The Political Party

[stratosaurus]

I've haven't done my own personal recording since the cassette recorder days, but am thinking about making a somewhat feeble attempt at computer recording. Since I'm not sure I'll grasp the changes in technology, I would like to make the first attempt on the cheap & need some advice. To begin with, I'm not overly concerned with high recording quality to begin with, just basically somewhat decent. I'm basically thinking about buying one of the older Cakewalk programs or maybe Sonar 1x just to check out the format & see how much I comprehend.  Since it will be a used program, what do I need to look for to make sure I can use it (ie...registration requirements, serial numbers, etc that might make them unusable)?

Finally, what would you recommend as a starter?

[Just Me]

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stratosaurus wrote:

I've haven't done my own personal recording since the cassette recorder days, but am thinking about making a somewhat feeble attempt at computer recording. Since I'm not sure I'll grasp the changes in technology, I would like to make the first attempt on the cheap & need some advice. To begin with, I'm not overly concerned with high recording quality to begin with, just basically somewhat decent. I'm basically thinking about buying one of the older Cakewalk programs or maybe Sonar 1x just to check out the format & see how much I comprehend.  Since it will be a used program, what do I need to look for to make sure I can use it (ie...registration requirements, serial numbers, etc that might make them unusable)?

Finally, what would you recommend as a starter?

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good question, Im kinda in the same boat.

I have a friend who wants to sell me his pro-tools setup, but if there is a steep learning curve on pro tools, I dont want to be bogged down with tech issues.

[Hoppy Shimko]

What are you wanting to do? This makes quite a difference in my response.

Acoustic/vocal ? MIDI sequencing ? Live band ? Do you need mics? Do you have a drum machine ? The more you divulge the better the advice.

[erok123]

I'd start with Audacity and Hydrogen. 

Audacity: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Hydrogen: http://www.hydrogen-music.org/hcms/

Using these programs you can record and make music immediately. Get your feet wet for only the time it takes to download and install. 

 Edit: I forgot lmms: http://lmms.sourceforge.net/

[gspointer]

I assume you are on a PC?

[trainset]

I wouldnt suggest sonar/cakewalk

If you are going to record traditional instruments id go with Reaper...it has an uncrippled demo and is only $60 to purchase the license...Presonus Studio One also has a free version but it wont host third party VSTs, still very good and easy to use...

Then consider an audio interface and nearfields...the more money you spend in your chain, the better your recordings will ultimately be...so id stay cheap with the software until you make a firm decision on what suits you best

[stratosaurus]

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Hoppy Shimko wrote:
What are you wanting to do? This makes quite a difference in my response.

Acoustic/vocal ? MIDI sequencing ? Live band ? Do you need mics? Do you have a drum machine ? The more you divulge the better the advice.

---

Acoustic/vocal ?  Yes

MIDI sequencing ? No

Live band ?  Not now, maybe later. Any band recording will be one member, vocal, instrument at a time

Do you need mics?  Have plenty of mics, though not condensors.

Do you have a drum machine ? Yes (Alesis SR-16)

It will be just me to start with & all I'm out to do is see if I can learn how to use the program & figure out all the functions/parameters, how to access them & use them. All  I've done is watch the guy in the studio & what he does looks like a foreign language to me. No experience at this at all.. That's why, I'm not worried so much about quality of the recording. I am basically going to begin with no experience & no idea what I'm getting into & see how it goes & if I enjoy it enough & if I maintain enough interest to continue to learn all the complexities. Right now, it isn't about recording as much as it is just seeing if I have the interest to invest the time to learn the programs.

[stratosaurus]

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gspointer wrote:
I assume you are on a PC?

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Yep. I've got  a Dell studioXPS that is going to be dedicated to recording.

