Recording/Drum/Bass Software

[Distorted1987]

Alright.... So I'm getting more active on the forum, listening to all these sweet riffs people are laying down here and elsewhere. It kind of inspired me to play more since I've been on a downstreak lately due to being burnt out or uninterested or something (not sure because I still felt like playing, but I always felt like I didn't have the time or just couldn't do it). Due to that, I've decided that I want to try and lay down some tracks and get playing again (I've been recording using a bad sound card, comp mic, and ACID 2.0) and now I want to up my gear a little bit. I'm thinking of buying a new sound card for my comp and/or perhaps a Line 6 recording interface. Not sure which Line 6 product would be best? Any suggestions for anyhing as far as recording? I'm not looking for super great quality, but something that is fairly easy to understand and get into that sounds good.

Also, I've been searching through the forums to try and find a free bass/drum midi system so I could add drums and bass to my riffs. All of the ones that I found, I couldn't use because I can't save them as wav files. I could use my microphone, but it'd probably sound really bad because my mic/sound card aren't the greatest. Anyone know of any free drum/bass systems, where you can actually save your files as wav.?

 

[DankStar]

Re: Recording/Drum/Bass Software

harmony central has a section with links to places that have freeware wav editors and drum machines. for drums, hot stepper and leaf drums are 2 you could search for. for bass - eh, just get a cheap bass (like from rondo music online). bass is fun to play, and easy to record: straight in works. also, after playing a bass, your guitar will feel like butter.

any Line 6 product would work, from a small combo to the tone port to the POD. wanna go even cheaper? check out behringer's v-amps and pedals.

 

[Distorted1987]

Re: Recording/Drum/Bass Software

Are the Berhringer V-Amps compatable with my computer for recording?

 

[DankStar]

Re: Recording/Drum/Bass Software

Just check the specs of whichever V-amp product you're interested in at behringer's website to see if it has a line-level out. I'm pretty sure most if not all have line outs with speaker sims, which work well. I think they were all designed for direct recording in mind.

The V-amp pro is used A LOT by dudes over at homerecording.com.

Just don't come out a speaker output into your soundcard.
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Every once in a while, I get a wild hair to sell all my big amps, and just get a small V-amp 2 and a crate power block. It's not like I rock stadiums or anything. But I'm the type of guy that can find some good in almost any rig.

http://www.behringer.com/V-AMP2/index.cfm?lang=ENG

 

[Distorted1987]

Re: Recording/Drum/Bass Software

I checked out Behringer's site. Unfortunately I don't think their product would be compatible with mine. Right now I'm really leaning towards a Line 6 Guitar Port Rifftracker or a Line 6 Toneport UX1. I've heard a few complaints with their cosmetics though?

 

[CGord]

Re: Recording/Drum/Bass Software

I bought a Line 6 RiffTracker; it's the first home recording gear I've ever purchased, & I have no prior recording experience. (I also purchased a "metal" amp pack & several drum patterns to add on to the original purchase, so I have ended up spending more than the initial $189.) Everything I've posted here was recorded with it; I have no additional gear hooked up at all. It's been super easy to use, & it's highly addictive.

 

[kap_x]

Re: Recording/Drum/Bass Software

I've got a toneport, and i really like it. I would suggest the ux2, if for no other reaon the pedal jack. It's a cheap start to recording guitar--it'll be much much better sounding than a cheap soundcard and a computer mic!

It IS an ASIO soundcard. obviously it won't sound as good as a nice cab with an sm57 in the sweet spot--but for less than 200 bucks, it really can't be beat for starting out.

Then, eventually you can get a decent cardiod condensor and preamp or phantom power unit (the "gearbox" software has some emulated preamps). It will give you some surprisingly good vocal sounds.

It's true that the toneports aren't very aesthetically pleasing, but for the price and functionality, who cares?