Where to start with PC recording?

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cacheek

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All I know so far is that I need a good soundcard and a DAW. I've never recorded on a PC before, only used the big digital recording boxes from Boss and Yamaha. I don't want to spend a whole lot of money. I mainly want to do this at home and have some type of drum program to make my own beats. Advice would be appreciated.
 
I'm one of the biggest cheapskates you'll find when it comes to some things, and I was able to get a decent setup without spending a fortune. I've been doing my own recording off and on since the 90's and I can tell you that it is easier now than ever to do home recording. I have a regular HP computer with a generic soundcard and still am able to do great recordings. Here are some suggestions:

Recording Software - I use Reaper and recommend you getting it. You get to use it for 60 days free of charge (what I'm doing now actually). Then you buy for $60. Great product!

Interface - You have to find a way to get your amp, guitar tones, etc. into the computer. I use the Fractal Axe-FX II via a USB jack but you can use numerous tools, etc. You can use something like a LINE 6 POD, some folks mic their amps and use a mixer, etc., etc. It really depends on what you want to do. Just realize that micing your own gear takes a bit more patience than just plugging in a device that emulates tones, etc. Not really hard but you want to get the right mic placement, etc.

Down the road if you decide to mess with drums, you can get something like EZDrummer to make grooves you can jam along to. I recommend holding off on that for awhile and start out just trying to record a basic guitar part.
 
Yeah, I would use Reaper and learn everything you can about just recording a basic guitar part. Once you get that figured out learn how to use VST effects and VST instruments. Once you get that down THEN you can look into a plugin like EZ Drummer or Steven Slate SSD4 EX for drums. Then you will have to learn how to program drums in a MIDI Piano roll.


As far as an interface I recently got a Presonus 22VSL. I had to get a new interface because my old one was a PCI card and I switched to a laptop. I have been very happy with it. I don't do a ton of recording, but it does everything I need it to, and it wasn't super expensive.
 
Thanks for the responses. Regarding my computer, I just built a very fast gaming machine about 2 1/2 months ago. But, it doesn't have a sound card. I'm using the onboard sound from the motherboard. The video is killer though (especially on WoW), but that's another story. I'd like mic my amps and use my Pod x3. Regarding an interface, I'm concerned about latency as well.
 
Anyone using the Focusrite Itrack Solo? I don't have any recording stuff, but have been looking at this for awhile. I like the idea of being able to use it with my ipad or computers.
 
bigdaddyd":21ttu7wi said:
Anyone using the Focusrite Itrack Solo? I don't have any recording stuff, but have been looking at this for awhile. I like the idea of being able to use it with my ipad or computers.
Click to expand...
Alesis for iPad is $149 at Sweetwater.com
 
My rig. Cheap.

Line 6 toneport UX2-(Two mic inputs, phantom power for condenser, two instrument, two line in. Meters)
Sony Acid
SM57 (If I'm micing an amp)
MXL-Condenser mic for Vocals
Beta Monkey Drum loops

There's folks here that'll vouch for my results....

Paint a drum loop on the Sony Acid, open another track, use the Line 6 amps or mic your cab.
open track, Lay down a bass track with an octave on your git, (Or buy a $100 bass)
open track, lay down vocals.
:rock:
 
My rig. Cheap.

Line6 TonePort UX1 or Silver bundle.
Reaper Personal license ($60)
Downloadable free drum loops.
Drag/Drop a drum loop onto a Reaper track.
Line6 POD FARM 2.5 for guitars and bass (using TonePort UX1)
Shure SM58 Beta for vocals.

Can do a whole song like this. Can add anything at any time--can record live guitars using e609 instead of POD FARM, can run vocals through TC Helicon Voice Live 2. Super-flexible without being super- expensive.

Just looked at the Sony site and you can get Sony ACID Music Studio 9 and Movie Studio 11 for $110.
 
racerevlon":1z7vx8pv said:
My rig. Cheap.

Line6 TonePort UX1 or Silver bundle.
Reaper Personal license ($60)
Downloadable free drum loops.
Drag/Drop a drum loop onto a Reaper track.
Line6 POD FARM 2.5 for guitars and bass (using TonePort UX1)
Shure SM58 Beta for vocals.

Can do a whole song like this. Can add anything at any time--can record live guitars using e609 instead of POD FARM, can run vocals through TC Helicon Voice Live 2. Super-flexible without being super- expensive.

Just looked at the Sony site and you can get Sony ACID Music Studio 9 and Movie Studio 11 for $110.
Click to expand...

Copycat! :lol: :LOL: :thumbsup:
 
With USB recording, don't you have a ton of problems with latency?
 
jlbaxe":cd27tbsb said:
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Scarlett2i4

Or go with 2I2 if you don't need midi
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Yeah, I saw that but then you lose the ability to use the ipad. The is the one thing with the itrack that looks cool. you can use it with pc, mac and ipad.
 
Reaper is just plain awesome and the price can't be beat. My hotel room recording rig is a Laptop with Reaper and I use a POD 2.0 and a ER-1 drum machine. You can go right into the mic in with pretty good results. Plus use ASIO4ALL drivers and it should kill all latency issues. My laptop is an older Lenovo T61 - Specs - Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0GHz, 2GB DDR2, 60GB HDD, DVD-ROM/CD-RW Combo, 14.1" Display, with Vista. It works fine for some basic recording.
 
Once it's on Reaper how do you transfer it to Soundcloud or something similar?
 
Just consolidate/export tracks to .wav or .mp3 with Lame and upload them from wherever you dump them. Pretty easy really.
 
cacheek":dr08s22q said:
With USB recording, don't you have a ton of problems with latency?
Click to expand...

Nope. That is one reason I got the Presonus VSL series... USB 2.0 Drivers...
 
cacheek":15ofnk1l said:
With USB recording, don't you have a ton of problems with latency?
Click to expand...

Not with the line 6 stuff. My laptops not even that high powered and I've never had any lag.

You may if your trying to play back 30 tracks and record too...

WAY too much goin on for me. I like to track without a cluster fuck in my cans.
 
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