Recommend Me Recording Software

H

HEssEss

New member
I need to start recording my own tracks start to finish. The only instrument I will be playing is guitar. I will also sing the vocals.

Accordingly I need software (and maybe hardware) that has the following:

- ability to plug my guitar straight into the PC w/o going thru amp;
- provide different amp setting alternatives and effects
- pitch change so I can simulate bass parts by playing them on guitar
- multi-track / dubbing
- have drum tracks, where I can also change tempo mid-song
- record vocals thru a separate mic
- import MP3 or other music files

Also need to know where I can purchase locally. If you're a retailer with software, please feel free to PM me.

Hopefully this describes what I'm looking for. If not, please ask and I can fill in the rest.

Thanks
 
budget? what are you using pc/laptop or mac? what specs?

- ability to plug my guitar straight into the PC w/o going thru amp;
guitar > 1/4" cable > dibox or preamp/audio interface > laptop
- provide different amp setting alternatives and effects
line6 (hardware) or native instruments guitar rig etc.
- pitch change so I can simulate bass parts by playing them on guitar
should be able to find a pitch vst easily to bring down octaves at www.kvraudio.com
- multi-track / dubbing
www.reaper.fm , or depending on the audio interface you're buying, may come with free cubase DAW like my zoom r16
- have drum tracks, where I can also change tempo mid-song
1) midi learning curve, program your own , trigger drum samples via VST www.kvraudio.com
2) recording learning curve, record your own, if no drumset, go jam studio and get your friend to record, use a portable recorder such as Zoom H1. stereo recording only. or engage a 3rd party multitrack recording at a studio http://tinyurl.com/recordingstudiolist
- record vocals thru a separate mic
if you're talking about recording your guitar + your vocals at the same time, your audio interface should have 2 line/mic preamp inputs at least.a decently affordable and multipurpose mic is Audio Technica AT2020, get the XLR version not USB.
- import MP3 or other music files
all DAWs support that, if they don't, convert the mp3 to .wav or .aiff and it should work.
 
thanks for your reply.

PC is Lenovo ThinkPad. Plan on recording guitar and vocals at different times. Where in Singapore do I get the hardware like ibox or preamp/audio interface, line6 or native instruments guitar rig etc.?
Budget is anywhere from $100 to $200 for everything
 
what you need to buy : mic.preamp.audio interface (most AIF's comes with onboard preamps.) make sure your operating system is well maintained, uninstall all useless crap ,read http://tinyurl.com/diyrecordingfaq

your budget is low even for $200. the only way I can think of is unless you can settle for a 2nd hand Zoom H4 sold in the classifieds. that one has onboard efx for guitars, guitar DI , even the onboard microphones is useful.

http://www.citymusic.com.sg/webshaper/store/viewProd.asp?pkProductItem=175
UX1's mic preamp don't have phantom power, which means if you got a condenser mic it won't power. but the guitar sound varieties are pretty good.

http://www.citymusic.com.sg/webshaper/store/viewProd.asp?pkProductItem=176
UX2 will be most of what you need.

the audio technica at2020 i was talking about is around $160 i think. also from citymusic.

http://www.citymusic.com.sg/webshaper/store/viewCat.asp?catID=40
zoom recorder/audio interfaces options are here if you desire portability. but the budget seems to exceed already.
 
You asked about software. With that budget (considering you need hardware), just for for the free Audacity software for recording. Can get Guitar Rig either from Resolutions or online direct from NI website.

Other bare-bone, cheaper DAW software (which will still blow your budget if you need hardware...) are:

1. Sonar X1 Essential
2. Cakewalk Guitar Tracks Pro (more friendly to a guitarist songwriter).
 
I can pay more, I just thought $100 - $200 would do it. Years ago I had guitar rig mobile for $100. It was hardware and software. Audacity as you say is free. So other than a means to connect a guitar and mic to the PC, why would I need anything else?

