The Songwriter Forum - songwriting reviews, tips and chat
Songwriter Forum => Recording => Topic started by: Schavuitje on July 17, 2010, 12:10:51 AM
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What equiptment is everyone using to record your music?
At the moment all I have is:
A line 6 pod farm UX1
A Samson C03 Mic.
Ableton Live 8
EZDrummer
A really cheap and nasty electric guitar (Pheonix ) :(
And an even cheaper, nastier bass.
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I am pretty old school in that I don't (yet) use PC based recording.
Tascam DP-01 (8 track multitracker, digital)
Boss BR-8 (8 track multitracker, digital)
Pedals: Boss delay, Crybaby, Ultra Reverb, old Fuzz, Marshall Jackhammer, Boss super OD, Boss plaser.
Amps: Marshall VS100RH and cabs, Vox VT100
Guitars: Epiphone LP standard- silver flake, Epiphone wildkat, Hofner viola bass, Aria TA70x2, Westfield bass, Westfield electro, Coban acoustic, Ovation cc44, fender telecaster, DeArmond M75T, Yamaha dreadnaught electro (yes I have a guitar fetish!)
mics: Shure SM58s, Behringer condenser
Boss DR660 drum machine
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Hehe I love it when musos get all geeky :p
I use:
Technics electric piano/ master keyboard
Apple Logic Express
Jasmine acoustic guitar, Epiphone c50 classical guitar, Yamaha Pacifica electric guitar
Tascam US-122 audio interface
MXL condenser mic
Proteus 2000 sound module
Peavey backstage guitar amp
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software
sony acid pro 7
audicity
microphones
samson gomic
kam 400
an unbanded cheap mic
dynomode dh-660 usb headset for a fiver including postage is a great starter mic for vocals was made for skype but works well
instruments
casio junior keyboard want to upgradeto a full size one soon
fender stratocaster sunburnt paint job
20 watt practice amp
a zoom effects pedal cant remember which one of the top of my head
an acoustic guitar unbranded
a selection of percussion instruments
bongos
a selection of wierd homemade instruments
harmonica
recorders
cornet
a cheap electric drum machine
and i borrow instruments of people all the time including a nice electronic organ
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Yamaha AW16G digital recorder
and roland synthesizers (and one of these tiny Korgs with vocoder options)
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Yamaha AW16G digital recorder
and roland synthesizers (and one of these tiny Korgs with vocoder options)
How do you rate the AW16G? I have used the AW4416 in the past and although the sound quality and features were excellent, it was a f*****g nightmare to get to grips with! Is the AW16G any good? I have seen some on eBay for a couple of hundred. I may go for one if they are any good.
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the sound can be good, clear & solid, and it is rather easy to work with (if i can figure it out, it can't be too difficult)
but i do have these terrible crashes when the song becomes bigger..nowadays I can work around that but it means a lot of saving and restoring :-(
I have lost some songs on it when I started with it. It seems all all hard disc recorders have this (?) to some extent
any one can recommend a hard disc recorder that doesn't have this problem at all?
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the sound can be good, clear & solid, and it is rather easy to work with (if i can figure it out, it can't be too difficult)
but i do have these terrible crashes when the song becomes bigger..nowadays I can work around that but it means a lot of saving and restoring :-(
I have lost some songs on it when I started with it. It seems all all hard disc recorders have this (?) to some extent
any one can recommend a hard disc recorder that doesn't have this problem at all?
I get the same with my smaller units. It helps to keep the disks clean so copy off all the songs and reformat the disk from time to time. Cheers for the info.
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Hi,
I use Apple logic Express 8, Harmon Kardon Speakers, a sennheiser microphone, Apple software instruments, Addictive Drums, line 6 Toneport Kb38 keyboard with Gear box software, a custom built Fender Strat electric and a rather beautiful Freshman GACED 500 series acoustic guitar. I love my studio set up and am constantly discovering new ways to use it.
Great post!
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DP-01FX/CD.
Fender Squire Strat'.
Ropey old accoustic,
Ropey old keyboard, (next on shopping list.)
Much preferred analogue but digital is very flexible. Going through one of those phases that i don't like effects at the minute so tend to do nearly everything 'dry' as it were. Just the odd little hint of distortion here and there.
