looking to record some demos at home

[0175westwood29]

ive got a normal family pc, it dell and i cant tell you much more than that!?

im looking to be able to start recording small parts, and demos of songs as ive started to write a lot more and its a pain using my hand held sony recorder as it just sounds awful!

im not taking studio quality but just something that i can lay down a few tracks say like 4 parts in a recording?

i know ill need some software, but what else do i need?

andy

[Tait]

well you can do very basic recordings with the guitar/bass/drums, amps, mics (including drum mics, unless you have an electric kit) and a DAW. i'd recommend REAPER if you're planning on using your PC. of course, you can get a DAW like the BOSS BR-1600, which i own but use more as an effects pedal than a DAW, i like to be able to see the tracks in front of you, drag them and copy them easily, theres a lot you can do much easier with something like REAPER.

thats all very basic recordings, but if you go on [url="http://www.myspace.com/blaqrainband"]my band's website[/url] thats all we used (and i'm only a beginner, there will be many people on here that could use the same and get a much better sounding final song), along with the help of people on basschat on [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=55976"]this thread[/url] and [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=58315"]this thread[/url]. have a read through them (although the second thread is specifically about overdriven guitar, it has some tips in that will help with general recording too) and have a look at [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=54221"]this thread[/url] too if you havent already, and just have a look through the recording section to see if there are any other useful looking threads. sound on sound is a good magazine to have a look at too if you want recording advice.

but i'm a beginner too so i'm sure someone who knows what they're talking about will be along soon!

[0175westwood29]

[quote name='Tait' post='592240' date='Sep 7 2009, 05:06 PM']well you can do very basic recordings with the guitar/bass/drums, amps, mics (including drum mics, unless you have an electric kit) and a DAW. i'd recommend REAPER if you're planning on using your PC. of course, you can get a DAW like the BOSS BR-1600, which i own but use more as an effects pedal than a DAW, i like to be able to see the tracks in front of you, drag them and copy them easily, theres a lot you can do much easier with something like REAPER.

thats all very basic recordings, but if you go on [url="http://www.myspace.com/blaqrainband"]my band's website[/url] thats all we used (and i'm only a beginner, there will be many people on here that could use the same and get a much better sounding final song), along with the help of people on basschat on [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=55976"]this thread[/url] and [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=58315"]this thread[/url]. have a read through them (although the second thread is specifically about overdriven guitar, it has some tips in that will help with general recording too) and have a look at [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=54221"]this thread[/url] too if you havent already, and just have a look through the recording section to see if there are any other useful looking threads. sound on sound is a good magazine to have a look at too if you want recording advice.

but i'm a beginner too so i'm sure someone who knows what they're talking about will be along soon![/quote]

yeh im not looking fo r a full band recording just maybe a couple of layered bass tracks with diff effects on em.

andy

[iamapirate]

For about 3 years I've used a boss BR-900CD. it's great for home recordings, etc. it's past my needs, so PM me if you wanna buy it.
If you've got a normal dell PC, then I wouldnt really recommend doing PC recordings because of lag, etc.

Edited September 15, 2009 by iamapirate

[0175westwood29]

i went with a line 6 backtrack for ease at the moment, ill get something more fixed later,

its not a bad piece of kit at all.

heres a recording i did with it

[url="http://www.box.net/shared/csllh9061i"]http://www.box.net/shared/csllh9061i[/url]

[cheddatom]

Sorry I didn't see this thread, I would have sorted you with some free software and advice for latency free recording on a sh*t PC.

I have a line6 backtrack, I use it loads for just recording ideas in the living room, or for recording samples to go on proper songs.

[dr.funk]

[quote name='iamapirate' post='599500' date='Sep 15 2009, 06:51 PM']If you've got a normal dell PC, then I wouldnt really recommend doing PC recordings because of lag, etc.[/quote]

I would disagree with that, you can record on a PC with quite modest specs. Latency shouldn't be a big problem in this situation.

I have a 1.5 Ghz laptop that can handle 2 channels in, through vsts and out without any noticeable latency. It's only when you are monitoring live like this that the latency will play a part.

[iamapirate]

[quote name='dr.funk' post='601143' date='Sep 17 2009, 11:07 AM']I would disagree with that, you can record on a PC with quite modest specs. Latency shouldn't be a big problem in this situation.

I have a 1.5 Ghz laptop that can handle 2 channels in, through vsts and out without any noticeable latency. It's only when you are monitoring live like this that the latency will play a part.[/quote]
ok, thanks for clearing that up for me

[lanark]

[quote name='cheddatom' post='601050' date='Sep 17 2009, 09:03 AM']Sorry I didn't see this thread, I would have sorted you with some free software and advice for latency free recording on a sh*t PC.

I have a line6 backtrack, I use it loads for just recording ideas in the living room, or for recording samples to go on proper songs.[/quote]


Cheddatom, I wouldn't mind that advice on removing as much latency as possible from PC recording.

I'm wanting to use Cubase to put together midi files to help separate band parts for practice and I'm finding the lag on the midi controller is making it impossible to get any accuracy whatsoever.

Plus, (and this is a real dumbass question) how do I connect the bass to the PC / Laptop to record? Out of the amp? Straight in? I feel so stoopid (but then I thought I was stupid when I couldn't get the midi controller to work at all and it turned out that a logitech webcam driver was ensuring that all midi attachments were well and truly scuppered until it was disabled).

[EdwardHimself]

[quote name='iamapirate' post='603691' date='Sep 20 2009, 05:02 PM']ok, thanks for clearing that up for me [/quote]

Yeah i mean specs are only a big problem if you're recording a lot of tracks at the same time, if you just want to do 1 or 2 it should be fine.

[EdwardHimself]

[quote name='lanark' post='616240' date='Oct 4 2009, 09:09 AM']Cheddatom, I wouldn't mind that advice on removing as much latency as possible from PC recording.

I'm wanting to use Cubase to put together midi files to help separate band parts for practice and I'm finding the lag on the midi controller is making it impossible to get any accuracy whatsoever.

Plus, (and this is a real dumbass question) how do I connect the bass to the PC / Laptop to record? Out of the amp? Straight in? I feel so stoopid (but then I thought I was stupid when I couldn't get the midi controller to work at all and it turned out that a logitech webcam driver was ensuring that all midi attachments were well and truly scuppered until it was disabled).[/quote]

If your amp has a direct out like an XLR output then that through an xlr-6.3mm then convert the 6.3mm to 3.5mm jack and stick that in your line in port should probably be your best bet i'd imagine. If you're feeling adventerous and want a bit more charachter from the tone then you could try using a microphone, like an inexpensive dynamic jobbie which should in theory just plug straight into your mic input on the PC.