It seems I may have inspired a good few people to get the finger out and
stop waiting for whatever it is they were waiting for to start producing
their own music and if my incessant internet activity has achieved
nothing else well I'm sure happy its achieved this because in this day
and age with the technology we have at our disposal to not only record
but also distribute music for what is to all intents and purposes free,
there really is no excuse not too.And if a fuckwit like moi can do it
anyone can..theres no mystery(although I'm sure theres plenty of people who
would like us to believe there is,but I'll try keep politics to a
minimum)
Yesterday I got four requests to explain how to record bangin choons at
home,which brings the weeks total to 9 and needless to say I slacked off
fairly heavily and only replied to one..so I'm making this thread for
those dudes,but theres plenty of peeps who could make use of this info I
reckon in a way that is'nt full of internerd speak and talk of dynamic
compression(altough that'll be covered at some point hopefully!)
Now I'm no expert but theres plenty on Thumped who are so if I come up
with a clanger or two I'm sure it'll be clarified.So lets get it on!
Right so..
You're reading this so you already have your recording device sorted.Any
computer made in the last 7 years will do the trick but obviously the
newer it is/higher spec the more you can do more efficiently.But I
started out with cubase on an Atari ST(youngsters might need to google
that) and got reasonable results so the computer you're using will do
the trick with aplomb.
Next....
Software.I'm a believer in sticking it to the man at every
opportunity and theres no better way to do this than by installing
REAPER and using that as your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation).The reason
I started using REAPER is because the business model is in keeping with
my belief that everyone should have access to the tools they need to do
whatever it is they aspire to do and not have to have riches beyond
they're wildest dreams to do it.You can install and run it
indefinitely,with no ham stringing of features or dongles or anything.
(you get a nag screen at the start after the thirty day trial period but
THATS IT,and if you pay COCKOS €40 that goes away..now thats GOOD
value...)
Even more importantly its a 4 meg download and will run on any shitty
computer.
Another very important factor in my love for reaper is that it comes COMPLETE
with all the effects and processors you need to make decent recordings
and the REAPER forums leave no question unanswered for longer than about 5 mins.
plus there is an excellent video tutorial series(available to ahem d/l) as well
as a plethora of lads throwing up homemade youtube guides,some of which
are bleedin deadly.
edit...IMPORTANT ADDITION! You will need to install this too ASIO4ALL if
you are using your built in soundcard.These are
different audio drivers to the one on your computer but TOTALLY essential for
recording.They use an algorithm or something thats more efficient and
therefore reduces latency.Latency is the delay you hear between actually making a sound
and it coming out of the computer.A high latency would make it impossible to multitrack
as you would'nt be able to play along very well.
I may as well add that USB interfaces afaik usually come with ASIO drivers so if you've got
one you wont need ASIO4ALL .But its handy option to know about in case the ones you get
arent great or for some reason just don't play right.
But you can use any software you like(if for instance you had a mate who
had a copy or you robbed it from a shop or whatever)...but I would'nt
reccomend the latest iteration of Cubase because its a complete computer
hog and is too jam packed with stuff you dont need starting out.The same
could be said of most of the other big software studios(the ones I've
tried anyway)...but I believe you can do multitrack recording in
GARAGEBAND that comes free with a Mac and I know heads doing quality
stuff with Fruity Loops(and others, but you have to pay for those if you
don't wanna steal them so fuck that).And if your only starting its not
advisable to shell out loads of money beacuse you'll only end up selling
it to me on adverts.ie for a fraction of what you paid if it turns out
you can't sing(or at least don't like the sound of your own voice and
throw the towel in).Which brings me to microphones.
To get yer sounds into the computer you need a microphone and a yoke
that'll convert what the microphone picks up into something a computer
can understand .Theres a myriad of options here,but I'm only gonna cover
the REAL BASIC ones because this guide is only intended to get you
going...once your up and running and armed with a bit of knowlege you'll
have to make your own decisions about what gear you want to use(and that
really depends on what you hope to achieve)
1.Get a shitty mic from Powercity and plug it into the mic hole on your
computer.Or use the mic on your lappy or skype headset or even plug the
set of earphones from your ipod into that same hole and use them.It will
sound like complete pants but you could do that RIGHT NOW and be
recording.I do this if I get an idea and want to make sure I dont forget
it, so its still useful.Anyway try this while your waiting for Thomann
to deliver yer new mic....at the very least it'll give you an
opportunity to have something to flute around with in REAPER...and from
tiny acorns etc..
