Mike Perlowin wrote:Besides which, having made 3 CDs, I've gotten the bug out of my system, and dismantled my studio, and will soon be selling off all the components. I no longer have the capacity to do any more recording.
One thing that people forget is that every modern computer is a recording studio. I recorded my track for the Showcase CD on the same machine that I'm using right now to type this message. I did use a hardware interface, but it wasn't strictly necessary. The recording software (GarageBand) came free with the computer.
Two of the CD submissions (so far) are solo steel guitar, one made with a miked amp and the other (I think) with the direct line in. I found these two to be the most inspiring and original, overshadowing the big "perfect" productions in my estimation. Barry Hyman's recording is another where the simplicity of the arrangement (just guitar and steel) just floors me. Again, it's something that could easily have been recorded on any modern computer.
Seems to me that the current generation of cameras and cell phones are better at audio than the home cassette recorders most of us used to use.
I record quite a bit and if I let myself start thinking it can be torture. I really don't like to listen to what I have recorded. I mostly just get the track done in a full take and check that it worked and move on to the next thing.
For the forum cd I sent in a live recording of a tune I wrote. There was no rehearsal or overdubs. Just some friends in a cheap studio with a chord chart messing around. We spent about 20 minutes total on the song because we played it twice and its about 10 minutes long.
For my own music I let things be for the most part.
Another fruitless weekend. I've given up trying to get something ready for the first collection. Nothing I've done so far has worked out the way I wanted. It'll almost be a relief when the 50 is reached as the pressure will be off and we can relax and get together something worthwhile for the second collection.
As a postscript to the above, I've sent b0b a number I recorded over a year ago. There's nothing like leaving things to the last minute. I hope it arrives in time...
Alan,sometimes mistakes sound better than on purposes do.The human hand is imperfect,but the mind can make machines that are.If we were perfect there would be no undo on the machines or erasers on pencils.
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the thing about recording on your own is this, not only do you have to be proficient on your instrument and play well, you have to be a very good recording engineer at the same time, you have to know your hardware and/or software...
Here is something to consider and I do this all the time now when alone. When looking at jumping into recording this is something that should always be considered for home recording. I have stated over and over again..
PURPOSE is everything, know what you are getting before you get it. Know WHY you are getting a package or a workstation.
I am using Pro Tools 8 but I suspect many other recorders / DAW's can do this but with PT's it's like walking in the park , a breeze....
LOOP record....
I could never get this feature to act appropriate with Sonar. It just seemed clumsy.
I record across two different tracks..break the song apart into sections across two different tracks. I do not try to record the entire track at one time ,that ain't in the cards.
With PT, in LOOP record, you highlight the area for the recording, set a pre-roll of a few measures and it will automatically keep recording over the same section and save each "take" as a separate file. You do not have to get ready with the Instrument, you are ready when YOU are ready, PT's is taking over the session all you have to do is play well, at least once ! Some will say you lose your flow, hog wash...you are still in the groove, in fact when playing the same part over and over you increase the groove because you are relaxed. Think of it this way, you practice over and over until it is correct..then you are done because it is now recorded. Don't forget to save at the end though...but PT will save for you if you forget.
When completed you have your Steel or whatever Instrument you recorded across two maybe three tracks and when playing back the final mix use volume automation to insure the levels are all the same. Additionally, you use the exact same effects settings for each track so the blend is perfect.
So, instead of jumping up and down before each take, relax, get a cup of coffee, set the recorder in the LOOP mode and let it do the work while you concentrate on the music, let a package like PT's do the engineering.
When getting a recorder or software, purpose is everything, be sure it will do things that you want it to do easily because if it doesn't, free or cheap really doesn't matter anymore.
Home recording is not easy even though all the manufacturers say it is, you can end up spending gobs of cash and still end up with zero or worse, aggravation.
just my take
t
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
Alan Brookes wrote:Another fruitless weekend. I've given up trying to get something ready for the first collection. Nothing I've done so far has worked out the way I wanted. It'll almost be a relief when the 50 is reached as the pressure will be off and we can relax and get together something worthwhile for the second collection.
Alan this is a great thread. Sometimes being under pressure in a bona fide studio (where minutes and hours cost money) can concentrate the mind to do an acceptable take first time round.
It is when the recording equipment belongs to you that the pressure is off at the start, and concentration levels sometimes drop, especially if you are engineering too. I find that if I can't hit what I want first or second take then I leave it and come back later. If you don't then things tend to go from bad to worse.
I have a Tascam 2488 Mk2 digital recorder modded with a connection to a VGA screen, and my good wife often acts as 'record button pusher'
Show Pro D10 - amber (8+6), MSA D10 Legend XL Signature - redburst (9+6), Sho-Bud Pro 111 Custom (8+6), Emmons black Push-Pull D10 (8+5), Zum D10 (8x8), Hudson pedal resonator. Telonics TCA-500, Webb 614-E,
Ken Byng wrote:...I have a Tascam 2488 Mk2 digital recorder modded with a connection to a VGA screen...
I, too, have a Tascam 2488, but I found it too confusing to operate, even though I've watched the video many times over. I used to use a Tascam 8-channel Reel-to-Reel Portastudio, but nowadays I use a Yamaha MD8 8-channel Minidisk recorder. I've tried recording to my computer, but I always seem to get dropout.
Actually, I have several MD8s. I have one I use for recording, one set up for mixdown, another for making 8-channel backups, and a couple of spares.
Alan - here is a pic of a Mk1 2488 with the VGA mod. Makes a huge difference in seeing the screen while you play an instrument. That tiny LCD display is just too small. Sorry for the slight topic drift towards the 'RECORDING' section, but I believe it is relevant to this thread that if you are trying to record a performance at home on your own, it's useful to have some sight of the system that you are using to record.
Ken
Show Pro D10 - amber (8+6), MSA D10 Legend XL Signature - redburst (9+6), Sho-Bud Pro 111 Custom (8+6), Emmons black Push-Pull D10 (8+5), Zum D10 (8x8), Hudson pedal resonator. Telonics TCA-500, Webb 614-E,
[1] Could you let me know how you did it.
[2] My 2488 doesn't have any of the rhythm tracks. Do you have them on yours ?
[3] I tried to put a bigger hard disk in, but it didn't work, so I had to put the old disk back. Have you tried a bigger disk ?
You might want to reply to me at afbrookes@aol.com.
To get all 8 channels onto the computer separately I would need an 8 channel audio card, which I don't have. I mix down the 8 channels into stereo onto a Philips CD burner, then I insert the CD into the computer and copy it using Windows Media Player.
I could copy all 8 channels onto the 2488, which has a CD burner built in, and which is linked to the computer via a USB port. It's a shame they didn't build a USB port into the MD8.
I've given up trying to get something ready for the first collection. 
Nothing I've done so far has worked out the way I wanted. 
There's nothing like leaving things to the last minute. 
