Newbie asking for help

[mdhunter2]

Hi, I'm very new to this and would like some help. I can't play anything more than a radio but I can sing. So what I would like to do is use Karaoke CD's and record my vocals on my PC. I have a PIII-450 with 128 megs RAM, 16 Gigs of hard drive, a plextor 12/20 cd rom and a CD-RW. I also have Sound Blaster Live and a mic. Could someone tell me what, if anything, else I would need (hardware or software) and give me some direction as to how to get started? When singing Karaoke in bars I've had several tapes made but the quality was pretty bad. I think I can do better but need some help. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[The Green Hornet]

Yo MD Hunter2:

Medical Doctor?

Well, I don't quite know what your rig can do but here is what I'd do to accomplish what you want to do:

1. Record the background CD music onto a track.

2. Go into overdub mode and then put on a headset and sing into a good mic that is "somehow" connected to your rig. While the music plays, you sing and record the 2nd track.

If you use CD music, you should get a nice rich background and then all you have to do is mix/balance the two tracks and mix it down to tape or digital whatever.

Hope this helps you,

Green Hornet

 

[mdhunter2]

The Md is for Maryland. I like to hunt. Thanks for your help. I have a feeling this is going to require a big learning curve, but it sounds like fun.
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by mdhunter2:
Hi, I'm very new to this and would like some help. I can't play anything more than a radio but I can sing. So what I would like to do is use Karaoke CD's and record my vocals on my PC. I have a PIII-450 with 128 megs RAM, 16 Gigs of hard drive, a plextor 12/20 cd rom and a CD-RW. I also have Sound Blaster Live and a mic. Could someone tell me what, if anything, else I would need (hardware or software) and give me some direction as to how to get started? When singing Karaoke in bars I've had several tapes made but the quality was pretty bad. I think I can do better but need some help. Thanks in advance for your help. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

[gawkman]

I came across a program called "Magix V2000 Deluxe"; it's a fairly new multitracking programming, but it's well featured and fairly user friendly. Cakewalk Pro is probably the best multitracking program you can get so i hear, but it's quite complicated and I think would be overkill for what you're trying to do. I have also found the compressor (limits volume) features on these programs to be very limited, because you can very easily peak out when you're recording, then you have clipping (what happens to the speakers when you turn up that radio too loud and it sounds like crap). I would consider seriously looking into buying a compressor of some sort if you want your vocals to come out sounding professional. Dragon has a good section on them in the site.

 

[mdhunter2]

Gawkman, I have Cakewalk Express Gold and it does look very complicated. Looks like I'm in for a lot of trial and error but with all these bells and whistles it looks to be lots of fun too. Thanks a bunch.