Intro to home/PC/amateur recording?

[serizawa]

Hey guys, I'm here to bother you again with another question.

Do any of you know a website where I can find real simple broken down information on home recording with a PC?

I'm talking layman's terms and all of that. I'm trying to get started with a small business recording my friends and I think being a little bit more well versed would definitely help.

I've already got like...interface setting up and which DAW I want to use, so I'm talking more of the actual recording techniques and data. Things like mic placement and phasing and the stuff I'll need to know.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Intro to home/PC/amateur recording?

I suggest the website of Sound On Sound magazine. Navigating the site is a little awkward at first but most of the articles are free. The contributing writers are all musicians, sound recordists, composers, computer techs or some combination of all four.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Intro to home/PC/amateur recording?

Ultimately it depends on the recording quality you're going for. Starting out, you'll want to focus on getting sound into the PC and worry about accuracy later. Unless you're using guitar cabs for monitors, the guitar will not sound the same coming out as it did going in, so it's important to understand that right away.

What you'll be focusing on mostly is maintaining the mix - if the amps and drums are mixing well in real life as a band, you'll want to maintain that mix in the recordings more than how "lifelike" it sounds.

 

[MesaDCLP]

Re: Intro to home/PC/amateur recording?

Mic Placement

Look around on that site and you'll find more on mixing and such.

 

[J Moose]

Re: Intro to home/PC/amateur recording?

I'm talking layman's terms and all of that. I'm trying to get started with a small business recording my friends and I think being a little bit more well versed would definitely help.

I've already got like...interface setting up and which DAW I want to use, so I'm talking more of the actual recording techniques and data. Things like mic placement and phasing and the stuff I'll need to know.

I really don't mean any offense by this, but why would you "start a business" of recording when you don't know anything about "mic placement & stuff" as you say?

It'd be like taking your car to a mechanic who doesn't know which end of a wrench to hold or the difference between vice grip & arc joint pliers... but he watches all those shows on TV where they strip & rebuild cars in a week... so it can't be that hard, can it?

 

[serizawa]

Re: Intro to home/PC/amateur recording?

The reason for that is, and forgive me if I sound corny, I really do enjoy music. And I enjoy working with music. But as it is, around here, there aren't many people who enjoy the same kinds of things I do.

Starting a band would be very difficult for me. I've been recording MY OWN music for quite some time with pretty good results.

Recording other people would just make things financially a little easier and be something I'd enjoy doing.

I'm not looking to start a label or really get anywhere like this, I'm just trying to help pay some bills and help some friends out who want their music recorded. Most of whom don't have the money for a super pro recording studio time and just want people to hear what they can do.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Intro to home/PC/amateur recording?

No harm in that IMO. However, a fair price demands a fair product. I used to generally do "2 mics in the room and you guys just play" or TapeOuts from the board as a freebie for experience for myself as well as letting the band hear how they sound on tape as a band. Once they understand the differences between their amps/PA and whatever the tape's playing through, they focus on their cohesiveness as a band (or lack thereof, in most cases) and wonder why it sounds so sloppy.

After that, they either work on being tighter as a band or they decide to do individual tracks which offers more flexibility for each one because if one messes up, that one does their part over instead of the whole band.

However, usually the drummer goes in first. BUT, if the drummer is reliant on the vocals or guitar for knowing his position, you gotta pipe him some signal through headphones. And you'll need great headphones and a loud amp to push the signal clearly to be heard over the drums he's bashing, and he'll bash louder to have a balanced mix of what he's hearing in the cans with what he's hearing from himself.

This quickly leads to a vicious cycle that will leave everyone tearing their hair out, so be prepared. Buy a wig and shave the dog.



If they've got their own p.a. and mics for everything, run 2 tracks (stereo l/r out of the mixer. With a nice interface you might even be able to get them into a PC on individual tracks. You'll still have mic bleedover, but mixing and EQing each track separately will be easier, and the guitarists can punch in solos rather than doing them on the spot live.


It goes without saying that recording yourself is waaaaaay different than recording other people. Studio work - even home studio - separates the OCDers from the Good-Time-Charleys.
They'll hate each other, they'll hate you, but mostly they'll hate the idea of anyone hearing anything they've recorded.

Once you're all at that point, then things get bad.

:lol:

 

[serizawa]

Re: Intro to home/PC/amateur recording?

I actually have a question about recording acoustics. I've only got this condenser mic and it sounds fine. I kind of like the sound, but when I record I've noticed a few things I'd like to change.

FIRST PART REMOVED due to me finding out the problem was with Sonar itself, not my micing techniques.

Secondly, there is a TON of bass response. I don't know if it's the mic or the guitar or a combination of both--but it's pretty crushing. It almost hurts to listen with my headphone monitors. Is there some way I can compensate for this be it with compression or EQ settings?


Also, I'm using Sonar 8 if that helps anyone further.