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I am currently using a logitech webcam to record my songs and then converting them to MP3 using an online media converter. The sound quality is terrible! I did have a multi-track cassette recorder, but it broke. I then bought a cable to link my keyboard to the computer, and downloaded audacity...but the sound delay was so bad that I gave up on that idea.
Recording my songs is the most frustrating thing about songwriting for me. I would welcome advice about what to do for someone on a very limited budget...and with very little technical knowhow.
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Deedee, if it's complete foolproof simplicity you're after, I recommend this
http://www.samsontech.com/products/productpage.cfm?prodid=1916
you just switch it on, press record, sing your song, press stop. Then you plug it into your computer and copy the mp3 file of your song across. It really is that simple, and the sound quality is fantastic for a standalone mic/ recorder. I'd say the mic is as good as the cheap condenser mic I use to record vocals at home.
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Tone
That is exactly the sort of thing I am looking for! Now that I know what it is called, I will be on the lookout. Thank you!
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I used Pro Tools once and hated it, haven't tried to switch to PC recording.
I have a Zoom 8-track multitrack which have served me well for about 5 years now, and the drum machine within it is pretty good so I've never had to get a seperate one. As for equipment, I have a basic recording microphone, a pretty able Yahama keyboard, an Ibanez Talman acoustic, Schecter Corsair electric, PRS Santana SE electric and a battered old classical.
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I used Pro Tools once and hated it, haven't tried to switch to PC recording.
I have a Zoom 8-track multitrack which have served me well for about 5 years now, and the drum machine within it is pretty good so I've never had to get a seperate one. As for equipment, I have a basic recording microphone, a pretty able Yahama keyboard, an Ibanez Talman acoustic, Schecter Corsair electric, PRS Santana SE electric and a battered old classical.
Is that the Zoom MRS1044/1244? I have seen then in ebay recently and might go for one. Is it any good?
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I cobble together with -
an old zoom four track
Boss loop station (also used for recording)
Sm58 mic
And reaper on my laptop
It's a real pain because i have to keep transfering the tracks onto my laptop and have rubbish speakers and £10 headphones. But at least i manage to record voice and keyboard (yamahaa p120) at the same time
I really have to invest in better headphones though
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Wow! Most of you seem to have some really cool equiptment ! I'm really jealous haha!
I have just added a Novation Nocturn 49 controller keyboard to my collection but now have to find some vst plugins with good samples to use with it. I'm guessing they are not going to be cheap :(
My guitar was the cheapest in the shop and my bass was 55 quid off ebay :P They'll just have to do for now.
I have the same problem as you Rossanne... I only have a cheap pair of headphones to do all my mixing with. I can't decide wether I need good monitors or a really good set of headphones next... Any advice?
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Hmmm that's a tricky one Schavuitje. The headphones are essential for recording vocals and live instruments - having said that, getting a good mix down without decent monitors is pot luck.
If it's just for mixing, then I'd say monitors win by a long shot.
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hmm i'm gonna have to disagree with you :p. I reckon if you havn't got much cash it's better to go for headphones. Decent monitors are only much better for mixing if you're working in a well tuned room (from what i've read, but not an expert!) which is hard to get without spending even more money. Good headphones will let you hear the mix without the colour of the room you're in, plus i reckon most people listen to music through headphones these days. Ideally i would go for the monitors and dampners and all that malarky, but being broke i'm definitely going for headphones :). reading this great book at the mo to try and learn more about it. It's called "gorilla home recording: how to record no matter how weird or cheap your gear is". It's pretty interesting, but i'm aware it's not for the purists and that i don't have much engineering training to really give it a good critique :)
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i agree, Rossanne
a good pair of earphones is extremely important...but how to find them?
hard to find, I mean, good onces on which your mix will sound even remotely the same as you listener is going to hear it.
earphones are so completely different today (with ridiculous extra bass boost etc.)
I stick to my Philips (sorry for being so old and Dutch) ear phones, cause i know they give sort of a fair picture of what I made
well, they just work for me
in fact not switching is what works in the end, I think
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Yeh I've no idea which ones. To be honest I was going to read lots of reviews and things and see which ones got the most consistently good press. But before that I'm just asking friends and family if they know anyone who has ones I could borrow cos anything has to be better than my iPod earphones. And I've seen a how-to online about turning normal headphones into sound blockers, so might end up doing that. Ah, there's something almost romantic about botch-jobs
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It looks like I'm heading for headphones then :P
A few people have recommended Bose headphones to me although they are expensive. Looks like I'm going to have to start throwing a few extra pennies in my jar haha.
