So, what kind of digital piano would you guys recommend for someone looking to get back into piano, after not having had lessons since childhood? Something nice enough to actually feel like you're playing actual keys, but not professional level expensive.
I would also like to know the answer to this question.
I posted this in the Rock Band thread, but I realised its more appropriate here
So, fun story
I was in town tonight and needed a cigarette lighting, so I asked a girl nearby. We started talking and it turns out she was in a band who needed a drummer.
Now I don't lie (often), but my only experience with drumming is in Rock Band.
I told her I could drum.
I've now been invited to join her band. Bollocks. I just listened to them on the Internet and they're pretty good. Bollocks.
How can I fake my way through this?
Have you ever seen the movie Face/Off?
Alternatively, turn down the offer.
I have a friend who turned down an offer to do lead guitar for a good local band because he believed they were too good, and didn't want to make them look bad or hold them back.
I am having some serious drum lessons from my friend and he's lending me his electronic kit, when I see her again I'll take my bass along at the same time (Which I actually can play and am pretty good at) and suggest I play that instead.
I love music and love the inter workings of instruments but damn if I know anything about actual recording equipment, what should I look for if I want something I can plug straight to a computer and record through. Specifically looking to record solely guitar/bass tracks without too much worry about "omg perfect studio sound" so mics aren't a worry. Mostly my budget is what I'm not too keen on (few hundred or so at most, I'm dropping $1000 on straight instruments/equipment and don't want to add too much on top of that with my piss poor job).
I love music and love the inter workings of instruments but damn if I know anything about actual recording equipment, what should I look for if I want something I can plug straight to a computer and record through. Specifically looking to record solely guitar/bass tracks without too much worry about "omg perfect studio sound" so mics aren't a worry. Mostly my budget is what I'm not too keen on (few hundred or so at most, I'm dropping $1000 on straight instruments/equipment and don't want to add too much on top of that with my piss poor job).
Just get yourself an MBOX or something of its ilk. Should cost you about $200 or below. Make sure they're capable of recording "direct", meaning the XLR ports are also Line In/Instrument ports. (This is something should all do, but you never know.)
But uh, recording direct is, IMO, hells of lame. But whatever, recording is fun as shit.
The recording is more to map out riffs/songs. I just can't seem to write through tabs or sheet music but I have plenty of ideas in my head that get lost in translation to some form of documentation.
I just got a nifty piece of mixing and editing software so I can record and arrange guitar music. However, I don't have the actual hardware necessary to make the pretty tunes go into my computer.
Can anyone recommend some decent hardware for doing so? Preferably in the sub-$50 range, unless that will only result in utter shit, in which case I'm willing to go higher. But I'm just a dude who kinda plays the guitar, not a professional musician, so I'm more in the "dicking around" demographic.
ElJeffe on
I submitted an entry to Lego Ideas, and if 10,000 people support me, it'll be turned into an actual Lego set!If you'd like to see and support my submission, follow this link.
Tons of generic soundcards and mixing software will work directly from the soundcards 1/8" in, meaning you can plug in a mic, hit record, and be done with it. The epitome of just dicking around.
I love music and love the inter workings of instruments but damn if I know anything about actual recording equipment, what should I look for if I want something I can plug straight to a computer and record through. Specifically looking to record solely guitar/bass tracks without too much worry about "omg perfect studio sound" so mics aren't a worry. Mostly my budget is what I'm not too keen on (few hundred or so at most, I'm dropping $1000 on straight instruments/equipment and don't want to add too much on top of that with my piss poor job).
Just get yourself an MBOX or something of its ilk. Should cost you about $200 or below. Make sure they're capable of recording "direct", meaning the XLR ports are also Line In/Instrument ports. (This is something should all do, but you never know.)
But uh, recording direct is, IMO, hells of lame. But whatever, recording is fun as shit.
In the context of metaghost's post. Make sure what you buy has built in pre-amp(s) for the number of inputs. I didn't do this when I bought a motu mkII and so then had to buy a seperate 8 channel mic pre-amp.
