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Topic: Making my own steel recordings |
Jeff Lampert
From:
queens, new york city
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Posted 1 Feb 2003 12:40 pm |
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| I posted this in Computers and Electronics. I want to be able to make steel guitar recording .mp3's in my house. I need to know what kind of computer program I need to get the best sound and flexibility (high quality reverb, effects, equalization, etc. I've read about the Cool Edit products, but have no idea if that's the way to do. Their Pro line for $249 seems to do a lot, perhaps more than I need. But I want full effects, mixing, editting of multiple tracks, etc. ). I also nedd to know what microphone and cabling to use (do I need a special kind of recording microphone? What do you recommend? What is the advantage/disadvantage over direct recording into the computer?). I plan to mostly do stand-alone steel guitar instrumentals, occasionally adding an acoustic rhythm, or band-in-the-box bass/drum/piano track. The sound of the steel is paramount. My current equipment is a Zum steel guitar and Nashville 400 amp. My computer is a new Dell with Windows XP, 3.0 ghz pentium 4, 1 gig RAM, 100 gig hard drive, CD-RW drive, and a 128 meg audio/video card (if you need the brand and model number, I'll find out). Also, any other issues that I'm not aware of I wish you would tell me about. I haven't much of an idea of where to go with this, so your time and suggestions are most appreciated. Thank you. .. Jeff |
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mickd
From:
london,england
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Posted 1 Feb 2003 3:52 pm
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Jeff
my setup is a bit more basic than what you are asking for, but it might give you a start anyway.
I use QUARZ STUDIO (Shareware) for the initial recording. This basically turns your PC into a Portastudio (I remember buying one of these when they first came out in the UK in 1976 - it cost a months wages then; the basic version of STUDIO is free, and thats what I am using).
This lets you import a BIAB track as a backing track to channel 1, say. You can then record your PSG to channel 2, say. I use a mike in front of my guitar amp for this. You can then do edits (track bounces etc) until you've got something thats ok at which point you can export the whole thing to a WAV file.
I then load the WAV into GOLDWAVE (also Shareware - or free if you don't mind the occasional nag message; after a while it bugged me so I bought it)which lets you do 1001 effects. I only use about 3 of these so far (stuff like fading out, reducing volume on the part where you dropped the bar etc  ).
You can then save the final result as an MP3.
Mick |
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Al Marcus
From:
Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)
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Posted 1 Feb 2003 4:15 pm
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Mickd-your setup sounds like what I am looking for. Can you send an email to heop me out with the details. I want a simple setup to just transfer my tapes to a file then burn them to a CD.Thanks..al
Jeff-It sounds like you got a great up to date computer with lots of memory , etc. to do what you want. I heard your rendition of "the Christmas Song" and I imagine you will want all the bells and whistles to do your recording....al |
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Doug Seymour
From:
Jamestown NY USA (deceased)
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Posted 1 Feb 2003 8:29 pm
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Hey, Guys, here's my limited, greenhorn experience. Go line in to your sound card....
never mind the mic! I have an amp with a line out & I ran a line in to my sound card.
I had a program that would allow me to record wave files to my HD. Polderbits....seems like shareware & maybe $12 or so from Europe as I recall. I can also record a tape onto my HD as a wav file,
they are huge!, but then w/musicmatch I convert them to MP3s. So far I'm pleased w/my "greenhorn" results. Al, the MP3 I sent you a few years ago was my Zum D10 recorded direct w/line out from that amp, onto an cheap Radio Shack cassette machine in June of 1998 and in Sept of 1999, I got a machine
w/a burner in it & copied the tape to my
new computer's HD as a Wav file & then converted it to an MP3. Not great,but it'll get you into the home studio business without spending BIG Bucks! Unless you need a write off! Do steel players?? need write offs?? It would be a great self improvement tool as another poster mentioned today here somewhere. |
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Graham
From:
Marmora, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 1 Feb 2003 8:31 pm
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Jeff:
I use Cool Edit Pro 2.0. It is a fantastic program and would certainly handle what you want to do. I also have a soundblaster live platinum card with the live drive. The live drive fits in a 5 1/4 slot in the front of your pc and it has standard 1/4 jacks for mic and headphones. For recording, i use a Shure SM58 in front of my amp, plugged direct into my computer.
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Rebel™
ICQ 614585
http://users.interlinks.net/rebel/steel/steel.html
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Sam Minnitti
From:
New Rochelle, NY
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Posted 2 Feb 2003 8:12 am
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Hi Jeff,
The mini-studio setup I went with is DigiDeisgn’s Mbox ($449.00) which also includes Pro Tools LE software. The Mbox unit itself is a small external hardware interface where you connect up your digital (S/PDIF) or analog (XLR/mic or TRS/1/4 inch) inputs and it converts it to digital, which then goes into Protools. The Mbox connects to your computer via USB.
The only disadvantage is that you can only have 2 simultaneous inputs, but that sounds like it might not be a problem for you. Once in ProTools you can have up to 24 simultaneous tracks, so you could record overdubs or import BIAB tracks.
You could plug directly into the Mbox to record, however I prefer mic’ing the amp. I would recommend the Shure SM57, which is the industry standard for mic’ing guitar amps, and a good mic cable. I would also recommend a 1 foot high mic stand for mic’ing your Nashville properly.
You can read more about the Mbox here: http://www.digidesign.com/products/mbox/
Let me know if you have any questions
[This message was edited by Sam Minnitti on 02 February 2003 at 08:19 AM.] |
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mickd
From:
london,england
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Posted 2 Feb 2003 12:54 pm
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Al
I have sent you an email
Mick |
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Al Marcus
From:
Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)
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Posted 3 Feb 2003 9:34 pm
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Thanks guys, I am picking up some good advice here. I have tried Music Match Jukebox and did a couple of songs from tape to HD then to CD.
I don't like it as it takes over my computer and won't let me play those recordings through WMA, it has to be through their sofware. I don't seem to have enought control over it.Anyone know about this , or am I doing something wrong?...Thanks....al |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 4 Feb 2003 4:11 am
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Al, you most likely have Musicmatch set as the default player.
You can open any music program on your PC and open the sound file you want to play from there.
Muscimatch is my default player as well ( by choice) but I do play and edit tunes with other software also. You are not locked out..
tp |
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Al Marcus
From:
Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)
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Posted 5 Feb 2003 8:52 am
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Tony-Thanks for the info. I'll check that out.
Doug- I sent you an email and I'll try your idea of doing it your way.
I don't expect any bells and whistles, just straight Musically Correct steel, no effects, small amp, mostly no backup.
This Forum is just great and why? A lot of great guys posting and sharing their steel guitar knowledge. Appreciate it...al
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DroopyPawn
From:
Fox, OK, USA
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Posted 6 Feb 2003 7:24 pm
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I'd say one of the Cakewalk programs for recording. You can find a good deal on one at ebay. I use SONAR XL but I have a full studio. You could probably get a used copy of SONAR for under $100. And there are plenty of good DX Plusgins (effects like reverv, parametric eq, chorus, etc) available for free until you decide to buy some of the excellent ones.
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