Computer based Recording Software

I am looking for suggestions for a user friendly computer recording software...free or not. What are you finding works best when you record your songs to post on here? Also, what mic are you using? All suggestions are appreciated. Thanks!

REAPER is a great, cheap piece of software that's very powerful and getting better all the time.

As for everything else, read this - http://www.tweakheadz.com/how_to_record_vocals.htm - it's good.

And good luck!

Reaper has to be #1.

It's free to try, and only under $70 if you decide to buy.

You didn't specify you were on a PC or Mac...but

I think Sonar is very user friendly as well.

I use an MXL V69...but I have heard that the

MXL V67g is VERY good for the money and is highly regarded.

If you are to go to computer based recording...you will need an interface that has mic preamps...The best and cheapest out there (IMO)

is the Presonus Firestudio mobile ($299.99USD) or if you can't get that...get the firebox used. You can find them for $150 USD easy on Craigslist.

You will need a Texas Instruments firewire chipset so if you don't have that you'll need a PCI card for a desktop. Laptop, better stick with a USB interface...EM-u makes good ones.

I don't know Reaper, but I've worked a lot with Sonar and Logic. These programs are spectacular, but there is a steep learning curve. The best program for beginners imho is GarageBand, but of course this is Mac-specific.

If you have a PC, I'm not sure where to send you, but I'd advise you to start simple. Even if you get a big flagship program like Sonar, worry at first only about the basics. If you don't you'll risk getting lost in the (awesome) technology. Musicians waste a lot of time trying to become amateur recording engineers.

For vocals you will want a large diaphragm condenser mic.

I highly recommend Reaper. I liked it so much that I bought a license, but it works flawlessly even if you don't buy one, so it's great to try.

Plus it comes with some really nice-sounding plugins that work great right out of the box (even if they aren't very pretty).

Right now I have a bottom-of-the-line MXL 990 that I use with a pop filter, but at work I use a higher-end Audio-Technica mic (the model number escapes me) that sounds really great. I sometimes want to take it home to track vocals...now that I think about it, I might just track some vocals at work, since it's a radio studio and sound-treated.

In addition to using Reaper on occasion for my musical endeavors, I actually use Sony ACID and Vegas to track most of my stuff - and all the stuff I've posted here (because it often has video).

Good luck!

Brian V.

Another SONAR user here. Also using RODE NTK Mic.

Reaper is powerful and free. It will do just about everything you could ever want it to do.

I get by with just Ableton Live (I just like how it works), and Ozone plug in.. That combo will get you some good results, fast and easy.

I had a friend come over this past weekend and he wanted me to record some lead vocals on his FirePod using CuBase which I think he bought for $399. They've now updated the hardware and software but this thing was SUPER EASY to use and I sat there watching him control the layers and mixes...I was amazed at how easy it was.

I quickly went to Ebay to search out the FirePod and they are all over the place for less than $200 however you'll need the software.

I haven't heard of reaper before, but I'm going to do some research now and check it out.

Good luck.

My head was spinning after 3 hours of vocal tracks laid down and the simplicity as to how easy it was for my friend to manipulate the arrangements.

Lots of great ideas here! Thanks for everyone's input.

Here's another one:

Buy a Presonus interface and get Studio Artist free.

Then you can upgrade to the Pro version for $199.99

should check out audacity, truly free (open.source). it's the simplest software recorder and it has its limitations but you should try it and see if it fits.

if you know computers, have patience etc. Reaper, Cubase. If you don't know computers or have patience, have a friend that does.