I think i'm going to attempt the impossible- record an album with my iphone!

runmikeyrun · #1 03-22-2013, 06:12 PM

I'm utilizing an iPhone 4, 6 ch mixer, 2 input interface (Tascam iU2) and Multitrack DAW software, along with Audiobus and JamUp for the heck of it, although I probably will not use them. I have a good A-T condenser mic, a few AKG all purpose mics, and an SM58. I'm going to borrow a D112 and SM57 from a friend. I also have a Presonus studio channel and a noise gate to use when recording the the kick drum and vox, and whatever else I might need to use it for if I can't get good bass/guitar tone from the mixer and mic placement.

I know this isn't the ideal way to do it, but I was going to use the mixer to get a good balanced live drum mix, and shoot that to one channel while recording scratch guitar/bass with the other channel. Then track my bass, guitar, and vocal tracks after that on separate takes/tracks. I'll run two mics on guitar and one on bass/one direct when recording those instruments.

It's not gonna be perfect, but it beats the alternative (paying tons of money, or having a buddy do it for cheap and not having control) and I should hopefully get a decent sounding record. I do have experience recording so I think I can pull this off.

Thoughts? I don't look at it as a possible disaster or waste of time, but a fun way to play with some toys

seamonkey · #2 03-24-2013, 10:16 AM

Sound totally possible. The iphone is as good as a PC was just a few years ago.

Back when cassette tape was around, some bands recorded whole albums on 4 tracks. And it wasn't just bands who couldn't afford studio time. They just wanted to.

The iPhone digital is as good as any digital. With an audio interface on an iPhone you can do 4 channels. Once things are in the digital domain, you can bounce things around and add effects with the same low degradation as any digital DAW. For the best leveraging, get the analog into digital and keep it there for more of the DAW work.
Get apps talking to each other in the digital domain with audiobus
http://audiob.us/

Look forward to your results.

Rudreax · #3 03-24-2013, 03:01 PM

Given how powerful technology is, I'd say go for it. Even if it doesn't turn out perfect it would be great to try as an experiment. Post what you do and your findings somewhere, I'm sure there are other people out there who would be interested.

Stinsok · #4 03-24-2013, 03:05 PM

That is awesome!

Fuzzbassian · #5 03-25-2013, 05:45 AM

My friends recorded the title track to their album with 4 i-phones
http://kinggizzardandthelizardwizard.../12-bar-bruise
Mind you they never intended for it to sound good

longfinger · #6 03-25-2013, 09:28 AM

Document the results, and send the promo pack to Apple. Who knows, they might use you in one of their promotional blurbs. Better use Garageband for your DAW...

drews.anderson · #7 03-25-2013, 11:04 AM

I heard somewhere that Gorillaz's last album was entirely recorded on iPads.

Troph · #8 03-25-2013, 12:09 PM

Why would it be impossible to record an album on a computer with a dual-core processor, 512 to 1024 MB of RAM, and gigabytes of flash storage?

A few years ago, I would have killed for a system like that for digital recording!

hover · #9 03-25-2013, 12:13 PM

It's completely possible. There have been music videos done completely on that platform:
http://ismashphone.com/2010/10/great...musicians.html

And I've heard great sounding audio off them too, I say give it hell!