Anyone have any opinions on what would be the best and *easiest* way to make some half-a**ed recordings or sound clips of myself with an amp? I don't want to go directly into a computer or such. What are the advantages/disadvantages of (1) buying one of those cheap 4 or 8 tracks in the $200-$400 range and a couple of mics and micing the amp and room, then transferring it to software (a separate issue in/of itself) to work with it and other bass/drum tracks, or (2) buying a portable self-contained recorder like the Edirol RO9 or the like and using that, then transferring it and working with it. I'd probably buy an extra mic like a SM57 for the portable recorder anyway as most of them make provision for one or two in the event I wanted to really close-mic the amp. I have no delusions of grandeuer so this is really just for my own entertainment, some sound clips and maybe some youtube. Any thoughts? Thanks!
Easy recording for idiots (like me...)
- Thread starter EFK
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DankStar
Her Little Mojo Minion
Re: Easy recording for idiots (like me...)
I use a fostex mr-8, a very cheap digital 8 track which records in wav format, which I then transfer into a mac to work with in logic express. I'm subject to its preamp, which isn't the best, but works OK. I've used other preamps with it, but it nevertheless needs to go through its own at the end of the chain.
most companies now have units where you could do a similar thing - korg, fostex, roland/boss, tascam (I think). the boss looks cool cause it has lots of effects and such you could use to mix in-the-box as it were, but I read that its very confusing to use and the manual is poorly written.
I'd just watch for what format it records in (if not wav, it better be a good bit rate), the preamp, and ease of use/ease of transferring files.
I use a fostex mr-8, a very cheap digital 8 track which records in wav format, which I then transfer into a mac to work with in logic express. I'm subject to its preamp, which isn't the best, but works OK. I've used other preamps with it, but it nevertheless needs to go through its own at the end of the chain.
most companies now have units where you could do a similar thing - korg, fostex, roland/boss, tascam (I think). the boss looks cool cause it has lots of effects and such you could use to mix in-the-box as it were, but I read that its very confusing to use and the manual is poorly written.
I'd just watch for what format it records in (if not wav, it better be a good bit rate), the preamp, and ease of use/ease of transferring files.
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Re: Easy recording for idiots (like me...)
For quick and easy demos you'd be much better served buying something like a Line6 Toneport type of device. I think the GX is just $49 and comes with the Ampfarm plugin
Its not ideal but it so much easier than dealing with micing cabs, instrument preamps, getting a good sound to disk and so forth.
You can literally plug in, pick a sound and lay down a track in just a few minutes. Its so quick and easy these days to get ideas down.
I remember using an old Fostex 4 track way back in high school but honestly would never go back to those days. Cost far more, is alot more work and is alot less flexible.
Even better is recording everything dry but monitoring with effects then going back and trying different cab and amp sims etc til you find something that works for your track.
Its a revolutionary way of working really. Instead of worrying so about the tone or effects, you get down the actual idea behind the riff. Then you can mess about trying some different effects on the track etc to your hearts content. If it didnt work your not stuck with anything.
Maybe its not for everyone but it definatly works for me. I lay down my idea's, add some drums via EZdrummer just to get a rough concept working, then mess about with some amps and effects to get an overall idea of the tone I'm going for and in 20-30 minutes I've got a rough idea to share with others thats got the riff, the tone/effects and even drums.
Its not the final product by any means but its definatly a means to really shape an idea into something very tanagible for others to hear and understand.
For quick and easy demos you'd be much better served buying something like a Line6 Toneport type of device. I think the GX is just $49 and comes with the Ampfarm plugin
Its not ideal but it so much easier than dealing with micing cabs, instrument preamps, getting a good sound to disk and so forth.
You can literally plug in, pick a sound and lay down a track in just a few minutes. Its so quick and easy these days to get ideas down.
I remember using an old Fostex 4 track way back in high school but honestly would never go back to those days. Cost far more, is alot more work and is alot less flexible.
Even better is recording everything dry but monitoring with effects then going back and trying different cab and amp sims etc til you find something that works for your track.
Its a revolutionary way of working really. Instead of worrying so about the tone or effects, you get down the actual idea behind the riff. Then you can mess about trying some different effects on the track etc to your hearts content. If it didnt work your not stuck with anything.
Maybe its not for everyone but it definatly works for me. I lay down my idea's, add some drums via EZdrummer just to get a rough concept working, then mess about with some amps and effects to get an overall idea of the tone I'm going for and in 20-30 minutes I've got a rough idea to share with others thats got the riff, the tone/effects and even drums.
Its not the final product by any means but its definatly a means to really shape an idea into something very tanagible for others to hear and understand.
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: Easy recording for idiots (like me...)
I use the OpenSource software Audacity on a PC. I hand-picked a soundcard out of a bunch I had so that I get one which doesn't have interference from the PC and gets a clear signal even when a '59 goes amok on clean.
I also have Tascam US-122 and a US-428 units, they also do a good job, and are USB units with real knobs for input level.
It's just very practical, I don't miss a real recording device except for the specific purpose of mixing with a real mixing desk.
I use the OpenSource software Audacity on a PC. I hand-picked a soundcard out of a bunch I had so that I get one which doesn't have interference from the PC and gets a clear signal even when a '59 goes amok on clean.
I also have Tascam US-122 and a US-428 units, they also do a good job, and are USB units with real knobs for input level.
It's just very practical, I don't miss a real recording device except for the specific purpose of mixing with a real mixing desk.