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Absolutely Confused 😕

TeeSee

TeeSee

Dec 7, 2018
1,563
3,520
UK
#1
Please bear with me as this post has multiple questions - also please bear in mind that I am seriously challenged (hope that's ok with mods etc.) when it comes down to anything like this as I have no experience at all with even beginning to understand how to create backing tracks, then saving said tracks to PC before post processing in something like reaper.
I'll start.
I was watching Gregor's review of the SDRUM a couple of years ago, and thought that'd be a cool thing to have to help me set up a beat to practice with. I use the Zoom B1X Four currently but the drum capability is limited.
My interest in the SDRUM was renewed today and thinking about pulling the trigger only to see the Digitech Trio listed on Amazon alongside. I watched a few YT vids about it and it's seems like quite a good product for producing your own music, excepting it only seems to cater for guitar players, of which I most definitely aren't one.
Then I got to ask myself 'how do all these reviewers like Jonny Dibble, Patrick Hunter etc get their backing music from when reviewing a guitar'.

1. Is there anything out there that would do the same for a bassist?, i.e with a drum machine and guitar licks and possibly more?

2. Presuming there is, secondly, how would I record the track onto a PC to save as a file. What special hardware would I need to take the output from what I presume is a real time composition that will be dead as soon as I pull the power cord?

3. From the little I know about Reaper I'd import a .Wav file where I could tinker with the rest of the composition, again what sort of hardware to PC interface would I need to take the 1/4" jack output into the PC and ultimately the Reaper programme?

In effect I'm asking for something that I can make my own music to while playing 'live' so I can have a lot more fun than just 'noodling' on my bass without any accompanyment , but also for something that if I like what I'm creating it can be saved to an audio format on PC.

Regarding Reaper I'm thinking that the output of the pedal or unit can be imported somehow and I can add seperate effects like organ, electric piano, strings or brass should I want, or dial down the drums etc of the output to create something new. Would I need a midi keyboard to use this programme effectively?

Aplogies for such a long winded query but I'm a total newb to this even at the age of 63 and find this subject mind boggling. I appreciate that any answer will not be conclusive, but if I can keep chipping away at it with your help I may finally in a few months have something workable.

PS I don't know whether this helps, but I have a little mixer that I use for my headphone amp I mainly listen to Youtube music through and I can put the 1/4" jack of my bass into the 'line' socket to play along with a song in real time both signals being fed into my headphones. PC sockets are just the normal 'mic' 'out' and 'in'at the moment the mini mixer is connected from the out via a mini jack to 1/4" stereo pair. It may be useful going forward?
Cheers, Tony
IMG_2345.JPG
 
#9
EvilJ said:
Go here:

Information

Find links to all manner of SOS resources across the Magazine, Subscriptions, Advertising and Web & Social Statistics...
www.soundonsound.com www.soundonsound.com

Scroll down to the bottom of the page. There is a link (inside the yellow rectangle) to a free PDF on recording basics/getting started.
Click to expand...
Sorry EvilJ I was offline for a while.. life gets in the way an all that. Really appreciate you helping me out, It's difficult to wrap your head around things like this when you was kicking out tunes in 70's and 80's bands then having a hiatus of 25 years MIDI was just starting to enter our world (at least with our keyboard player but I never understood it) then after that stage of my life I'm in the wilderness when I'm just trying to do things on my own, The PC is for my work and occasional games ( ) but I really want to know how stuff like this works so I can do my own stuff. It comes as second nature to a lot of folk but I think I was out of the game before it got big, Therefore it's one step at a time, but you've helped me understand already with your links and I thank you so much for showing me. First things first need to get the Focusrite after that..let's see. But really appreciate it mate. :thumbsup:
 
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#10
TeeSee said:
1. Is there anything out there that would do the same for a bassist?, i.e with a drum machine and guitar licks and possibly more?
Click to expand...

Not really. For drums alone there is the beat buddy.
but found nothing that will auto populate guitar licks a or keyboard parts while leaving a spot for a bass

I think the google search term you want is "Hardware Arrangers and Sequencers"
These are music gear that
- does not need a PC or external software
- has lots of built in voices
- lets you arrange and sequence parts

They are generally used for techno music, and the sounds available reflect that

If you are willing to learn to build your own backing tracks on a PC in a DAW then the suggestions of others are fine.

I will mention ChordBot, a phone app I use to try out chord progression ideas or practice signing
Though the choices of "band" and "style" are pretty fixed and not real world sounds.
 
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#11
As has been said, you'll need an audio interface to connect your instrument to your DAW, via the PC. If you happen to get the Focusrite interface, I think that comes with a lite version of Abelton. I would forgo the solo and get the 2i2, as it's far more versatile. Whichever interface you decide upon, check what software comes with it. It may be neither here nor there, at this moment, but once things start making more sense, the better software package may be a relevant bonus.

It's a steep learning curve. Yes, adding a midi keyboard is a great idea, as long as you are familiar with midi operation. Another steep learning curve. Best to take it slow. Learn your Daw, or more importantly, what functions are relevant to you. It's mind boggling what Reaper is capable of, so just learn the recording aspects, and inserting plugins and such, will likely fry your brain at first. Once you get that under your belt, and it takes a while, then get yourself a midi keyboard. You don't really need anything more than a 49 key model to start with. Then strap yourself in trying to understand midi and get it to operate properly. You'll encounter a myriad of problems. Working through them will consolidate your understanding and, once you suffer the frustrations, nothing will ever seem as annoying again. Using the keyboard, and a virtual instrument plugin, will have you on your way to endless sounds. Then try using the keyboard as a drum input and your learning will be tested once again.

Speaking of midi, download some free midi song files, and load them into your DAW. You'll have midi tracks for each instrument, and a melody track rather than a vocal track. Mute the bass and play along. Record yourself as you do so. Check out the drum track. Have fun changing and learning how to manipulate midi drums, which will be of benefit before you purchase a keyboard.

Good luck, jump in, because if you take time to think about it, you'll think twice. There's plenty of free stuff and even more that you can pay for, so get the freebies and see what's what. When you become more comfortable with all this, you can make better more informed decisions about what you want and what you need. Free effects, free virtual instruments are alright, some are even deservedly praised, but depending on your budget, you may want to upgrade to a paid version. At least by that time you should be more aware of what you need and what's out there you may want.
 
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#12
One nice thing about using a MIDI keyboard in current DAWs is that setup is pretty simple. MIDI has standards (thankfully) so it works the same for all MIDI instruments. The software handles all of the mapping for you, so you just have to tell it to use the MIDI keyboard and away you go.
 
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#13
On the cheap, you can just plug the headphones out from your mixer to the mic input to your computer. A recording interface will usually sound better, but it will work.

Then there is Audicity as a free DAW. I use Reaper mostly, but it's about $60-70

And, then there are free wave files you can download as well as recording your own from Beat Buddy.

With MIDI, you need a drum plugin to play it. There are a few free ones of those too. So you can download midi and use the plugin to play them in the DAW.


BTW, you can also get on Bandlab and play with stuff others have created and likewise share.
 
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