Pointers Needed: Newbie To Recording

[simpleshadow]

I'm so glad I've discovered this forum and I'm hoping that it will help me along in my adventure of home recording.

So I finally went out and bought a nice mic, got a copy of Adobe Audition (of which I know may not be the best software) and Fruity Loops, and got my preamps. I've probably spent the last month and a half reading articles and practicing and I've come a long ways from where I starter; however, I'm still not getting the quality recordings I want and perhaps it's because I'm so anal and I don't exactly have the best environment for home recording. Though this is probably not of importance, my style of music mainly consists of the styles indie, acoustic, pop, and emo reflecting the likes of such popular bands as The Postal Service, Dashboard Confessional, and The All-American Rejects.

I'm just in need of a lil' advice when it comes to using programs like Fruity Loops and creating synthesized beats and incorporating them with recorded tracks. I don't know where to begin to look and everything seems so expensive on my poor college budget. Is there quality loops out there for cheap or free? Or perhaps I need to be using a different program for using loops and creating synthesized beats? Should I consider getting a keyboard to be able to do sampling because it's so tedious using my mouse to accomplish most of the synthesized stuff? Where are good drum loops? I also can figure out how to import my recorded tracks in Fruity Loops but this is just a stupid user error .

Any help is greatly appriciated. Also, take the time if you want and check out the above mentioned bands so you have an understanding of the style of recording I'm trying to accomplish.

Home recording, I've discovered, is horribly frustrating, sickining, and discouraging but the end results tend to be worth it. Thanks in advance!

 

[aaroncomp]

I've just got a second, so...

You mention incorporating your drum tracks with "recorded" parts - make sure to record after you've created a drum track, even if it is temporary; otherwise, you're timing is going to be off. So, drum track first.

I recommend DFH (Drumkits From Hell) - it's a sampler you can run in Fruity Loops for doing awesome drum tracks - the basic version is only like $95. MIDI keyboards help with the creative flow of making drum tracks, and are faster - get one if you can; plus you can use it so many other things.

If you are wanting just one track from FL, go to FILE>EXPORT>WAVEFILE then save it as whatever and load that into Audition. Hope this helps.

 

[simpleshadow]

Thanks for your time aaron and I hope ya come back!

I always use the metronome (which sounds horrible) in Adobe Audition when recording to make sure I'm in tempo. I also just talked to a friend who uses a keyboard for his professional recording and said I should get a MIDI keyboard because it helps a lot too.

This begs the question of where can I find one for good quality and a cheap price?

Thanks for the help aaron! Any other advice is greatly appriciated

 

[Dogman]

I definitly agree with aaron on the drums. I tried to use the metronome, then create some loops later, and it sounded bad. Nothing fit right. Doing drums first helps.

Ed

 

[SPINSTERWUN]

#1 You should make you beat track in FLP, first.

#2 Drum Kit From Hell, Puuurfect Drums, and or ProSample CD's

#3 What's your budget?

#4 Get a midi keyboard (there are a ton to choose from).

#5 check prices on EBAY

 

[simpleshadow]

Budget? Well, after looking through some keyboards on pricegrabber and tumbling through google I think I'm willing to spend up to $250. I discovered the M Audio 61 Radium and read reviews for it at MusiciansFriend. Seems pretty good for $180 and it's large enough for what I'm lookin' to do. What do you think? I play piano so I'm cool with keyboards and it'd be nice to have the ability to use FruityLoops or Reason with it.

Reason seems to be enticing me more as well. It seems put together better and aimed towards a professional crowd. Anyone know the major differences between Reason and Fruity Loops as well as the pros and cons of each?

Thanks SPINSTERWUN. More advice is welcome!