Home recording set up?

[Marcus Horatius]

Help required from a novice recording engineer!

I've recently teamed up with an accordion player and we want to make a home demo of our playing. But being ignorant of this technology stuff, we've no idea where to start!

Basically I want us to play into a mike that is connected (ideally) to my PC and save the results as audio files which I can keep on the hard disk or burn to CD. It doesn't have to be recording studio quality, but it would be great if it didn't suck either.

Can anyone suggest a non-financially ruinous way of setting about this?

[12 fret]

I would suggest a little different approach if you are just starting. Get an inexpensive new/used standalone recorder like a Fostex MR or similar with at least 2 XLR inputs. Add a couple of low cost dynamic mics. You can record to cheap Flash memory but you will find the controls easier to manipulate to get a good quality demo as well as editing. Cost will be comparable since you'll need the mics anyway and the recorder is in the same price range as an digital interface for the computer. With most recorders, you can transfer to your computer via USB for storage or burning CDs.

[mandroid]

Now, I see microphones made with USB connectors,
I'm guessing the stand alone would be perhaps less costly than the overwhelming [to me], complex computer recording software thats sold these days. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[Douglas McMullin]

I just got a Sampson C01U USB mic, and my tests so far are yielding good results. This was just the thing I have been waiting for to create basic recordings with my PC. I got the recording pack (second link), and the desktop stand, shock mount, and case are all pretty solid. I think I will order a mic stand next and be done with it. The mic works very well with Audacity.

http://www.samsontech.com/product....andID=2 (http://www.samsontech.com/products/productpage.cfm?prodID=1810&brandID=2)

http://www.samsontech.com/product....andID=2 (http://www.samsontech.com/products/productpage.cfm?prodID=1810&brandID=2)

[Douglas McMullin]

Now, I see microphones made with USB connectors,
I'm guessing the stand alone would be perhaps less costly than the overwhelming [to me], complex computer recording software thats sold these days. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

Audacity is free and very easy to use. All you need is a workable mic.

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

[12 fret]

keep in mind, even with the USB mics, you're going to need two and your computer will need to be able to accept inputs from both.It's not likely the mandolin and accordian are going to record at same level setting ot mic set-ups. Downside with USB mics is that they can only be used with a computer. A set up with standard XLR mics allows you to use them live, with a computer via interface, or with std recorders. You might want to mention what computer you are using, what version of software etc since compatability is a big issue with computer recording.

[Pete Martin]

I don't suggest a USB mic, here's why.

IF you (many people do) decide to upgrade your equipment down the road, you will still need to get an interface and decent mic. Every review I've read of USB mics say they are not very good, meaning your money goes a lot farther with a decent interface, decent pres and decent mics. If you buy these seperate, you can upgrade any thing in your signal path individually, not all at once. Thus, it is easier to eventually get quality stuff.

Keep your eyes on Ebay. An Echo Layla 24 is often under $200.00. Pretty decent 24 bit converters, decent preamps, etc for not to much. Then put your $ eventually into good mics and you'll have a good quality recording unit.

For software, in addition to Audacity, check out Reaper. I really like it and it gets better all the time. Best of luck.

[Fretbear]

While I am as big a fan as anybody of keeping things simple and straightforward, USB mics are unlikely to produce stellar audio. USB period for that matter as evidenced by the thousands of latency-plagued USB breakout boxes (external soundcards). A decent breakout box like the firewire powered Presonus Inspire will give you not only two XLR/1/4" jack ins, but also mic pre-amps for them, headphone out for monitoring and switchable 48 volt phantom power. After that, anything from the cheapest to the most expensive microphones can be accommodated, as well as bass and other line-in instruments.

[Douglas McMullin]

The USB mic I have sounds plenty good for basic home recording, and there is no noticeable latency. I think it is the perfect solution for folks who just want a simple way to get decent sound; without spending an arm and a leg.

