One man band...

[Scurvy]

...and I don't mean I have a bass drum strapped to my back, a cymbal under my arm, a harmonica attached to my face....etc.

Although I'm not new to recording music at home (on crap tape recorders), I'm totally new to using more "professional" equipment. I just bought the following stuff and plan to record drums, guitar, bass and vocals all by myself using a PC.

3 x Shure SM57's and a CAD KBM412 kick drum mic
Behringer UB1204
Delta 44

I haven't decided upon software yet but as you can see, I don't have a lot of stuff and my budget for that will be in the lower end. I will be reading the manuals for my equipment but I'm so inpatient that I'd like to have a basic idea of what I'll be doing. I just need a simple explanation because I can get details from the manuals.

So, my questions are -

What is the best way to record all the above instruments by myself? I understand the concept of click tracks but how does this work with time changes? Also, what if I record drums first but there's a part in the song with a time change and no drums? Do I have to program a click track accordingly or what?

Finally, any advice on which software package is good for this? Any other one man bands out there with any other advice?

Sorry for the barrage of questions but thanks in advance for any help anyway.

 

[TimOBrien]

It's basically what most of us are doing.

You should go out to the bookstore and start reading all the magazines and books that can get you up to speed:

Computer Music (has a great CD every month with full programs, demos and sounds.)

Computer Tech (another great beginner mag with CD)

Home Recording

Recording

EQ

Mix

And take a look in the music books, you'll probably find a number of home recording books that will help you.

Software choice is very subjective, it all works but your comfort with the different user interfaces will be the key. Try out the demos on the Computer Music or Music Tech discs and/or go to websites like www.hitsquad.com and start downloading demo programs.

 

[flanneljammies]

It's basically what most of us are doing.

You should go out to the bookstore and start reading all the magazines and books that can get you up to speed:

Tape Op!

 

[AlChuck]

I understand the concept of click tracks but how does this work with time changes? Also, what if I record drums first but there's a part in the song with a time change and no drums? Do I have to program a click track accordingly or what?

By time changes do you mean that the tempo changes (speeds up. slows down) or are you talking about meter changes (for example, a 4/4 section goes into a couple of bars of 5/4, then back to 4/4)?

Usually what you do for tempo changes in MIDI sequences is use a tempo map -- basically tempo changes are inserted into the sequence at appropriate places. A click on beat one will always be on beat one at the current tempo, so as the sequence plays and the tempo changes, the click (and all the MIDI data) follows the tempo.

For audio tracks this is an entirely different matter. Basically audio just gets recorded -- you play, it records. There is no tempo reference inherent in the music being played beyond the accuracy of the players. A tempo map can be derived from audio tracks but it's harder -- more or less easier if you have a very precise audible timing reference (a snare part, for example, with a very clear attack).

 

[Bulls Hit]

Also, what if I record drums first but there's a part in the song with a time change and no drums? Do I have to program a click track accordingly or what?

When I first started recording drum tracks, I would play the song right thru from go to whoa. I would end up doing 6, 8, 10 or more takes and usually end up with something less than perfect anyway. Now I tend to record drums in sections, cut the best bits out, loop them and stitch the various sections together. The results are getting better.

Another option for a 'drumless' section in your song is to continue playing the beat to keep the tempo, and then use an envelope during mixing to remove that section of drums.

Finally, any advice on which software package is good for this? Any other one man bands out there with any other advice?

As you've got the Delta 44 I'm assuming you don't need midi. You can therefore get by with an audio only program such as Cakewalk Guitar Tracks Pro, which is what I use. No point paying for stuff you don't need