I want to start recording material...

[stevensonmat2]

on the cheap. I'm just looking for suggestions on cheap software and cheap recording equipment so I can get drum tracks down and record keys, guitar,etc..

thanks :mad:

[Chippy569]

you could probably get a $10 vocal/skype/webchat microphone thing and use the Sound Recorder software that comes with any Windows. (actually, i'm not sure if Vista's got it or not.)

If your computer has line/mic inputs then you can do more/fancier things. How cheap is cheap, how good of quality do you want, and how much are you willing to learn?

[stevensonmat2]

Willing to learn anything, but I don't want to spend a ton right now. I know buying cheap means buying twice, but I'm not looking for super clean, super sharp sounds. I'm going for a rougher sound with drums, and with melodic instruments I just want to be able to play into the comp.

I definitely want better sounds than my computer mic though!

[Chippy569]

give me a $ amount that would be OK to spend right now.

[GooseFilms.net]

Logic is the most for the least, as far as audio software goes. only available for macs though. if you have a mac, theres really no other question if youre on a budget

oh, and IMO there is no such thing as good cheap drum tones. if you want to make music cheap, just use good drum samples. they shall be much better than drum tones you get with non-professional drums, rooms, mics, micing techniques, engineering, software... should i go on?

I have spoken!

[stevensonmat2]

give me a $ amount that would be OK to spend right now.

Ehh, 300 usa max.

And no I has no mac.

[Carn]

Logic is the most for the least, as far as audio software goes.

You could still work with Logic 6.

[Carn]

Ehh, 300 usa max.

And no I as no mac.

I would get a mic like the Shure SM94, a simple mixing panel (which you can hook up with your pc) and go from there.

[Chippy569]

Ehh, 300 usa max.

And no I has no mac.

look for a Zoom H4, or one of Tascam's little recorders. They both work kind of the same way; it's a little box with two mics. You hit record, and it records. Just put the box maybe 3' in front of the kit, at top-of-the-kick level. When you're guitaring, if it's acoustic get really close. If electric, play with the position around the amp. Same with bass.

i think the zooms go for around $300 USD.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/H4/

Tascam DR-1 is the other one i was thinking of.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/DR1/


as for using the recordings, both units have like an SD card inside. You connect the card to the computer and pull off the .WAV files. Then you can go into Audacity (free multitrack software) and "mix" your files together.
If you want to play to one of your tracks, you'd put the track in audacity, play it through headphones, hit record, and play away.



a copy of Logic is still $1k... I agree it's the most for the least but it's still 3.3x his budget before mics.

[Carn]

why invest in stuff like a Zoom if you have a computer available? Zoom's are cool for on the road or in a rehearsalroom but I think a decent mic will give you much better results.

[Chippy569]

but you'd need an interface for a good mic to be even remotely useful, and even iffy interfaces are more than his budget.

[Carn]

but you'd need an interface for a good mic to be even remotely useful, and even iffy interfaces are more than his budget.

uhm, no you dont. A simple mixing panel is all you need.

[Chippy569]

A microphone needs a preamp. The preamp boosts mic level to line level. Most mixing boards have preamps built in, to the channels, but some don't. Here's a mixer that doesn't:
http://www.zzounds.com/item--RLLRM203


Once the mic signal is at line level, it needs to get into the computer somehow. This requires an interface. Some motherboards have them built in; some sort of mic in or line in, probably next to a headphone jack. Some computers will not have one, though, so a USB or Firewire or PCI or Serial or some other form of connectivity interface will be needed.
Here's a PCI interface.
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/MAudio-Delta-1010-LT-PCI-Digital-Audio-System?sku=701376

Here's a firewire interface.
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Apogee-Duet-Firewire-Interface?sku=234444

Here's a USB interface with two built in mic pre's.
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/PreSonus-AudioBox-USB?sku=243007



but after all that, you still need a microphone of comparable quality. This mic is about the cheapest i'd go:
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/AKG-Perception-200-LargeDiaphragm-Condenser-Microphone?sku=271243

and you'd need two to get stereo like the zoom or tascam.

Now tbh the zoom won't have anywhere near the quality bass response just because of the physical size of the capsules. But still. Even with the presonus USB and a pair of the AKG 200's you're overbudget, and still haven't picked up mic cables or stands.


i vote H4 or DR-1. Easier to use, just as effective, for less money.

[Carn]

well, basically every computer has a line in (especially if it has a soundcard), and even the most basic mixers from, lets say, phonic, have preamps.

I would get something like this Mackie:
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Mackie-402VLZ3-Compact-Mixer?sku=630342

+ those AKGs, or the Shure SM94s if you have the budget. And use whatever software you feel comfortable with.

[Chippy569]

That'd work but still overbudget.

[Carn]

you can probably find a cheaper mixer. Also, you don't -need- preamps, as long as the mixer supplies phantom power it should work out allright. I recorded stuff through a mixer to minidisc; worked fine.

Also, you could go with just one mic if you don't need stereo. You can make pretty good recordings with just one mic for demo purposes.

[Chippy569]

the minidisc has a preamp ;) you do need a preamp to get mic level signal (a few millivolts) up to line level (1.2V or so) because 90some percent of gear works at line level.


From wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line_level
Acoustic sounds (such as voices or a musical instruments) are often recorded with transducers (microphones and pickups) that produce weak electrical signals. These signals must be amplified to line level, where they are more easily manipulated by other devices such as mixing consoles and tape recorders. Such amplification is performed by a device known as a preamplifier or "preamp". After manipulation at line level, signals are then typically sent to a device known as a power amplifier, where they are amplified to levels that can drive headphones or loudspeakers, which convert the signals back into sounds that can be heard through the air.

[Carn]

ah, never knew that :)

Also, the SM94 works great with just a kick-mic, thats how most of my stuff was recorded.