Step one...a little advice?

[jetfixer03]

Glad I found you guys..looks great!
I play guitar and have a keyboard that I can use for other stuff. Not looking to make a demo to send to Sony..just wanna fool around and make some music. I have a Sony computer with XP. I just downloaded N-Track. Before I put alot of time into trying it out, is this a good program to go with...I don't wanna have to study the book for two years before I can do anything, but I also want a flexible tool..not one of those crappy guitar programs they sell down at Best buy. I can see already that a sound card is in my future...suggestions for a card that wont break the bank?

Thanks for any help!

 

[rudalicious]

im kinda a newb to recording too... but something valueable i have learned already... get a good preamp and dont cut corners on it

Rudy

 

[jetfixer03]

Pre-amp eh....I thought I could just plug into the sound card....see I AM a newbie!

 

[JGunnerG]

Some soudcards do have a preamp biult it, but they really aren' twhat you want for recording music. You should check out the Ntrack forum here and on their website to find out what it can do. Ive been using the demo of Ntrack for a while now and i really like it. The only setback with it for me, and i just found this out today, is that i use drumloops and i cant change the tempo with Ntrack. If you wanna take advice from a guy who is still a newbie too, is Ntrack is great to learn on...and its better to spend money on a good preamp and a good mic, and then if you grow beyond the Ntracks limits, upgrade. I believe that seems to be the general consensus on the forum for people starting out. Hope that makes sense!!?!

 

[noisedude]

don't know about n-track but here's what i do know.

Soundcard: look at the M-audio range. the Audiophile 2496 is a great place to start, with the same AD/DA converters as cards much higher up the range. I have the Delta44 which is just 4 analogue ins and 4 outs, but with a breakout box which can be much more convenient.

These cards have no pre-amps built in so you will need your own. They take the form of dedicated units or in the mic channels of mixers. For cheap mixers look at Yamaha MGs rather than Behringer UBs. Avoid the old Behringer MX range, they're 'relatively' dreadful.

Remember you will need 2 ins and 2 outs to form a stereo pair in each direction. So for your keys you will need two ins, for recording your guitar you can record to two seperate tracks at once if you're using two 'mono' mics.

Mics: look at the Studio Projects B1. but really you should go to the Mics FAQ page HERE .

Hope that helps for starters.

 

[stonepiano]

good advice noisedude.

 

[jetfixer03]

Thanks for the input guys!!

 

[noisedude]

good advice noisedude.

well thank you! i try. it's kinda a pay-back for people answering my questions that i get down the newbie board once a week and do some behringer advice....uh, i mean newbie advice!!

 

[Ibrow]

If you have room, get yourself a small mixer instead of just a pre-amp. I got the 16 channel Behringer Euro and have had no problems at all. I started with just a pre-amp, a tube MP, then a couple of years later learned about mixers. Now I never even use my Pre. Get yourself a small mixer.

And the M-Audio 2496 Audiophile kicks ass for $150. You don't have to worry about a crappy card killing your sound, you will now have MIDI I/O for your keyboard(assuming it has MIDI of course LOL!), and RCA I/O's and SPDIF for your different recording purposes.

Also, get an SM57 Dynamic mic. You can use them for almost anything, basically, forever. For software you can go with N-Track, or you can try Magix Studio 7 or 8 or whatever for like $30-$40 at Best Buy. I think it includes their tracking software, sound editor, and sequencer. Check out their site. Most all tracking software do the same things with about the same commands. Once you learn one, you basically learn them all. Sequencers, like Sonar and such, take a bit more to know with adding MIDI and stuff.

Now you have a computer, a quality sound card, a keyboard, a guitar, amp, some software, a mixing board, and a microphone. Sounds like a home studio to me.


EDIT:

I looked it up, the newest version of Magix Studio Deluxe can be had for around $70. Magix Studio 7, as I suggested, can be had for $20-$30 including shipping on eBay.

 

[rudalicious]

just beware of the yamaha mgs. I have an mg 10. Its great to have around but I find that youneed a preamp in addition. When I used the pre's built into the mg mixer it was noiser and less powerful than a "dedicated" preamp or whatever you might call it. I just got the M-Audio DMP3 and there is a world of difference between the two. I will have to agree with Ibrow that you do need a mixer but I would really suggest getting another preamp also. Just my opinion though.

hope that helps a bit

Rudy

 

[noisedude]

If you have room, get yourself a small mixer instead of just a pre-amp. I got the 16 channel Behringer Euro and have had no problems at all. I started with just a pre-amp, a tube MP, then a couple of years later learned about mixers. Now I never even use my Pre. Get yourself a small mixer.


Also, get an SM57 Dynamic mic. You can use them for almost anything, basically, forever.

not convinced about this advice. the SM57 is a very average mic now, and to get the best from it you need a great preamp.

you're not going to get great preamps in a behringer mixer.

rudy's right, if you only need one or two channels of input at a time, buy the M-Audio DMP-3. run a search on this site and find out how highly people rate it. it will wipe the floor with ALL cheap mixers.

 

[Track Rat]

This is correct.

 

[j0s1ah]

is an art studio v3 tube mp a good pre to start. i picked one up for 100 bucks at samash..i was kinda in a hurry b/c we had to move internationally so i needed something quick and he made it sound ok...whats the differencde between tube and just a normal pre? voices?

 

[Jotosuds]

audio buddy for preamp. 80 bucks. i got one. works good.

buy a dmp3 if it's a good price.

buy a RNP if you got's the cash...

and up you go...

 

[jetfixer03]

It sounds like you guys are mostly talking about micing. What if I want to run regular guitar effects or a multi effect like my zoom 505 directly in, would I do that through the DMP 3 also? Would something like a Line 6 Pod work better? I'm getting there guys, it's just that micing my amp isn't the best option for me where I'm living. Or what about running a guitar in dry and using modules...is that the way to go? If so, DMP3 again? Effects directly in or directly in dry and modules were the two methods I origonally had in mind..just not sure how to do it.

thanks again.

BTW...I had my head up my arse and kind of double posted with a similar thread...I apologize about that!

CJ