The Steel Guitar Forum

Hello Steelers.
Does anybody have a home setup that they like for recording tracks? I'm a beginner (3 years- not enough hours), but on occasion, I get asked to lay down some simple PS on friends' recordings. I would prefer to record at home when I'm on my own time. I would want to get a copy of the song by email, record my PS contribution, and then send a high-quality recording back to the studio.
Thoughts on gear/ software?
Al

Hi Allan
There is a lot of different software available that will do the job for you - I personally use Cubase Essentials 8, but there is cheaper stuff out there.

You will need a Interface between your Pedal steel and the computer, something that connects via USB is usually the way to go. I use a relatively simple device, the Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 ...which has 2 inputs and 4 outputs, as well as the USB connection to your computer.
I normally plug my steel into my Telonics Preamp, then from the Preamp outs to the Focusrite. Thats all I need. I also have a Lexicon efx unit in my rack which I use as well to add reverb and/or delay to my steel as needed. I use a stereo feed from the preamp into the two inputs on the interface, but you could get by with just the one no problem.

Load the mp3 into your software, add the steel parts, then save the steel tracks (and sync them to the mp3), save them as a .wav file and send them back to the client either via email, or upload to dropbox ..

If your using a laptop this can be a very portable setup, use at home or in a motel/hotel room when your on the road etc ...

Have fun

Most of the audio interfaces come with free versions of Cubase, Sonar, etc. They are stripped down but you may find (as I did) that they do everything you need.
Also, I think there is no reason to spend a lot on the interface. You would mostly be paying for more inputs, and probably you need only one input. I think they all sound really good.

Hi Allan,
before using big and expensive softs like Cubase or Sonar, you can try Audacity (free), very easy to import audio files , to record track on track and to export final audio file (wav mp3.
http://www.audacityteam.org/

Allan, it really is a wide open question. The gear, whether it is a really hi end DAW or just a simple 4 track porta-studio uses the exact same process.

IF you have experience tracking, any recording system that allows loading a WAV file or MP3 from an email into your recorder , then adding another track ( Steel) to compliment the loaded file will give you the same end results. You end up with ONE track with just Steel guitar, either as a WAV or MP3 and you return that track in it's entirety to the client .

Now you must ask yourself how much do I want to spend , $299 for some sort of workstation like a Zoom R8, R16 or do I want to grab a DAW , a PC/Laptop, an appropriate interface and a preamp then begin the learning journey which is NOT overnight.

The "PROCESS" of recording a CLEAN Steel guitar on either system is exactly the same. One is not easier than the other. Certainly one has more features than the the other.

Are you recording direct ( no amp) are you recording from your amp with a mic, is there hum ? is the signal too strong, is it not strong enough ? is the captured signal on the recorder clean or does it have some saturation ? etc.

One thing that runs around in conversations with regard to DAW's is the term "Bells and Whistles" , which is literally a false term which makes me jump out of my skin. Quality DAW's have multiple "production features" also termed workflow features, you don't use them every day or with every session, you use them as required. They are not there just to sell the package. Think of it this way, you don't need them until you do. We can buy a drill bit set with 10 drill bit sizes or we can buy one with 24 drill bit sizes, those extra 14 drills are not bells and whistles. One day...well you get the point.


The process you are asking about is not difficult and is fun, but it does require a good working knowledge of whichever system you decide to go with.


As long as the workstation or PC based system allows importing (loading) an MP3 or WAV file from your client as a stereo 2-track and allows you to record a separate track for Steel , then have it finalized into a WAV or MP3 then you are all set.

One thing you need to be 100 % certain of is your clients file compatibility, you have to use either the exact same recording system or be compatible with a WAV or MP3 file.

Today, most workstations will record in Wav and MP3's ( not all though ) and most if not all DAW's will also be compatible with WAV and MP3's. Just remember, when you load the clients file and then add a Steel track, send the client back the entire Steel track file length which should be exactly the same length as the file they sent you, even if it has 10 seconds of silence at the front end. This allows the client to just drop your track into their system and it will line up 100% with NO issues to the track they sent you. They will not have to "drag" the track to line it up. ( also called a Bell or Whistle feature )

So, how much do you want to spend and how elaborate do you want your setup to be ?

workstation; Zoom R8 or R16, with learning curve

DAW, yes Audacity is nice, but you will need an interface and perhaps a preamp . Also remember this, all Interfaces are Interfaces, but not ALL Interfaces are Preamps, and not all Preamps are Interfaces. Make sure your front end , Interface or Preamp (or both), have the ability to select MIC or LINE ( signal pad) or have the ability of giving enough gain with clean headroom for your guitar or Steel.

One final thought, sending a WAV file by email can be very big, sometimes as big as 50 meg. MP3's are way down in size, perhaps 3 to 5 meg. You may very well need a method of transferring files, like Dropbox rather than email.


Good luck.

Tony has covered it pretty well. The main issue is do not use the PC sound card.

If you are going to add steel "Tracking", you want that on a separate track. You don't want to "add" steel to what is already recorded. If you do that, there can not be any processing of the steel - "its what it is" and can't be changed unless you redo adding steel again.

I've done some tracking for others, and also have my own home recording studio. I've recorded many ways, using a mic on my amp, and several different "direct" ways. One direct way I've started direct recording is using a SansAmp.

