How do I record stuff? A complete beginners guide.

cornbb · 17-08-2007 11:11pm #1

"How do I record myself/my band/my podcast?"

We get asked this question a lot! The regulars in this forum are a helpful bunch but you can help us by giving the following information:

- What you wish to record. Solo vocals, acoustic guitar, a band, a ukulele orchestra, or whatever. Be as detailed as you think is necessary.
- Where you wish to record. Your rehearsal space, your garage, your bedroom, etc.
- Whether you have a PC or whether you intend to buy one. Operating system, RAM, and soundcard are the important factors here.
- What your budget is. This is the most important bit. What you are willing to spend will define the results you achieve to a large extent. Digital recording is possible whether you buy a €10 mic from Maplin or a €10,000 Pro Tools HD setup. Of course if you are just starting out, a low budget is no problem either.

Now have a read of the following excellent beginners guides written by Niall - Dahlia and sei046. If you have any more questions after reading these, please feel free to start a new thread.

Happy Recording

sei046 · 04-03-2008 12:22pm

If your reading this you are interested in Pro Audio. GREAT! But whats not great is you might ask the same question that has been asked a million times! You dont want to do that, and we dont want you to do that. So what I am going to do now, Is a VERY BASIC overview of what you will need, what we here on boards tend to recommend to people and some basic info on a couple of the questions you might have. I Start.............

First of all it is important to know exactly what your aims in Pro Audio are. There is no point in stocking up on 36 mics when you want to make demos of you and your acoustic guitar. I trust that we can leave this decision up to you.

Ok....

1----Computers----

You have two options here:

*----PC----*
PCs are much cheaper than than their Mac competitors. People tend to be a little more familiar with them so the learning curve may not be so steep but this cheap route has its pitfalls. PCs are much more prone to viruses and problems of that nature. Generally they take a lot more tweaking to keep working right and they tend to have conflicts between their operating systems and your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). With operating systems like XP, you can have a lot of problems getting it to allow resources to your pro audio needs.

Pc users tend to veer towards DAWS such as Cubase, Sonar or some of the more niche products, but no less powerful, like Reaper. These are all top quality products with a lot of users in these parts.

Here are some sites to check out:

A great irish site for cheap hardware with free/cheap delivery.
http://www.komplett.ie/

Custom Daw Builders
http://www.adkproaudio.com/

Some great tips
http://www.tweakheadz.com/tweaking_your_music_computer.html

*----Mac----*
Your second Option is running a mac. Macs are more expensive than PCS but they offer some advantages. Macs tend not be be affected badly by viruses and are widely regarded to be more stable. The Majority of pro studios are using macs as the big guns in Daws, such as Protools and the ever rising Logic, require that you use a mac. There is a plethora of top hardware for macs from 90% of the pro audio manafacturers.

The Daws available for Macs are more plentiful. The aforementioned protools and logic are very well integrated with a mac system but Cubase and Digital Performer are also supported.

When choosing a Mac be careful which system you go for. The cheaper IMacs have a nice helping of power at a cheap price but at the cost of hardware space and PCI slots. This forces restrictions on what you can use. The top dog are the Mac pros, which have.....a lot.... of cores and plenty of room for chopping and changing. These are usually twice the price of their PC counterparts.

Mac Pro
http://www.apple.com/macpro/

So you really have two main choices here. PC or Mac. Both are perfectly capable and have their disadvantages and advantages. Both systems have users here on boards so we can help with whichever one you choose.

