DMusic.com | for indie musicians and fans | Free MP3 music downloads

Forums > The General Forum

Recording

4H2SO4	Date: July 20, 2003 @ 5:46 PM http://lsd.dmusic.com/ All beats are the property of their respective owners" id="54937">I need some tips on how to record good quality stuff without having to go to a studio and pay, I've been using a tape recorder, but it doesn't make for the best quality music. Check my stuff out- http://lsd.dmusic.com/ All beats are the property of their respective owners
Veracohr	Date: July 20, 2003 @ 7:00 PM Musicians' Friend and American Musical Supply have them, as will your local music store (most likely.) What are your sounds coming from? Keyboard, beatbox, etc?" id="54945">What kind of tape recorder are you using? One with a built-in mic? If so, there's really nothing you can do with your current setup to get a better sound. You can get 4-track cassette recorders from Tascam or Fostex for $100 and up. They'd probably be a help. Musicians' Friend and American Musical Supply have them, as will your local music store (most likely.) What are your sounds coming from? Keyboard, beatbox, etc?
blooddshedd	Date: July 20, 2003 @ 7:03 PM you just gotta knuckle up and either buy more equipment or go to a studio. I suggest buyin more equipment.
4H2SO4	Date: July 20, 2003 @ 7:25 PM The tape recorder I use is one with a built-in mike, so I'll probably be looking into a 4-track cassette recorder I usually just play my sounds off the stereo and record. Will a 4-track recorder give me studio sound, or near-studio sound?
sinai	Date: July 20, 2003 @ 8:22 PM try a digital studio and some midi hookups
4H2SO4	Date: July 20, 2003 @ 8:29 PM ...I'd try that, but I have no idea what it is...
Veracohr	Date: July 20, 2003 @ 8:32 PM http://godinv.dmusic.com/ He records on a 4-track cassette I think. They are useful tools, especially to introduce you to multitrack recording. They do, though, eventually give up the ghost, especially the cheaper they are. I've still got the one I bought used about 7 years ago, but the input jacks cut out all the time, all the pots are noisy, and the tape transport fluctuates now, so it's really unusable. Depending on how much money you want to spend on this, sinai's suggestion is also good. You can get standalone multitrack digital recorders, like Roland's VS series, or software to use on your computer. That route is more expensive, so you decide. You say you play your sounds on the stereo. Are these existing beats on CD? Or are you running a sound source (keyboard, beatbox etc.) through your stereo?" id="54958">A 4-track recorder is just a tool, good sound depends on you. It is quite possible to get a good sound on 4-track cassette recorders. See http://godinv.dmusic.com/ He records on a 4-track cassette I think. They are useful tools, especially to introduce you to multitrack recording. They do, though, eventually give up the ghost, especially the cheaper they are. I've still got the one I bought used about 7 years ago, but the input jacks cut out all the time, all the pots are noisy, and the tape transport fluctuates now, so it's really unusable. Depending on how much money you want to spend on this, sinai's suggestion is also good. You can get standalone multitrack digital recorders, like Roland's VS series, or software to use on your computer. That route is more expensive, so you decide. You say you play your sounds on the stereo. Are these existing beats on CD? Or are you running a sound source (keyboard, beatbox etc.) through your stereo?
4H2SO4	Date: July 20, 2003 @ 8:41 PM My sounds are existing beats on CD
Veracohr	Date: July 20, 2003 @ 9:27 PM And of course you'll need a microphone and cable. Most 4-tracks have 1/4" inputs, so you'll need an impedance-matching transformer, which adapts the XLR-ended microphone cable to 1/4". Go to a music store that carries 4-tracks and microphones and that kind of thing, and tell them "Hey, I don't know anything about this stuff, but I'm interested in getting a 4-track recorder. What do I need?" And don't let them sell you anything you don't need, unless you got the money to spare. People who don't know much about what they're buying are prime candidates for salespersons convincing them they "really need" all kinds of stuff they don't really need. Feel free to ask more questions about this, I'd be happy to answer. :nod:" id="54963">You'll need a way to run your CD player into the 4-track. Likely your CD player has RCA outputs, and most 4-tracks don't have RCA inputs I think, so you'd need to get an RCA cable and some RCA to 1/4" adapters, available at music stores and Radio Shack. And of course you'll need a microphone and cable. Most 4-tracks have 1/4" inputs, so you'll need an impedance-matching transformer, which adapts the XLR-ended microphone cable to 1/4". Go to a music store that carries 4-tracks and microphones and that kind of thing, and tell them "Hey, I don't know anything about this stuff, but I'm interested in getting a 4-track recorder. What do I need?" And don't let them sell you anything you don't need, unless you got the money to spare. People who don't know much about what they're buying are prime candidates for salespersons convincing them they "really need" all kinds of stuff they don't really need. Feel free to ask more questions about this, I'd be happy to answer.
