Friday Aug 01, 2008, 02:17 AM GMT

[Post1599619]

Has anyone tried home recording? What's the easiest way to do it?

I don't want to pay for anything. I don't need something that sounds pristine, but I don't want something that sounds as terrible as simply recording to a cassette via a tape recorder's internal microphone...

Any ideas/suggestions?

Friday Aug 01, 2008, 03:29 AM GMT

[Post1599683]

You can download Audacity. Its free and it works pretty well. You can record on different tracks unlike most free software which have only one.

Saturday Aug 02, 2008, 03:22 AM GMT

[Post1601126]

quiapz said

Has anyone tried home recording? What's the easiest way to do it?

I don't want to pay for anything. I don't need something that sounds pristine, but I don't want something that sounds as terrible as simply recording to a cassette via a tape recorder's internal microphone...

Any ideas/suggestions?

Yeah. You'll need money and an engineer that knows what they are doing.

Sunday Aug 03, 2008, 12:50 AM GMT

[Post1602145]

I record on my own all the time. I use Audacity and a microphone my dad's office was throwing away (it's from a podium in a big auditorium). Audacity lets you record as the other tracks play so overdubs can be done in seconds. I have a bunch of plugins so I have loads and loads of effects.

Sunday Aug 03, 2008, 06:18 AM GMT

[Post1602486]

Pann said

Garageband if you have a mac

That's right, mac's come with Garageband already installed so if you happen to be looking for a new computer - it's something to think about.

I did this single using GB -> ..., and... I believe that Pickering Pick also used Garageband for his latest album; A Twitch Upon the Thread.   Actually, I think he's been using it for the last few albums and I'm always amazed at the sounds he gets.

It depends on what you want to do but whatever you end up getting I recommend investing in a quality microphone if you can.   That helps.  :)

Good luck quiapz, & have fun.

Monday Aug 04, 2008, 11:08 AM GMT

[Post1603878]

I've recorded (and released) two albums (Hard at Work and Love & Loss) and an EP (To the Dogs) on my laptop, at home and in various locations. I've used Acid Pro 4.0 (fairly out-dated software, but it works good enough for me), though, if you have Mac, you might as well use Garage Band. I've got a microphone that cost about 100$ (which is fairly cheap, but, again, good enough for me) and that's about it. Sometimes I record electric guitar by plugging it directly into the computer (though through an overdrive pedal, to simulate an amp).

Sunday Sep 07, 2008, 07:09 AM GMT

[Post1650438]

SeaBelt said

Pann said

Garageband if you have a mac

That's right, mac's come with Garageband already installed so if you happen to be looking for a new computer - it's something to think about.

I did this single using GB -> ..., and... I believe that Pickering Pick also used Garageband for his latest album; A Twitch Upon the Thread.   Actually, I think he's been using it for the last few albums and I'm always amazed at the sounds he gets.

It depends on what you want to do but whatever you end up getting I recommend investing in a quality microphone if you can.   That helps.  :)

Good luck quiapz, & have fun.

Would I necessarily need an interface to create/record music? Or would simply plugging in the microphone to the laptop do the trick?

Sunday Sep 07, 2008, 07:46 AM GMT

[Post1650465]

^ alright! thanks. im in the office right now so i can't inspect the MacBook at home. sorry i have to ask this right now: Does it have an input port for a microphone jack? or do i need an adapter for that?

Last edited by quiapz on Sunday Sep 07, 2008, 07:50 AM GMT

Sunday Sep 07, 2008, 08:23 AM GMT

[Post1650481]

I'm recording an album at the moment. I usually just plug the amplifiers straight into the microphone port, or record using a PC mic (for vocals and acoustic), then Mix it in Cool Edit Pro.

Sunday Sep 07, 2008, 10:58 AM GMT

[Post1650558]

Adveser said

quiapz said

Has anyone tried home recording? What's the easiest way to do it?

I don't want to pay for anything. I don't need something that sounds pristine, but I don't want something that sounds as terrible as simply recording to a cassette via a tape recorder's internal microphone...

Any ideas/suggestions?

Yeah. You'll need money and an engineer that knows what they are doing.

Nah you really don't.

As someone pointed out; download Audacity, then download the LAME codec (you can find it on the Audacity website) so you can export your recordings as mp3s. Get comfortable using the software.

I dont know exactly what you are recording..if its just vocals then any old microphone will do, if your going to record guitar or something then you'll need a condenser microphone, but you can get a good quality one realitively cheap i.e.$90ish.

If your absolutely set on not spending a cent then the quality and you plan to record instruments i.e. acoustic guitar or something then the quality isnt going to be that great. Dynamic Microphones (i.e. microphones you see on stage, the microphone in headsets etc)  aren't made for recording instruments bu just have fun I guess and
Good luck