I have all of your all of families hostage. Give into my demands of they all die!

6stringmaniac

Hi, im pretty new to recording but am learning more each day. I want to buy a cheap enough home recording setup and was hoping you guys could help me.
Im still a newbie so ill stick to the sticky:

What you wish to record. Solo vocals, acoustic guitar, a band, a ukulele orchestra, or whatever. Be as detailed as you think is necessary.
I want to record guitar, both acoustic and electric, vocals, and maybe drums.
Where you wish to record. Your rehearsal space, your garage, your bedroom, etc.
I wish to record in a music room in my back garden. Its wooden, 16"*16".
Whether you have a PC or whether you intend to buy one. Operating system, RAM, and soundcard are the important factors here.
I have this pc- http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Samsung_R60_Plus_Notebook_With_ultra_sleek_casing_NP-R60FY0N-SUK/version.asp . OS is vista. 2GB RAM. 140 GB HDD.
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.
I have a budget of €400. This includes leads, mics, ect. But, it has to be bought from this site:
http://www.musicstore.de/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/WFS/MusicStore-MusicStoreShop-Site/en_EN/-/IEP/ViewApplication-DisplayWelcomePage
because i get 30% off whatever i buy.


Help is much appreciated. Thanks

frobisher

6stringmaniac wrote: »

But, it has to be bought from this site:
http://www.musicstore.de/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/WFS/MusicStore-MusicStoreShop-Site/en_EN/-/IEP/ViewApplication-DisplayWelcomePage
because i get 30% off whatever i buy.

How come you get that? I want it.

PS If you have kidnapped my family all I say is fair play and good luck to you. I'd suggest getting away while you can. It'll be YOU that will get Stockholm's syndrome.

6stringmaniac

frobisher wrote: »

How come you get that? I want it.

PS If you have kidnapped my family all I say is fair play and good luck to you. I'd suggest getting away while you can. It'll be YOU that will get Stockholm's syndrome.

Through a friend. Apperantly his dad has some connections in the site

frobisher

6stringmaniac wrote: »

Through a friend. Apperantly his dad has some connections in the site

Can I have the code too?;)

6stringmaniac

frobisher wrote: »

Can I have the code too?;)

I dont know it. Hes gonna buy it for me. Cant help ye. Any reccomendations?

frobisher

6stringmaniac wrote: »

I dont know it. Hes gonna buy it for me. Cant help ye. Any reccomendations?

My first one is get rid of Vista. I'll get back to you on the others.

6stringmaniac

frobisher wrote: »

My first one is get rid of Vista. I'll get back to you on the others.

The laptop is fairly new, and is designed for vista. I was advised not to downgrade to xp if i was using that laptop so im afraid thats not an option

artvandulet

6stringmaniac wrote: »

The laptop is fairly new, and is designed for vista. I was advised not to downgrade to xp if i was using that laptop so im afraid thats not an option

I'd still downgrade to XP.:D

6stringmaniac

I might consider downgrading sometime in the future, but I really cant at the moment. Any reccomendations on how to spend the money e.g. Mics, Audio interfaces,ect.

ICN

6stringmaniac wrote: »

.. But, it has to be bought from this site:
http://www.musicstore.de/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/WFS/MusicStore-MusicStoreShop-Site/en_EN/-/IEP/ViewApplication-DisplayWelcomePage
because i get 30% off whatever i buy...

30%?

You can definitely get 21% with a good old fashioned VAT fiddle.. :pac:

judas101

get rid of vista. might be inconvenient but is so worth it.

6stringmaniac

Thanks so far. Any other ideas besides getting rid of vista

frobisher

6stringmaniac wrote: »

The laptop is fairly new, and is designed for vista. I was advised not to downgrade to xp if i was using that laptop so im afraid thats not an option

Right, I don't know what to say to that. Was it by any chance the PC sales person who said that to you? What if someone suggests a soundcard here and you say someone else told you that's wrong, whatcha gonna do?

6stringmaniac

I dont really want to downgrade to xp. I had vista before and i prefer vista in alot of aspects.

frobisher

When you say €400 budget for leads, mics, etc I still don't know what you want. How many mics do you want? How many inputs do you want to be able to record at once?

6stringmaniac

frobisher wrote: »

When you say €400 budget for leads, mics, etc I still don't know what you want. How many mics do you want? How many inputs do you want to be able to record at once?

I was planning on recording everything seperately, but I might be redording drums and Id need a minimum of 5 inputs for that. Alternatively I could use my friends electric drumkit instead, so it either needs 5 inputs, of a MIDI input.

artvandulet

How many channels do you need to record at once? just wondering as you said you want to be able to record drums - probably not with that budget if you go computer based with a USB audio interface.
You could go for a hard drive multitrack recorder instead.

6stringmaniac

I think Ill stick with the electric drumkit and MIDI in.
Also it has to be usb, not firewire

PaulBrewer

6stringmaniac wrote: »

because i get 30% off whatever i buy.

Right so ....

TelePaul

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055382018

What was wrong with that?

