i have a question and if anyone could help me out id appreciate it.

we're looking for a very inexpensive way of recording because we dont have money. we've recorded some of our songs to a camcorder, and, while it may not be the best quality, it is good enough. next we're going to get a cable to transfer it to a computer and then edit it and hopefully make a cd. so heres my question: what software could we use and is there a way that we can take out the visuals and just make it audio? we want to make a cd, not a dvd, if thats possible.

thanks

^^ Or what would be another cheap way to record. Do those multi-track ones record everything at once?

yeah multi-track recorders do record everything at once, if you buy one with enough inputs.

That kid, try to get a copy of cool edit pro 2.0, or adobe audition. You can simply click, extract audio from video, and there you go. You can then play around with the audio file and chop into different songs, and burn it to CD!

OK here we go...

[U][B]LESSON 4, IN THE MIX[/B][/U]

The main two things to constantly keep in mind when recording are

-make sure you get everything making a sound that will work well with the other sounds
-you ussually cant fix stuff all that well in the mix so, try to get the best sound possible when recording.

I've met a few other producers who get an ok sound and say "we'll just patch it up in the mix. This is wrong, wrong, wrong. To make it really easy to get an un-real sound when mixing, make sure you get un-real sounds whe recording.

Ok, there are two kindof ways you can go when mixing
1. Set all levels to nothing and bring them up one at a time, Eg, Bring up the Kick, then the snare, then the hats, then the toms, then the cymbals, then the bass guitar, then the lead, etc.

2. Set all the levels to 3/4 of the way up and adjust it from there. I suggest this method for more advanced recordists.

OK some tips and tricks:
-filter effects sound cool on vocals, for a bridge or something, but not the whole song
-light reverb gives vocals depth.
-the more reverb u put on something, the further away it sounds
-compression on drums
-compression on distorted guitars
-gate the kick drum to keep other drums out of this track, this applys to all drums actually
-less eq is often more, if you know what I mean
-often, just balancing the levels is all a mix needs, if you go over the top with effects it will surely start to sound like ****
-the adobe audition/cool edit pro preset called "power drums" enhances the drums alot!
-if something sounds a little strange, put a 30 band EQ on it and raise each band untill you find a really off sounding one, and drop it down a bit.

There you go, sometips and tricks for mixing, but heres a rough step by step guide
1. get a good sound when recording (most important)
2. Have a couple of days off between Mixing and recording
3. clean your studio thouroghly!
4. Set the levels.
5.have a break, go for a walk, or a surf or something to clear your head, drink a cup of tea. Dont drink any alcohol or smoke any dope!
6. go back in and listen through a couple of times, taking notes about what effects might be good.
7. Put the effects on. Be sparing, less is often more
8. Save it, turn everything off, lock up the studio, or just close the door if its in your house, and go hang with your friends for a couple of days. Listen to lots of music, maybe even dance like iggy pop for a while, meditate if thats what turns you on, go for a swim. Eat bacon and eggs (this isn't neccicary), go running. Then have a day of rest.
9. Then and only then, when your completetly relaxed, open up the studio and listen to the mix again. You'll probebly want to change about half of what you've done. After youve mixed it completly, make a mixdown, but keep the mix, in case a magical idea hits you!
10. Your all done! You dont have to spend this much time on all the songs, it just depends on how much time you have. I suggest recording in the summer holidays.
PS dont mix drunk!

Ok now you ready for lesson 4
MASTERING
PS common man sticky this

Hey man. This is a brilliant thread. Keep up the good work!

All right

[U][B]MASTERING[/B][/U]

mastering is the prosses of getting the audio as loud as possible, without it distorting and making the audio ready for broadcast or whatever your going to do with it.

Bassically the prosess involves

1. Turn the volume of the wave file up untill it distorts then bring it down a bit.
2. Add compression/limiting. It would take a very long time to explain how to use these two effects properly, so I suggest you type something into google.
3. Add eq, this may not be neccisary, but then again might be.
4. If you can, then record the whole thing through a tube preamp, to give it warmth, onto a minidisk or something, and then put it back onto the computer.

there you have it. The song is done!

Next lesson: Tips and tricks for pro sounding recordings on a budget.

After I have finished all the lessons I might make a printable version, does anyone think this would be good, as like a reference for when your recording...

ya i think that would be awsome i bet i will help out a bunch of ppl :thumb:

it will*

OK>

[B][U]LESSON 5[/U][/B]

TIPS AND TRICKS!

