"Recorder" HELP

[metalisbest]

Me and my friend recorded a few songs on a crappy tape to use in the next new band, but I can't find anything good that record it better. I either something that will record our music live or make the tape better. Can you help me out? What your suggestions? I'm not the richest man in the world either. Thanks

[Incidents Happen]

you could look into analog recorders...tell you the truth im sorta new at recording too, i do most of my recording via digital camcorder (sound is excellent on mine, crystal clear, plus you can see me)...downside is that you'd need a camera-man, plus you couldn't really mix it...

[PonyOne]

You could check out some of the digital recorders they have out now. Prices are pretty reasonable; I've seen them as low as $350, and the sound is far and beyond that of a tape.

I have a Fostex 4-track from 1992 that I never really use. It's impossible to get anything decent outta it, and it's really hard to lay tracks over other tracks because you can't listen while you record, so what i was doing in my band was hooking it all into a mixer and then outing it to my Aiwa minidisc recorder. I was using a $75 Behringer mixer and the MD recorder cost $200, and it sounded way better. Compatability is a bitch, though.

[trendkillah]

Cheapest solution for you would be to either start recording on your computer, or to get a cheap analog 4-track recorder.

[Zeppelin]

next time you have a question, dont post the same question on ALL the forums. one of them is enough i belive

[metalisbest]

Well nobody has really gave me a good answer so I think that more than one is good.

[trendkillah]

Originally posted by metalisbest
Well nobody has really gave me a good answer so I think that more than one is good.

One is enough. It's not cause people see one topic multiple times, they'll be able to help you more. It's just plain annoying.

As for there not being any good answers, maybe you should explain specifically what you need help with.
You didn't even explain properly how you recorded yourself, maybe start with that.

[metalisbest]

I recorded it through a mike on a karaoke machine.

[trendkillah]

Originally posted by metalisbest
I recorded it through a mike on a karaoke machine.

Well, I've never heard any recordings that sounded good coming from a setup like that.

If you want to have control over each instrument seperately, you'll want to use multi-track recording. Like I said in my previous post, the cheapest options are either an analog 4-track(fostex or tascam), or a multi-track computer program like Cakewalk(guitartracks), N-track, pro-tools free, cubase, logic,....
If you have a decent computer, I'd try the software thing.

[Incidents Happen]

what i never understood is how it actually records it, like from a digital recorder. Is there a plug or a mic or something, my best guess would be that you take your guitar into your amp (via cord) then with another cord (on the other input) put a cord from there (the other amp input) to the recorder?that would make sense to me, but maybe im wrong.

[trendkillah]

All recorders have line level inputs. You can either plug your guitar in directly, via a DI box, or you mic up an amp(mic>pre-amp>input recorder).
Some recorders however have built in pre-amps or dedicated instrument inputs(or both).

Is that what you wanted to know?

[Edited by trendkillah on 10-05-2002 at 07:59 PM]

[PonyOne]

My friend has Roland's bottom of the line recorder; he got it for $550. The thing is really, really sweet; it has one dedicated guitar line in (the next one up has two) and -get this- has modelling of every Boss pedal made. So he can use a Blues Driver, parametric EQ and reverb that sounds like it was pulled straight out of the pedal, and then just outs it via his monitors, another amp or headphones so he can hear what it sounds like. Lucky bastard...

Or, like trendkillah said, get a computer setup. Look for the programs reason and Cubase VST. There are ripped copies all over the place, if not, you'll pay like $400 for both, which isn't bad (if anybody has a "trial" copy let me know... :))

[Incidents Happen]

i just got a trial copy of "Cool Edit 2000". Very neat!

some things i still have to work out, like multi-tracking...i downloaded the plug-ins, but im still working out a few kinks in everything. so far i only made 2 files, one being a spanish style acoustic improv, the other being a song i created last week, with a rhythm track and lead track.

[Zeppelin]

Originally posted by Incidents Happen
i just got a trial copy of "Cool Edit 2000". Very neat!

some things i still have to work out, like multi-tracking...i downloaded the plug-ins, but im still working out a few kinks in everything. so far i only made 2 files, one being a spanish style acoustic improv, the other being a song i created last week, with a rhythm track and lead track.

the cool edit 2000 thingie plays some strange bells on every thing i record via the multi track plug-in .. it makes it very hard to work with since it messes my playbacks.. besides for some reason it wont allow me to use revalver in the plugins and it is annoying as well.
anyhow, i think that cakewalk is the best software around to record with but for some strange reason when i record with a guitar play back, it records the playback again on the new track and i cant figure out why..

[Incidents Happen]

Originally posted by Zeppelin
the cool edit 2000 thingie plays some strange bells on every thing i record via the multi track plug-in .. it makes it very hard to work with since it messes my playbacks.. besides for some reason it wont allow me to use revalver in the plugins and it is annoying as well.
anyhow, i think that cakewalk is the best software around to record with but for some strange reason when i record with a guitar play back, it records the playback again on the new track and i cant figure out why..
[/B]

yeah i know!!! the bells are wierd! its like a telephone tone, im trying to work it out...The sound quality is excellent, especially if you play acousticly, with the mic right up to the guitar hole, like 4 inches away, but the bells are one really weird thing...

i'll download cakewalk tonight!

[^Chacron^]

Cakewalk's a good program for me as it will run on my slow-ass 366mhz processor with windows 98 and a wrecked line-input. I tend to do everything through a microphone but then I have to turn to volume on my speakers up really high to hear what I've recorded, and have the level on the guitar tracks up to maximum to get a balance between the drum track and the midi tracks.

[Zeppelin]

i have this wierd problem with cakewalk
when i record with play back for some reason the play back gets recorded again in the track im recording into
do you know why it happens?

[metalisbest]

How can cakewalk be so good if everyone has so many problems with it?

[Incidents Happen]

considering its free, you'll take what you can get.

[Incidents Happen]

Originally posted by Zeppelin
i have this wierd problem with cakewalk
when i record with play back for some reason the play back gets recorded again in the track im recording into
do you know why it happens?

you have to unclick "Record" when you play it back.