2----Interface

The interface is what lets you get your magical music into one of the previously discussed systems. There is an AWFUL lot of factors to consider here so I will only brush over a few of the options. You need to consider what your needs are. Will you require Midi in/out? How many Ins and outs do you need? So if you are going to be recording drums you will need 8 ins to be safe. If you dont intend on recording more than one thing at a time then maybe a nice 2 in card could do you fine. Here are some suggestions for some price brackets and requirements....

http://www.thomann.de/ie/lexicon_omega_studio.htm

A Great little box that gives you 2 preamps and a lot of control over speakers etc. This is an almost all in one package for very very cheap.

http://www.thomann.de/ie/presonus_firepod.htm

Here we have a very cheap interface that would suit someone who needs alot of inputs, ie a dummer. There are a lot of users for this interface on the internet.

http://www.thomann.de/ie/apogee_duet.htm

Here we have a cracking little streamlined box for the mac. This is a two channel interface made by the industry leaders Apogee. This is a top quality unit at a very very reasonable price. It is a little limited in its outputs but for someone who only needs two inputs and especially for someone who needs mobility, this is a brilliant choice.

http://www.thomann.de/ie/line6_toneport_ux1.htm

this would be a great little card for any guitarists out there. Very cheap way of getting your guitar into your computer and as far as i know it comes with gearbox, which is line6's guitar sims.

http://www.thomann.de/ie/apogee_ensemble.htm

Another apogee but for the studio on less of a budget. Top quality stuff here and a lot of versatility. If your considering this you probably dont need this little Get started thread.

Unfortunately this is such a broad subject that it would be a waste of time to go any further. You need to consider the resolution of the interface, what sort of components they use and any issues people have had with them. But all you need to do is get an idea for the differences in even the VERY VERY small amount of products I have shown you here, then post your own thread with an idea now of how many inputs you might need and a price you are willing to pay. At least you understand now that you need one!!!

3----Mics----

Mics..........Here we go. There are literally thousands to choose from all with different attributes. So I am just going to give an outline on some of the basic types, with an example for each that we on boards might reccomend.

TYPE 1: DYNAMIC

Here I am sure all on boards will vouch for the Shure SM57
http://www.thomann.de/ie/shure_sm57_lc.htm

A VERY affordable mic which can be used very effectively on sources such as snares, acoustic guitars, guitar amps and even vocals. The 57 is a bit of an industry must have.

TYPE 2: Condenser

There are quite a few condensers out there but I will give an example of a large and small diaphragm condenser and their uses.

Large Diaphragm:
http://www.thomann.de/ie/rode_nt1a_inkl_sm1_grossmembranmikro.htm

This is an example of a mic that gets used for vocals. A LDC has a very large frequency response so it captures a very natural and clear sound. This makes it attractive in lots of areas such as guitars and vocals. If you are going to be recording lots of Vocals a LDC is a must have.

Small Diaphragm:
http://www.thomann.de/ie/oktava_mk01201_cardioid_kleinmembranmikro.htm

This is a SDC and it once again captures a very clear and crisp sound. A SDC will have less low end(BASS) than a LDC which can make it attractive for Drum overheads, acoustic guitars, or recording anything in stereo. If you intend on recording anything in stereo(ie. drums or a solo instrument) then you should be careful to get a matched pair (Ask for advice on boards for this).

TYPE 3: RIBBON
http://www.thomann.de/ie/the_tbone_rm700.htm

Ribbon mics are a lot more fragile than other mics but can have a very nice freq. response. They often get used on vocals and a lot of guitar cabinets.

These are the 3 MAIN types of mics on offer. The products I have chosen to demostrate their looks are just that, TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR LOOKS! There are so many great products out there that its just important to get a general idea of what they might be used for. You can see there is a lot of overlap between the different types as THERE ARE NO RULES!

So in the case of drums you might have a
http://www.thomann.de/ie/akg_d112_mikrofon.htm on the bass drum (Dynamic)

http://www.thomann.de/ie/shure_sm57_lc.htm on the snare (Dynamic)

http://www.thomann.de/ie/oktava_mk_01201_mkiimatched_pair.htm On the overheads (Small Dia. Condenser)

http://www.thomann.de/ie/sennheiser_e_904.htm on toms (Dynamic)

So why these mics?
Well i used two condensers on the overheads so we got a STEREO IMAGE of the drums. These condensers will be used to pick up a natural sound off the kit , as if you were standing in the room in front of it, so we used them for their frequency response. They pick up a lot of High End(Treble) so they will capture the cymbals accurately. As you can see i picked a matched pair (basically they are both very similar in their response to sound).