6stringmaniac

TelePaul wrote: »

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055382018

What was wrong with that?

- My budget has changed since then.
- That thread was badly made out
- I have changed ideas of what im looking for

TelePaul

6stringmaniac wrote: »

Hi, im pretty new to recording but am learning more each day. I want to buy a cheap enough home recording setup and was hoping you guys could help me.
Im still a newbie so ill stick to the sticky:

What you wish to record. Solo vocals, acoustic guitar, a band, a ukulele orchestra, or whatever. Be as detailed as you think is necessary.
I want to record guitar, both acoustic and electric, vocals, and maybe drums.
Where you wish to record. Your rehearsal space, your garage, your bedroom, etc.
I wish to record in a music room in my back garden. Its wooden, 16"*16".
Whether you have a PC or whether you intend to buy one. Operating system, RAM, and soundcard are the important factors here.
I have this pc- http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Samsung_R60_Plus_Notebook_With_ultra_sleek_casing_NP-R60FY0N-SUK/version.asp . OS is vista. 2GB RAM. 140 GB HDD.
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.
I have a budget of €400. This includes leads, mics, ect. But, it has to be bought from this site:
http://www.musicstore.de/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/WFS/MusicStore-MusicStoreShop-Site/en_EN/-/IEP/ViewApplication-DisplayWelcomePage
because i get 30% off whatever i buy.


Help is much appreciated. Thanks

Okay, once more from the top.

You're limited to USB, so realistically you wont be able to record more than two tracks at once; fine for acoustic guitar, electric guitar and vocals. The electric drum kit - provided it'll act as a MIDI controller - seems like a good bet; if not, I assume you can take stereo outs from it?

So considering that you can only record two tracks at a time, you don't need a plethora of mics; more good news as far as your budget is concerned. So let's establish what exactly it is you need:

A USB Interface - Something that transfers audio to your laptop

Sequencing software - Something that lets you edit this audio

Microphone(s) - Something that captures the initial audio source; guitar, vocals, whatever

Monitoring - Something that lets you hear your captured audio being played back, take the form of heaphones or speakers

Mic Stand(s) - Hold your mic(s)

Mic Cable(s) - Transmit signal from mic(s)

That sound right? Have you any questions? Do you understand teh difference between Firewire and USB as far as tracking goes? If that checks out, let us know and we can start suggesting actual products.

TelePaul

PaulBrewer wrote: »

Right so ....

Why so sad brown bear?

6stringmaniac

TelePaul wrote: »

Okay, once more from the top.

You're limited to USB, so realistically you wont be able to record more than two tracks at once; fine for acoustic guitar, electric guitar and vocals. The electric drum kit - provided it'll act as a MIDI controller - seems like a good bet; if not, I assume you can take stereo outs from it?

So considering that you can only record two tracks at a time, you don't need a plethora of mics; more good news as far as your budget is concerned. So let's establish what exactly it is you need:

A USB Interface - Something that transfers audio to your laptop

Sequencing software - Something that lets you edit this audio

Microphone(s) - Something that captures the initial audio source; guitar, vocals, whatever

Monitoring - Something that lets you hear your captured audio being played back, take the form of heaphones or speakers

Mic Stand(s) - Hold your mic(s)

Mic Cable(s) - Transmit signal from mic(s)

That sound right? Have you any questions? Do you understand teh difference between Firewire and USB as far as tracking goes? If that checks out, let us know and we can start suggesting actual products.

Yep, thats all fine. Can ye suggest any good products that would fut into that budget?

TelePaul

6stringmaniac wrote: »

Yep, thats all fine. Can ye suggest any good products that would fut into that budget?

I can suggest all but monitors...that's really not my field of expertise, and I know some people would advocate spending at least €400 on monitors alone. I use an archaic hi-fi system. As for the other stuff, however:

Interface: Tascam US 122 L €138

Software: Cubase LE is included in the above. It'll provide everything you need to get started, but as mentioned elsewhere, Reaper is a cheap alternative.

Microphone(s): Large Diaphragm Condensor for Vocals and Acoustic €111, Dynamic for guitar amplifier and Vocals and Mic Cable, €98

Mic Stand: Here, €9.90

So around €250 with your discount. Keep in mind, that doesn't include any means of monitoring. If I were you, I'd start with a decent set of heaphones, something like these maybe, but wait for a second opinion.

6stringmaniac

TelePaul wrote: »

I can suggest all but monitors...that's really not my field of expertise, and I know some people would advocate spending at least €400 on monitors alone. I use an archaic hi-fi system. As for the other stuff, however:

Interface: Tascam US 122 L €138

Software: Cubase LE is included in the above. It'll provide everything you need to get started, but as mentioned elsewhere, Reaper is a cheap alternative.

Microphone(s): Large Diaphragm Condensor for Vocals and Acoustic €111, Dynamic for guitar amplifier and Vocals and Mic Cable, €98

Mic Stand: Here, €9.90

So around €250 with your discount. Keep in mind, that doesn't include any means of monitoring. If I were you, I'd start with a decent set of heaphones, something like these maybe, but wait for a second opinion.