2.Do it with a bit of class.For this you will need a proper microphone.
Proper does not mean expensive.Proper means not a set of earphones.
To plug straight into your computer you need whats known as a DYNAMIC
mic,examples of which can be found HERE ( I dont work for Thomann but
its the best music shop since sliced loops so I'll be pointing yous
there).You can use this to record voice(vox) guitars(gix?) anything
really..
3.Do it with even MORE class..For this you need a dedicated
soundcard/audio interface.With one of these you can plug your instrument
cable(I'm assuming we all play an instrument)in as well as a
microphone.Whilst the soundcard on your home computer will do the
trick,they werent really designed for this so you wont really get the
best results from it.An entry level USB interface can be had for under a
€100(a lot less if you can blag one from a mate for a lend)and then you
will be truly rocking..because not only will that allow you to get a lot more
control over your signal level but even better it will give you the option of using
one of these TASTY Yokes because they can supply PHANTOM POWER .
A condensor mic sounds a lot nicer but needs whats called PHANTOM POWER,
which simply means it takes a DC current to make it work).These used to be astronomically
priced but our good friends the Chinese have put an end to that malarky and are now
producing knock offs of all the classic mics for fuck all..HIGHLY RECCOMENDED....
4.CLASS IT THE FUCK UP!To do this you need a preamp.I cannot overstate
the value of this piece of gear BAMMMM.
This will raise the level from your input signal(be it from guitar or
mic etc.) thus lowering the relative amount of noise you get coming
through to the computer(which you don't need to understand right
now,just take my word for it that its a good thing) and will supply
phantom power to your new condensor mic.
stop waiting for whatever it is they were waiting for to start producing
their own music and if my incessant internet activity has achieved
nothing else well I'm sure happy its achieved this because in this day
and age with the technology we have at our disposal to not only record
but also distribute music for what is to all intents and purposes free,
there really is no excuse not too.And if a fuckwit like moi can do it
anyone can..theres no mystery(although I'm sure theres plenty of people who
would like us to believe there is,but I'll try keep politics to a
minimum)
Yesterday I got four requests to explain how to record bangin choons at
home,which brings the weeks total to 9 and needless to say I slacked off
fairly heavily and only replied to one..so I'm making this thread for
those dudes,but theres plenty of peeps who could make use of this info I
reckon in a way that is'nt full of internerd speak and talk of dynamic
compression(altough that'll be covered at some point hopefully!)
Now I'm no expert but theres plenty on Thumped who are so if I come up
with a clanger or two I'm sure it'll be clarified.So lets get it on!
Right so..
You're reading this so you already have your recording device sorted.Any
computer made in the last 7 years will do the trick but obviously the
newer it is/higher spec the more you can do more efficiently.But I
started out with cubase on an Atari ST(youngsters might need to google
that) and got reasonable results so the computer you're using will do
the trick with aplomb.
Next....
Software.I'm a believer in sticking it to the man at every
opportunity and theres no better way to do this than by installing
REAPER and using that as your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation).The reason
I started using REAPER is because the business model is in keeping with
my belief that everyone should have access to the tools they need to do
whatever it is they aspire to do and not have to have riches beyond
they're wildest dreams to do it.You can install and run it
indefinitely,with no ham stringing of features or dongles or anything.
(you get a nag screen at the start after the thirty day trial period but
THATS IT,and if you pay COCKOS €40 that goes away..now thats GOOD
value...)
Even more importantly its a 4 meg download and will run on any shitty
computer.