I used an SM57 on the snare because dynamic mics are very DIRECTIONAL. That is to say they pick up mostly what they are looking at and very little from the sides and behind. This helps as when I am mixing my drums i want a lot of separation so If i change the sound of the snare, i dont affect the bass drum. The frequency bumps that this mic picks up also compliment the snare. This mic will deliver a very crisp and clear snare sound.

I used an AKG D112 because it picks up a lot of low frequencies and as is it dynamic it will not pick up much of the other drums.

I used the seinheisers on toms once again because they are dynamic and directional and also their size allows them in cramped quarters!

This is obviously not soem Drum recording thread but i hoope you see now how different mics can be used albeit mostly dynamics!

4----Monitors----

Monitors are what you will use to hear what you have recorded! Like everything in pro audio there is a massive choice but you either want "Passive" (which will require a poweramp to give them power) or you want "Active" (They will have their own poweramps built in). These will connect from your interface (remember earlier?). There once again is an awful lot to consider here but whats important is you need them!!!!! I will give you four price brackets and I want to to read about their differences (Freq. response!?!?) Some monitors are better at pushing out low frequencies, so you can hear how your bass sounds, and some might have a nice high end, so you hear things nice and crisp. The important thing in monitors is for them to be accurate so you dont want NICE sounding speakers. You want neutral speakers. There are no perfect speakers in any price range. But the main thing to remember is to get use to your own. You will be running between your hifi and your studio for a good while before you realise how one thing on your monitors translates to another thing on your hifi.

So here you go...

Cheap Active
http://www.thomann.de/ie/edirol_ma7abk.htm

Expensive Active
http://www.thomann.de/ie/krk_expos_e8b.htm

Cheap Passive
http://www.thomann.de/ie/behringer_monitor_1c.htm

Expensive Passive
http://www.thomann.de/ie/dynaudio_bm15p_passiver_studiomonitor.htm

It is also important to believe the hype too much. "Full frequency range" is very suspect! If you are using passive remember you will need a poweramp such as this....
http://www.thomann.de/ie/samson_servo_120a.htm Once again there is a massive choice in the poweramp department!

************************************************************
Ok folks.

I Hope this has helped introduce you what we are involved in here. I used the website thomann.de for my examples purely because it can give you A picture, idea of price and small list of specs for the product. This is the only reason. The main other areas to be wary of are studio acoustics ( HOW MY ROOM SOUNDS!?!?!?! ), Headphones, Cabling, Power Supply, Wordclocks, Dedicated AD/DA, Controllers and aesthetics to name but a few. The main thing is, get a ROUGH idea of whats going on and what you might need and then come and ask us here on the forum then. Please dont be lazy....please.

A few places that will be of help are

www.Thomann.de
This is a great site that offers a lot of cheap and expensive products at a good price with very reasonable shipping. But remember its a lot harder to get help if anything goes wrong with stuff you have bought from them as they are in GERMANY!

www.Audiowarehouse.ie
This is an irish company based in dublin with a very large range of products and a lot of experience. Paul Brewer happens to be a regular poster on boards and im sure would be more than happy to answer any questions regarding any of the products he stocks.

www.Bigbearsound.com
Another great irish company dealing in ProAudio.

www.Adverts.ie
Our sister advertisements site which always has great deals on second hand pro audio equipment often from some of our posters.

This is obviously far from a comprehensive list but it should be looked at as a guide to any of you people who have in interest in this area and a quick lead up to posting a question to any of us here.