Review of the Samson C01U (http://www.macintouch.com/samsonc01u.html)

[Jakester]

I was just checking out an M-Audio firewire interface and some of the reviews mentioned that the 6 pin USB conections deliver power to the device and there have been issues with power drain on the laptop. I don't know if that would be an issue here or not; might be worth looking into it before you buy.
Jim
Richmond, VA

[12 fret]

Here's a thought, look into a Zoom H4. Its a handheld 2 track or 4 track digital. Has built in mics for stereo recording AND XLR/!/4" inputs. Record to SD cards and load to your computer via USB, If you get into computer recording more seriously, the unit will also act as a digital audio interface and come packaged with Cubase software. Don't know about the UK but you can buy them here for about $250-$299 USD. They are incredibly easy to use

[Marcus Horatius]

Thanks for all the responses everyone. Now I'm properly befuddled! Seriously, the Zoom H4 looks good, though it's £200 Sterling on Amazon.co.uk -- almost $400 US, see how much we have to pay for living on a small island ...:(

[moku9]

http://www.pc-music.com/

[250sc]

I bought an H4 last week on amazon for $250.

Maybe you can find someone in the states to buy it and then ship it to you to save some money.

Good luck.

[ApK]

I bought an H4 last week on amazon for $250.

Maybe you can find someone in the states to buy it and then ship it to you to save some money.

Good luck.
Wouldn't that have the wrong power adapater and be a real poblem if he needed exchange or service?

[12 fret]

I can imagine the item costs more in the UK, but then again, everything else recommended to you will be proportionatly higher as well. For what you're doing, the H4 would be the economical route. You will also want to secure it in the UK because of the power (mains) adapter

[Marcus Horatius]

I've had a suggestion from a pal of mine: it works for him, it's relatively cheap, and I only need two bits of hardware,

(1) Griffin iMic 2 USB Audio Interface
(2) A Stereo Microphone

With these I can record in stereo using (free!) Audacity software. I'm told this set up is quite effective for home use. I'll give it a try before splashing out on the H4 (which, doubtless, is excellent)

[mando.player]

I have an H4 and the best thing about it is you can get excellent recordings AWAY from the computer. Once you get the levels right, you can start a new take (in a separate file) by just stopping the recorder and starting it. It sounds like a minor benefit, but when you end up attempting a take more than a few times it's a real time saver. You are also spending your time recording and not fussing with the computer.

[oggiesnr]

I suppose it depends what and how you wish to record, are you recording "on the fly" or do you wish to lay down seperate tracks and edit them later? I've done both with my son and for the former we use a Behringer mini-mixer (8 channels, phantom power, effects send and headphones out) about £60-£80 and balance the instruments and keep an eye on levels as we're playing. Record either through Windows Sound Recorder or Audacity.

All the best

Steve

[DannyB]

oggiesnr, I have that same mixer and I've been wanting to do some recording. How do you connect to the PC, I'm not well versed with computers mind you so this might seem like a dumb question. Eventually I'd like to record our band for demo purposes.

Thanks,
Danny

[mandobsessed]

keep in mind when using firewire interfaces that a lot of recording programs (Pro Tools, Cubase et al) run better if you save your files to an external firewire drive, so if you only have one firewire port you might want to get a USB unit. The lower end ones are quite affordable and fairly decent. Tascam, M audio and a few other companies make them.

If all you want is simple recording (no overdubs) try Krystal Audio. It is easy to record and can handle stereo inputs, and it is free!!!

[Dan Voight]

Get the Snowball USB mic from Blue. For the money, it sounds great and you don't need an interface to use it.

[TimPiazza]

The iMic could work for you, but then again, it might not, depending on your computer. (the iMic is a Macintosh product, as I recall). Some people get clicks and crackles using the iMic. You can have the same sort of trouble with USB mics. What happens is that when audio stream being processed, the input isn't properly buffered and there are brief, but highly annoying drop-outs.

I strongly recommend going with a hard disk recorder of almost any sort. One with XLR inputs is probably best. You can buy cheap dynamic mics, but I would look for relatively inexpensive condensers. And avoid stereo mic--they're great for field recording, but for what you want to do, it'll be far easier to arrange the mics around the musicians, than arrange the musicians to suit the mic.

Tim

[Keith Owen]

oggies - I would like to know how you are connecting the Behringer to the computer as well.

Looks like an affordable setup for recording "live" rather than laying down multi-tracks.

[DannyB]

barney, In doing a little research last night I found that there is an interface you can use. Behringer even makes one. I went to musicians frien.. and looked up recording packages and found an interface and then went to the pdf and it was a simple setup from the mixer to the interface then a firewire connection to the pc.