[stratosaurus]

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Just Me wrote:

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stratosaurus wrote:

I've haven't done my own personal recording since the cassette recorder days, but am thinking about making a somewhat feeble attempt at computer recording. Since I'm not sure I'll grasp the changes in technology, I would like to make the first attempt on the cheap & need some advice. To begin with, I'm not overly concerned with high recording quality to begin with, just basically somewhat decent. I'm basically thinking about buying one of the older Cakewalk programs or maybe Sonar 1x just to check out the format & see how much I comprehend.  Since it will be a used program, what do I need to look for to make sure I can use it (ie...registration requirements, serial numbers, etc that might make them unusable)?

Finally, what would you recommend as a starter?

---

good question, Im kinda in the same boat.

I have a friend who wants to sell me his pro-tools setup, but if there is a steep learning curve on pro tools, I dont want to be bogged down with tech issues.

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 Yep, the learning curve is kinda what I'm worried about & would like to keep it simple & to the minimum.

Feel free to hijack the thread with any question you have.

[normh]

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stratosaurus wrote:

I've haven't done my own personal recording since the cassette recorder days, but am thinking about making a somewhat feeble attempt at computer recording. Since I'm not sure I'll grasp the changes in technology, I would like to make the first attempt on the cheap & need some advice. To begin with, I'm not overly concerned with high recording quality to begin with, just basically somewhat decent. I'm basically thinking about buying one of the older Cakewalk programs or maybe Sonar 1x just to check out the format & see how much I comprehend.  Since it will be a used program, what do I need to look for to make sure I can use it (ie...registration requirements, serial numbers, etc that might make them unusable)?

Finally, what would you recommend as a starter?

---

You want to get your feet wet in recording, but you do not want to spend a lot of money.  Sounds slightly contradictory.

May I suggest the open source program Audacity.  It come in Windows, Mac, and Linux flavors.  While the open source programs are free, there is, like any powerful program, an investment in time to learn to use it.  It is a fairly powerful, but easy to use DAW.

You will also need a decent microphone.

>>> LINK TO AUDACITY PAGE ON SOURCEFORGE <<<<

[stratosaurus]

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trainset wrote:
I wouldnt suggest sonar/cakewalk

If you are going to record traditional instruments id go with Reaper...it has an uncrippled demo and is only $60 to purchase the license...Presonus Studio One also has a free version but it wont host third party VSTs, still very good and easy to use...

Then consider an audio interface and nearfields...the more money you spend in your chain, the better your recordings will ultimately be...so id stay cheap with the software until you make a firm decision on what suits you best

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Are the downloads? The computer I am planning on using is going to be dedicated to recording & not be online, so would I be able to transfer them from another computer?
I already have a pair of Alesis M1-520 monitors that I thought I would use.

[trainset]

Yup just download them and transfer them across, i think you may have to download a license but its not unusual for folks to have their DAW offline

Lemme know if you need any free plug ins, i generally try everything that cones out

[Hoppy Shimko]

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stratosaurus wrote:

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Hoppy Shimko wrote:
What are you wanting to do? This makes quite a difference in my response.

Acoustic/vocal ? MIDI sequencing ? Live band ? Do you need mics? Do you have a drum machine ? The more you divulge the better the advice.

---

Acoustic/vocal ?  Yes

MIDI sequencing ? No

Live band ?  Not now, maybe later. Any band recording will be one member, vocal, instrument at a time

Do you need mics?  Have plenty of mics, though not condensors.

Do you have a drum machine ? Yes (Alesis SR-16)

It will be just me to start with & all I'm out to do is see if I can learn how to use the program & figure out all the functions/parameters, how to access them & use them. All  I've done is watch the guy in the studio & what he does looks like a foreign language to me. No experience at this at all.. That's why, I'm not worried so much about quality of the recording. I am basically going to begin with no experience & no idea what I'm getting into & see how it goes & if I enjoy it enough & if I maintain enough interest to continue to learn all the complexities. Right now, it isn't about recording as much as it is just seeing if I have the interest to invest the time to learn the programs.

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As mentioned, audacity is free and will do what you want. Get a USB mic that monitors into phones and you'll be ready to record. Everything you learn on audacity will be useful and somewhat familiar if you upgrade your software. You can't learn a "wrong" platform, they're all very similar.

