Home Recording

LuckyFinigan

Sorry if this isnt the right section
Lately Ive been thinking of doing a bit of recording and im looking for some suggesting on a program to use. I wont be doing anything major maybe just a few guitar tracks. I know nothing about recording programs and im looking for something thats easy to use and free. It would be good if it had a drum machine so i could jam along and listen to it back.
Cheers:)

Blackhorse Slim

Audacity is probably the best place to start - it's decent and it's free. It will allow you to record something, then play it back and record more tracks on top. You can then mix down the lot into a single track. It doesn't have a drum machine, afaik, but you can find free drum sequencers easily enough.

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Once you get a little practice and decide you want to buy some quality software, ProTools is probably the best way to go- or Cubase.

rcaz

I used Audacity for ages, I think REAPER would be a better choice

http://www.reaper.fm/

It can handle MIDI and VSTs and the like, so you can find synths and drum machines you like and use them.

Patricide

Il second reaper if you want something cheap that does the trick well.

LuckyFinigan

sound ill check those programs out. anyone know what cable would be the best to use need something to go from my amp in to my laptop, i was looking at these
http://www.thomann.de/ie/the_tbone_usb1g.htm

http://www.thomann.de/ie/fender_gold_premium_guitar_cable_36m.htm

nickcave

LuckyFinigan wrote: »

sound ill check those programs out. anyone know what cable would be the best to use need something to go from my amp in to my laptop, i was looking at these
http://www.thomann.de/ie/the_tbone_usb1g.htm

http://www.thomann.de/ie/fender_gold_premium_guitar_cable_36m.htm

I'd only use those cables if i had an output on an amplifier that i was happy with. I wouldn't use software amplification (but that's just my choice).

If you need amplification, you should spend a bit more money on a USB audio interface, preferably something that is designed specifically for guitars, like a Line6 Guitarport.

grandslamsmith

Hiya,

I know you're looking fro free stuff which is where I was about a year ago Lucky - but I wandered into Music Maker and the guy reccomended a starter kit which was Ableton 5 software and the Line 6 toneport - €100 noops and i haven't looked back.

If you find yourself getting the free stuff and wanting to move on then I can't reccomend that pack more highly!

www.soundcloud.com/grand-slam-smith

TheBigRedDog

Hey man, I've been doing this for a while and it's tricky to start but good for recording your ideas. REAPER is a free unlimited demo program which is a good starting program. Depending on the quality you want, you could use the mic input of the computer to record the music but I'd recommend a usb interface such as an m box but there are cheaper ones too.

Is it mainly guitars and vocals? Do you already have mics?

TheBigRedDog

just found this interface on a second hand site... wasn't even looking for it but this is a perfect example of a usb interface. You would be able to record 2 microphones at the same time with this, allowing for simpler and better sounding recordings!

http://www.donedeal.ie/for-sale/instruments/1129172