Equipment

Hey guitar tricks !!

im ready to start recording my own songs and putting pieces together . I only have an acoustic guitar and a PSR-E473 keyboard but have some money to invest into recording equipment /programs .

my main goal is to record what I play an add other stuff like piano or other instruments to the piece . Since learning the fundamentals an almost all triads/inversions an a bit of accounts course level 1 I’ve been inspired to want to go further with this .

im guessing I would need a microphone and a program similar to add all this stuff . I have used GarageBand but not a big fan . 
I have a good laptop as well. 

What would your go to or recommendations be for a good microphone/ programs to add music on. 

Thankyou guitar tricks. 

You need a minimum of 3 things:  microphone (& stand), computer audio interface (a device to plug the mic into that will feed your computer the audio from the mic) & a DAW (digital audio workstation, a program that will record the audio & allow you to play, edit, export the recorded audio).

This video is a good primer on entry level DAWs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FIuyruwBbk

There are many others like it if that one doesn't help.  This Sweetwater page is a good text version if you prefer reading the info.

https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/daw-software-buying-guide/

There are many bundle packages that include everything you need.  For example:

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Scar2i22020Bn1--focusrite-scarlett-2i2-4th-gen-usb-audio-interface-and-at2020-vocal-recording-bundle

Focusrite makes good, inexpensive audio interfaces for beginners & hobbyists. 

Which DAW you use comes down to personal preference.  They all essentially do the same thing: digitally record audio on a computer.  The differences are mostly in the user interface & how intuitive it is to any given individual.  Unfortunately, the only way to get experience & see if the layout makes sense to you is to use it!  So, you might want to look around on some YouTube product demo videos for that.

Audacity is free to download & use, so you might start there.

https://www.audacityteam.org/

Most music stores have these products nowadays & staff to help you decide. 

Hope that helps! 

There are a couple of considerations when "micing" your instruments. Personally, I don't record anything except my voice with my microphone.  Remember, the mic picks up everything in the room including room harmonics. This may be ok depending on what the individual is looking for. Part of the fun for me is to try and make a recording as close to commercial as possible. I don't have a "proper room" for recording. I use my home office. It aint ideal.

If I do record acoustic guitar, which is rarely, I plug directly into my pc via an audio interface. The signal is direct and clean, no sound dynamics from the room. See below for more on this.

Here is my setup, not exactly my same equipment but it will give you and idea as to what you will need.

Microphone

Audio Technica. My model has been replaced with an upgraded AT2035. 

Boom Stand for your mic. If you are recording your guitar with the mic this will allow for easy placement. If you are going to sing, it will allow you to stand which is much better than sitting. If you are going to sing, getting rid of room harmonics is another topic.

Audio Interface

You will need an audio interface to connect to your pc. I use a Scarlett Solo. Its low cost very small and simple to use. Your guitar - in the case of acoustic you will need a pickup for the guitar if it does not have one already will plug into the interface. If you use a mic to record your guitar, it will plug into the interface. I looked up your keyboard, looks like it has a built in interface so you should be able to plug directly into your pc via USB and have your DAW recognize it. See below...

DAW - Digital Audio Workstation

A DAW is a piece of software installed on your pc which will capture the signal coming into the pc via your audio interface. Be it voice or guitar. I will outline the 3 that I have and why I have them and how I use them. It will also accept mp3 files that you may want to add to your music. Just import these directly from your pc. 

Audacity - completely free and there are countless video tutorials on YouTube on how to use it. This is an incredibly powerful DAW at no cost what-so-ever. I used to use this a lot but moved on - see below

Reaper - this is not free but not expensive either. Lots of video tutorials on YouTube and Reaper is an easy way to add drums via free VST files. See YouTube for this.

Amplitube - Not free - you will have to check pricing. For what I do, I use Amplitube most of the time. Amplitube is actually not a DAW  as in the case of Audacity or Reaper - but it contains a very useful DAW within the software. Amplitube is an amp modeling program that is too complex to go over here. But it is worth the price of admission for what it contains. Worth checking out on YouTube. 

Hope this helps. Writing your own stuff is great fun. Best of luck with it.

Edit, I just saw Christopher was typing at the same time as myself. He is THE GUY to go to with any questions on guitar.

Thankyou so much for this !!

Thankyou !!

I was thinking of this set up as it’s cheap . 

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Scar2i22020Bn1--focusrite-scarlett-2i2-4th-gen-usb-audio-interface-and-at2020-vocal-recording-bundle

but I live in a noisy environment. In a public campground.  Would you recommend another pick up just for the guitar? 

I dokt know what they’re called but they look like a circular foam with a stand connected to it an it helps keep the sound in a the microphone sits inside while you sing into it . Would something like this help reduce outside noise ? If that makes any sense . 

That setup looks perfect and I had forgotten you would need headphones

Its hard to judge what the noise level might be, but rule of thumb, if you can hear it your mic can too. But there is only so much we can do as hobbyist. For sure the best way to eliminate any back ground noise when playing guitar is to plug directly into the Scarlett. I am not sure what you are describing will do that, it sounds like a pop filter for singing. That only takes the "P" out of vocals when you are pushing air.

I would suggest something along this line... I don't own one of these but its cheap and gives you an idea of what to look for. 

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SA3HC--seymour-duncan-sa-35c-woody-hc-acoustic-soundhole-pickup-natural-hum-canceling

As William suggested a pickup for the guitar to record direct is the best way to eliminate environmental sounds.  In that case you plug the guitar directly into the audio interface. 

Any kind of isolation from surrounding noise would help.  What you're describing is a vocal isolation shield.

https://www.sweetwater.com/se-electronics-reflexion-filters/series

It does help some, but it won't eliminate all environmental sound.  There is also a more expensive option that is a whole booth to stand in!

https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Foldable-Recording-Studio-Equipment/dp/B0C5DHTNBC

Hope that helps!

thankyou very much to the both of you.

You're welcome!