Best way to record myself on the extreme cheap?

[hrodbert696]

I've been tinkering with writing some originals for the group I'm in and realized that it would help if I could record some of it to send them so that we're not just figuring it out on the spot in rehearsal. I make squat for $ so need a way to do it without spending much, sadly.

I tried downloading Audacity for my laptop but all it picks up so far sounds like a pile of farting (my eleven-year-old son loves it). That's me playing through the amp and letting the laptop's built-in mike pick up whatever it can in the air. I'm not that great of a musician, but I'm pretty sure I'm not THAT bad. It also seems to crash on a pretty regular basis when I hit the button to stop recording. Any suggestions?

[Renaissance]

Write out charts.

[Bob C]

Korg, Boss, Zoom and others make "micro" recorders. I think most of them are 4-tracks.

Go to Musician's Friend, Sweetwater, etc websites and look in the "recording" section to get an idea of what's out there and what it costs. If you find what you think you need but can't spend that much, look for a used one on eBay.

[MD]

http://www.google.com/products/catal...wAg#ps-sellers

[Bassman7PM]

Try to find a Tascam Portastudio 4-track on craigslist. I've seen them as cheap as $20.00 and they work well for what you're trying to do.

[hrodbert696]

Originally Posted by MD

http://www.google.com/products/catal...wAg#ps-sellers

AHHHH! Do they still exist?

[Zombbg4]

If you happen to have the Rock Band game stuff, the mic it comes with is a USB mic and can be used to record with and its not too bad, really.

[b4nny]

Get a 1/4 inch to 1/8 inch adapter from radio shack, plug your bass in to your computer's line in, hit record and play your bass

[Luke19Boarder]

Originally Posted by b4nny

Get a 1/4 inch to 1/8 inch adapter from radio shack, plug your bass in to your computer's line in, hit record and play your bass

like 3$

[Murph#2]

Originally Posted by b4nny

Get a 1/4 inch to 1/8 inch adapter from radio shack, plug your bass in to your computer's line in, hit record and play your bass

Yes This works well and you can E-mail your stuff ahead of time

[hrodbert696]

Originally Posted by b4nny

Get a 1/4 inch to 1/8 inch adapter from radio shack, plug your bass in to your computer's line in, hit record and play your bass

I tried this and it didn't seem to work right, but I guess I'll give it another shot.

[REAPER52]

where do you hit record---what program?

[Ric5]

I start with my pedalboard, then I run into a cheap Behringer combo amp. I use the line out from that into a tascam mixer and then into my m-audio sound card on my computer. I use my Roxio software to manipulate the track.

I get pretty good quality.

Fenderbird bass ... http://www.3dentourage.com/425/effects-fenderbird-1.mp3

Fretless 5 string jag bass ... http://www.3dentourage.com/425/fretless%20fingers.mp3

[Meyatch]

use the 1/4" to 1/8" adapter, record a little bit, then check out the peaks and valleys of the signal in audacity. Adjust your volume in the windows sound control til the sound wave is the right amplitude. You will probably have to mess with some setting in the volume control to see your recording volume.

[goldenglory18]

Reaper.

www.cockos.com/reaper/download.php

[251]

Originally Posted by hrodbert696

I've been tinkering with writing some originals for the group I'm in and realized that it would help if I could record some of it to send them so that we're not just figuring it out on the spot in rehearsal. I make squat for $ so need a way to do it without spending much, sadly.

I tried downloading Audacity for my laptop but all it picks up so far sounds like a pile of farting (my eleven-year-old son loves it). That's me playing through the amp and letting the laptop's built-in mike pick up whatever it can in the air. I'm not that great of a musician, but I'm pretty sure I'm not THAT bad. It also seems to crash on a pretty regular basis when I hit the button to stop recording. Any suggestions?

Audacity should work well. I particularly like the noise filter. Test the settings to find the minimum needed to flat line a sample of background noise. Then filter the entire track.

Some active basses have a signal hot enough to go direct to the line in. Have you tried that?

I assume your amp doesn't have a DI out. If it does get a cable to connect the DI (line out) to the line in on your computer.

Adapters to go from stereo RCA to 1/4" & 1/8" monaural jacks will let you process the signal through a component stereo system. Listen for clipping if you monitor the sound through the stereo system. Audio electronics, like guitar amps, can be overloaded easily.

If that's not available, I get decent results with this $20, battery powered, phono pre-amp from RadioShack; http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2541471
The same adapters stereo/monaural are needed.

Good luck 8-)

[duderasta]

Originally Posted by goldenglory18

Reaper.

www.cockos.com/reaper/download.php

absolutely! a cheap usb interface would help tons too.. consumer sound cards are useless for recording for the most part. also try recording a totally clean signal, (if you have a reasonable interface, you can always loop out to outboard effects or use plugins) the cleaner the signal in, the easier it is to manipulate

[Walking]

Originally Posted by goldenglory18

Reaper.

www.cockos.com/reaper/download.php

Agreed. A full featured daw for very little money.