September 12, 2004

• Here's an 8 track recorder and a drum machine. I just downloaded them a week or so ago and have had a lot of fun playing with them.
• Some tips: If you live in a noisy neighborhood and you're recording acoustic instruments, give up now. You want to record in as "dead" a space as possible to give you the maximum amount of control over the sound. The SM-57 is your best friend. Get an A-to-D converter like the Lexicon Omega. Seriously. If you can't isolate the computer, you will record fan noise. Armed with the above, you can find the details with Google.
• I forgot. If I do this on/along with a computer, it needs to be a mac (os x). Is there a big plus to recording on a computer? And if I were to get an actual 8 track, is analog or digital better? Brands?
• ok... os x, my OS of choice.... my PERSONAL recommendation is Logic Audio Pro 6. it costs $1000 US and has the equivalent of 10 different synthesizers in it, the ability to have unlimited audio tracks, audio editing capabilities, the equivalent of about 100 high-quality effects boxes... etc etc. all you'd need then is a cheap preamp and a decent microphone (as someone said above, a shure SM57 will probably do ya) to record with. $1000 sounds like a lot, but for the capabilities of the program it's totally a steal. there's also an "express" version of logic with fewer capabilities and it costs like $300. it has fewer synthesis options, though, and doesn't come with the sweet sweet "space designer" impulse reverb that you will come to revere. now, i've made a case for the computer solution. that whole setup would run you around $1200. then there's the 8 track. i understand the appeal of the 8 track recorder. it's lo-fi fun, and it's portable compared to a computer setup. it's not as "powerful" as the software, nor will it enable you to make recordings which sound close to "professional," but it might well be more conducive to your style of creativity. there's something liberating about just being able to slap the record button when you have an idea, rather than booting up a computer and configuring something. as far as actual recorders go... i would get a 4-track analogue tape-based one. better to embrace the lo-finess of a multitrack recorder and make the noise part of your sound than pretend you're slick (cause you can't be). that's just my opinion though, and keep in mind i am a guided by voices fan.
• I've been doing home recording off and on since the 1980's, and the best advice I can give is don't fall for the hype in magazines and online articles. I totally agree with drivingmenuts' advice about dead space and SM57's. For deadness, just think soft - blankets, foam, carpet - to absorb sound reflections - you can always add reverb (or other effects) but you can't remove it. SM57's are the best ever all-purpose mic and a real bargain. Don't over-EQ. Whatever hardware / software you get, plan to spend a lot of time playing with it before you tackle a serious project. Digital will give you tons of S/N but zilch for headroom, while analog gives poor S/N but interesting possibilities on using headroom creatively (tape saturation is part of the compelling sound of many old rock records). You don't really need 8 tracks, but get it if you can. 4 tracks can work great if you don't mind bouncing tracks. I made many recordings starting with 4 tracks, mixed down to Beta HiFi (at the time it was digital quality at a third the price), dubbed the mix back to the 4-track machine, leaving 2 tracks for overdubs. Repeat as desired.
• Anyone know what sort of 4 track (or 8 track) to get? I don't mind it being lo-fi at all. I seriously have no idea what brands to look into and what aspects of 8 tracks I really need to consider. And, is there a price that I shouldn't go above for one of these? And anyone know where I should look? (online, or not...i live in the Minneapolis area) I think I'd rather do this than work on my computer...
• I can't advise on new equipment since I really don't pay attention anymore, but I'd bet you could pick up an old analog 4-track Teac Portastudio cheap. Teac had many models, starting with the 144. Most use regular cassettes running at twice the normal speed. All had built in mixers (4 or 6 channel) most had some EQ, mic/line inputs, some had Dolby or DBX noise reduction. These days, they make digital versions. I've always liked Teac/Tascam products, and their original 3340S 4-track launched the whole home recording business in the '70's. You might also ask questions here.
• Alright, I'm going to look into a Portastudio. Another question, if/when I buy a 4 track, do I need anything else besides a mic to record decently? (again, I'm clueless about this) My acoustic guitar has no pick-ups, so do I need anything? I've heard people connect the mic to a pre-amp...would I need one? What's it do? Or can i just plug the mic right into the 4 track and record?
• For 4-tracks, don't get anything less than a tascam 424. New or used. If you've got a mac, GarageBand isn't all bad. And is cheap. If you go the computer route you'll also need some king of USB audio I/O device and a mixer like a Behringer UB802. For any kind of recording you're going to want a good set of headphones. Whatever you do, start small. Recording gear gets expensive fast.
• he says he's recording things separately... no need for a mixer. and i'd argue that headphones are not nearly as important as decent speakers...
• If you're using a microphone, you need a mixer. That is unless you get one of those huge USB audio I/O things that has XLR inputs. Even with some kind of XLR to USB thing, I think it's a good idea to have something other than just software for controlling mic volume and EQ. Any good 4-track has a built-in mixer. And decent headphones are cheaper than good studio monitors and an amp to drive them. Not to mention that if you can't use a mic if you're using speakers for your playback and/or click.
• a preamp, my man
• I really think a good book might be the best place to start before you blow your dough on a bunch of mad shit that doesn't work together. The advice given on this thread is sound, but I think it might be a little bit ahead of you technically. Finding a book on home recording and reading it to bone up on the basics would be the appropriate first step, I think. Also, that SM57 is an excellent mike.
• Try out Garageband before getting busy with the credit card. Though I use Cubase myself, GB was pre-installed on my new PowerBook and it's a hoot. Built in effects, synths and more than enough power to actually make something worthwhile. If there's an Apple store near you try it on their machines and see for yourself. Tape vs. Digital: I couldn't imagine going back to tape recording. Digital allows for unlimited changes later on, for errors or changes in creative ideas. Non-linear is The Way! Some have spoken of lower headroom with digital but who should really care about that? You don't have to run your signal as hot into system as the signal is so clean, it's not like you have to work over a high noise floor. Then, once it's in the system, you can add what ever effects you want to it. Compress it then add some distortion...shoot...put some hiss on it and call it a tape if you want. I've done some deliciously low-fi stuff on my Cubase/digi set-up, taking a irrationally clean and crisp signal and monkeying with it to no end.
• So if I were to buy a mic and a 4 track, can the mic just plug in, and then i'm ready to go? (and yes, reading up on this stuff does sound like a good idea)
• Pretty much. The tascam 424 in particular has built in XLR inputs, preamps, EQ, and mixing so as long as you've got a mic you should be ready to start.