I would hope that all smaller models of direct recording devices (which sounds like you're not looking to multi-track record simultaneously) would have a pre-amp, but make sure.
Like Sheep said, you can just plug into your soundcard if you wish, though the "microphones" that can do that are analogous to just using the on-board microphone of a laptop or some such.
If you're playing electric, you could just pick up a DI-Box, like this, and then you'd need a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter.
Like Sheep said, you can just plug into your soundcard if you wish, though the "microphones" that can do that are analogous to just using the on-board microphone of a laptop or some such.
If you're playing electric, you could just pick up a DI-Box, like this, and then you'd need a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter.
Yeah, I'm playing electric. So I basically plug my guitar into that box (via the adapter), plug the box into the mic-in on the sound card, and I'm good to go?
I mean, I guess I could just plug in a mic and sit it next to my guitar while I play, but I'd like something a little more sophisticated.
ElJeffe on
I submitted an entry to Lego Ideas, and if 10,000 people support me, it'll be turned into an actual Lego set!If you'd like to see and support my submission, follow this link.
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Podlyyou unzipped me! it's all coming back! i don't like it!Registered Userregular
Like Sheep said, you can just plug into your soundcard if you wish, though the "microphones" that can do that are analogous to just using the on-board microphone of a laptop or some such.
If you're playing electric, you could just pick up a DI-Box, like this, and then you'd need a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter.
Yeah, I'm playing electric. So I basically plug my guitar into that box (via the adapter), plug the box into the mic-in on the sound card, and I'm good to go?
I mean, I guess I could just plug in a mic and sit it next to my guitar while I play, but I'd like something a little more sophisticated.
I bit more pricey, Jeff, but I think an external soundcard would be perfect for you. The US-122 would be great, because it has 1/8 inch guitar inputs AND Mic inputs, and it can send MIDI data as well, and it sends it all via USB. For just a bit more, you get a lot. You never know: maybe you'll want to start recording acoustic guitar or playing keyboard. This would allow you to do all that. Check around on ebay: you could probably get one for $70.
Like Sheep said, you can just plug into your soundcard if you wish, though the "microphones" that can do that are analogous to just using the on-board microphone of a laptop or some such.
If you're playing electric, you could just pick up a DI-Box, like this, and then you'd need a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter.
Yeah, I'm playing electric. So I basically plug my guitar into that box (via the adapter), plug the box into the mic-in on the sound card, and I'm good to go?
I mean, I guess I could just plug in a mic and sit it next to my guitar while I play, but I'd like something a little more sophisticated.
You would actually be plugging the DI-Box into the soundcard via the adapter, just to clarify, as the DI-Box will likely only have 1/4" I/O ports.
But podly made an excellent suggestion. I've never used one of those so I was unaware of their existence, but it sounds like what you would want.
I have been working on this piece off and on for a while now; it is really REALLY simple, but the mood it evokes in me is something I like, so I guess I'll post the WIP here. It's different from the other stuff I have posted.
syndalis on
SW-4158-3990-6116
Let's play Mario Kart or something...
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syndalisGetting ClassyOn the WallRegistered User, Loves Apple Productsregular
This is a reworking of a song I posted about a page ago; still in development. I originally started this as a song heavily influenced by Metallica/GnR... but somewhere along the way it broke out from that and became this weird symphonic/rock thing. Gonna keep hammering away at it, but I dunno where I am going to take it.
Also, surely there are other D&D people here who are fucking around with their awesome gear; post yer shit, folks
syndalis on
SW-4158-3990-6116
Let's play Mario Kart or something...
I have been working on this piece off and on for a while now; it is really REALLY simple, but the mood it evokes in me is something I like, so I guess I'll post the WIP here. It's different from the other stuff I have posted.
You may want to double up the distorted guitars (maybe even four times) and mix one (2 if you record 4) left and the other right. Everything sounds like it's in the middle. You want to create a wider depth of field.
