Home recording methods

[MikeS]

I just need something that I can use to record song ideas, riff lines, and solo ideas so that I don’t forget them. Any real recording I do is done in my buddy’s studio on his digital setup, but since we live 2 hours away it’s not feasible for me to go up there every time I want to lay something down.

What I’m looking for is a system that will allow me to get a variety, but not a huge variety, of tones. Also probably needs to be a system that I can plug into, record, and burn a CD. I’ve looked at a couple options.

1). A Line 6 PodXT going into my computer. This would require some recording software. I wouldn’t need anything fancy, just something that will allow me to do some very simple mixing and burn it onto CD. I’ll need to update the soundcard when I do this. Also, I don’t have much to work with for a computer. It’s about 6 years old, has a P3 550 with 384 MB RAM.

2). A digital recording mini studio that allows me to burn audio CDs. This is probably a lot more than I need, but I feel I need some way to create different sounds since I have no way to record from my practice amp. I have no other way to create distortion. The Boss 8 tracks had built in COSM effects and a CD burner, but that is more than I’m willing to spend. I have no need for anything that big.

I think I may prefer the first route. I think I’ll prefer the PodXT to the COSM effects in the digital studio. I also think that recording software is much cheaper than a digital studio, even after I factor in the cost of the Pod to the software. So I guess my question would be what system do you think would work the best. Also, what PC based recording software do you guys like to use? Like I said, I don’t need anything too fancy. Simple recording and mixing of up to 8 tracks should be more than I need, but would be nice to have.

Thanks!

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: Home recording methods

1). A Line 6 PodXT going into my computer. This would require some recording software. I wouldn’t need anything fancy, just something that will allow me to do some very simple mixing and burn it onto CD. I’ll need to update the soundcard when I do this. Also, I don’t have much to work with for a computer. It’s about 6 years old, has a P3 550 with 384 MB RAM.

That's basically what I do. I run my VAMP straight into the comp. I use Magix Studio (I think that's the name. I'll check when I get home) which was about $80 from Best Buy. I'm sure you can find something cheaper, though. I was looking for something with a drum kit built in, which this has, but you have to have a midi controller for the drums. :smack: It works pretty well, otherwise. Multi-track recording and everything. Like I said, though, you should be able to find something cheaper that doesn't have all the extra features that you probably won't use anyway.

 

[FretFire]

Re: Home recording methods

Isn't Audacity a free multitrack PC recording program? If you're just doing basic recording of ideas for memory's sake, that might do the trick.

 

[rinse_master]

Re: Home recording methods

Yeah, for just laying down a few riffs Audacity would be more than capable, and it's free...

Although you'd need a way of connecting your guitar to your PC, maybe a Guitar Port?, they are relativley cheap.

 

[FretFire]

Re: Home recording methods

That's what he was looking at the PODxt for, though the Guitar Port is another good option for less $$$.

 

[MikeS]

Re: Home recording methods

Does the guitar port have any modeling capabilities? I guess I would spend the extra dough on the PodXT just so I could play with it into my practice amp at times, too. I don't want to sound like a complete cheapy, either. Money isn't really a problem. That said, I'm also not going to throw $500 at a solution, either.

JacksonMIA... did the Magix Studio come with a new sound card? I know some do, some don't. Also the idea of having a drum program would be great as well (something I'd pay for). I'm not very knowledgable when it comes to computers, so I have no idea what you mean when you say it needs a midi controller. Is that additional software?

Once again, thanks guys, for helping this dummy out.

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: Home recording methods

JacksonMIA... did the Magix Studio come with a new sound card? I know some do, some don't. Also the idea of having a drum program would be great as well (something I'd pay for). I'm not very knowledgable when it comes to computers, so I have no idea what you mean when you say it needs a midi controller. Is that additional software?

Once again, thanks guys, for helping this dummy out.

No problem, man. And you're definitely not a dummy.