-if your running a mic through a mic pre-amp and a compressor, put the compressor first, so that what the pre-amp is proccesing is allready a nice compressed signal.
-the further away a mic is from its source, the more ambient it sounds.
-if your in the right frame of mind, recording becomes alot more easy and enjoyable
-having a wide range if mics is great
-for heavey stuff, sometimes a second mic inside the back of the amp sounds good
-for acoustic guitars, put two mics, one further away than the other, put a little reverb on, and pan the mics left and right. This gives an awsome, spacial Effect
-Take the time to experiment, sometimes the most awsome sounds come from doing the strangest things!
-If your studio dousn't sound pro enough for u, and u play rock and roll, try to get a 70's sound.
-Buying cheap gear, wont get you the goods, but there are some tricks (see below)
-mini mixers (like 8 ins) are great for home recording, so dont go for some big 56 track automated desk, because your not going to have enough outputs on the computer!
-listen to CDs and try to figure out how they got that sound.
-dont try to record in a big fat pile of leads and ****. In my studio i've run a multicore from all the different rooms into the controll room. U can do the same sort of thing by putting leads under rugs and stuff.

TRICKS FOR RECORDING ON A BUDGET

-to get a big led zeplin drum sound on a budget, tune the snare low, put a mic in the kick drum and put a condendser as far away from the kit as possible (while still in the same room)
-buy a soldering Iron and learn to fix your own leads, and eventually make your own, this can save alot of money
-split the recording costs between the band and put your studio in a place that everone agrees on
-if you cant afford a souncard with lots of inputs, do your parts one at a time, with someone playing along with your drummer with headphones.
-remember that a stereo input can be split into two mono ones using an adapter (for example a 3 input sound card becomes a 6 input sound card!)
-although you pressumably have little money, spend what u do have wisely, and research lots before you buy!

Well thats enough to get you guys going, ask a few questions, cos I'm about to make a printable version, With a freqently asked questions part...

I hope that youve all enjoyed these lessons as much as I've enjoyed writing them for u. Look out for the new thread (Home Recording: Printable)

Goodbye

thanks, theabstract. you're the man :thumb:

Thanks that kid!
If anyone is wondering The abstract is the name of my band, I'm nit an abstract person.

*not*

wow, that is great stuff Sorry I didnt notice this before.

hey theabstract how much is a decent soundcard that is in canadian dollars

Hey theabstract, you have any mp3's of bands/artists you recorded in your studio?

rockin drummer, i'll get back to you soon on that one

Forever branded, Yeah I have some MP3's, but I've only just set up my MP3.com.au acount, and apparently they need 3-4 days to check the MP3's, so i'll post some, but it might take a while. Definitly within the next week. What style of music do you like? coz i'll post some that might take your fancy!

Rockindrummer, this is the same one I use "the soundblaster Audigy two platnum external" it costs $466.43, but you could get a different one, It just depends on how many things you want to record...

I am mostly into Rock and Experimental music. Also what are your thought on the Echo Darla 24 sound card? Is it a good buy for a home studio?

I havent seen one, could you give me a website where could check it out?

yeah I found that card, looks like it would be very good if you were just recording yourself. If you were trying to do a whole band at once, it wouldn't really work...

thanks for checkin that out i just wanna record a demo of my band and send it of to some record companies

The audigy card rocks for demos

awsome i think it might b a little expensive do u kno of anything else that is good for demos aswell but not as expensive?

[QUOTE=theabstract]That kid, try to get a copy of cool edit pro 2.0, or adobe audition. You can simply click, extract audio from video, and there you go. You can then play around with the audio file and chop into different songs, and burn it to CD![/QUOTE]

I got cool edit pro 2.0 downloaded but its only a trial version. Where can I get the full version for free?



(I am in his band)

does anyone no were to get sound cards would any electronic store work such as future shop etc.?

Jo Not A Noob. Go to [url]www.kazaa.com[/url] download kazaa, then search for cool edit 2.0 full.

Rocking drummer, behringer is bringing out a good one soon. Check it out [url]www.behringer.com[/url] then go to 'computer based recording'. Get sound cards at computer shops.

[QUOTE=theabstract]Jo Not A Noob. Go to [url]www.kazaa.com[/url] download kazaa, then search for cool edit 2.0 full.

Rocking drummer, behringer is bringing out a good one soon. Check it out [url]www.behringer.com[/url] then go to 'computer based recording'. Get sound cards at computer shops.[/QUOTE]

I'll do that once my trial version is up. Thanks for all the help.

its cool