a little help from my friends...rec software and more

[EmptinesOf Youth]

i get by with a little help from my friends...i get high...errr i mean....i need some help with more recording questions

 

To start off ive posted some stuff similar to this but these are all new questions!!! i promise i have the korg pxr4 (which i dont recommend)...im actually gonna list it on ebay in a bit. But after all the problems ive had with it i finally figured out that if i just use the line in on my comp it sounds a thousand times better.

what im gonna do it eventually (tomorrow when all my new stuff comes in) is hopefully run my set up like this....

 

Amp->Mic->Mixer->Comp. Line In->Software

 

now i currently have the pro tools free thing and sound forge 6.0 demo. im pretty sure i can get by with these. Im not really familiar with these so this is more of what my questions revolve around. First, from what i gather sound forge is more for mastering so is pro tools free able to record multiple tracks, if so can you please explain a litte? just enough so i know where to go. if i can i think i should be pretty much set, right? Also if this doesnt work, would a 4 track CASSETTE recorder be viable? id run this between the mixer and the computer. then master with sound forge. If so, my big question about these is how many times can you record onto a casstte over and over, does the quality degrade?

thanks you so much

ryan

[BillWelcome Home Studios]

Sound Forge is a stereo editor that has nothing to do with Mastering other than a thousand guys in their basements who claim to use it as a 'mastering' software, because it is cheaper than real mastering gear and their clients wouldn't know the difference, anyway.

 

Throw that free PT thing away, it is trash.

 

You have not described what you are trying to record. So it is hard to advise you. Solo guitar? If so, a stereo editor will work just fine. If you need to record a whole lot of instruments, it is often easier to record and edit in a multitrack format.

 

A good entry level piece is the Tascam US 428, 224, or 122 computer interfaces. They come with software (a lite version of Cubase... not my favorite software, but very popular and more than capable.)MIDI support, a small console, mic pres, A/D, D/A... basically everything that you need to get started. The original, the US 428, is set up very much like a 4 track cassette deck, and is very easy to use and understand.

 

Bill

[spiral light]

I tried PT free when it came out but had problems with it. I agree with Bill, trash it, there are better programs out there that come bundled with other hardware. You also didn't mention what soundcard you have, if you are planning on going in through the Line-In of your soundblaster then I foresee another problem (SB cards are fine for playback, but not recording). Either a USB or Firewire interface (like the Tascam Bill mentioned) would be the easiest solution.

[Teahead]

As the guys have said, you'll need a suitable interface to allow you to overdub and record tracks on your computer. Something like the Tascam US-122... http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/d2/shop_image/product/6ba7f6652350e942831871ad10ac45e4.jpg

 

If you already own a four track. I can highly recommend simply recording everything you need on that. Then just plug the output into the Line In on your PC and record in the software. Then you can experiment with adding mixing features within the software.

 

This is a good way to get started, without splashing out on an interface straight away. I've done this for all the demos on our site, live with a three piece band and it works great. You are limited to the number of tracks, but you still get an MP3 at the end of the day, right?

 

Tea.

[JimK]

Ok, just my $.02.

 

First, I'm assuming you don't want to spend much $$. I'm also going to assume you have a cheap sound card with line-in. Now, it is true that a cheap sound card doesn't have the best D/A converters, BUT, so what. I record using a cheap sound blaster. The results are fine. There is virtually no noise in the signal (the mic input on the card is another story). If you're just starting out, the sound card will not be the limiting factor in your recordings. There's a ton of stuff to learn. Get your feet wet, learn the basics (you can spend years just tweaking EQ), then worry about what type of upgrades you need.

 

I recommend you stick with the cheap sound card and get some easy software to use. Cakewalk Guitar Tracks 2 (about $50) is as simple as it gets. You'll have 8 tracks of audio. You can record one track while monitoring the others. It also comes with a few effects (eq, chorus, flanger, reverb, delay) and some basic drum loops. It won't handle ACIDized loops or MIDI. But, you can upgrade for other Cakewalk products when you need more features. I started on GT2 and upgraded to Guitar Tracks Pro. I use a cheap ($100) Zoom drum machine for the drums and a Digitech GNX3 for amp models and some effects. There's other software you could use too. n-tracks is very popular. There's also Krystal Audio and Tracktion (neither of which I've tried).

 

I'd skip the cassette route. Editing is virtually impossible. The cheap ones are very noisy, you'd get better sound quality from your Korg unit.

[Guitr777]

Yes. Skip the tape, trash the PT and go with Cakewalk. Cakewalk is relatively inexpensive for all of their product line and intuitive to use.