Cheers,
Dave Arkins

eddiegnor · 30-11-2008 1:58pm

my hubby doesnt do computers, but wants to record at home, he is looking for a 4 track or 8 track desk, now I ont have a clue, and he doesnt really know either, he writes songs and plays guitar . He wants me to get him this for christmas, i really need some advise on what to buy, it needs to be fairly cheap, i have seen stuff online and on ebay but i dont know which is for digital and which is good old fashioned stuff. please some one help!!!!

paulg1770 · 17-03-2009 10:38pm

eddiegnor wrote: »

my hubby doesnt do computers, but wants to record at home, he is looking for a 4 track or 8 track desk, now I ont have a clue, and he doesnt really know either, he writes songs and plays guitar . He wants me to get him this for christmas, i really need some advise on what to buy, it needs to be fairly cheap, i have seen stuff online and on ebay but i dont know which is for digital and which is good old fashioned stuff. please some one help!!!!

you should look into an all in one digital home recording studio. I have been using the roland br1200 for the past 2 years which is great for the total beginner at home recording plus it gives out great results. You wont need a computer to use it just a mic, guitar leads and headphones. I really recommend these. I reckon you could get one cheap enough off ebay these days as there is a newer model out but what i would say is make sure you have no less than 12 tracks to work with. even for recording acoustic and vocals 12 can be tight for me anyway!

ali_da_prop · 13-06-2009 1:00pm

Hey I am just about finished my leaving cert and i feel like lazing about, recording and writing music for the Summer

I have gotten my job back so I am prepared to spend a bit of money :P

So,
I Have 2 guitars. Acoustic and electric. for the electric i own a Boss ME-20 stomp box. I'd like to be able to hook the box up with the electric into something, that in turn could hook upto my laptop. where i could add the acoustic tracks and the electric riffs. I would also like to record vocals.

so i suppose it would be two mics... it wud b usb... and a programme on the laptop (windows) to slap the two guitar tracks and the vocals together.

I reckon the price will hurt :P

PLEASE reply as its my goal this summer.:)

Alex

Anberlinfan · 13-08-2009 11:40am

Sorry to put a dampener on all the high tech talk here, but,

I'm in a band (We've had a few small shows and publicly released a home-made demo a few months ago) in school and when we record we just use my laptop(Toshiba Satellite A300) a Skype mike, a pair of ipod earphones and either audacity or Reaper(depending on the required quality of the output).

When I record myself at home, I plug the acoustic/ electric guitar/ bass directly into the laptop and then use a creative headphone/ mic headset to record vocals.

The quality isn't 100% audiophile, but it's decent car stereo quality at least.

(We record the drums in one take, in a home gym)

robertbarry · 17-03-2011 1:22pm

Lol we recorded our drummer in a bathroom with a duvet wrapped round the kit, not touching it tho. It ended up sounding great. We had tried a local studio but the drummer just wasnt happy( drummer eh!)

Iancar29 · 10-06-2011 8:48pm

Hey folks, great info here i must say.

IM gonna be buying a mic to start recording some acoustic songs over the summer.

Just wondering , ill be mainly recording piano, then guitar and some violin. THinking the condenser mics are the one to go for then but dont know which one. Price wise im thinking about 150 -200 . ( hopefully thats enough! , but i could possibly go further ) . I brought home a mac book pro from america so ill be using that with garage band most likely , unless again theres something better to download .

SO ye any help with getting the right mic and whatever else i may need to hook it up to the mac book would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Ian

chrisr · 04-08-2011 1:05pm

Hi all,

I am looking to send my Niece to a recording studio for her birthday and im wondering does anyone know someone who does it.
I heard of a guy in Scenchelstown but cannot reach him on the number i was given.

thanks

DataRecording · 01-12-2011 3:33pm

chrisr wrote: »

Hi all,

I am looking to send my Niece to a recording studio for her birthday and im wondering does anyone know someone who does it.
I heard of a guy in Scenchelstown but cannot reach him on the number i was given.

thanks

Hey there. Check out our website www.datarecordingstudios.com if you wish. We are based in north west kerry. My contact details are on boards.ie or on the website so should you need any information or assistance just let me know. Kind regards,
Data.

thunderthing · 01-12-2011 4:05pm

Just to add to what a lot of people are saying about simplicity, for someone who knows absolutely nothing about recording, I think the simplest thing to do would be this:

-Download the program Reaper for free
-Get a cable that will connect to the external mic slot of your computer
-Connect that cable from your laptop to (for example) a guitar amp's output slot
-Open up Reaper and start recording

I was into the idea of recording for years, I bookmarked and read hundreds of introductory threads and other guides like this, with people constantly talking about the equipment I needed in order to get started. As a result, I put it off for years thinking I wouldn't be able to afford to actually begin recording my own stuff.