Dutchbeat... I'm not sure how well known it is that Phillips is a Dutch company but you made me chuckle :) Phillips invented the CD too!
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Andy here from TNMC/Neverwas.... I have Cakewalk Guitar Tracks 8 track software studio on an HP pc with a good 24bit soundcard... really seems to make a lot of difference when recording (unless I'm just imagining things in my old age). I have only one mic, a Shure BG 1.0 which is okay, a Yamaha QY10 tone generator, an Atari 1040ste running Logic Notator and/or Breakthru 64, an old yamaha keyboard, a cheapie second hand acoustic and a cheapie second hand Gibson SG copy, a little BC Rich amp and, essential for pre-input into the pc, a Sony Mini Disc Player set on 'record/pause'. Does the trick indeed. I have a Fostex FD-4
4-track digital recorder with a 40gb HDD in fabulous condition which I never use and which I would love to sell to a good home, but nobody seems to want it. I also use a fair few software effects (in the software studio) and the Wave Editor that comes as part of the Nero Burning Suite. I have a fair range of headphones and various speaker setups to test-listen to my mixes with. Still, it doesn't always mean you'll get it right, though!
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Vs 1680 Roland
Rode NT1 microphone
Electric piano Yamaha P-40
Fender stratocaster japan
Pod Line 6
Blackstar pedal
Acoustic folk guitar : Seagull Cedar
Acoustic guitar (nylon strings) : Alhambra
Bass : Musicman stingray
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Rode NT1 microphone
You're mic cost more than my DAW! I'm jealous! ;D
Worth the cost though...A good microphone is worth it's weight in gold.....True?
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«You're mic cost more than my DAW! I'm jealous! «
YES!!! ;D
Seriously, it’s very important to have a good gear. I remember when I was young (it’s so long ago that I’m already glad to be able to remember it), we had no material and going to a studio was so expensive that it sounded impossible. And now, it’s not always cheap but very easy and possible to have your own personal home studio.
And recording is like a good song. What is important is to have a good start and a good ending. In the recording, a good start would be a microphone and a good ending would be good earphones (or speakers)
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very well spoken, Zelig!
I totally agree
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Ibanez acoustic
Fender tele
pen
pad
iphone+ iRig/iRig Mic/AmpliTube Fender for demos and practicing.
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Wow! Most of you seem to have some really cool equiptment ! I'm really jealous haha!
I have just added a Novation Nocturn 49 controller keyboard to my collection but now have to find some vst plugins with good samples to use with it. I'm guessing they are not going to be cheap :(
My guitar was the cheapest in the shop and my bass was 55 quid off ebay :P They'll just have to do for now.
I have the same problem as you Rossanne... I only have a cheap pair of headphones to do all my mixing with. I can't decide wether I need good monitors or a really good set of headphones next... Any advice?
Native Instruments provide cut down versions of Kore Player, Reaktor and Guitar Rig free. The downloading and registering process will have you tearing your hair out, but it's worth it because it's a pretty impressive giveaway. And a lite version of Rob Papen's Blue vst is available online from MusicStore in Germany for 44 euros.
My set up doesn't compare with those mentioned here:
Mini Mac, M-Audio keyboard controller, Logic Pro 7, Rob Papen Blue LE, Native Instruments Guitar Rig, ReFX Vanguard, Sennheiser HD415 headphones. For monitoring I play a commercially released cd on my JVC hi-fi and the Sony cd player in the car and get as close to that sound as I can with EQing in Logic and mastering in Waveburner. If I had the dough the first thing I'd buy is a studio.
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Good point from Sonic-r about playing a commercially released cd on the hifi/car stereo and the trying to eq as close to that as you can to get a good sound. I thought that's what everyone did, but when I told another home recording dude about it, he looked at me like I was a genius. Would that not occur to everyone?
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Regarding the comparison with commercial cds, one thing I always bear in mind is the notorious 'sound wars' ie the increasing compression that producers add to the recordings to make them louder. Commercial cds always sound louder than my mixes, but when I open my aif file in waveburner and see the top and bottom of the wave pattern (not a solid bar like most commercial releases) I get a smug sense of satisfaction.
