Need help in recording !

[Valentin0]

Hi softies,

I need your help . I currently own a decent macbook alu. The software that I'm using for editing, mixing all those stuffs is Garageband 09. Do you think I should switch to other software like cubase or any other software ? I'm currently wanting to record vocals and guitars at the meantime into my macbook. The problem is, what thing is needed for me to do all this recording of guitars and vocals ? I really wanna get a decent sound with not much feedback sound and those noisy sound that is very irritating.

After much reading thru forums, i finally come out with a plan. The things i might need to get is min 4 channel mixer , audio interface ( needed ? ) , microphones. Is this enough ? I hope you guys could help me . Budget not much, below $400.

 

[CogitoAngMoh]

From what you've described, GarangeBand 09 could easily handle those tasks. What you didn't mention was what kind of guitar you were trying to record, electric or acoustic. I would disagree that you need a 4 channel mixer at this stage for just recording vocals and guitar.

If you have an electric or electro-acoustic you can plug either directly into an audio interface (which will need to have a Hi-Z input for guitar, which almost all have) and use the onboard effects in GarageBand to process amp sims / effects as you track. The amp sims and effects in GarageBand 09 are actually quite good and are the basis for the new guitar rigs in GarageBand's big brother, Logic Pro 9. I use Logic Pro now, but I learned A LOT by cutting my teeth in GarageBand.

Probably the cheapest option would be finding an inexpensive USB Condenser mic you could plug directly into your MacBooks USB port. This would allow you to handle recording of both your vocals and guitar by mic'ing them directly. I've even gotten decent results by experimenting using my Zoom H2 portable recorder to record vocals and my acoustic. I bought the H2 to record my band's jams, but it has a USB mic function whereby I can plug it directly into my Mac for use as a mic or audio interface with another external mic in. Pretty flexible, but obviously the quality isn't what you'd get with a dedicated audio interface and a decent mic.

So here's my suggestion, based on your budget:
1) If you have one of the Macbooks with Firewire 800, go see the folks at Sinamex and take a look at the M-Audio FireWire Solo audio interface. It has an XLR input for a mic and a Hi-Z input for direct guitar recording. It's designed for people wanting to record primarily vocals and guitar.

2) Find a decent condenser or dynamic mic. If you have to buy just one mic, make it a Shure SM57 dynamic mic. It can handle amp, acoustic and even vocal mic duties decently. The 57 is a staple mic in studios everywhere for good reason. I also saw someone advertising a used M-Audio Luna condenser mic here for $100, which is a steal.

3) Or find a decent USB mic. I don't have much experience here, but you can do some research. You could always go with the Zoom H2 which would have the added benefit of allowing you to record your jam sessions with your buddies, too.

4) If you can't stretch your budget for any of this, you'll be stuck with using the built in mic in the Macbook and will have to live with the results until you can upgrade.

5) Finally, and LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, invest some of your budget in a book that covers the basics of audio engineering and home recording. The "Home Recording for Musicians for Dummies" book covers all the basics to get you started.

Good luck and PM if you need more advice or would like to talk about it.

M

 

[alshit]

If you want an all-in-one solution, the Zoom H4n might just be your answer.

 

[kongwee]

For software you can use Ardour (www.ardour.org) for Mac OS X. It is poor man ProTools. However, this software is develop for Linux. So the work flow work that way. Good thing is they do it for free(almost).

If you are exploring music arrangement than Logic is the one,and it can take in your garageband project.

 

[cosmicorder]

Hi softies,

I need your help . I currently own a decent macbook alu. The software that I'm using for editing, mixing all those stuffs is Garageband 09. Do you think I should switch to other software like cubase or any other software ? I'm currently wanting to record vocals and guitars at the meantime into my macbook. The problem is, what thing is needed for me to do all this recording of guitars and vocals ? I really wanna get a decent sound with not much feedback sound and those noisy sound that is very irritating.

After much reading thru forums, i finally come out with a plan. The things i might need to get is min 4 channel mixer , audio interface ( needed ? ) , microphones. Is this enough ? I hope you guys could help me . Budget not much, below $400.

1. Nope- GB is good enough. Get a good quality audio interface. Presonus, m- audio, novation, lexicon and even NI- all have very good reasonably priced interfaces. The NI AK-1 is a soild interface with 24b/192khz, 4 controllers and a good software bundle.

2. You may not need a mixer unless you are recording multiple instruments and vocals all at one go. If you are then you should take a look at the mixer interfaces like M-audio NRV 10, project mix IO, alesis multi mix series e.t.c

3. Yes get a microphone. Not an expensive one as your recording environment is not ideal.

4. Get good quality cables for your IO.

My guess is you will need about $600 for all this if buying new.

 

[Valentin0]

Thank you guys for all your comments ! I really appreciate it !! A million thanks ! So I basically know what I wanna get from all those suggestion you guys give.

Basically, I prefer recording part by part so i think mixer is not necessary. I just need a condenser microphones and audio interface . But what if I dont have the electric-acoustic guitar ? I just have those normal acoustic guitar . How to get those decent sounds from that guitar? Or i should consider buying the electric-acoustic ? What mic gonna use for the acoustic guitar ?

Thanks guys !!

 

[CogitoAngMoh]

The answer is start getting good at perfecting your "guerilla recording" techniques. You will have to learn how to get a good sound by direct mic'ing your acoustic and vocals in a non-ideal environment (probably your room I'm guessing) and squeezing the best sound and results out you can with the gear you have. This will be a good learning experience for you, which is part of the fun, right?

I personally really don't like the way electric-acoustics sound direct recorded, so I don't advise to get one if all you are doing is recording at home. Now if you want to start playing gigs out, that's a different story altogether....

Good luck and have fun!