Toasted Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 Dear Brain Trust I have a 2012 macbook pro and some monitor speakers and headphones for it. I have written some relatively straight forward pop rock songs with a guitar playing friend of mine. They have rhythm, lead and bass parts. I want to record these tracks in my bedroom. I want the guitar parts and the bass parts in some kind of software where each will be separate "tracks" so I can do a bad job at mixing them for fun. I want to be able to output the whole music file as MP3s or similar. Q1) What software do I need to do this recording? Q2) What hardware do I need to do this recording? Q3) How do I make semi-convincing drum sounds most simply? (I am not a dummer) Cheers, Joe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krysh Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 garageband which already is on your macbook? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toasted Posted September 3, 2013 Author Share Posted September 3, 2013 Is that the best software to use? I'd had a poke around in it a year or so ago and I thought it was a bit restricted. Probably my lack of skill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krysh Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 [quote name='Toasted' timestamp='1378204903' post='2196917'] Is that the best software to use? I'd had a poke around in it a year or so ago and I thought it was a bit restricted. Probably my lack of skill. [/quote] you only asked for a software than can do what you want. there is no best software, only some that some people prefer more than other and some so called industry standard. it only depends on what you want to spend and which way you prefer to work. the best investment in recording is a decent audio interface though. but there are too many variables in your questions to give a precise answer to this. take what you already have, learn it and when you come to a point where you need more then go on... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toasted Posted September 3, 2013 Author Share Posted September 3, 2013 Can you recommend a decent audio interface? Can Garageband supply the drum parts I'm looking for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 If GarageBand is a bit limited for you, logic would be the next step. Interfaces; I use line 6 toneport ux1. There are many others. Now for the next basschatter... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krysh Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 (edited) [quote name='Toasted' timestamp='1378205634' post='2196922'] Can you recommend a decent audio interface?[/quote] no. how many channels do you need? what is the budget? usb, firewire or thunderbolt? inbuilt fx?.... [quote name='Toasted' timestamp='1378205634' post='2196922']Can Garageband supply the drum parts I'm looking for? [/quote] probably, but what are you looking for? Edited September 3, 2013 by krysh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toasted Posted September 3, 2013 Author Share Posted September 3, 2013 I think I just need one channel. But as I said in the OP I'm new at this. 1) If Guitar George is playing in "clean" guitar to the interface and into the garageband "amps" and "effects" does it sound any good? 2) My macbook has USB and Thunderbolt so either of those are options. Apples marketing seems to suggest Thunderbolt is quicker, which must be good. Right? 3) Drums: My pop rock songs need some basic drums behind the guitar and bass parts or my demos will sound ... sparse . Is the most straight forward way to achieve this using someone else's loops (EG: http://www.macloops.com/audio/free_rock_drum_loops_for_garageband.php) Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toasted Posted September 3, 2013 Author Share Posted September 3, 2013 I've been having a bit more of a poke around in Garageband and I think it'll probably do what I want it to. Just need to get an interface sorted out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krysh Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 thunderbolt still only is reserved for professional and expensive audio interfaces. to start please consider a good usb interface like this: [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/focusrite_saffire_6_usb.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/focusrite_saffire_6_usb.htm[/url] because you will need a microphone input and a hi-z input for bass/guitar. learn this stuff and don't spend more until you really know your stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skol303 Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Plenty of different software on the market. If GrarageBand isn't doing what you need I'd recommend Reaper, which is available as an unlimited free trial (ie. fully working software) or £60 for a commercial license. It's a real bargain and a great product. Link here: http://www.cockos.com/reaper/ Logic is also fantastic value for money at around £130. https://www.apple.com/uk/logic-pro/ I personally use a software called Reason, but that's just my preference. It's certainly no better than other products out there - it's just different and suits my workflow: http://www.propellerheads.se/products/reason/new/ All of these products are supported by active communities with their own discussion forums, where you'll find plenty of help and advice. YouTube is also great for tutorials on how to get started. In terms of an interface, the Focusrite Saffire 6 offers good bang for your buck$: http://uk.focusrite.com/usb-audio-interfaces/saffire-6-usb Have fun! PS: these same questions crop up regularly in the Recording forum - which is a good thing! - so I might write a short Starter Guide to home recording once things quieten down at work... A thread we can all use for posting advice on software and hardware. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toasted Posted September 4, 2013 Author Share Posted September 4, 2013 [quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1378279084' post='2197936'] PS: these same questions crop up regularly in the Recording forum - which is a good thing! - so I might write a short Starter Guide to home recording once things quieten down at work... A thread we can all use for posting advice on software and hardware. [/quote] I think that's be a good idea. Saves you helpful people having to answer the same stupid questions over and over again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skol303 Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 [quote name='Toasted' timestamp='1378281649' post='2197967']I think that's be a good idea. Saves you helpful people having to answer the same stupid questions over and over again[/quote] Nothing stupid about your questions Joe! That's what the Recording forum is for. I ask plenty myself, so welcome to the club Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 For the hard of thinking ( me ) it would be marvfabulous if an experienced vid guru actually video'd him/herself actually recording the vid track and sound track, through the whole process, with camera work looking at the PC as well, to see whats going on. Probably too much work in the end, but would be soooooo beneficial Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 Garageband is actually really good, expecially considering you get it included with your laptop. You just need to experiment with it, and learn to use it. I use a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, which works faultlessly with my Macbook, it has a headphone monitoring output, a separate volume level for monitoring and you can adjust the balance between the headphone output and the main monitor output from totally headphones to totally monitors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurksalot Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 Focusright Scarlett 2i2 here also , a real gem of a bit of kit , it really helped me as it was the first bit of audio kit that really seemed straightforward and simple enough to work straight out of the box and does everything I have needed so far Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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