kredd	Date: August 20, 2003 @ 2:39 PM my advice is to go digital, save up till you can get something good. i've tried the cheaper road a time or two and i got a cheap product. but hey, i used to use a yamaha analog 8-track recorder and it worked GREAT, but like veracohr said - the 4-track is just a tool, good sound depends on you. but if recording is what you want to do i say go all the way and get some good equip. i'd rather invest my money in my own equipment than someone elses studio.
GeneHilbert	Date: August 20, 2003 @ 4:37 PM From what I've read here you are just pissing in the wind. You will never make a pro level recording on a cassette. Just not enough head room on the tape. Fostex tried that same formula with the 8 trac - it still sucked. You are just too limited, you fill up 4 trax where do you go, record 3 - mix down to one mono - CRAP - bounce to another machine - noisy but it works - the more you bounce the noisier it gets. These machines are fine for beginners, practice & rehearsal tapes, or as a song writing tool - not as a professional recording medium. You have a computer - use that. Upgrade if necessary - Pentium 4 2gig processor - at least 512ram, and a couple of large hard drives a 40gig and a 80 to 120gig if you want pro level or lesser system if you don't - and of course software. OR a stand alone digital recorder. Mackie, Roland & Yamaha, make's good quality professional gear - and of course there are other higher end brands. Nothing is CHEAP, so prepare yourself. Very few of us have started recording with pro level gear. Build as you go - read & learn as much as you can. You are doing the right thing by asking your peers. You'll get there - stay after it.
ronnie71	Date: August 21, 2003 @ 12:50 AM instead of using a cassette ... use a VCR they have inputs outputs and you syc 4 together and have 4 track tape it sounds funny but it works...
starseven	Date: August 21, 2003 @ 1:00 AM Make sure it;s a high fi VCR though... on slp mode... you can actually make them sound fucking AWESOME... great range.... Nice cal lthere ronne... i forgot all abotu that
ronnie71	Date: August 21, 2003 @ 1:03 AM yeah dude i forgot about what you said... but it solves the headroom problem that gene was talking about... lol not everyone can have a Studer with 2 inch tape...
victorsskull	Date: August 21, 2003 @ 1:19 AM you guys have been smoking on the peace pipe to much now this is my thinking for cheap. get cakewalk 2 guitar pro. it is only $50 bucks! thats cheaper then a vcr and its pretty simple to run. it is a good starter intill you can spend the big bucks.
ronnie71	Date: August 21, 2003 @ 1:47 AM hell dude VCR have much bettter sound quality... and they are cheap nowadays since the DVD...
pog	Date: August 21, 2003 @ 5:55 AM The problem with the tape player with the mic built in is to do with the value of the microphone. If you can plug a half decent microphone into the tape player, you're far betterer off. If there's no input jack on the tape recorder, do the video thing... thats provided you wanna do portable stuff... if you wish to do it digitally, there oodles of packages out there.
4H2SO4	Date: August 22, 2003 @ 11:04 PM http://lsd.dmusic.com It sounds pretty much good enough for me" id="59606">I bought a mike and cord for about 15 bucks. The two adapters I needed to plug it into my pc cost about 20. So for about 35 bucks I made this- http://lsd.dmusic.com It sounds pretty much good enough for me
billhudson	Date: August 29, 2003 @ 9:40 AM I will have to agree with Gene. I know some folks say ,Oh, I can record from my laptop. Well, take a peak in a good recording studio. And look around at some of the stuff they have. If you want a good recording, go to the people who do it all the time. Once I had a Tasca 434, and it took me forever to learn how to use the thing. At the time I felt it took away from my songwriting, so I sold it. So what I do now is, do my home work before I go in. Then, go in and get out as fast as we can (cheap that way). So for one song it might take from 4 hours to 10 hours. Job done. Another idea is you might want to take a course in Recording at your local collage. Still Pickin' Bill H." id="60346">"just pissing in the wind." I will have to agree with Gene. I know some folks say ,Oh, I can record from my laptop. Well, take a peak in a good recording studio. And look around at some of the stuff they have. If you want a good recording, go to the people who do it all the time. Once I had a Tasca 434, and it took me forever to learn how to use the thing. At the time I felt it took away from my songwriting, so I sold it. So what I do now is, do my home work before I go in. Then, go in and get out as fast as we can (cheap that way). So for one song it might take from 4 hours to 10 hours. Job done. Another idea is you might want to take a course in Recording at your local collage. Still Pickin' Bill H.
