SHow ME the Way I beg of you DR-3 How do i simply Record??

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sherayd

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I am in desperate need of attention and direction. I got a Boss Dr-3 and I am sure it is what i want, my only problem is, I cannot figure out how to simply record my own made up beats, then make them loop so that i can record my guitar along with it all while recording on some seperate cassette recorder. My skillz are primative. I feel like zoolander trying to work this thing. If you don't mind explaining it to me I would appreciate it.

-Sheray
(Shuh-ray)
you wanted to know that didn't you?
 
There's these things... called instruction manuals.

And they're really cool.

.
 
chessrock said:
There's these things... called instruction manuals.

And they're really cool.

.
Click to expand...

you must be one boring mofo if you think instruction manuals are cool. sherayd, rtfm! lazy bastard. if you have problems with the instruction manual jargon, come back and ask questions.
 
Get yourself some recording software...a cassette recorder? Gotta upgrade, yo...
 
Opinions are like assholes......

chessrock said:
There's these things... called instruction manuals.

And they're really cool.

.
Click to expand...

Thank you gentlemen for your clear and effortless sarcasm. I have read the instruction manual, I thought it would be apparent that i needed further instructions , being that I am on the internet, a place where plenty of instructional jargon is available at my fingertips but NOOOOOoo, I decided to implore an actual humanoid. Big mistake I see, but thanks for the witty commentary, you've inspired me to write a song.

So thanks,

We're all winners!

-sherayd
 
I'm going to keep trying Lasagne

Thank you for your encouragement.

I adore you for that response.

ciao!

-sherayd
 
I'll try a real answer!!!

So, do you know how to operate the Boss drum machine thingy? If not, start there.

*waits*

Okay, now that you know how to operate the drum machine and have created the appropriate beats, let's get down to business.

Do you have a computer of some type (Mac or PC), that has been purchased in the current millenium? If so, let us know the specs, and here's why:

You are looking to create some sort of multi-tracked recording, whether you have the option of mixing later or not. In the case of recording guitar over created drum beats, and running the mix to a stereo recorder (like a cassette recorder), you are not going to have the option of mixing later.

The easiest way to go about doing all of this stuff would really be to buy an interface for your PC or Mac, and then record in that manner.

However, if you are hell-bent on simply mixing guitar over a drum machine into a stereo recorder, then at the very least you will need a mixer. Let's say something like this guy:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Behringer-Xenyx-502-Mixer?sku=631262

Essentially, you would plug the two 1/4" output jacks from the Boss drum machine into the L & R 1/4" jacks on channels 2-3 or 4-5, and then turn up the volume on the mixer appropriately.

Then, using channel 1, you would run in your guitar signal. I'm not sure what that might be - whether its a microphone in front an amp or an acoustic, or if its a guitar plugged straight in.

Then, after monitoring over headphones from the headphone jack on the little mixer, you would run the stereo Tape-Out to the input of your cassette recorder. Hit record, then start the Boss machine and play along.

That's the barebones way of doing what is nowadays considered one of the most crude multitrack recording sessions I can think of.

If you have a computer, all you would need to do is buy an interface, which can be explained as well, and then use multitrack recording software to do all sorts of fun things. Plus, the mixes you create won't be permanent, and won't have been recorded to something as lo-fi as commercial cassette tape.
 
Once we have all this sorted out, you may also want to elaborate on how you record your guitar, and what type you have... is it electric or acoustic, and do you plan on mic'ing the guitar/amp or running it into the recorder direct? If you have a mic and plan to use it, what brand / model is it? I know I stated this above, but it is rather important.
 
Man, it would be interesting to go back to basics and record using, let's say...

A good mic and preamp, but then you have to run the output to a little mixer like that, and then run the output to a cassette deck. Then, to add another track, you would have to take the cassette tape out of the output deck, and put it in a second tape deck that is running into a second channel on the little mixer. Put a blank tape in the output deck, hit record, then hit play on the input deck and play along :eek:

Do this until your masterpiece is finished. Now, sure, by the time the last track is played, the one you first recorded will probably be non-existant from overdubs and noise seeping in, but whatever.

