Where do I start? PC recording.

[Portsound570]

I am not loooking for too flashy of recording quality but I want an easy way to get good recordings onto my computer.
I want to make demo quality recordings. I have a laptop with all the usb/firewire inputs.

I need to find out what hardware/software combination to buy. ask me questions if I did not give you a clear account of what I am looking for.

[cdog]

How'd you wind up here

To be honest this is not a beginners forum but we're all nice folks and we'll help you out anyway!

I recently helped a friend set up something similar. I assume you have a PC. Let get... er... prudent!

M-Audio MobilePre USB - $149

Cakewalk Home Studio 2004 - $89

Marshal MXL 990 - $59 (musiciansfriend.com blowout)

Not too slutty but it'll get you going for under $300!

Not sure sure if you need a mic or what, but a budget condenser should do the trick for basics.

You should go to these sites for basic information that will be more helpful to you at this point:

acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/

http://www.musicplayer.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi

You will understand the concept "latency" very soon though!

[Portsound570]

I was eyeing up some M-audio stuff.
I know about cakework.
And I will have to find out What the MXL is. Luckily I have a catalog w/ me.

I have creativity and drive to do this stuff I just need to learn how to record. When I get good at using this setup I will be ready to learn more stuff so it works out. So have most of these guys gone to school for recording?


Thank you for the resources.

[Jason Poulin]

hey Portsound,

Hang around here for a while and you'll have plenty of schooling.

Take advantage of the search option and really benifit for this site.

You'll need to start with a multi track recorder which can be PC or software. Learn how to use it, and how to process your signals.

Then move on to mics and preamps. Start small then buy one piece at a time, one that may be able to record many sources.

take a look at the Aadvark Q10 for soundcard/converter/preamp, at this point, it will be the most important thing you have after an audio workstation.

With that and a decent mic (300-500$ should be decent for you) you'll be well on your way. Absorb what's on this site, but remember this is a more advance site so you may want to check for more beginner forums (I can't think of any on the top of my head but google.com it and you're in)

Hopefully in time, you'll be one hell of a Gearslut!

Good luck
Jason

[RyanR]

Portsound570,

Your question is very open ended.

There are many capable software sequencers out there; it's really just up to you what you want. The great thing is you can demo a lot of them - so demo as many as you can and pick the one you like best. If you don't know how to use it, d/l the manual, go to the help menu, search google for a tutorial on it, or go to the specific user group/list for it and ask questions - problem solved. In other words, don't just sit there - get your hands dirty. Here are a few you might wanna check: ProTools LE, Cubase, Logic, Sonar, Acid, Live, Digital Performer, Reason, Samplitude, Cakewalk HS, Fruityloops, etc, it just goes on and on.

There are also many capable USB/firewire soundcards out there. If you're a beginner, figure out how many inputs/outputs you need, and if you need any preamplifiers (pre's) - that depends on what you're gonna record. The options are endless here. Again, just get something and start getting your hands dirty.

Really, you need to read, research, learn, and then repeat. Once you get gear continue by recording, analyzing, learning, and then repeating (or not repeating if it's not right). There are a million things that go into great recordings, and if you're expecting to step right up and make "demo quality" recordings, well, that's probably not gonna happen. Gear allows you to record, and does effect quality, but in the end, it's your experience/knowledge that will allow you to make "demo quality" recordings. So start getting that experience and worry about the "demo quality" recording later - hell, in a few years you'll understand that a "demo quality" recording only partially depends on your sequencer and soundcard anyway.

[Jason Poulin]

http://www.theprojectstudiohandbook.com/forums.htm

here's a link that should get you on your way.

there's a good home recording forum you might want to scope out.

Jason

[Randall]

Laptop? USB? Firewire? PCI Card? Windows or OSX? I would consider starting my search right here!! lots of laptop and desktop possibilities!! affordable, stable and great sound quality. These guys are about to come up, Slashing at the tender white underbelly, I feel it in my bones! Wait till y'all see some of their new offerings at NAMM! No BS!

http://www.esi-pro.com/

Dont let anybody discourage you man, this is a great website that has something to offer everybody, whatever their skill level may be.
Using the search option before asking a question is always a good idea, welcome aboard, now grab yer ass and get ready for the ride of your life!!
There are seasoned pro's around here that will gladly help you if you seem and are sincere about the knowledge you request.

Hey, all the sudden I feel like PR guy.

[johnnyblotter]

definitely check out this site

www.audioforums.com

it's pretty much a DAW builders site, but people are real cool about answering beginner questions.

