home recording

Zehm · June 25th, 2009, 09:26 PM

what's the minimum setup required to do some home recording?
i don't need anything for producing full demos. i just want to experament with vocl layering and counterpoint and such. also i expect it'll help me with precision.

Ocelot2010 · June 25th, 2009, 09:32 PM

I would say just a good microphone that you can hook up to a computer with some kind of recording software on it.
But I have no experience with home recording other than using an audio extractor with a video camera.

thrasherdave · June 25th, 2009, 10:12 PM

Audacity would be a start.

Zehm · June 25th, 2009, 10:21 PM

audacity has never worked for me. i get about 10 seconds into a recording and everything fizzles out.

Ocelot2010 · June 25th, 2009, 10:45 PM

Reaper?

Caveman Ninja · June 26th, 2009, 10:14 AM

I'm old-school, I use Cubase VST. But setting up the buses is such a pain in the arse... I tend to stick to my old fostex digital 8-track...

Covet Chaos · June 26th, 2009, 10:33 AM

Audacity wouldnt be astart unless you were doing rough masters.

I do home recordings all the time.
www.myspace.com/groanuk
www.myspace.com/ministerbonesaw

These are done at minimal cost. I have a Line 6 Pocket POD, Mixcraft 4, EZDrummer (and various add ons) and a 50p desktop microphone. I do music technology propperly at college n such, but i cant afford a lot yet. me and Si from Covet Chaos are getting a few mics and an 8 track so we can record drums. But theres no need to buy a load of gear until you have the technique down and you can get the best possible sound as you can.

If you get the POD and use that, the tones may sound good to you when youve recorded them, but you could buy Amplitube, which is an awesome guitar amp emulator. Better than recording with some head amps id say. But basically, i wouldnt ever use it for distortion, ever. Just get rid of all the pedals and amps and racks on there but use the cab. Having a good cab tone on there is very helpful and makes the tone so much better. Another thing you could do is buy this http://recabi.net/site/trybuy/ It isnt software but it runs through things like Altiverb and works off impulses, great cab sounds.

As for the microphone. Just make your own pop-shield (i have used crisp packets, socks, t-shirts and even a plastic cup for a certain sound). And then just adjust the gain to your voice, but make sure you have a good compressor VST to keep the levels constant because these microphones arent really designed for vocals at all.

WEEEE

Vedicardi · June 26th, 2009, 10:38 AM

You can get a USB microphone I think. Actually I think the Rock Band microphone (which is USB) works really well for recording.

Covet Chaos · June 26th, 2009, 10:52 AM

Id advise against a USB microphone and get something you can plug into the line-in of your computer. Otherwise youll have to record the microphone through the sterio mix,a nd microphones arent sterio, they're mono, so itll probably be hard panned to the left, and the quality wont be as good as it could be through the line-in.

thrasherdave · June 26th, 2009, 11:11 AM

Cubase 4 works okay, I used that at the studio I used to work at. But for you I'd suggest something a little simpler, I have a friend who knows about this shit (he records his stuff at home) so I'll ask him.

Covet Chaos · June 26th, 2009, 11:13 AM

Mixcraft 4 innit. Does everything Cubase 4 does but its a lot more user friendly.

ddhase · June 26th, 2009, 11:30 AM

The zoom H2 is the best recording device ever!!!!
I use this with audacity and record different tracks,then layer them together..................it works absolutely amazing,and it sounds professional.

Zehm · June 27th, 2009, 02:34 AM

how much though? this is to be done in my dorm room mind you.

Covet Chaos · June 27th, 2009, 02:59 AM

Check my post. Pocket POD and EZDrummer, Mixcraft. Sorted.

June 25th, 2009, 09:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
Zehm Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,556	home recording what's the minimum setup required to do some home recording? i don't need anything for producing full demos. i just want to experament with vocl layering and counterpoint and such. also i expect it'll help me with precision.

