Entry level recording.

Greg Wisecup · From: Troy, Ohio

I am able to record my keyboard composed backing track and record my steel separately through my sound card using the Audacity program (line-in 1/4 jack to 1/8 recorded one inst. at a time.). It gets the job done but lacks quality and is not consistently synched track to track. This way of recording for free is good for me to practice with but I would like to step it up just a little. I need something inexpensive and dummy proof to use. Is there such an animal or could I improve the recording quality of the way I am doing it now? I would post the recording but.... I don't know how. Thanks for any help. Greg p.s. I can email it if anyone wants to hear it.

Randy Reeves · From: LaCrosse, Wisconsin, USA

Greg. you can post your recordings. it is simple.
with Audcity, go to export. there you can make an mp3 or wav file.
then you need a host. I use soundclick.com
you create a site there and you then can link to your recordings.
I began with Audacity. then I bought a digital interface. that came with a basic recording program (Cubase). I believe it is a step up.
my digital interface is a USB Lexicon Lambda. I can plug my instrument right in and record, edit, mix. you name it.
the Lexicon cost under 150$.

here is a site that has loads of information. you can get basic or sophisticated.

http://www.tweakheadz.com

Greg Wisecup · From: Troy, Ohio

Thanks Randy for taking the time to help me out. I am totally ignorant when it comes to recording. It all sounds so easy until you start reading some of these threads. While I appreciate you help; I thought I might have gotten a little more info. I have read down the page but nothing seems to fit my idea of what I need.

Greg Wisecup · From: Troy, Ohio

I just looked at the Lexicon you mentioned. Is it that easy? Plug in the instrument, record that track, plug in another instrument, record that track and there you go? Then I assume there is some mixing to be done? But it's that simple????????????? And this is all recorded to the pc hard drive??? Are there any other units in this price range that I should look at? If I had say a song track from a cd can I load it to Cubase and record the steel to it?

Randy Reeves · From: LaCrosse, Wisconsin, USA

yes. you can import data to a new track. and then open a track for your steel and hit the red button.

easy???? not for me. I am a dinosaur in a techo world. the learning curves have always been rough. but after the hard onset, things actually get easier.

if I can do this then any one can.

my home studio is simple.
computer with enough RAM.
digital interface.
a pair of monitors and an old amp to power them.
I also use a DI box. I like plugging into that and then that goes to the interface.
I have a couple of mikes. an SM57 for miking amps and an inexpensive wide diaphram condenser for my dobor and vocals.
I cam mix within the recording program.
I can make files,, like mp3, wav, and burn them to CDs.
I have been recording for about seven months.
you can do this.

here is my music page. examples of where I am with recording. (for better and worse).
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_music.cfm?bandID=644552

Greg Wisecup · From: Troy, Ohio

DI box?
The micing of amps; for a prefered sound as opposed to direct plug in? I also saw an Alpha model but I can't distinguish what the big difference may be.Do you know? Thanks a bunch Randy

Randy Reeves · From: LaCrosse, Wisconsin, USA

Alpha, Lambda, Omega are the three interfaces that lexicon makes. each has more ports or inputs than the one before. Lambda has two for instruments, two for mics and two for MIDI.
I think Alpha has one input.
simple is good.

I read that a Direct Injection box (very affordable) is handy. I don't know the electronic details...maybe there is magic in there. Smile

Greg Wisecup · From: Troy, Ohio

Thanks a bunch Randy. You have been a great help!!!!!!!!! Greg

Randy Reeves · From: LaCrosse, Wisconsin, USA

Greg, let me know how it goes.

Michael Maddex · From: Northern New Mexico, USA

Greg, Randy's got some good advice there.
Here's another thought, before you spend money on a digital interface, if you already own a mixer. I, too, use Audacity and started by plugging into the sound card and got lousy sound quality. Now I plug instruments and/or mics into a mixer and feed the mixer line-out into the sound card line-in. Obviously, there are lots of tone and level control possibilities here. I've had good success with both powered (Kustom) and non-powered (Behringer) mixers. A set-up like this is limited to two tracks at a time, but that works for me.
Good luck. As usual, YMMV. HTH.

Randy Reeves · From: LaCrosse, Wisconsin, USA

Michael, a mixer is another route. I think that is an excellent idea, especially if one wants to start with a modest investment.

Terry Sneed · From: Arkansas,

Guys, can I break in please? I've been wanting to record a few songs on my steel, but don't have the money to pay a recording studio. I have a small Behringer mixer, a Urorack 802. I have my backup tracks, so what else would I need to make a decent recording? Now, I'll show my ignorance, but what is a soundcard? Does my computer already have one, and where do you plugg into a soundcard? Don't feel bad Greg, you know lots more than I do when it comes to recording. Appreciate any help.

Terry

Randy Reeves · From: LaCrosse, Wisconsin, USA

Terry, I bet you could record with what you have. I don't know how to plug into a sound card, as many do. I use my digital interface. it makes things easier. that of course uses the soundcard.
a soundcard allows the computer to make the sounds. gamers need them for that gun fire stuff. I have a soundblaster card . it came with the computer.
other soundcards, I don't know the brand names or numbers, all have input ports. I believe you connect to that.
there are free recording programs you can down load. Audacity is one.