RIght now I really want to know where I can buy the hardware in SGP that would enable me to connect guitar and mic to PC. I was at Funan the other day and some of the stores had software only, none had hardware.

Would really appreciate some advice on best places to go in SGP where I can find everything. Ill pay what I need to
 
Last edited:
You mean you had Guitar Rig Kontrol. Yes, Audacity is free. But you pay for what you get. It all depends what you want to do with mixing etc. It's about features and workflow. But do download Audacity and give it a try first. It supports VST plugins, so you can add in your Guitar Rig etc. If you want to expand later, then pay for the other DAW.

Blueprintstudio already gave you the names of the stores you can go look for hardware. Don't go Funan.
 
Go to Sinamex and get the Alesis IO 2 audio i think. Comes with Cubase LE. Enough to get you started. $195, below your budget. Then download free VSTs for amp simulation and effects. If you dont have a budget... I love using Ableton Live for everything.
 
There's Sinamex , CityMusic , HungBros.com (simlim sq) , Esden Trading (Simlim sq), Resolution.sg , luthermusic.com

Sweelee and yamaha carries a few

The rest is on soft classifieds for 2nd hands

You'll get everything you require locally from these places.

Funan only has IT lifestyle products
 
I used to use amp sim VST alot before I had my axe, here are some great ones. I usually have the TSE808(Low drive high level) running into an amp sim (x50 is one of my favourite) and going into a cab impulse.

Amp Sims:
lepou VSTs - http://lepouplugins.blogspot.com/
TSE X50 - http://www.theserinaexperiment.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=86

TSE808 - http://www.theserinaexperiment.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=36

Cab impulses - God's Cab http://signalsaudio.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=9&Itemid=15

You got to load the impulses with another vst, you can use the LePou cab loaded in his site.

Your chain will probably be something like TSE808->X50 (or any other ampsim) -> LeCab2

Enjoy!
 
portunderground said:
Go to Sinamex and get the Alesis IO 2 audio i think. Comes with Cubase LE. Enough to get you started. $195, below your budget. Then download free VSTs for amp simulation and effects. If you dont have a budget... I love using Ableton Live for everything.
Click to expand...
And what could I do with that versus Apple's Garage Band?
 
I've never used garage band and Cubase... But with the audio interface, u can connect it garage band and work your magic through there also.
 
Hi,

get the best possible audio interface as it will affect heavily your recording if the pre-amp is bad one. Can recommend only Focusrite Saffire Pro at the moment as I am used to it and the pre-amps are damn good. It is costly though. Remember that USB connection is not very reliable and fast for recording excellent quality sounds so if possible get firewire adapter for your laptop and firewire interface audio interface.

I am using Logic here as sw so cant recommend anything for Windows. Maybe Pro Tools? What comes to the plugins I highly recommend Studio Devil plugins. Damn good and emulates tube sound amps quite well.

Cheers,
Markus
 
I must say one thing, as a former noob using behringer/alesis range as preamps and trained myself to mix to sound better than the make of the preamps. it affects but the cost-to-sound ratio is likely more justified by your mixing techniques. Meaning if I was using an Echo Layla 24 (PCI) recording at 24/96khz in 2002, I sound so much better when I was recording 16bit/44.1khz using presonus fp10 (firewire) in 2008. before changing to zoom R16 (USB, supposedly crappier preamps than presonus) in about 2009 i think.so by "downgrading" my gear, I upgrade my mixing skills to make up for it.

the whole USB vs Firewire debate is long gone (at least from my experience) because I'm using Zoom R16 (USB) for 3 years now nonstop and previously presonus firewire interfaces actually gave me more problems with connection.

PC DAWs are commonly ableton/sonar/cubase/reaper. (some mentioned are cross OS platforms) semi-fledged DAWs would be Adobe audition/audacity and some other sony softwares which i can't remember.. and I use the term semifledge because if i'm not wrong they don't have full VST nor midi support.
 
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