what do I need???

[kalai]

Hi everyone, I play solo piano, things like George Winston and my own creations. My questions is, I want to make a CD so I can give it to friends and family to listen to, I want the CD to be real good quality, as close to studio quality as I can get, so what do I need, do I need something like cakewalk or something like that and do I need to do some other things like mastering, i don't think I need to do mixing because I am playing solo piano, I am very new at this and I know nothing so tell me all you know that might help me to get a quality CD. Thanks and aloha from Hawaii.

Kalai

 

[adamangler]

you just want to record piano?

if so you`ll be needing a pc, software prog, mic, preamp/interface

but you wont get studio quality unless you build a properly treated room and have thousands of ponds to spend, and have years of knowledge to put the equip to use

you`ll get a decent sound with good mixin skills and decent equip


f you want pro sound and yuour only recording a piano jus go to a studio. id guess it`ll only take you a few hours to do a whole cd

 

[TimOBrien]

My obligatory standard reply-for-newbies that I keep in Wordpad:

First off, immediately get a good beginner recording book (spend $20 before spending hundred$/thousand$) that shows you what you need to get started and how to hook everything up in your studio:
Home Recording for Musicians by Jeff Strong - $15
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/07...ce&n=283155&n=507846&s=books&v=glance
(Wish I'd had that when I started; would have saved me lots of money and time and grief)
You can also pick up this book in most any Borders or Barnes&Noble in the Music Books section!

Another good one is: Recording Guitar and Bass by Huw Price
http://www.amazon.com/Recording-Gui...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215734124&sr=1-1
(I got my copy at a place called Half-Price Books for $6!!)

And you can get a FREE subscription to TapeOp magazine at www.tapeop.com

Barnes&Noble or Borders are great places to start --- they have recording books and you can go get a snack or coffee and read them for FREE! Don't pass by a good recording book --- this is a VERY technical hobby and you REALLY want to start a reference library!!!

Good Newbie guides that also explains all the basics and have good tips:
http://www.tweakheadz.com/guide.htm
http://www.computermusic.co.uk/page/computermusic?entry=free_beginner_pdfs
http://www.harmony-central.com/articles/

21 Ways To Assemble a Recording Rig: http://www.tweakheadz.com/rigs.htm

Also Good Info: http://www.theprojectstudiohandbook.com/directory.htm

Other recording books: http://musicbooksplus.com/home-recording-c-31.html

Still using a built-in soundcard?? Unfortunately, those are made with less than $1 worth of chips for beeps, boops and light gaming (not to mention cheapness for the manufacturer) and NOT quality music production.
#1 Rule of Recording: You MUST replace the built-in soundcard.
Here's a good guide and suggestions: http://www.tweakheadz.com/soundcards_for_the_home_studio.htm


Plenty of software around to record for FREE to start out on:

Audacity: http://audacity.sourceforge.net (multi-track with VST support)
Wavosaur: http://www.wavosaur.com/ (a stereo audio file editor with VST support)\
Kristal: http://www.kreatives.org/kristal/
Other freebies and shareware: www.hitsquad.com/smm

Another great option is REAPER at http://www.cockos.com/reaper/ (It's $50 but runs for free until you get guilty enough to pay for it...)
I use Reaper and highly reccomend it...

Music Notation and MIDI recording: Melody Assistant ($25) and Harmony Assistant ($80) have the power of $600 notation packages - http://myriad-online.com
Demo you can try on the website.

And you can go out to any Barnes&Noble or Borders and pick up "Computer Music" magazine - they have a full FREE studio suite in every issue's DVD, including sequencers, plugins and tons of audio samples. (November 2006 they gave away a full copy of SamplitudeV8SE worth $150, November 2007-on the racks Dec in the US- they gave away SamplitudeV9SE. It pays to watch 'em for giveaways...)

 

[kalai]

Hi guys thanks for the replys, I have a Yamaha P-80 piano and I have a good computer with a good sound card so I am hoping to cut out the mic and other stuff, with that being said, do I need to just get a good software program and if so what do you folks think is good to get for what I need, thanks and aloha.

Kalai

 

[Outlaws]

If you have your music down pat, I would honestly recommend just going to a professional studio for a couple hours. Really, with the money you will spend just to get your foot in the door equipment wise, you could probably get everything recorded, mixed, and MAYBE mastered. Plus you can find a place that does pianos and get a really great sound.

For what you say you are looking for, unless you have a serious interest in the long run with home recording, I would do the studio.

 

[ritelec]

Hi Kalai,
Adam,Tim,and Outlaws gaves some great advice. I agree, If you can find a studio and bang it out in a few hours that may be the way to go. However, I see these package deals out there. Lets say pro tools (m or le) mic, stand, speakers,wiring,and instructional videos selling really cheap. You mentioned you play George Winston and your own creations and want to put together a cd for your family and friends. You could keep creating maybe a bit more and make more cd's for your family and friends. Maybe do some recording with your family and friends. You don't have to go nuts with sound rooms and treatments, pluggins, preamps and stuff. Keep it bare bones. Do some reading and tweaking and you'll get it. And if you decide to go for a small package route, shop around. The mark up on this stuff is unbelievable and they will come down.

Just my two cents.

edit: you know, I was thinking about my post, I still think maybe you should consider getting a small set up, but shopping around,delivery and such may be a bit difficult considering where you live. Also your options for recording studios, if you go that route, are probably limited too.