 

My suggestion based on personal experience - if you can afford $350 then you could get a Lexicon Omega digital recording interface. Multiple inputs (6 - two Mic and four line), MIDI In/Out, dbx mic preamps, and Pro Tracks Plus software (manufactured by Cakewalk - almost exactly like Cakewalk Music Creator Pro), Lexicon Reverb plug-in, and a USB interface to your computer.

 

With this rig you can record up to 32 tracks of audio and unlimited tracks of MIDI. Plus you can add DXI plug-ins to add all kinds of effects.

 

The only downside is that the sample rate only goes as high as 48 kHz instead of the more desirable 96 kHz. Since CD quality is 41.1 kHz, 48 kHz isn't a bad way to go.

 

Lexicon Omega

 

Good luck to you!

[BillWelcome Home Studios]

General comments:

 

The problem with recommending interfaces.... what works for one guy doesn't always work for another. You can jump over to the EQ forums to see a fellow having a problem with his Omega. The people who have had problems with MOTU are legion.... as are the perfectly satisfied customers who would never consider changing to any other product line.

 

So I try to recommend interfaces that are somewhat bulletproof. So far, the RME line and the Lynx line are standouts. But on a budget, the Tascam line seems to offer the beginner (or someone with lesser requirements)a bundle that requires less work and study to get to the point at which one is recording music.

 

It is almost always easy to find a cheaper answer, for example try Ntrax for $20 and use the built in sound card, or something similar. But the savings is usually reflected in a greater investment in time and effort to get to the point where one is recording music.

 

One thing is true.... almost ALL of the available choices will enable you to record your music. Some are easier/better/cheaper/faster/happier/pinker/.... than others. But such distinctions are often in the eye of the beholder.

 

A smart man about to invest in a new product might visit the news groups and support pages of his options, and see what is being said. Lots of bitching and little support might indicate that this is a product to avoid; while lots of praise, or lots of obvious support that is solving user problems might indicate a good candidate for purchase.

 

Bill

[Dave da Dude]

Is the Cakewalk such a bad idea for "getting started" and "didling around" to see if he (or I) like doing it?

[BillWelcome Home Studios]

Originally posted by Dave th Dude:

Is the Cakewalk such a bad idea for "getting started" and "didling around" to see if he (or I) like doing it?

Not at all. Cakewalk is one of the 'better' choices, in my opinion. But I've only used thier flagship product. I am not up on their entry level products, or any limitations that might exist within them.

 

Bill

[JimK]

Since I use Cakewalk's Guitar Tracks products, I guess I'll add some comments on what it will and won't do.

 

There's two levels of Guitar Tracks, GT2 and GTPro (pro is up to version 3, I'm using version 2). Neither product supports MIDI. If you want/need MIDI, you'll need something else. GT2 allows for 8 tracks of Audio, Pro allows for 32. Pro v2 allows for 16 plugins, I think v3 allows for 32. GT2 and Pro only have 2 aux buses, which is one of the bigger limitations IMO.

 

Both come with some plugins (EQ, chorus, flanger, reverb). GTPro comes with a compressor, limiter/expander, and something else I can't recall. Pro also comes with some amp modeling (Amplitude LE in v3).

 

GT2 only supports one input at a time (so you can't record a whole band at once). GTPro v3 supports many inputs at once (really depends on your hardware).

 

GTPro supports ACIDized loops, and comes with some ACIDized drum loops that are decent. It also comes with individual drum sounds that you can use to make your own loops.

 

GT2 does not support ACIDized loops, it does have some loops at preset tempos. It also has some individual drum hits (less the GTPro) that you can use to make your own loops.

 

Both are very, very easy to use, which is one reason I like them.

 

If you want to here something I recorded using GTPro, a GNX3, a ZOOM MRT-3 drum machine and my PRS Custom22, then click here.

 

Yikes, this was long. Sorry about that.

[Dak Lander]

Well, I'm kind of in JimK's room on this issue.

You have a couple of usable mics.

You have a mixer.

You have a computer with a line in on the soundcard.

 

Download Audacity , install it, plug the mikes into the mixer and the mixer into the line in on the soundcard and start recording. Audacity is free and works very well.

If you plug one mic into one channel and pan it hard left and the other mic into an different channel panned hard right you can record two track into the computer at the same time. You will get some bleedthrough unless you isolate the mikes. You'll have to set your preferences to stereo and later split the track to mono tracks.

Going with Audacity, you won't spend more money and will get a decent sounding and easy to use recorder to get you going. Once you're into it, you can then purchase another program of your choosing.

 

Also, n-Track Studio works with midi, will handle as many tracks as your computer will handle, will allow separate mono channels to be recorded at the same time, works with virtually any plug in, & on and on.