Hi Allan,
I use a bottom feeder setup for this and it seems to have OK results.

steel->Volume Pedal -> Reverb pedal -> Tascam DP04 digital recorder

Software: Audacity on any computer that has a USB port.

Here's what happens:

I get a guide track in email and download it to the Tascam via USB.
If they sent me a mp3 I can use Audacity to format it to WAV to go in the Tascam.
I record many takes of steel on the tascam and USB upload them back to Audacity.

Now I have the original guide track they sent plus as many steel tracks as I want.
I load them all into one Audacity project,
then edit out the clams (!) and mix the steel tracks down to a mono mp3 track.
Sometimes I just send them a bunch of steel tracks and they mix it.

Then I export the mix as a mp3 and mail it back.
If they want the hi-res version I can also do a WAV, but once it's in a mix, I don't think there's much difference. mp3 is easier to email because it's smaller.

The advantage besides simplicity and cheapness is that there is no latency anywhere and the tracks are sync'ed perfectly without doing anything more. I use the Digitech RP150 for EQ and reverb. If I want to do more than 3 tracks at a time, I could use a DP08. Same deal, more track and phantom power available.

Little bit of a learning curve on Audacity, but it's free. Wikipedia has a big section on it. If I did this for money, I'd probably contribute some $$ to Audacity project.
Hope this helps.

The process Paul talks about is the same as stated above, but keep in mind, Tascam/Boss recorders, as good as they are record in a proprietary file format and must be converted to a "common" format for the files to be compatible with other DAW's or recorders. I too own several Tascam/Boss products including a Tascam DP008, it's nice unit and can yield nice results but the files must be converted.

In my comment above, I stated Zoom R8 or R16,(as examples) primarily because they record each recorded file in WAV format to an SD card. File transfer can be accomplished by USB or simply by placing the SD card in your PC.

BUT, one point still remains, WAV files are too big for EMAIL , so either convert it to MP3 or use another source such as DROPBOX to send the completed wav file.

If you have your own hosted website you can also create an FTP page for your clients where they can download your completed files.

it's all good. many ways to skin the cat. But there is a process.


Oh yeah, I can't help myself here. Above I mention "Bells and Whistles", well one of Pro Tools 12's un-necessary "Bells and Whistles" is the ability to bounce any recorded track file to a WAV or MP3 , or BOTH at the same time, with the click of a button. Bingo, it's done.

A comment on file types. A wav file is a full fidelity file. An MP3 is a compressed file and something less than full fidelity (how much depends on how much compression is used - bitrate). Once you have an MP3 whatever fidelity is lost can never be recovered. When you convert an MP3 to wav, the wav file is the same fidelity as the MP3.

16 bit 44.1Khz wav is "CD Quality" (what is on commercial audio CD's). Another issue, if you record at 24 bit, when you "save" or "export" the audio to standard wav it must be converted to 16 bit. Same way if you record at higher than 44.1Khz (e.g. 48Khz or 96Khz) it too must be converted to 44.1Khz. All the higher bitrates may sound great but in the end they must all be converted down to 16 bit/44.1Khz for standard wav files.

Having said that, I record at 24 bit/44.1Khz. It allows a little more headroom when recording.

Like ProTools, Sonar will Save/Export as wav or MP3 (with the MP3 plugin) and at various bitrates.

Jack Stoner wrote: Like ProTools, Sonar will Save/Export as wav or MP3 (with the MP3 plugin) and at various bitrates.

Side note: Pro Tools standard bounce feature was WAV only, I am not certain which version included both WAV/MP3,( multiple bit-rates) maybe 11, but in 12 that is a standard feature where it was an add-on plug-in with earlier versions. My Pro Tools 8 bounce is only WAV, I was to cheap to buy the plug-in to add MP3 Bounce. My current PT 12 has both available.


Jack can elaborate on Sonar, also an excellent DAW package.

Sonar, or at least used to, came with a "trial" version of the MP3 encoder. It had to be purchased after the trial period.

I have MP3 encoder that came with another audio program so I never purchased it. If I want an MP3 I just load the file into that program and save it as MP3 and whatever bitrate I want. But, I do very little with MP3's, practically everything I do is with wav files.

For home recording, I split the signal off my pedalboard. One line goes to an amp with a 57, and the other through an FYD octal reverb pre and then direct.

I'm using a hand-me-down presonus interface with Logic pro, but Garageband would be fine for overdubs. You can get a used Apogee duet for 150 bucks. Pretty good deal for decent converters.

I recall WAV files being too big for email before I switched to Gmail, but haven't had an issue since.

Getting a good sound in the real world, from your amp (or direct) is the biggest thing in my opinion. I've been a part of albums recorded with crappy interfaces and conversion that to me sound better than others we've done with the best new and vintage studio gear. So no matter what you're using, knowing your gear is the most important thing after the performance itself.

Thanks for all of the advice. I am going to get a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, which comes with a basic basic version of Protools. Should be all the bells and whistles I need. Home recording is rabbit-hole I have tried to avoid, but I guess a basic setup won't be too hard to figure out.
Thanks again. Glad to hear others do the same thing as me- record at home and transfer files via email and Dropbox.
Al

I have a new Zoom R24 or like new never been used for 325.

If you are interested in trying a DAW,Reaper is a great one at a very reasonable price. It can be found here: http://www.reaper.fm/
It can use MP3 as well as .wav (and others). A Presonus audiobox can be found on Ebay pretty cheap and will get you in to your computer with a clean sound.