Thanks

 

[innerdreamrecords.co]

Re: Intro to home/PC/amateur recording?

I actually have a question about recording acoustics. I've only got this condenser mic and it sounds fine. I kind of like the sound, but when I record I've noticed a few things I'd like to change.

FIRST PART REMOVED due to me finding out the problem was with Sonar itself, not my micing techniques.

Secondly, there is a TON of bass response. I don't know if it's the mic or the guitar or a combination of both--but it's pretty crushing. It almost hurts to listen with my headphone monitors. Is there some way I can compensate for this be it with compression or EQ settings?


Also, I'm using Sonar 8 if that helps anyone further.

Thanks

There are tons of articles on how to mic an acoustic guitar. Also, do a search on "subtractive" eg in mixing. It is a huge component in making good final mixes imo and others.

 

[serizawa]

Re: Intro to home/PC/amateur recording?

There are tons of articles on how to mic an acoustic guitar. Also, do a search on "subtractive" eg in mixing. It is a huge component in making good final mixes imo and others.

I've kind of got the gist of recording the acoustic, the problem is that when the project is exported, the volume of the final product is so low, there's barely anything I can do with it. It's fine when mixing and sounds great, but the end product isn't even audible. Same goes for when I mic up my amplifier. Something about using just one track doesn't sit right with Sonar.

I could do it fine with garageband, but this is a whole different realm.

As for the second part, I'm having a hard time understanding what you mean as far as 'subtractive' goes.

 

[innerdreamrecords.co]

Re: Intro to home/PC/amateur recording?

How does the wave form look in Sonar? Is it a good signal? Look up getting a good signal in Sonar, I don't know the program.

Subtractive eq is cutting unwanted frequencies like putting a low cut filter on your acoustic guitar at 120 hz to kill the bass. Lot's of beginners use eq in the additive way only, in other words boosting frequencies. Good mixing comes from knowing how to do both, subtractive and additive.

 

[serizawa]

Re: Intro to home/PC/amateur recording?

OH sorry. I read the EQ next to subtractive as...EG. Well it does kinda say that, actually.

But I hear you, that makes tons of sense.

The wave form looks fine, though. As far as I know. Nothing too peaky or extreme.

 

[innerdreamrecords.co]

Re: Intro to home/PC/amateur recording?

opps sorry about the eg, too early.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Intro to home/PC/amateur recording?

I really don't mean any offense by this, but why would you "start a business" of recording when you don't know anything about "mic placement & stuff" as you say?

It'd be like taking your car to a mechanic who doesn't know which end of a wrench to hold or the difference between vice grip & arc joint pliers... but he watches all those shows on TV where they strip & rebuild cars in a week... so it can't be that hard, can it?

Listen to Moose. His name is Moose.

Listen to Innerdream.

they both know what the **** is up.

 

[serizawa]

Re: Intro to home/PC/amateur recording?

Okay?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Intro to home/PC/amateur recording?

The change from recording yourself and your friends for personal satisfaction/enjoyment to recording strangers IN EXCHANGE FOR MONEY is a biggie.

Self-confidence is no substitute for experience. If you do not really know what you are doing, you will be found out immediately and your business plan will fail.

I strongly suggest that you try to find employment at a professional recording facility. As a "gopher", you will get to be present at recording sessions and witness all aspects of the process. This should help with the technical side.

Next, comes the administrative side. How are you at organising bookings? How would you be at chasing people for outstanding monetary payments? Do you have the necessary diplomacy to provide a service to customers of all stripes - some more awkward/demanding than others?

Right now, you enjoy playing and recording music. Turning it into a self-employment business "opportunity" could suck out all of the joy. Take care, bro.

 

[serizawa]

Re: Intro to home/PC/amateur recording?

I think you guys are taking this even more seriously than I am. I'm not about to be putting ads in the paper, showcasing my amazing non-existent recording abilities and promises for fortune and booking.

As I said before, I'm having friends come over that want their music recorded, people that have no interest in purchasing their own recording gear or paying large sums of money, by the hour at some studio by some person they don't even really know.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Intro to home/PC/amateur recording?

I'm trying to get started with a small business recording my friends.

^ In which case, why did you post this sentence?

If you are recording yourself, your band or friends, it is not a business in the strict commercial sense of the word. Unless you make a small charge to cover electricity, heating, lighting, toilet facilities and so on, your recording projects will actually be losing money. YOUR MONEY.

I apologise if I come across as a pedant or a breadhead. The bottom line - literally - for any business is that if an activity brings no reward, do not do it.

 

[serizawa]

Re: Intro to home/PC/amateur recording?

I'd be lying if I said there'd be no reward. I can think of two.

It'd certainly help me learn recording, little by little. And it'd give my fiance and I extra money for groceries every once in a while.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Intro to home/PC/amateur recording?

Cool. Enjoy.