It didn't come with a soundcard, and I think that was the problem. The software required a midi soundcard to use the drum kits, and I didn't want to spend any more money on it, so I'm not sure what else it requires. I figured if I was going to spend that kind of money I could buy a keyboard with a drum kit on it (I don't have a keyboard either, so it would kill two birds with one stone, though I don't know how to play). If I get a chance, I'll read up on it some more and see what it requires.

 

[Dankerella]

Re: Home recording methods

Check out N-Track Studio: http://www.fasoft.com/ It's cheap, and easy to use. I'd plan on miking a cab rather than going direct if you want good guitar sounds. I like Cool Edit myself (do a google).

Also, don't forget those little mini-disc recorders at places like Fry's Electronics or Ebay. They're like $100, and you can go right into them and burn a lot of info on those little discs. It's what I've been wanting to do for years now, but haven't gotten off my ass to get one. You could also take it into a jam room with other guys, set a mike, and get a CD-quality quick recording of the jam session. You could send the data into your computer to burn a real disc/master it, etc. There's been like 10 times I've jammed with people then we all look at each other and go, "who's got a tape recorder?" Then we spend the next two hours rigging up some crappy home stereo, and in the end it doesn't even work.

If you just want to save riffs, do what I do: grab an acoustic guitar, set the computer mic near you, and use the windows recorder to capture 15-20 seconds of the riff. Most riffs I've got repeat themselves after about that time anyway. I save them as r1.wav, r2.wav, etc., and I've got about 100 or more just waiting to become songs.

 

[FretFire]

Re: Home recording methods

A MIDI controller is an external device used to trigger (or virtually "play") the instrument it's controlling. Most of the ones I've seen look like a small keyboard (maybe 10-12 keys) that can be assigned to different parts of your virtual drum kit.

 

[FretFire]

Re: Home recording methods

Does the guitar port have any modeling capabilities?

GuitarPort is another Line 6 invention, it's a smaller USB device that has several amp/cab/effect models in it, but it has to be used with a computer as far as I know. If you're wanting to also use it through your amp I'd definitely look at the XT or XT Live.

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: Home recording methods

A MIDI controller is an external device used to trigger (or virtually "play") the instrument it's controlling. Most of the ones I've seen look like a small keyboard (maybe 10-12 keys) that can be assigned to different parts of your virtual drum kit.

Ahhh, I knew it had to be something like that. Thanks, man.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Home recording methods

I think you're on the right track with the PodXT + computer route, as long as your puter isn't an ancient POS. I've never tried Audacity, but I know you can get one of the "home" versions of Cakewalk for under $100, and it will probably meet all your recording needs.

If you want to record more than just guitar, I would look into getting something like the Tascam US-122. It has decent mic pre's, MIDI in/out, and requires no external power source (it gets its power from the USB port). They're decently priced too. Here's the link: http://www.tascam.com/Products/US-122.html

Good luck!

 

[RW James]

Re: Home recording methods

I know you can get one of the "home" versions of Cakewalk for under $100, and it will probably meet all your recording needs.

I use Guitar Tracks Pro 3 from Cakewalk... it has FX and some modelling capabilities. I haven't explored it completely, but I'm satisfied with it. I believe you can get it for under $100...

Rick

 

[MikeS]

Re: Home recording methods

Hmm, anyone tried the Line6 GuitarPort RiffTracker? Based on what I'm reading, that may be a pretty smart route to go. Like I said, I'm not trying to record full songs... merely ideas that I can take to the rest of the band. It comes with a drum program built in as well. But, I'm generally not one to buy something unless I can get others' opinions on it first. It looks easy to use, too. Given my patience (or rather, lask thereof, that is a must)!

Thanks again guys.

 

[MikeS]

Re: Home recording methods

Well, scratch the rifftracker... my PC comes no where near being capable of running that program according to the system requirements unless I buy the new laptop I've been wanting.