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New to Recording

#21
melodiaopus said:
Now would a macbook pro be more useful and powerful than say an iMac? It would be nice to have something a little portable like the Macbook pro. What about a nice weighted keyboard to add to my purchases, that may also double as a midi controler??
Click to expand...

I went with the 21.5" iMac VS the Macbook Pro because of the bigger screen, though a laptop would be nice. If you keep the box that comes with the iMac it works as a good carrying case. The computer isn't that heavy or hard to move around, I'm very happy with my iMac. Wireless mouse and keyboard are really nice too.
 
#23
The secret to a good recorded bass sound (chain) is: Instrument w a vibe, good DI, good pre, good compressor, good converters, MAC.

Being a good player is also helpful.

With regard to platform, get used to ProTools. It is industry standard. 99% of all records are made on it. Logic is really cool but I have never done a serious session on Logic that didn't end up in ProTools.

Tape is fun but expensive and maintaining the machines properly is becoming a lost art. Fun though... Otari 5050 8track for home use could be worthwhile!

With regard to recording other elements: Get one really good large diaphragm condenser mic, one or two dynamics (57's work) and a pair of matched stereo small diapraghm condensers and you are in business. You have enough for a credible drum recording (which is absolutely the funnest instrument to record.)

Then the inevitable: start obsessing about better versions of everything you have, spend all your money on them and repeat ad infinitum! Welcome to the club!!

In all seriousness, one of the best thing I did was get some outboard Apogee converters. The consumer grade home stuff really sucks. Forget pedals, cables etc. THAT is where you lose your sound with digi recording. The home grade stuff is just... home grade.

Best. pb

p.s. the Sony DJ phones are the best yet for bass response and LOUD. There are more accurate hifi ones out there but these are colored: leaning towards bass- which is a good thing for tracking. I always bring mine to sessions.

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#24
Bassbubble11 said:
Sorry Ajak but I totally disagree with you. If melodiaopus never owned a Mac he should GET ONE. They are a 100x more intuitive than PC's. When it comes to recording they can't be beat IMO. If you are new to recording Garage Band is hard to beat for something that comes for free with a Mac. What it comes down to is preference but to not go Mac because it is different is not a good reason not to.
Click to expand...

I'm going to have to vehemently disagree with you. I've used both Macs and PCs and don't find Macs to be any more intuitive than PCs, in fact, in my case, they are far less intuitive.

I'd also take Reaper over Garage Band any day of the week. And you can get Reaper for either Mac or PC.

I think Mac being different is a completely justifiable reason not to use it.

For every great program available on Mac, there is a program that is either just as good or better available for PC. And of course, PCs are way cheaper. So you can take the money you saved and spend it on recording gear.

If you want a Mac though, then by all means, get one.
 
#25
I just lay out what i have,

Macbook Pro with 4gb ram (handles up to 8track recording fine)
Motu Ultralite Audio Interface.
Logic Pro

1. Firstly swapping to Mac is easy.
2. Garageband comes with a Mac
3. What do you want to record? Logic for creative keyboards + loops etc, protools for ultimate editing tools. (dont have experience with anything else)
4. If you want OK quality buy a cheap interface, + pc, download audacity and your sweet

Its up to the quality you want to record. There are many combinations, just because software is free or cheap doesn't make it bad, you can get some very good software for free. But if you want to do professional mixing/multitrack recording i recommend the stuff i have!

some tips

-I use my stuff with mainstage for live so i can have my cello and 2 basses plugged in.
-recording equipment gets very expensive very quickly so be careful
-look up about ground loops and bus powered interfaces if you want to be portable
-Interface with phantom power?
-Multiple inputs/outputs give you better scope for other projects

just some things to think about, hope that helps :)
 
#26
For right now, I just want to loop bass tracks and record myself playing changes. I would like to later buy an electric guitar and electric drum kit to begin recording these along with my bass. My first instrument was drums, but switched to bass because my parents felt there was going to be too much noise in the house, my dad and my brother are both amazing drummers.

So, for right now I just want to get setup for this and possibly record some vocals. I would also like to record my acoustic guitar with vocals and bass. Non live drums would be essential to, since I won't have a drum kit to plug a beat in to the system.

Any suggestion?
 
#28
Alright. I am all set here is what I have:

Apple MacBook Pro (with retina display)
Fast Track Pro + ProTools MP

Now I'm about to set this bad boy up to my computer and begin recording. Are there any tips you can give me before I set it up?

I'm pretty stoked! What would be a good controller to use with this setup, also I am sort of unfamiliar with the term a "workhorse" I guess it's a keyboard like a triton or some things else. Maybe some other suggestions would be great. I also heard that it's wise to purchase a sound card along with this setup, I'm guessing this would be an external sound card. Let me know what you guys think.

