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Help a beginner with his Corona virus band

Palomar4130

Palomar4130

Mar 2, 2020
67
249
#1
Hey everyone, thanks for taking the time to read this. I’m hoping someone can provide me with a link or page to learn some recording basics and maybe suggest a product or two?

I started in a new band about 4-5 practices before this all hit. Our guitarist was already sending riffs/recordings after practices to our emails. We’re hoping to keep things going while we’re isolated and have some tracks ready when this all ends. I’m wondering the best affordable way to record myself to share and it would be great if I could have the guitar parts coming over my headphones while I play. I’ll list what I’ve got below, I think we’re mainly using GarageBand.

2010 MacBook Pro or 2019 MacBook Air
Ampeg PF-800
Sansamp Bass Driver
Passive p or j bass
Corded audio technica headphones

One thing that caught my eye was the Zoom recorder but I don’t know if that would work for what I’m hoping to do. Being able to record practices would be a nice bonus. Thanks everyone
 
#2
Palomar4130 said:
Hey everyone, thanks for taking the time to read this. I’m hoping someone can provide me with a link or page to learn some recording basics and maybe suggest a product or two?

I started in a new band about 4-5 practices before this all hit. Our guitarist was already sending riffs/recordings after practices to our emails. We’re hoping to keep things going while we’re isolated and have some tracks ready when this all ends. I’m wondering the best affordable way to record myself to share and it would be great if I could have the guitar parts coming over my headphones while I play. I’ll list what I’ve got below, I think we’re mainly using GarageBand.

2010 MacBook Pro or 2019 MacBook Air
Ampeg PF-800
Sansamp Bass Driver
Passive p or j bass
Corded audio technica headphones

One thing that caught my eye was the Zoom recorder but I don’t know if that would work for what I’m hoping to do. Being able to record practices would be a nice bonus. Thanks everyone
Click to expand...

Which Zoom recorder?
 
#4
SteveCS said:
Which Zoom recorder?
Click to expand...

The b4n pro. I saw people saying you could use it like a 4 track which sounds cool for the future. Again, I know literally zero about recording.

overit said:
Looks like you have everything (actually more than you need) except for the interface to get the sound into GarageBand. There are many out there, I use this:
Zoom U-24 Handy Audio Interface

My setup is bass > Zoom B1 Four > Zoom U-24 > GarageBand. Sometimes, I’ll forego the B1 Four and go direct bass > U-24 > GarageBand.
Click to expand...

Cool. My guitarist says he has an older Presonus interface he might give me. I’m guessing that is basically what the u-24 is? So I could go straight to the interface or use my Sansamp driver to “color” the tone? Is there a way to get the audio out from my amp? I’m really liking the tone I’m getting from the ampeg currently. Granted it’s through nice speakers.
 
#5
As TideSwing mentioned, you're gonna want an audio interface. I haven't researched the Zoom model, yet, but if it has the ability to also function as an interface it could be a cool tool to get; when this all clears it could be taken to physical practices/rehearsals for simple group recordings.

If your guitarist has a PreSonus, that is what I was actually going to recommend. As a first step into the world of DAW recording, PreSonus makes so great units at very reasonable prices. I started off with the AudioBox 92 and still use it at times thanks to it's convenient and straight-forward design.

You might also look into a website called BandLab. It's a website that allows musicians to collaborate with each other. Your guitarist could record a part and upload it to your bands page. Then anyone in the band (or abroad) can add their own recorded parts to it. They have there own DAW program that works with the site, however, recordings can also be downloaded and mixed/mastered in your program of choice just as easily.
https://www.bandlab.com/

*Edit: Sweetwater's site says the H4N does indeed function as a USB audio interface!
 
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#6
Palomar4130 said:
The b4n pro. I saw people saying you could use it like a 4 track which sounds cool for the future. Again, I know literally zero about recording.

Cool. My guitarist says he has an older Presonus interface he might give me. I’m guessing that is basically what the u-24 is? So I could go straight to the interface or use my Sansamp driver to “color” the tone? Is there a way to get the audio out from my amp? I’m really liking the tone I’m getting from the ampeg currently. Granted it’s through nice speakers.
Click to expand...

Yes, pretty much any interface will do for your needs to just record yourself and send the tracks to your band mates. Whatever you put in between your bass and interface will "color" your tone. If you wanted to get the tone from your speakers, that involves mic'ing the cab. Here's some scenarios you can try assuming you have a couple 1/4" cables, mic cables and a mic:

Bass > Sansamp (1/4") > Interface > Garageband
Bass > Sansamp (XLR/DI) > Interface > Garageband
Bass > PF800 (XLR/DI on back) > Interface > Garageband
Bass > Sansamp > PF800 DI (XLR/DI on back) > Interface > Garageband
Bass > Sansamp > PF800 (mic'ed) > Mic > Interface > Garageband

The options may seem redundant but for myself I've found a difference between 1/4" vs DI on some gear. Also, if you have an interface with 2 inputs, you could record both direct and mic'ed.

Hope this helps. It has worked for me when sending tracks for practice between bandmates or just my own music. A simple setup that doesn't break the bank and works.
 
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