But you really don't need any of it to begin with. Let's say you're just recording an acoustic guitar and vocals, you don't even need the cable I mentioned if your laptop has a built-in microphone. For the first few years I started recording, all I had was my laptop's mic and a guitar and was all I needed. If you want to throw some drums in there, 'acquire' Addictive drums or another drum programme and away you go.

I understand what you're trying to to OP, and I applaud and appreciate it, but I really think the advice people should give to a beginner is to just start recording, and figure out what you need later.

Iconwine · 01-02-2012 10:08pm

Thank you so much for this detailed explanation on the various aspects of basic home recording. it has really helped me a lot. I have one quick question. I am using a HP laptop, reaper, a steinberg ci1 interface and an AK2035 mic.

I have just started using all and it seems to be recording ok, but when i press playback i cannot hear anything. i do not have speakers attached to my steinberg interface but headphones. Just wondering if this is common, are there some interfaces that require you to only hear back through speakers?

When I put the headphones into the "line out" jack I get nothing!!

Anyone have any advice on this? thanks

DataRecording · 02-02-2012 1:06am

[QUOTE:When I put the headphones into the "line out" jack I get nothing!!
[/QUOTE]
Hey there. Glad you got this far. Thats the hard part done

Just use the phones output on your interface. Its next to the usb port.

Iconwine · 03-02-2012 6:54pm

Hey, thanks for the quick reply, i mistyped tho :P doh, i meant to say that when i put my headphones into the phones jack I dont hear anything when i try to playback what i have recorded. I can hear myself when i record, but nothing afterwards....wondering if there is something in reaper settings about this or else do i need to hook up speakers to the steinberg...?Thanks to any1 who can help!

DataRecording · 07-02-2012 3:42pm

Iconwine wrote: »

Hey, thanks for the quick reply, i mistyped tho :P doh, i meant to say that when i put my headphones into the phones jack I dont hear anything when i try to playback what i have recorded. I can hear myself when i record, but nothing afterwards....wondering if there is something in reaper settings about this or else do i need to hook up speakers to the steinberg...?Thanks to any1 who can help!

Hey sorry for the delay. I don't use reaper myself but it sounds as if your issues could be connected to a thing called "input monitoring" If you can find this in the menus of reaper check the settings and try various ones. Also right clicking on the record button might bring up some options. Sorry I cannot be of more help. Have never used reaper. Best of luck.

Alandalar · 29-08-2015 3:56am

I also created a topic on how to help beginner musicians in their effort to connect their instruments to their computers.
Unfortunately, I am a new user here with the number of messages fewer than 25, so just search online for

VisiHow Connect Your Sound Equipment to Your Computer

Please ask questions and add comments if you want!

I wish I could include sample files here so that you hear it firsthand, but, again, I am new here.

Alandalar · 29-08-2015 4:07am

I know that we might be a bit lazy to paste that in a search engine, but it is worth it!

In short: the very first mistake is omitting some important elements in the connection between the instrument and the computer. The second mistake is not making any investments. The article reviews how to create a chain (instrument->mixer->processing unit->computer->software), and I would love to hear any feedback!

I started off with just connecting my guitar and a cheap Creative microphone to the line-in of the computer. The results were atrocious! Then, I built up throughout the years what I need in the chain to make the sound clearer, less amateur like, while remaining an amateur.

How do I record stuff? A complete beginners guide.

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