Greg Wisecup · From: Troy, Ohio

Terry, what I have done so far is cable out of your amp then go from the 1/4 plug to a 1/8 headphone type (reducer Radio Shack) into the sound card in your computer. Look for three different colored holes usually on the back of your tower. Plug into the icon that has a mic. Get Audacity download free online. I think you can even play your steel straight from your pedal to the sc. The quality that I can get out of this set up is barely ok. I'm gonna take Randy's advice and go to the next most simple ave. and get The Lexicon Alpha. Look out ...... the blind leading the blind. Hope this helps. Greg

Richard Durrer · From: Alberta, Canada

It is best to not plug your steel directly into the soundcard mic input. As you know the quality is very poor. The steel should go into the vol pedal, then into one of the channels in the mixer board. Then run the line-out (headphone out) of the sound card into another channel of the mixer. Run a line from the sub group out of the mixer to the line-in on the soundcard. If you have an old home stereo amp, run a line from the control room out of the mixer board into the auxilliary input of the amp. Connect your speakers to the speaker outs from the amp.

You can use Audacity (free) to record your back tracks, then record another track of your steel. The trick is to get the correct recording volumes showing on the meter within Audacity. When you are ready to build your final stereo output file, you need at least 1 stereo track in Audacity. If you don't have one, just insert a blank stereo track and Audacity will then generate a stereo WAV or MP3 file. Hope this helps. It is mind boggling at first, just keep asking questions and it will get resolved. Good luck.
_________________
1999 Carter D10 (9x8),Digitech RP150,Hilton Volume Pedal,Roland Cube 80XL,Nashville 112,BJS Bar

Randy Reeves · From: LaCrosse, Wisconsin, USA

ya. I am very new at home studio recording (seven months) so I am half blind.

good advice about the color coded ports on the back of the computer.
I remember green is important. it has been long enough for me to forget. possibly, because my brain is working on the learning curve of my new recording software.
I do know that the more you record the easier things become. getting started is the hardest part.

Greg Wisecup · From: Troy, Ohio

Richard, maybe I missed a step. I recorded my track from my keyboard,listened to that track while recording the steel. Am I supposed to "build a final stereo output file" How? Does that also sound better than just playing back what I just recorded?

Richard Durrer · From: Alberta, Canada

Greg: The final goal is to end up with a stereo file (WAV or MP3). This is the quality that you hear on commercial recordings. Once you are finished recording and you have the levels matched between your steel and the backup track, you then export it out to a final stereo file. If you use Audacity, you would go to File--> Export as WAV, or Export as MP3. The final result will be a great sounding stereo file. This is called Rendering, or Bouncing a file. ( just terminology). Remember, in Audacity you need to have at least 1 stereo track, (even if it is empty) in order to get a final stereo file. If not, you will get a Mono file. When building stereo tracks, you can pan some of the tracks left or right to achieve the sound you want. They won't stay separate on a mono final file, only stereo.
_________________
1999 Carter D10 (9x8),Digitech RP150,Hilton Volume Pedal,Roland Cube 80XL,Nashville 112,BJS Bar

Greg Wisecup · From: Troy, Ohio

Bad address

Richard Durrer · From: Alberta, Canada

Greg: Unfortunately, when I click on the link it asks for a webmail id and password. You can email the file to me thru the forum email if you wish. Rich.
_________________
1999 Carter D10 (9x8),Digitech RP150,Hilton Volume Pedal,Roland Cube 80XL,Nashville 112,BJS Bar

Terry Sneed · From: Arkansas,

Well I appreciate all the advice guys, I'll probly give it a try. But, it sounds like it might get over my head. I think I was following along fairly good untill Richard mentioned something about having to have a stereo file, I'll have to study on that for sure. Confused

Where do you go to down load Audacity?
audacity.com? Thanks guys

Terry

Richard Durrer · From: Alberta, Canada

Audacity can be found here: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

I will try and clarify the stereo file. The final result just sounds better as a stereo file. In order to get that, Audacity needs at least 1 track that is a stereo track rather than a mono track. Usually, the rhythym track is stereo, the steel track is mono. Result will be a blend of both tracks in stereo. Even if you have all mono tracks, you can add a blank stereo track-just insert stereo track and don't even use it. Audacity will generate a stereo final track in WAV or MP3 format as described in my earlier post. (File-->Export as WAV).
_________________
1999 Carter D10 (9x8),Digitech RP150,Hilton Volume Pedal,Roland Cube 80XL,Nashville 112,BJS Bar

Greg Wisecup · From: Troy, Ohio

Terry,http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ I need to do the part right where you get lost. Everything before that I can help you with. My knowledge could almost fill a thimble. Greg

Greg Wisecup · From: Troy, Ohio

Sorry Richard. I must have posted the same time as you.

Terry Sneed · From: Arkansas,

Ok guys, I downloaded adaucity. I'll print this thread off so I'll have it as a reference. I'll see
what I can do with the recording in a few days. My steel and amp is at the Church right now. Thanks again guys.
Terry

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