Recording on a $0 budget

[Squidtech]

What would be the best way to do it with nothing more than a computer and a computer mic.

Is there any decent freeware to use?

Is there a good way to use the mic?


I know someone has had to have done this before..

Thanks in advanced

[kevbud187]

no. dont even waste your time. It will be so horrible i cannot even imagine

[delinquent]

you can use audacity, thats free.

but id suggest not using a computer mic.
not that my microphones are super great, but they do a good enough job for a rough demo. i got them cheap on ebay.

[ljump12]

accutally i have done it, and i came up with a recording that was... well not to bad acctually; it was done with a cheap computer mic and lots of overdubbing, i believe i used audacity to do it.

Illsee if i still have the recording...

[Squidtech]

Well, we've recorded 2 songs already before.... and for my purposes they sounded fine. We aren't trying to publish a record of any sorts. jsut purely entertainment... we kinda get a kick out of it. Thanks for the suggestion of audacity though.. much thanks

[SilverWingedDemon]

I have tried to do it with the band I manage. In his computer the songs were just junk, you could just delete them. I have a laptop that was ment for multimedia, and I was able to create sound images. I used windows sound recorder and there yah go.

But don't waist your time trying to use a computer and mic unless you know what you are doing. You may need to get an audio recording program to make clean music. Just to let you know, if you Do record on the computer, make sure that you set you mic properties on the computer. May want the drummer to play when trying to apply the settings, that way you don't get more drums and less of guitar and bass and vox.

If you have to record (the band is in that situation), ask a couple of other bands if they know anybody who owns a recording studio, or if you play at concerts, ask for band donations.

~Aikai~

[Squidtech]

well, like i said, we are basically just messing around. none of us are really any good. we are just trying to record something for fun. we aren't looking to buy expensive mics or mixers let alone rent a recording studio

[kevbud187]

yes true, but the audio you produce out of a computer mic and audiacity will be so terrible you won't even understand what is going on.

[KKKKKocaine]

well, like i said, we are basically just messing around. none of us are really any good. we are just trying to record something for fun. we aren't looking to buy expensive mics or mixers let alone rent a recording studio

You'll get a much better potential sound by just investing in a single cheap £10-20 dynamic microphone.
Computer mics are really on the bottom rung of the microphone ladder, alongside headphones being run through mic inputs.
Computer mics are bad enough when being used for speech, they have no real pop filter and quality hasn't been considered in the design and construction.
I know you want to record for free, but a computer mic would take some real experience to get a sound that's anything more than clipping, distorted mush.
Buy some cheap dynamic mics, go on the net and find some cheap 'kareoke' mics they're still not ideal, but far better than your average computer mic.

[onetrickpony]

I record on a $0 budget, but I already own a Mac with Garage Band, so that really helps. I use the mic built into my Mac. It's not the greatest, but would pretty well for the type of setup you're looking for.

I think getting a Mac is really the way to go for home recording. Garage Band produces great results, but of course, you'll need a Mac to take advantage. I am blown away by it vs. other programs though.

[Squidtech]

You'll get a much better potential sound by just investing in a single cheap £10-20 dynamic microphone.
Computer mics are really on the bottom rung of the microphone ladder, alongside headphones being run through mic inputs.
Computer mics are bad enough when being used for speech, they have no real pop filter and quality hasn't been considered in the design and construction.
I know you want to record for free, but a computer mic would take some real experience to get a sound that's anything more than clipping, distorted mush.
Buy some cheap dynamic mics, go on the net and find some cheap 'kareoke' mics they're still not ideal, but far better than your average computer mic.
I think i have one around here some where actaully, how do you plug it into the computer though?

[KKKKKocaine]

I think i have one around here some where actaully, how do you plug it into the computer though?

If the mic has a jack output then it'll either be a 1/4 (guitar jack size) or a 1/8 (headphone jack size) If it's 1/8, you can just plug it into the back of your pc at the microphone input. If it's 1/4 then you'll need an adaptor to make it smaller, most electronics stores sell them and they cost about 30p.

If it's an XLR mic then you'll either need to get an adaptor to convert it to a jack or invest in a small mixer and then connect the mixer into your soundcards line in via jack cables.

[SuperTerrorizor]

They do sell adapters for your guitar chords where you put it at the end of the chord and into the mic slot of your audio card in your computer. What i do is i use that adapter at the end of one chord then to my amp then to my guitar and it comes out decent.