[trainset]

Usb mics are **bleep**

[Hoppy Shimko]

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trainset wrote:
Usb mics are **bleep**

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They are fine for a first go.

[trainset]

Racist

[Microtilt]

I'll add my recommendation for using Audacity as a learning tool.  I don't know if it's changed, but I recall it having a non-feature of having to drag sync multiple tracks, rather than syncing them during recording, but it was never a big problem.  I still use Audacity to trim and tweak stereo masters sometimes, when I need something quick and dirty.

When I first started recording on PC, I used Voyetra Orchestrator for a few years and then migrated to Cakewalk Pro Audio 9.  They were good programs, but seemed subject to unexpected behaviors as the machine got older.

Now I use Reaper and can't recommend it highy enough.  Simple, powerful and reliable.  Oh, and cheap.

[Into Nation]

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Hoppy Shimko wrote:

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stratosaurus wrote:

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Hoppy Shimko wrote:
What are you wanting to do? This makes quite a difference in my response.

Acoustic/vocal ? MIDI sequencing ? Live band ? Do you need mics? Do you have a drum machine ? The more you divulge the better the advice.

---

Acoustic/vocal ?  Yes

MIDI sequencing ? No

Live band ?  Not now, maybe later. Any band recording will be one member, vocal, instrument at a time

Do you need mics?  Have plenty of mics, though not condensors.

Do you have a drum machine ? Yes (Alesis SR-16)

It will be just me to start with & all I'm out to do is see if I can learn how to use the program & figure out all the functions/parameters, how to access them & use them. All  I've done is watch the guy in the studio & what he does looks like a foreign language to me. No experience at this at all.. That's why, I'm not worried so much about quality of the recording. I am basically going to begin with no experience & no idea what I'm getting into & see how it goes & if I enjoy it enough & if I maintain enough interest to continue to learn all the complexities. Right now, it isn't about recording as much as it is just seeing if I have the interest to invest the time to learn the programs.

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As mentioned, audacity is free and will do what you want. Get a USB mic that monitors into phones and you'll be ready to record. Everything you learn on audacity will be useful and somewhat familiar if you upgrade your software. You can't learn a "wrong" platform, they're all very similar.

I've got to disagree with this a bit.  You can get very proficient at one tool and then feel helpless in trying to even do basic things with another.  Been there...  I would highly suggest deciding on what you will use in the long run and then pick that one.  I went from Audacity to Reaper, the latter being a far superior product IMO but how it works is quite a bit different.

.02

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[moogerfooger]

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Just Me wrote:

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stratosaurus wrote:

I've haven't done my own personal recording since the cassette recorder days, but am thinking about making a somewhat feeble attempt at computer recording. Since I'm not sure I'll grasp the changes in technology, I would like to make the first attempt on the cheap & need some advice. To begin with, I'm not overly concerned with high recording quality to begin with, just basically somewhat decent. I'm basically thinking about buying one of the older Cakewalk programs or maybe Sonar 1x just to check out the format & see how much I comprehend.  Since it will be a used program, what do I need to look for to make sure I can use it (ie...registration requirements, serial numbers, etc that might make them unusable)?

Finally, what would you recommend as a starter?

---

good question, Im kinda in the same boat.

I have a friend who wants to sell me his pro-tools setup, but if there is a steep learning curve on pro tools, I dont want to be bogged down with tech issues.

---

protools is the easiest platfrom out there -- it's usable with no prior knowledge. you set the mixer up just like you would hardware .  each channel has an input and output with can be a hardware output or a buss. you have. aux inputs that opperate the same way.  it has a dep feature set but a low learning curve -- go for it. 

[Brave Ulysses]

I don't know a lot about it either, but last weekend I used an M-Audio Fast Track USB Interface with Pro Tools SE Software for the first time. Cost me 80 bucks. Following the user guide that came with it, I was able to complete a track using loops (drum and piano samples included with the software) and live bass/guitar - in a couple of hours. The document isn't a deep dive into every available feature, but if you really read it and think about what they are saying, it's pretty easy.