommendations, it could be a little over the price range, but that can give us a great quality on the sound of our demos:)

And about the Multitrack recorders(that put it above) what is his function, is like an mic that records all what i play thought my amp?? Because it does something like that, i would buy one of those two, preferably the one who have the CD burner
 
Sonixx said:
Demo audience? Local clubs?
Click to expand...

Just as our eyes adjust to the dark in ways that cameras cannot, so our ears adjust to sound sources and decieve us. A recording won't so I would be very wary of someone peddling CDs of a band recorded bootleg fashion.

Basically, as Steenamaroo says, "It almost never works out the way you want." If it did, we wouldn't have a recording industry as everyone would be doing it cheap 'n' easy for themselves.
 
What for? selling? handing out at gigs? listening back for a learning experience?

What's the purpose of the demo?
 
Before you spend any money, you're going to have to define what you mean as a "demo". If you're just passing out recordings to band members, a standalone recorder will suffice. If you're intention is to "demo" your songs to club and bar owners or, the general public then no, a standalone recorder is not the proper tool.

I use a Boss Micro BR recorder to record band rehearsals then transfer those files to my PC to edit out the junk and dead space then make copies for each band member to review.
 
BassMan53 makes an excellent point. It depends what you want the recordings for and how much you worry about quality.

If you just want a rough idea of how you sound live then a portable recorder might be what you want. However, it won't sound like a professional studio recording...it'll sound like a portable recorder out in front of the band.

However, if you want something that sounds like a professional (or even semi professional) recording to distribute to try and get work or contracts, then I have to agree with those who recommend caution. I always hate to be the voice of doom but neither your budget nor your willingness to spend time learning will give the results you want. There's no cheap, no-effort way to make recordings that sound like commercial ones. It takes the right gear and, even more important, it takes lots of time spent reading, practising and learning how to do it.

Maybe another option would be to advertise on Craigs List or something to see if you can find a keen home recordist who wants a band to practise on?

Bob
 
Hell I spent thousands and I still sound like crap - but Zoom does make a small stand alone multi track mixing recorder. Boss makes several too as was mentioned above by Capricco. Boss makes several versions and you can find many used ones on Ebay. I have used a Boss multi-tracker, I think it had 4 or 8 channels and it worked quite well and was very inexpensive.

I have never used a Zoom and personally I think they feel cheap and flimsy - however - many people here like them and have had great success with them - i am by no means an authority on them, I have never actually used one, I just checked them out at a local store - anyway this might do what you want: Zoom ZR8 Portable Multi-Track Recorder, Sampler with USB Interface
 
why NOT use a DAW? are you just anti-computer recording? Reaper is just as user friendly(maybe moreso) as any standalone "studio-in-a-box" and it's really cheap. it's got all the bells and whistles included, and you could spend whatever money you save on a mic, interface, mixer, etc.
 
I bought my Boss Micro used for about $65. Works great for what I use it for....band rehearsals and quick ideas.

Though is has the capability to record multiple tracks and do mix downs as well, there's NO way I could conceive of even wanting to attempt to mix down demos on it.

IMHO, a small, stand-alone recorder is a great addition to my overall "studio" but can't replace a PC for a
workstation. I can't speak for other, larger multi-track recorders as I know many of them have full functionality as well but, this setup is what works for MY needs, in MY situation.

BTW.....I tried Reaper, Audacity and N-Track and decided on this one......

Mixcraft 5 - Affordable multi-track audio and MIDI recording software.
 
arcadeko said:
Hell I spent thousands and I still sound like crap - but Zoom does make a small stand alone multi track mixing recorder. Boss makes several too as was mentioned above by Capricco. Boss makes several versions and you can find many used ones on Ebay. I have used a Boss multi-tracker, I think it had 4 or 8 channels and it worked quite well and was very inexpensive.

I have never used a Zoom and personally I think they feel cheap and flimsy - however - many people here like them and have had great success with them - i am by no means an authority on them, I have never actually used one, I just checked them out at a local store - anyway this might do what you want: Zoom ZR8 Portable Multi-Track Recorder, Sampler with USB Interface
Click to expand...

I really like the zooms for simple (mono or stereo) location recording.

However, for anything more complex--and certainly any mixing/post production--I move straight away to a computer based DAW. Trying to do it all in one small box is just too limiting and claustrophobic for me.

Bob
 
Steenamaroo said:
What for? selling? handing out at gigs? listening back for a learning experience?

What's the purpose of the demo?
Click to expand...

Well, it's for the people can listen how we play, also and later send it to a record company, but for now only for the people can listen us as BassMan53 said for the general public aswell to the club and bar owners
 
All have good replied and i appreciate the help to all, and all of you are right maybe at this time i wouldt make a demo to send i to a record company, only i would like to make it for the general public and also that all the band can hear how we play and how we can improve in our playing. and if we what more quality in our recordings, well the best we can do is go to a studio and record our songs there.
Other question about the multi-tracks recorders is, how they works??
 
Back in the day before computer recording and all the fancy new gadgets we now have...
...for band demos, we would set up in our rehearsal space, throw up a couple of mics and record directly to a cassette deck.

Cheap, easy...and with a little trial-n-error it's not hard to find a decent balance of levels and positions for all band members. It helps if you can set up like you would on a typical stage, and then play out toward an imaginary audience...and that's where you put your two mics...out in the audience.
 
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