Hmm... I have the mixer, the mics, the preamps and the instruments. All I need is to get ahold of two consumer-grade cassette recorders and go to town. Perhaps I'll post my best effort :D
 
Cusebassman You're a Godsend

Of course I will have to read re-read and have a recording glossary nearby in order to comprehend what you said, but I really love the fact that you took time out of your day to give me and my relatively current issue, some attention. Thank you.

This is what i own thus far:

-Electric acoustic takamine g series
[had to trade my acoustic fender to get this drum machine so please don't suggest that i get a better guitar]

-Boss Dr-3

-FirstAct Amp
[it was a gift from mumsy, spare the remarks please, she knew that i had to get rid of my better amp so, she tried and i love her]

-GE personal portable recorder and cassette player w/built-in and extdrnal mic system it says

-PC inspiron/1000 windows xp

-AudioMulch temporary program(i don't know how to use this either)

and what else, oh mics, i don't own any mics, n fact the only things that i bought with my money are the guitar and drum machine.
There are kareoke mics in the house i think they are from radioshack or something,...let me check...brb!

Okay one mic is purple and nameless, the other is silver and reads "The singing co. inc" So techinically i don't have a mic i guess, althought the cassette player comes with an extra mic that i can plug-in to my pc.

THats about it, but i do try to use what i have to the best of my ability, like this old home theater system we have, i hooked the drum machine up to it and have really cool surround sounding amp now.

My specialty is singing and writing songs playing the acoustic. Needless to say i am not a gearhead but my ultimate goal is to record my songs and hear them on a cd just so i can say i did that. Playing live is my favorite thing to do but if I can sound better fleshing out my songs with more rythme it could be cool. Again, thanks for your help.

Cheers!

sherayd
 
Does your life suck too?

fraserhutch said:
You did??????
Click to expand...
Maybe we'll be best mates if that is the case, because you obvioulsy have nothing better to do than insult someone's intelligence or lack thereof.

peace mate!

-sherayd
 
no hard feelings sherayd. we bust each others chops around here regularly.
 
sherayd said:
Maybe we'll be best mates if that is the case, because you obvioulsy have nothing better to do than insult someone's intelligence or lack thereof.

peace mate!

-sherayd
Click to expand...

I haven't even BEGUN to insult your intelligence, mate, but it has to show up for the fight first :)

FWIW, I was not insulting your intelligence, merely questioning what someone else found witty.
 
Don't have much time to formulate a better plan at the moment, so here's just one thought.

It would take a considerable amount of money to upgrade your setup, from the sound of things (talking, say, a couple hundred to start).

One idea is to test recording just vocals and guitar straight into the built-in mic on the recorder live. If you get some sort of decent sound from that setup, perhaps then try playing the drums through the sound system you have, and playing in front of the system and singing, with the mic in front of the whole mess. If you can get something that is passable with just guitar and/or vocals, spending a lot of time futzing with the volume of the drum machine over the stereo and the placement of the cassette recorder might give you some (albeit quite amateur) results. Sounds like you are interested in obtaining some sort of standing record of your performances, but quality is perhaps not of the utmost concern.

And there's nothing wrong with that - you didn't get a lot of responses (aside from the sarcastic ones, of course), because most people here are focused on trying to get as close to professional as possible, even with extremely limited budgets. And, home recording is a deep, yawning chasm that will eat every last dollar you show it if you let it get ahold of you completely, hehe

I'm not sure what the exact specs of your desktop are, but I can give you a next-step-up solution to try to work toward. Most people use their laptop/desktop for multitrack recording, and they get the microphone/instrument signals to the computer by means of an interface, like the following:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/prod...ro-Mobile-USB-AudioMIDI-Interface?sku=241710V

For what you would be doing, this would be more than sufficient. Tack on a decent low-end mic for recording your guitar/vocals/etc, and you've got pretty much what you need to start learning computer-based recording. One such popular mic is the Studio Projects B1:

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--STUB1

This combination would run about 270 dollars, which I understand is nothing to sneeze at. However, as I said, perhaps it is more something to research and look toward potentially setting up in the future if you really get into making these recordings work, and find you have the option of upgrading.

Any more questions, feel free to ask away!
 
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