Thanks, that was exactly the type of post i was looking for. Is that version of cubase LE compatible with vista, because I heard some of them arent. Also,thanks for your help in general, youve helped me to learn alot with your posts. Any other ideas?

EDIT: Sorry for not mentioning this earlier but I might also be recording piano. Will those Mics be ok for piano.
What is the differance between the US-122l and the US- 144 http://www.thomann.de/ie/tascam_us144.htm?sid=f810c0f2a49af857cf3e09a1d349be69

TelePaul

6stringmaniac wrote: »

Thanks, that was exactly the type of post i was looking for. Is that version of cubase LE compatible with vista, because I heard some of them arent. Also,thanks for your help in general, youve helped me to learn alot with your posts. Any other ideas?

EDIT: Sorry for not mentioning this earlier but I might also be recording piano. Will those Mics be ok for piano.
What is the differance between the US-122l and the US- 144 http://www.thomann.de/ie/tascam_us144.htm?sid=f810c0f2a49af857cf3e09a1d349be69

Hmmm seems strange that LE isn't Vista compatible...it's usually the interface drivers that object to certain operating systems. I imagine if LE comes bundled with a Vista compatible interface, you'll be okay - the US 122 comes with LE version 4.

From the Tascam website, it seems the US 144 is capable of four tracks at a time...though I'm not sure how to be honest - possibly with SPDIF. Also, given that it's USB, it seems unlikely that these inputs could be assigned to individual tracks.

Those mics are'nt ideal for piano - you really need to record a piano in stereo to capture the natural spread of the instrument. Ideally you'd need something like these - cheap as chips though so don't expect miracles!

Here's something you need to know about the microphones suggested to you. There are two broad types - Condensor and Dynamic. They're both suited to different applications. The Large Diaphragm Condensor I linked you to is fine for stringed instruments and vocals - Condensors are generally mroe sensitive and produce a more detailed reproduction of the source sound. You can use Dynamics for vocals too, and guitar amps and close micing of drums. Different vocal styles will suit different mic types. Within the Condensor subset exist a special type of condensor called Small Diaphragm Condensors which often come in pairs and are great for micing things in stereo - guitars, a piano, drum overheads.

6stringmaniac

TelePaul wrote: »

Hmmm seems strange that LE isn't Vista compatible...it's usually the interface drivers that object to certain operating systems. I imagine if LE comes bundled with a Vista compatible interface, you'll be okay - the US 122 comes with LE version 4.

From the Tascam website, it seems the US 144 is capable of four tracks at a time...though I'm not sure how to be honest - possibly with SPDIF. Also, given that it's USB, it seems unlikely that these inputs could be assigned to individual tracks.

Those mics are'nt ideal for piano - you really need to record a piano in stereo to capture the natural spread of the instrument. Ideally you'd need something like these - cheap as chips though so don't expect miracles!

Here's something you need to know about the microphones suggested to you. There are two broad types - Condensor and Dynamic. They're both suited to different applications. The Large Diaphragm Condensor I linked you to is fine for stringed instruments and vocals - Condensors are generally mroe sensitive and produce a more detailed reproduction of the source sound. You can use Dynamics for vocals too, and guitar amps and close micing of drums. Different vocal styles will suit different mic types. Within the Condensor subset exist a special type of condensor called Small Diaphragm Condensors which often come in pairs and are great for micing things in stereo - guitars, a piano, drum overheads.

Thanks, what is the differance between stereo and mono.
Is it that if you were listening to it through headphones in mono that te same thing would be coming out of each headphone, and on stereo the vocals might be coming out one headphone and the guitar out the other?

DoubleEDIT: I just realised not all of those are available on the site i mentioned. Any ideas that are?

TelePaul

6stringmaniac wrote: »

Thanks, what is the differance between stereo and mono.
Is it that if you were listening to it through headphones in mono that te same thing would be coming out of each headphone, and on stereo the vocals might be coming out one headphone and the guitar out the other?

What's the difference between Stereo and Mono? Ask Brian Wilson!

Okay...you basically have it right...ish. Although you can pan Mono tracks left and right, let me stress, this is not the same as recording in stereo.

Let's take a practical example. An acoustic guitar will sound very different at the bridge to how it sounds at the neck. This is largely down to the construction of the instrument. Similarly, with a piano, stereo recording will produce a very balanced reproduction of the instrument - the bass notes will sound from the left, the higher octaves on the right. It creates a sense of depth in your mix as the sounds are fed from two unique audio channels. In mono, the sound is produced from one channel.

ICN

I have all of your all of families hostage. Give into my demands of they all die!


Please kill my family. Put them out of their misery.

dav nagle

ICN wrote: »

I have all of your all of families hostage. Give into my demands of they all die!


Please kill my family. Put them out of their misery.

yeah mine too.. get rid of us all...

ICN

dav nagle wrote: »

yeah mine too.. get rid of us all...

I'll go 1/2ers on the the bullets with you Mate! :pac: