Recording for my own pleasure

**BullHorn** · #1 11-07-2010, 02:43 PM

I've seen many threads about recording and such but in all of them to sound good you're required to buy all kinds of soundcards, pre-amps, cables, etc.

I would like to record play-along and just things for my own pleasure without spending a lot of money on. I've found this thing:

http://www.alesis.com/guitarlink

It is a 1/4" to USB analog-to-digital adapter. Does anyone have experience with it? I think this could be perfect for my needs...?

pfschim · #2 11-07-2010, 07:57 PM

I don't have any experience with the specific device you listed (Alesis), but I have used the very similar AmpPlug, and Native Instruments 1in/1out USB devices with great results.

You do not need tons of stuff at all, just a decent interface (like the one you listed), a reasonably up to date computer (say, no more than 4-5 years old), and then some software to capture, edit and work with tracks. Most of the great programs Pro Tools, Cakewalk, Ableton, etc, have "lite" versions that are pretty cheap ($49-99 ish, some even come bundled with the USB interfaces). If you are on Mac, GarageBand has many fans too. There is a very nice program called Reaper, which is "support ware" (i.e. you can download it for free, but they ask for donations).

So, get the interface, get the software, install 'em and go have fun. Should not cost you an arm and a leg at all. In fact the best advice I can offer is start simple/small and get used to working in this environment before you go nuts buying stuff you may, or may not really need.

FWIW, this is exactly what I did a bit over a year ago, and it has been a great experience. Just about the most fun you can have with your clothes on!

enjoy!

Wild_Cat · #3 11-08-2010, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pfschim

There is a very nice program called Reaper, which is "support ware" (i.e. you can download it for free, but they ask for donations).

Reaper, while an absolutely stellar DAW, is not support-ware at all. It's a traditional shareware -- you can download a trial version, which is fully functional except for a nag screen when you start it up, but after the end of the 30-day trial period, you must purchase a license or stop using the software.

Admittedly, the trial version will keep working after 30 days. But then again, the price of a license is a ridiculously cheap $40. Forty of the best bucks I ever spent.

(I'll add that Reaper is written by Justin Frankel, the man who wrote the first versions of Winamp and by doing so kickstarted the entire MP3 revolution -- how awesome is that?)

Earlier this year, I went from absolute noobness to having cut 3 tracks with Reaper in 2 months or so. Here's my signal chain (if you want to know how it sounds, Youtube links are in this thread):

- Bass (Ibanez SR4005)
- Tech 21 VT Bass (best. pedal. ever.)
- Markbass Little Mark Tube head (useful for the color it adds to the sound on the track I recorded without the VT (Secret of Evermore), but I could have omitted it on the two I did with the VT -- this is probably the least important part of the chain here)
- Tascam US-122 mk2 audio interface
- Reaper

You can make do with less, though. The absolute minimal signal chain you need is:

- Bass
- Audio interface (here's the one I use and heavily recommend -- it's not expensive, can record 2 channels of 96KHz/24-bit audio through jack or XLR and has good ASIO drivers)
- DAW (again, Reaper is where my loyalties lie

)

For a total of roughly $200 (I'm assuming you already have a bass and computer

), you can record professional-sounding (albeit modern and a little dry, because you'll get a straight-into-the-board bass tone -- that can be fixed using a variety of plugins, a VT or a BDDI) tracks.

Akshat · #4 11-08-2010, 12:43 AM

i have a usb interface in my zoom b2.1u so i just connect that to my mac.Gives me a pretty decent recording and serves its core purpose of a multi-effect processor aswell.

Neon Scribe · #5 11-08-2010, 12:49 AM

When you're looking for inexpensive recording software, don't forget Audacity. It is free (as in beer and as in speech), full featured, and runs on Windows, Mac OS and Linux. It is not as polished as some of the commercial products, but it is completely usable. The "beta" version, 1.3.12, has been around for a few years and is very stable.

**BullHorn** · #6 11-08-2010, 07:14 AM

Got it, guys. I don't know if I should get a direct bass-to-usb plug or one from my amp's DI-to-usb. I don't know what will sound better.... I wish I could find something at a local store but finding cheap recording gear in Israel is near impossible, I'll probably have to order from abroad.

m_bisson · #7 11-08-2010, 07:17 AM

Look for a 1/4" to 1/8" converter so you can plug the bass into your soundcard. Costs less than $10 in canada.

Jonyak · #8 11-08-2010, 07:20 AM

I used to just use a small mixer with a 1/4" to 1/8" out cable into my sound card.

but then I started recording full drum sets and a bands.

I was getting great sounding recording with my old set up, but could only record a single track at a time.

**BullHorn** · #9 11-08-2010, 07:21 AM

I tried doing that but the soundcard is not meant for recording thus the quality and latency are horrible. A USB/firewire interface is the cheapest non-absolute-crap solution for this problem.

Jonyak · #10 11-08-2010, 07:27 AM

hmm weird.

should have almost no latency at all if you are plugged right into your sounds card. I have had good experiences even with on board sound.

but ya the USB 2.0 interface will be the cheapest. firewire still seems to be expensive, and not many computers have firewire ports, so you would have to get a card for it.

Wild_Cat · #11 11-08-2010, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BullHorn

Got it, guys. I don't know if I should get a direct bass-to-usb plug or one from my amp's DI-to-usb. I don't know what will sound better....

A good audio interface like the one I talked about in my previous post (Tascam US122 mk2) will allow you to record both. There's either a switch or a pot to toggle between line level, mic level and instrument level.

EDIT: Also, your latency problem looks like a configuration error. If you're running Windows, you must configure your DAW to use ASIO (not WDM or DirectSound) for recording. If you're using a standard sound card, you'll need to install ASIO4All first.

**BullHorn** · #12 11-08-2010, 09:55 AM

My soundcard doesn't support ASIO... I'll look at that Tascam to see if we have any shop that sells it in this country, thanks for the tips.

Wild_Cat · #13 11-08-2010, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BullHorn

My soundcard doesn't support ASIO...

Are you sure? ASIO4All is a "universal" ASIO driver that's supposed to work with most sound cards out there (including almost every on-board sound chip). It won't give you as good a latency as a dedicated driver (ASIO4All gives me 20ms latency on my on-board sound chip, the dedicated driver for my Tascam does 5-10), but it's better than nothing at all.

(I lied earlier: of the 3 tracks I recorded, the very first one I did (Area 88) was done using not my US-122 (I hadn't bought it yet) but my Korg Pandora (set to an inobtrusive rock amp model and no effects) with ASIO4All.)

**BullHorn** · #14 11-08-2010, 11:42 AM

I found a shop selling the TASCAM US-122L with a LE version of Cubase. Sounds like a plan?

Jonyak · #15 11-08-2010, 01:05 PM

LE is a very light version.

it works very well for basic recording. and you can't really go wrong with tascam stuff.

Wild_Cat · #16 11-08-2010, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BullHorn

I found a shop selling the TASCAM US-122L with a LE version of Cubase. Sounds like a plan?

Should be good. Most audio interfaces are sold with a crippled version of a horribly expensive DAW anyway, so buy it, download Reaper and forget that you even got a Cubase LE CD.

pfschim · #17 11-08-2010, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wild_Cat

For a total of roughly $200 (I'm assuming you already have a bass and computer

), you can record professional-sounding (albeit modern and a little dry, because you'll get a straight-into-the-board bass tone -- that can be fixed using a variety of plugins, a VT or a BDDI) tracks.

well, I can't speak for Reaper, but many of the DAW "lite" packages include some FX in the package. Ableton Live Lite actually has a very significant FX library included. So, use a little reverb and compression to "liven" the recorded bass tone, and you should be cookin' with gas in no time.

m_bisson · #18 11-08-2010, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wild_Cat

Are you sure? ASIO4All is a "universal" ASIO driver that's supposed to work with most sound cards out there (including almost every on-board sound chip). It won't give you as good a latency as a dedicated driver (ASIO4All gives me 20ms latency on my on-board sound chip, the dedicated driver for my Tascam does 5-10), but it's better than nothing at all.

(I lied earlier: of the 3 tracks I recorded, the very first one I did (Area 88) was done using not my US-122 (I hadn't bought it yet) but my Korg Pandora (set to an inobtrusive rock amp model and no effects) with ASIO4All.)

Not to take things off track, but I can get 2ms with my SB Audigy. That's as close to instant as it can get.

Jonyak · #19 11-09-2010, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m_bisson

Not to take things off track, but I can get 2ms with my SB Audigy. That's as close to instant as it can get.

ya whenever I have taken my latency lower than that, when allowed, I get lots of weird errors and popping and such.

Wild_Cat · #20 11-09-2010, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pfschim

well, I can't speak for Reaper, but many of the DAW "lite" packages include some FX in the package. Ableton Live Lite actually has a very significant FX library included. So, use a little reverb and compression to "liven" the recorded bass tone, and you should be cookin' with gas in no time.

Good point. Reaper does, in fact, ship with a nice collection of plugins -- EQ, reverb, compression, pitch correction... The list is there: http://reaper.fm/technical.php

IMO there's only one glaring omission in the list, and that's a simple soundfont-based MIDI synth.