woodhead	Date: October 15, 2003 @ 10:28 PM you guys have been smoking on the peace pipe to much I agree Vic with cakewalk, I use music creator 2000 for my computer and for real recording I use a couple of Roland vsr880. But you can get decent recordings with a comp, and decent software and buy a good sound card but for 50 bucks, cakewalk guitar studio rocks, or if you machine is higher end, 500 MHz or more you can download pro tools 8 track for free and there you go all done, your own little studio in a box. Or you can use Magix, my singer loves that prog for about 30 bucks. There are a lot of options, but stay away from tape especially four tracks, learned this the hard way.
leflaw	Date: October 16, 2003 @ 3:02 AM Let me tell you. My heart LEAPS when I read this thread. This is why I stay at it. This is my vision of Dmusic. (Thanks Dudes.)
leflaw	Date: October 16, 2003 @ 3:03 AM Ps: Pro Tools LE on either windows or Mac seems to the current standard, followed by Cakewalk , Nuendo, Logic, Cubase, and then everything else? Yes? No?
robin101	Date: October 16, 2003 @ 11:46 AM As far as I understand, under contactual agreement, fianal multi-track masters are still required to be available in tape format (regardless of the initial recording format). I believe digital multi-track tape is acceptable as well as multitrack analog. These are necessary for mixing and re-mixing purposes. With this in mind, which format would you use to submit final masters? (thatis, if you had to make a transfer from Pro Tools to tape). My personal choice is Tascam digital multitrack due to the physical integrity of the digital 8mm cassettes (as opposed to ADAT).
Nitemair	Date: October 16, 2003 @ 11:51 AM yo i got a fostex machine to record on, but i can only get the vocals on it. I was just wonderin how i could get the vocals from a tape to my computer. is there any way if i transfer the vocals from the tape to a cd, to get it to my computer and mix it with the beat?
robin101	Date: October 16, 2003 @ 12:03 PM 4H1SO4, If it matters, I tend to agree with Vercohr. Nowadays, even 4 trk. digital is relatively inexpensive. These machines are more "user-friendly" than they use to be. Subsequently there is not a huge learning curve. When you bounce these tracks, the "hiss" factor is not substantial. I use 24 track digital, but for your puposes, you can save a lot of studio time money if you pick up one of these 4 track machines. You'll most likely have the machine "down" within a week or two.
robin101	Date: October 16, 2003 @ 12:15 PM Nitemair, Not without either a good guess in timing, or synchronization code you can't.
woodhead	Date: October 17, 2003 @ 8:48 PM yo i got a fostex machine to record on, but i can only get the vocals on it just bring it in the same way you bring in a mic and record to your drive, then use your mixing software to do your mix. On your fostex each individual track should have it's own out, but you can also master it out as well. and on the mixing it in if you have some decent software that you can see in "tracks" the tracks have the time code and measure code in them as well and with little playing and a lot of patiants you should be able to add them where you want them.
woodhead	Date: October 17, 2003 @ 8:50 PM Another idea is you might want to take a course in Recording at your local collage. Still Pickin' Yea you can do this and there are alos websites on the net that give advice and pointers.
Nitemair	Date: October 18, 2003 @ 9:57 PM good looks ya'll. I appreciate it. 1! to woodhead- i know how to record, it's just the convertin i got a problem with. lol, but still good looks duke.
woodhead	Date: October 19, 2003 @ 2:52 AM to woodhead- i know how to record, it's just the convertin i got a problem with. lol, but still good looks duke Cool well then I didnt have to answer then did I you rock!!!!