Another very important factor in my love for reaper is that it comes COMPLETE
with all the effects and processors you need to make decent recordings
and the REAPER forums leave no question unanswered for longer than about 5 mins.
plus there is an excellent video tutorial series(available to ahem d/l) as well
as a plethora of lads throwing up homemade youtube guides,some of which
are bleedin deadly.
edit...IMPORTANT ADDITION! You will need to install this too ASIO4ALL if
you are using your built in soundcard.These are
different audio drivers to the one on your computer but TOTALLY essential for
recording.They use an algorithm or something thats more efficient and
therefore reduces latency.Latency is the delay you hear between actually making a sound
and it coming out of the computer.A high latency would make it impossible to multitrack
as you would'nt be able to play along very well.
I may as well add that USB interfaces afaik usually come with ASIO drivers so if you've got
one you wont need ASIO4ALL .But its handy option to know about in case the ones you get
arent great or for some reason just don't play right.
But you can use any software you like(if for instance you had a mate who
had a copy or you robbed it from a shop or whatever)...but I would'nt
reccomend the latest iteration of Cubase because its a complete computer
hog and is too jam packed with stuff you dont need starting out.The same
could be said of most of the other big software studios(the ones I've
tried anyway)...but I believe you can do multitrack recording in
GARAGEBAND that comes free with a Mac and I know heads doing quality
stuff with Fruity Loops(and others, but you have to pay for those if you
don't wanna steal them so fuck that).And if your only starting its not
advisable to shell out loads of money beacuse you'll only end up selling
it to me on adverts.ie for a fraction of what you paid if it turns out
you can't sing(or at least don't like the sound of your own voice and
throw the towel in).Which brings me to microphones.
To get yer sounds into the computer you need a microphone and a yoke
that'll convert what the microphone picks up into something a computer
can understand .Theres a myriad of options here,but I'm only gonna cover
the REAL BASIC ones because this guide is only intended to get you
going...once your up and running and armed with a bit of knowlege you'll
have to make your own decisions about what gear you want to use(and that
really depends on what you hope to achieve)
1.Get a shitty mic from Powercity and plug it into the mic hole on your
computer.Or use the mic on your lappy or skype headset or even plug the
set of earphones from your ipod into that same hole and use them.It will
sound like complete pants but you could do that RIGHT NOW and be
recording.I do this if I get an idea and want to make sure I dont forget
it, so its still useful.Anyway try this while your waiting for Thomann
to deliver yer new mic....at the very least it'll give you an
opportunity to have something to flute around with in REAPER...and from
tiny acorns etc..
2.Do it with a bit of class.For this you will need a proper microphone.
Proper does not mean expensive.Proper means not a set of earphones.
To plug straight into your computer you need whats known as a DYNAMIC
mic,examples of which can be found HERE ( I dont work for Thomann but
its the best music shop since sliced loops so I'll be pointing yous
there).You can use this to record voice(vox) guitars(gix?) anything
really..
3.Do it with even MORE class..For this you need a dedicated
soundcard/audio interface.With one of these you can plug your instrument
cable(I'm assuming we all play an instrument)in as well as a
microphone.Whilst the soundcard on your home computer will do the
trick,they werent really designed for this so you wont really get the
best results from it.An entry level USB interface can be had for under a
€100(a lot less if you can blag one from a mate for a lend)and then you
will be truly rocking..because not only will that allow you to get a lot more
control over your signal level but even better it will give you the option of using
one of these TASTY Yokes because they can supply PHANTOM POWER .
A condensor mic sounds a lot nicer but needs whats called PHANTOM POWER,
which simply means it takes a DC current to make it work).These used to be astronomically
priced but our good friends the Chinese have put an end to that malarky and are now
producing knock offs of all the classic mics for fuck all..HIGHLY RECCOMENDED....
4.CLASS IT THE FUCK UP!To do this you need a preamp.I cannot overstate
the value of this piece of gear BAMMMM.
This will raise the level from your input signal(be it from guitar or
mic etc.) thus lowering the relative amount of noise you get coming
through to the computer(which you don't need to understand right
now,just take my word for it that its a good thing) and will supply
phantom power to your new condensor mic.
Should have read it first before posting on the site and saved a little embarassment :-(