June 25th, 2009, 09:32 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ocelot2010 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Washington State Posts: 2,124	I would say just a good microphone that you can hook up to a computer with some kind of recording software on it. But I have no experience with home recording other than using an audio extractor with a video camera. __________________

June 25th, 2009, 10:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
thrasherdave Final Boss, Lv.100 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Sheffield, UK Posts: 5,871	Audacity would be a start. __________________ www.myspace.com/officialbloodbrawl

June 25th, 2009, 10:45 PM	#5 (permalink)
Ocelot2010 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Washington State Posts: 2,124	Reaper? __________________

June 26th, 2009, 10:38 AM	#8 (permalink)
Vedicardi Huge Weeaboo Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 292	You can get a USB microphone I think. Actually I think the Rock Band microphone (which is USB) works really well for recording. __________________

June 25th, 2009, 10:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
Zehm Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,556	audacity has never worked for me. i get about 10 seconds into a recording and everything fizzles out.

June 26th, 2009, 10:14 AM	#6 (permalink)
Caveman Ninja 'The Apostrophe Avenger' Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Out of Body (Out of Mind) Posts: 1,359	I'm old-school, I use Cubase VST. But setting up the buses is such a pain in the arse... I tend to stick to my old fostex digital 8-track...

June 26th, 2009, 10:33 AM	#7 (permalink)
Covet Chaos Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: St.Helens Posts: 1,595	Audacity wouldnt be astart unless you were doing rough masters. I do home recordings all the time. www.myspace.com/groanuk www.myspace.com/ministerbonesaw These are done at minimal cost. I have a Line 6 Pocket POD, Mixcraft 4, EZDrummer (and various add ons) and a 50p desktop microphone. I do music technology propperly at college n such, but i cant afford a lot yet. me and Si from Covet Chaos are getting a few mics and an 8 track so we can record drums. But theres no need to buy a load of gear until you have the technique down and you can get the best possible sound as you can. If you get the POD and use that, the tones may sound good to you when youve recorded them, but you could buy Amplitube, which is an awesome guitar amp emulator. Better than recording with some head amps id say. But basically, i wouldnt ever use it for distortion, ever. Just get rid of all the pedals and amps and racks on there but use the cab. Having a good cab tone on there is very helpful and makes the tone so much better. Another thing you could do is buy this http://recabi.net/site/trybuy/ It isnt software but it runs through things like Altiverb and works off impulses, great cab sounds. As for the microphone. Just make your own pop-shield (i have used crisp packets, socks, t-shirts and even a plastic cup for a certain sound). And then just adjust the gain to your voice, but make sure you have a good compressor VST to keep the levels constant because these microphones arent really designed for vocals at all. WEEEE

June 26th, 2009, 10:52 AM	#9 (permalink)
Covet Chaos Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: St.Helens Posts: 1,595	Id advise against a USB microphone and get something you can plug into the line-in of your computer. Otherwise youll have to record the microphone through the sterio mix,a nd microphones arent sterio, they're mono, so itll probably be hard panned to the left, and the quality wont be as good as it could be through the line-in.

June 26th, 2009, 11:11 AM	#10 (permalink)
thrasherdave Final Boss, Lv.100 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Sheffield, UK Posts: 5,871	Cubase 4 works okay, I used that at the studio I used to work at. But for you I'd suggest something a little simpler, I have a friend who knows about this shit (he records his stuff at home) so I'll ask him. __________________ www.myspace.com/officialbloodbrawl

June 26th, 2009, 11:13 AM	#11 (permalink)
Covet Chaos Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: St.Helens Posts: 1,595	Mixcraft 4 innit. Does everything Cubase 4 does but its a lot more user friendly.

June 26th, 2009, 11:30 AM	#12 (permalink)
ddhase MetalHead Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 74	The zoom H2 is the best recording device ever!!!! I use this with audacity and record different tracks,then layer them together..................it works absolutely amazing,and it sounds professional. __________________ "Are you bringing any weapons"...no...."then your not changing anything" - Rambo

June 27th, 2009, 02:34 AM	#13 (permalink)
Zehm Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,556	how much though? this is to be done in my dorm room mind you.

June 27th, 2009, 02:59 AM	#14 (permalink)
Covet Chaos Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: St.Helens Posts: 1,595	Check my post. Pocket POD and EZDrummer, Mixcraft. Sorted.