[Bastiaan]

If you decide to get anything protools, check the DUC

It's the Digidesign User Conference, and a lot of stuff gets discussed there. Its much like here, but usually aimed at a lower budget. Maybe interesting if you decide to get anything not protools, but i doubt it. Anyway...check out for yourself.

(If i crossed the line here by advising another forum...let me know please.)

[excellrec]

MOst importantly i think you should tell us what type of music you are trying to make. Although demo'ing may sound like a good idea for programs i think a beginner will probabkly just end up scratching his/her head trying to figure out how to do anything in one let alone figuring out which one is better.

Choosing where you start out is a very crucial time because the things you start out with could leave you with a natural inclination towards thenm the rest of your life (i know it has for me, and look at some of these guys and tape ) thus forging part of your sound based on they're abilities and so forth. This of course carries different weights depending on how influential the gear inherently is in the music your making.

I would suggest figuring out what your influences use, what people with the type of sound your looking for have been using. Then maybe ask people around here about it. Meanwhile if you gotta start out somewhere the suggestions above sound good to me.

[rockum]

Instead of cakewalk I would recommend you try out Tracktion. I've used a lot of host and this one is my favorite in many ways. Plus it's only $80 and runs on PC and Mac OS X.

[neilsby]

I've been in the game for a year and wanted something easy to use, and capable of recording to demo quality, but not limiting me, so i went for:

Carillon PC - 2.6ghz, 512mb RAM, 2x120Gb Hard Drives, 19inch Monitor, 2 CD-RW Drives and Zip Drive.

MOTU 828mkII Audio Interface - 96khz/24bit.

Focusrite Platinum Penta (channel strip, compressor).

M-Audio Duo (use for pre-amps)

Tannoy Reveal monitors

Logic Audio Platinum 5.3

B&W 602 S2 Speakers

Sennheiser HD590 headphones (open-back)

AKG 271 Headphones

Rotel Amp and HDCD Player.

1x SM58
3x SM57
1x SM57 beta
1x AKG SE300b (cardioid cap)
1x D112
2x AKG C3000b
1x Studio Projects C1
1x AKG C1000

When i record drums i borrow either a Soundcraft Ghost mixer or an Aardvark Q10, but i'm looking for an 8-channel strip as my next purchase.

Hope that helps.

[neilsby]

Just added a pair of JBL LSR25Ps to that list. :D, (I'm monitoring in a very very small student house style room!) Probably won't need a woofer with them and at £299.99 for a PAIR NEW, it was a bit of a deal!

[Portsound570]

Originally posted by excellrec
MOst importantly i think you should tell us what type of music you are trying to make. Although demo'ing may sound like a good idea for programs i think a beginner will probabkly just end up scratching his/her head trying to figure out how to do anything in one let alone figuring out which one is better.

Choosing where you start out is a very crucial time because the things you start out with could leave you with a natural inclination towards them the rest of your life (i know it has for me, and look at some of these guys and tape jump ) thus forging part of your sound based on they're abilities and so forth. This of course carries different weights depending on how influential the gear inherently is in the music your making.

I would suggest figuring out what your influences use, what people with the type of sound your looking for have been using. Then maybe ask people around here about it. Meanwhile if you gotta start out somewhere the suggestions above sound good to me.

I am into metal/rock/punk/hardcore all that has heavy guitars and double bass drumming, shouted vocals.

Yeah I am hearing you. I will have to talk to some of my friends who know some people who record my style of music.

[CV7]

I personally would stay away from the M-Audio stuff, really crappy IMO. I would go for the Lynx cards, which are much higher in sound quality.

[Randall]

Originally posted by Portsound570
I am into metal/rock/punk/hardcore all that has heavy guitars and double bass drumming, shouted vocals.

Yeah I am hearing you. I will have to talk to some of my friends who know some people who record my style of music.

Notice how nobody is recomending any analog gear at all?
especially for a guy wants to cut Hard Rock?
Interesting! Disturbing!! Frightening!!!

[Portsound570]

I am working with a laptop as of the moment. just a reminder

[Portsound570]

Originally posted by Randall
Notice how nobody is recomending any analog gear at all?
especially for a guy wants to cut Hard Rock?
Interesting! Disturbing!! Frightening!!!

The money is still invested. putting thought into this. it is a short while till I start buying. to record with I want to also be able to get into a little more than just a normal demo.

I want to do some looping like second and solo guitar parts, group vocals, maybe even just record vocals altogether. this is my interest