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Help Me Get Started

Stingray_EB

Stingray_EB

May 1, 2006
797
19
Edinburgh, Scotland
#1
Hey guys looking for some help here. My band has the priviledge of owning a pretty kickin studio equiped with an M-Audio 007 and Pro Tools LE 7 running on a brand new Mac G5, now thats all cool for the BAND recording. But I am interested in doing some solo recording here at home.

My question is what do i need ? I have the bare essentials a good toshiba laptop and my bass and amp. I know i need some good software but im not on that high a budger no Pro Tools here ! So what do I need ? Thanks
 
#2
First you need a way to input your bass signal to your PC. You can go direct from the amp (if possible), or from the bass through a DI if you have one. You can also get a recording interface (such as a GuitarPort) or a mixer to run through. Otherwise you can use a decent mic and just mic up your amp and run that mic to your PC's mic-in.

As far as software goes, it's hard to find something decent for free or cheap. My band uses Adobe Audition. I've heard many good things about Cubase, but I've no experience with it, though I believe there is a trial and/or freeware version. If your laptop came with any software for the soundcard, or if you know who makes it, you might be able to get some free software through their website. I know Creative includes a WaveRecorder type program. It won't help much with EQ'ing and compression and what not, but you can still get the .wav down and later take it to your studio and properly EQ it, if that's an option.

Hope that helps!
 
#3
Link Removed
that a very good and cheap solution for your home made recordings, it comes equiped with a lot of very good modeling software and it also comes with Ableton live recording software which I think is pretty simple and easy to use.

There's also this one which doesn't include ableton in which case you could easily download audacity which is a free recording software.
I own the later and it works very good for recording ideas and home use.
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#5
Depending on the model laptop you might be limited to USB interfaces, most PC laptops these days have problems with the FW chips (if it's not a TI chip problems are likely). Look at something simple like this: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ART-USB-Dual-Pre?sku=703092
or this: Link Removed.

Both of those are USB, if you have a TI firewire chip you might want to look at the Focusrite Saffire LE or Echo Audiofire 4.

For software, check out Reaper. Free demo and the home license is only $50. They keep updating the thing and making it better too. Lots of positive reviews out there. There are supposedly some very nice built in plugins too.
 

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