AquiredTaste	Date: November 28, 2003 @ 10:34 PM learn how to rap first, then make ur way up with ur quality
Nitemair	Date: November 29, 2003 @ 7:30 PM i know how to rap. What you talkin about duke??
jenspen33	Date: December 1, 2003 @ 8:15 PM I got lucky and kind of inherited my CakeWalk program. The computer, of course, I bought. However... you've already got a computer, so you're 75% there. If you are recording vocals, you will probably want to invest in a microphone (you can even get a decent cheap one off eBay for around $20!!) and pre-amp (I got my pre-amp off eBay for $65). Any instruments with a line/headphone-out can be manipulated into the line-in on the computer (as does the mic through a pre-amp). If your instrument is not electronic, then you will, of course, mic the instrument as well. I literally only spent about $750 total on my musical/recording equipment over the past few years (2 keyboards and pre-amp.. the mic is Brann's), not counting the computer. But I could have gotten by with just one keyboard (the cheaper one - only $179!) and pre-amp, totaling about $245 or so. I would suggest eBay as your first stop to see if you can find Cakewalk or similar software, a mic, a pre-amp, and whatever else. But be sure to compare the pricing you find at eBay to prices at manufacturer's sites and retailers. You never can tell where you'll get the best deal! Send me a note if I can help you further. ~J
BenRebel	Date: December 9, 2003 @ 6:04 PM I wonder what is the main reason for the recording setup to a) listen back to an idea to then : go into a studio to record? b) Pre-production (what a concept) c) just to do music because you love it and will not be useing it for anything else why do you record at home?
woodhead	Date: December 9, 2003 @ 11:25 PM I wonder what is the main reason for the recording setup Well if you can get a great studio recording at home, is this not awsome. A lot of artist here do record at home. With the right gear or soft ware you can get a quality recording, and the cool thing is, when you learn you gear you could pull off avoiding a studio all together and record at home at your pace with out the dollar per hour in the back of your head, more relaxed this way. as for c in your question. We actually sell our cd at our shows. you have to remeber most ppl do not have the trained ear a lot of ppl have here. and that trained ear can make a 4 track sound good to a point. (with a trained ear you also learn to tell between digital and analog especially 4 tracks)but to have the ability to record at your own pace and will and to experment when you get the itch is well worth the cost of setting up your own home studio.
popdem	Date: December 9, 2003 @ 11:48 PM right on woody!..
BenRebel	Date: December 10, 2003 @ 5:37 PM GOOD... now you will understand my real piont.. when someone ask in this forum here or anywhere in here A good way to record or ever a cheap way understand the REAL reason we record at home (by the way I have many (finished) songs and LP's from my home) 4H2SO4 The Question you asked was "How do I record GOOD stuff at home without having to go to the studio" three things : Knowledge tools drive you have to understand and know what you really want and the end result you wish I say this to people and to my friends "READ" READ" READ" and ask questions I can't tell you how many of my friends have pro setups and do not read the books that come with there gear... also Home Recording,Recording,Mix EQ,Electronic Musician to name a few... KNOWLEDGE can be the difrence a person with a 4 track with a banging (sounding)song and person with a pro setup and a very weak (sounding) song. Tools come in all shapes and sizes I'm not gonna sit here and put my setup against anyone elses its all about what you can afford but I will say don't waste you money on something you will not use in a month or so if you have to go 4 track ok then I would say go digital gives you more options your a live player ? understand and get the knowledge of the basics in recording.. Midi? learn the basics http://www.borg.com/~jglatt/tutr/whatmidi.htm http://www.homemusicrecording.com/music_recording_vocals.html http://www.homemusicrecording.com/home_studio_information.html http://www.homemusicrecording.com/audio_compressors_limiters.html Back when I first started recording I use to have to Cut tape to edit.. and final mix to a beta tape there use to be a Beta tape that had a digital input function about 15 years ago. my first demo costed me 75 dollars a hour years ago before I know what pre-production was.. or the thought of recording at home.. recoring at home now have changed the face of music you guys have the means alot of us never had back and the day so before you get recording gear.. ask yourself what is you main reason for recording..
woodhead	Date: December 12, 2003 @ 11:28 PM understand and get the knowledge of the basics in recording. This is the best statement in this thread and oh so true.
johnnygnote	Date: December 13, 2003 @ 5:18 AM Check this out: http://download.com.com/3000-2170-4117152.html?tag=lst-0-4

Post A Reply
From:	Guest	(Icons - Linking)
Post: