SIMPLE,Basic Home recording

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 22 Sep 2006 5:41 am

In the past, 2 or 3 of us get together in the garage, turn on the cassette recorder and record a few tunes to give to potential lead players/temporary band members as a means of learning our material. Is there a computer based method (for a VERY computer illiterate person)of replacing that cassette recorder, putting the stuff on CD for play back and learning material???? I have BIAB (2006) and Power Tracks (ver 7). I need something that would be VERY simple to use???

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 22 Sep 2006 8:57 am

If Powertracks and a 4 mic input box is too complicated,
then maybe got for an all in one 4 mic to digital box.
Record to that and then play transfer to Power tracks and add parts.

If you are on a laptop then getting a
4 mic audio I/O box with midi would be pretty simple and portable.

There are plenty of 2 mic break out boxes of course.

It ALL depends on your host computer and budget.

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 22 Sep 2006 9:47 am

What is an "all in one I/O digital box???? (I've already confessed,,I'm technology illiterate,,,how about some more detailed explanations???)

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 22 Sep 2006 11:23 pm

An In / Out box lets you connect mics, instruments or your mixer to your computer,
and then also your monitor speakers.

Here is one discused briefly in a recording thread.
http://www.focusrite.com/product/saffire/

A version with more inputs
suitable for a small combo recording live in the room
http://www.focusrite.com/product/saffire_le/

An in the PC card with breakout wire bundle.
My friend has one running Sonar on a PC.
http://uk.shopping.com/xPO-M_Audio_MAudio_D410_24_Bit_96kHz_Digital_Audio

Here is a page of several boxes.
I haven't used these personally,
but I do have an 8 chan Presonus Digimax,
and a 2 chan Presonous tube preamp.
http://www.samedaymusic.com/browse--Firewire-Audio-Interfaces--2420

IF you have a 1384 buss / Firewire buss
on your computer :
There is, I am sure, something on this page,
that would do your job in budget,
and last a long time.
<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 23 September 2006 at 12:27 AM.]</p></FONT>

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 23 Sep 2006 5:05 am

Thanks DD,,,guess I'm going to have to get more "techy" oriented,,,,less time for pickin',,,,LOL

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 23 Sep 2006 9:06 pm

This too shall pass.
Just think that;
when it's in your head,
you have it to use.

What is your system, and what are your goals?

Russ Little · Post by **Russ Little** » 23 Sep 2006 9:16 pm

Sonny,
check your Email

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 24 Sep 2006 1:54 am

The main issue is your mics.

2 great mics will give you a shot of reproducing what's in the room,
even if through a marginal preamp.

A cheap $50 mic, through a $5,000 preamp...
will STILL sound like a cheap mic.

[SM-57's will NEVER sound like something better.]

2, $250 condensor mics through a $150 stereo preamp,
will sound much better.

There are MANY choices in this price range.
Put on headphones in the store
and pick the mic that sounds MOST like
the room out of headphones;
to your taste and budget.

After that experiment with placements
while in head phones in your room.
and get to know how the mics work
relative to sound source and room.

Record various placements,
at different distances and angles relative to source,
and listen to them back on speakers.

This is the BASIC methodology for a good simple recording.

Karen Lee Steenwijk · Post by **Karen Lee Steenwijk** » 25 Sep 2006 8:03 am

I keep learning more and more everyday,thanks guys!
I have been doing home recordings for years, with a vestax mr66, running it out of a sound tech st15eq, and a bossdigital reverb rv1000. I still look for the best possible advice, when it comes to this subject.I have never even thought about running stuff in the pc yet.This is very helpful, and I sure do look for more info.

Karen

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 25 Sep 2006 10:56 am

I think all Sonny wants here is to make a cd of his practice sessions for the reasons he described above. Couldnt he just plug the line out from his cassette player into a receiver/amp and then into the back of his sound card?

For what you are describing Sonny, I use a small mini disc recorder with a clip on condensor mic. It captures the room sound just fine, very well in fact. You can then edit, move things arond, etc and dump it into your computer and burn a cd. very easy.

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 27 Sep 2006 5:47 am

My portable unit: Zoom MRS-4 (AC/Battery powered, truly mobile) with a little amp and Sony speakers built into the lid. Mixdown to Sony Minidisc.

Thinking about selling this unit....

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 27 Sep 2006 11:46 am

Yes Ben,,,you heard me loud and clear. I think Russ gave me a solution,,,hope he doesn't mind if I share it with everyone,,,
http://www.mp3-recorder.net/mp3recorder/download.htm

Haven't tried it yet but looks like what I had in mind