Which recorder for dummy

[Dan Cohen]

I want to try out multitrack recording at home. #I have no idea what kind of setup makes sense but I can tell you that I have no experience at all with recorders, microphones, interfaces, etc. #I don't mind paying a few bucks as long as I know I'll be able to use it well.

I hope this board can lead me to a good place to start. #I'm hoping to find a setup that is to a reasonable degree intuitive for me. #Too high a learning curve will be discouraging. #I must emphasize my lack of knowledge of any of the terms involved. #I know what a track is I think.

Forgive me if this has been covered but my searches haven't been succesful enough in the area of raw beginner setups.

Thanks for any thoughts.

[Yellowmandolin]

If you have a Mac, check out Garageband for the software. Its simple to use, cheap, and also enabled my rock band to record a whole album... We used a little USB interface and ran direct in or used a mic for the drums...

[mandroid]

One of those 4 tracks one side, on a cassette tape is straight forward.
separate the 2. get a hang of the basic record stuff first, then complicate with the computer..

[jim simpson]

In the early days of multi-tracks, I bought the Tascam 234 cassette unit. It was real basic but high quality for a cassette. Later I sold it and replaced it with a fancier unit with mixing, etc. that I could never get the hang of. I recently purchased an old Tascam 234 that a friend help re-build. Now I'm ready to start making some basic multi-track recording that I can figure out how to do.

[ApK]

If you have a PC with a sound card and any sort of microphone, Audacity is free download and remarkably easy to use for simple multirack recording. #Literally a 2 click process. #I just started doing this myself and was suprised how easy it was to get going.
Krystal Audio Workstation is another popular free program.

[steve V. johnson]

Go to Elderly (or almost any online music store) and look for a book called "Home Recording For Musicians," it's a good and comprehensive primer to get you started. I've prescribed it a number of times to teach my recording clients the language
and the basics of the process(es).

The options in hardware and software are so diverse and inexpensive these days that havintg a basic handle on the terms and the methods can really, really help you to find the approach (much more important than the tools!) and then the hardware/software that will suit your needs.

Even just skimming the text before starting in invariably allows folks to have more fun than frustration with beginning to record!

stv

[Dan Cohen]

Thanks for the advice all. #I will take Steve's advice and head out to Borders today to get the book. For the moment it's cheaper than buying a Mac. #I note that they have another book "Home Recording for Musicans for Dummies" as well (http://www.amazon.com/Home-Recording-Musicians-Dummies-Strong/dp/0764516345).

[Pete Martin]

If you want to record using PC, try Reaper. I just switched to it from Cubase SX3 and will never look back. Much more stable, better design, and only $40.00. Too bad I paid nearly $600.00 for Cubase http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[Dan Cohen]

After reading about half way through the "Dummies" book I couldn't control myself and went to the local music store that carries some basic equipment. #I was prepared to buy the Tascam DP-01 FX. #The manager who also works at a recording studio talked me out of the stand alone system and into a USB interface. #So I left the store with an Alesis IO2 interface, an AT 2020 mic, stand, cable and Cubase. #

The Cubase is daunting but hopefully it will come together quickly. #My initial playing around with it was unsuccesful but I only used the intuitive method. Not good since I have not one iota of intuit on the subject. # Next I'll try reading the "Getting Started", etc. Hopefully I'll have time tonight to play with it.

Thanks for the suggestions folks. #If anyone is interested I'll post my progress or lack thereof.

[J.Albert]

Dan wrote:
<< So I left the store with an Alesis IO2 interface, an AT 2020 mic, stand, cable and Cubase. >>

Did you buy a "standalone" version of Cubase, or did it come with "Cubase LE" bundled in with the interface?

Cubase LE seems to be getting bundled into quite a few interfaces out there. I have it myself (came with a Presonus Firebox).

Cubase can seem daunting at first if you've never used any kind of audio recording software, but it's probably one of the easier applications to learn and use.

A book will help a lot (as distinguished from using "onlne help").

I recommend "Cubase SX2 for Mac & Windows", by Thad Brown, published by PeachPit Press. I'm not sure if this is still sold "new", but you don't want to pay for a new copy, anyway. Go to amazon.com, search for it, and then see if it is available in the "buy used and new" category.

The LE "free version" Cubase seems to resemble the earlier commerical "SX2" version in appearance and functionality.

- John

[bradeinhorn]

zoom h4 seems like a neat product - anyone have experience with that?

[mando.player]

I've got one and I think it's great. I've got a Mac based recording rig, but I use the H4 if I'm just recording myself. I picked it up because I'm heading off to Kamp in a few weeks and I needed something to record the classes with.

The sound quality is very good and once you spend a little time with the unit it's pretty easy to use. If you have specific questionslet me know.