-Adam
 
#29
melodiaopus said:
Alright. I am all set here is what I have:

Apple MacBook Pro (with retina display)
Fast Track Pro + ProTools MP

Now I'm about to set this bad boy up to my computer and begin recording. Are there any tips you can give me before I set it up?

I'm pretty stoked! What would be a good controller to use with this setup, also I am sort of unfamiliar with the term a "workhorse" I guess it's a keyboard like a triton or some things else. Maybe some other suggestions would be great. I also heard that it's wise to purchase a sound card along with this setup, I'm guessing this would be an external sound card. Let me know what you guys think.

-Adam
Click to expand...

The Fast Track Pro audio interface does most of the functions of a sound card. For recording purposes, it becomes your sound card. It does all of the audio in/out that a built-in sound card does.
 
#30
heh,just read the top page with all MAC vs PC attitude...funny,made me remember-this thing i saw(think it was 'the brainiacs' but i'm not sure)-back to back comparrison test for PC and MAC-desktops
so,a girl of,say15-16,took the mac out of the box,placed it on the desk,took out the cables,looked at the diagram,placed the cables,turned it on-that was it...around 3min.
then,she took the PC out of the box....cables,cables,cables,drivers,drivers,drivers...restart...failed to install driver properly,and so on..long story short,took her around 30min to get it going
BUT
AND YOU GONNA LOVE THIS
they dropped both of 'em from the second store...the result?
MAC smashed beyond repair
PC few things to change,and good to go
lol
so,UNLESS,you think of throwing it at someone,buy a frikkin MAC.it'll last a lifetime fo' sure...
 
#31
melodiaopus said:
Alright. I am all set here is what I have:

Apple MacBook Pro (with retina display)
Fast Track Pro + ProTools MP

Now I'm about to set this bad boy up to my computer and begin recording. Are there any tips you can give me before I set it up?

I'm pretty stoked! What would be a good controller to use with this setup, also I am sort of unfamiliar with the term a "workhorse" I guess it's a keyboard like a triton or some things else. Maybe some other suggestions would be great. I also heard that it's wise to purchase a sound card along with this setup, I'm guessing this would be an external sound card. Let me know what you guys think.

-Adam
Click to expand...

Since you're already into the Avid/M-Audio world with PT and your FastTrack, I suggest looking into M-Audio Keyboard controllers. http://www.sweetwater.com/c513--M-Audio--Keyboard_Controllers They have something for just about every size/budget. I own an Axiom 61 (1st generation the new ones are way cooler) and I love it. It has semi-weighted keys and feels nice when playing piano-like passages, and is easily programmable with plenty of buttons/sliders ect... to control just about anything you ca n imagine.
 
#33
Thanks for all the input. I have been struggling with getting any output of my bass when I try and record. I am such a newbie and beginner in this area of music. Please help, when I tried using ProTools MP I couldn't record a single note. I have my bass inputed in the Fast Track Pro, but nothing is coming out of it. Is there a setup I need to do before I just start recording? Also, is there a way to make beats rather than just listen to a terrible click track the entire time. I tried switching to GarageBand, but I came out with the same result. This time I could hear my bass recorded through the internal mic of my Mac, UGH! Frustration made me not want to dive deeper into it, since I have no direction around this DAW.
 
#34
melodiaopus said:
Now would a macbook pro be more useful and powerful than say an iMac? It would be nice to have something a little portable like the Macbook pro. What about a nice weighted keyboard to add to my purchases, that may also double as a midi controler??
Click to expand...

The MBP has been updated a lot more recently than the iMac. The MacRumors.com site has a very nice buying guide on it. More on-topic, I have seen several bands where there is a Macbook Pro at the sound desk recording the show... the Flecktones used to record every show that way.

When you buy, max out on RAM.
 
#36
Hello melodiapas, make sure to check "playback engine" to make sure your interface is set up. Also go to i/o and delete everything under inputs and click "default. Do same for outputs. If ur drivers amd everything is set up, it should work fine. I just set mine up in this manner with an apogee duet, and it works great.
 
#37
I'm assuming that ProTools 9MP is a plug in and record type of setup, unless I'm totally wrong. I installed all the drivers and everything else that is needed to start my sessions, but for some reason I pick my bass through the internal mic of my laptop. Not sure what I need to do to fix this, this was in garage band by the way.

-Adam
 
#39
Melodiapus, did u try my recommendations for playback engine and i/o, under options (i think). If u are only picking up your bass through the internal mic on your computer then the items above havent been fixed yet. Protools has to know from what direction you are sending it signal. Pm me if that doesnt work, i'll help if i can (though im still a newb to recording)
 

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