A recent edition of either Computer Music or Sound on Sound had an article about some research in America that showed that people did not react more favourably to recordings that were louder.
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Just starting out but; BR 900, Richwood guitar and mic on the way
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Ooo, equpiment is soo much fun :) I record all in my room, and have cubase 5 (saving for 6), a røde mic, a little mixer I picked up off ebay for £16!! and a good sound card (M-Audio 2497 or something). And instruments, lots of instruments!
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What equiptment is everyone using to record your music?
At the moment all I have is:
A line 6 pod farm UX1
A Samson C03 Mic.
Ableton Live 8
EZDrummer
A really cheap and nasty electric guitar (Pheonix ) :(
And an even cheaper, nastier bass.
Heya bro, my first post here I hope all is well!
For drums I will use a local studio and a drummer
Then guitars and bass will go down here
quad core PC, Toneport Ux2. Squire Bass, fender strats, RJ struts, heritage 575, afri-can guitar!
Percussion here too - shakers, tambourines etc
Vocals back to proper studio and maybe djembe/congas.
Mixdown here, Cubase 5 with a series of waves plug ins.
Its good because I can do pretty much full demos with all the kit I have, just for the "proper" version I like to have a decent room for drums and vocals.
Mr.Will
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Welcome to the forum Mr Will - glad to have you on board.
Do you fancy heading over to the introductions forum and telling us a little about yourslelf?
Good man :)
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I use a Fostex MR8 8track recorder, a Yamaha 88 key digital keyboard and I have a guitar and a recorder (as in the musical instrument) lying around.
There are 2 ways to transfer a song (having recorded the required up to 8 tracks) to computer. The first and probably more usual method is to convert the song to wave files using the Fostex's own inbuilt facility, then transfer the wave files to the computer & MP3 via the USB port.
Whereas I prefer to connect the Fostex outputs to the computer soundcard line-in and use Audacity to convert the song to wave files then MP3. This actually works better for me personally. I can then edit further using Audacity.
I have no desire as yet to experiment with recording directly to the PC at all.
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Ipad
In terms of instruments, Takemine G series guitar & Yamaha DGX 300 keyboard
Thats it!
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I use Reason and Record on my PC which I am starting to get used to. I have found it quite user friendly and it's good for a beginner like me.
I use an akai mpk 88 keyboard, this has quite a heavy action though but it's still good. A Presonus Audiobox usb and a Shure sm58 mic which I would like to replace with a condensor mic at some point when I can afford it!
I Monitor with nEar 05 ESI speakers. I am learning the acoustic guitar at the moment and that just about wraps it all up!
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An embarassment of riches really - but this what happens when you've been buying stuff for the last 25 years...
Ageing Athlon PC running Cubase 4 SE and some VSTs (in particular Emu Proteus, Jamstix, NI B4)
M Audio Delta 1010 soundcard and Midisport 8x8 midi interface
B4D hardware controller, Phillip Rees C16 midi controller
Soundcraft Compact 10 Mixer, Fostex PM0.5 Monitors
Focusrite Penta Mic pre-amp, Behringer Vamp 2, Zoom 1202
Yamaha MU128 with PLG VL, AN1X and DX cards, Novation KS Rack, Alesis Nanosynth, Nano Bass and Nano Piano
Yamaha PSR5700 Keyboard, M-Audio Trigger Finger and Behringer FB1010 for midi input
A few mics (Rode NT1A, Rode M3, sE Electronics X1, Blue Ball Condenser, Prodipe A1, T-Bone SC400), SE Electronics Reflexion Filter – Project Studio
Line 6 Electric Variax 300 modelling guitar, Martin acoustic and a bunch of other stringed things
All sitting in the spare room with some attemps at acoustic treatment
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I use:
What makes the magic possible:
an iMac
Logic 9 Pro
Motu 8 Pre Audio Interface
Mics:
Shure SM57
Shure SM57Beta
MXL990
MXL991
MXL V63M
I have an array of amps (Marshall, Crate, Fender, Smokey) and guitars (Rogue, Jackson, Ibanez) that I use to capture a solid authentic sound. I also use a full size StudioLogic Midi Controller for midi and sample work!