For references and to allow you to critique myself I have solo music posted at myspace.com/bolthorn (I will not take criticism on my vocals from people that instantly hate that vocal style so don't bother) and my band's material at myspace.com/theconquering. Hear the fullness? It's because of the wider depth of field.
Unless of course you're going for that centered "smaller" sound. I'm not sure you are though, because the riff has this "yeah, this should be loud and heavy as hell" feel, but it's not souding that way currently.
Or you can tell me to shut the hell up.
Also, maybe double up the vocals in a few places? Either unison or harmony, just for a little empahsis on some lines. I probably do this too much when recording.
Like Sheep said, you can just plug into your soundcard if you wish, though the "microphones" that can do that are analogous to just using the on-board microphone of a laptop or some such.
If you're playing electric, you could just pick up a DI-Box, like this, and then you'd need a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter.
Yeah, I'm playing electric. So I basically plug my guitar into that box (via the adapter), plug the box into the mic-in on the sound card, and I'm good to go?
I mean, I guess I could just plug in a mic and sit it next to my guitar while I play, but I'd like something a little more sophisticated.
I bit more pricey, Jeff, but I think an external soundcard would be perfect for you. The US-122 would be great, because it has 1/8 inch guitar inputs AND Mic inputs, and it can send MIDI data as well, and it sends it all via USB. For just a bit more, you get a lot. You never know: maybe you'll want to start recording acoustic guitar or playing keyboard. This would allow you to do all that. Check around on ebay: you could probably get one for $70.
I just bought the US-122 actually, along with a cheap (100 dollar) condenser mic.
My recording quality has gone up from the Rock Band USB microphone, but it's still not as awesome as I'd like it to be. I was a little disappointed with the results, to be honest.
I'm not sure what I should be doing to improve it beyond splurging on a ridiculously expensive microphone. Mostly I record acoustic and vocals, although I do use electric guitar and electronic drums as well.
I just bought the US-122 actually, along with a cheap (100 dollar) condenser mic.
My recording quality has gone up from the Rock Band USB microphone, but it's still not as awesome as I'd like it to be. I was a little disappointed with the results, to be honest.
I'm not sure what I should be doing to improve it beyond splurging on a ridiculously expensive microphone. Mostly I record acoustic and vocals, although I do use electric guitar and electronic drums as well.
You might just need to learn how to you use your DAW better. As much as it's important to record well, a great many improvements can be made in post-production.
So if you've never perused an Audio Engineering book, I would highly recommend it.
I just bought the US-122 actually, along with a cheap (100 dollar) condenser mic.
My recording quality has gone up from the Rock Band USB microphone, but it's still not as awesome as I'd like it to be. I was a little disappointed with the results, to be honest.
I'm not sure what I should be doing to improve it beyond splurging on a ridiculously expensive microphone. Mostly I record acoustic and vocals, although I do use electric guitar and electronic drums as well.
You might just need to learn how to you use your DAW better. As much as it's important to record well, a great many improvements can be made in post-production.
So if you've never perused an Audio Engineering book, I would highly recommend it.
Post production is really important, definitely, and it's something I want to work on, but I want to make sure my actual recording quality is at the appropriate level first.
I will post some stuff later this week for people to comment on, to that end.
In music gear news, I just purchased a Miroslav Philharmonik off a closing down recording place cheap. It's a VST synth of orchestra stuff, very high quality and usually very expensive. Pleased with the cheap purchase. I'll be using it for something in my Game Music Cover band at some point... it's great to be able to play something with the keyboard, putting it through MIDI on a laptop and applying a high quality synth. Sounds great live, sounds good on recordings too as with a decent velocity sensitive keyboard you can get some emotion standard midi programming doesn't allow..
I just bought the US-122 actually, along with a cheap (100 dollar) condenser mic.
My recording quality has gone up from the Rock Band USB microphone, but it's still not as awesome as I'd like it to be. I was a little disappointed with the results, to be honest.
I'm not sure what I should be doing to improve it beyond splurging on a ridiculously expensive microphone. Mostly I record acoustic and vocals, although I do use electric guitar and electronic drums as well.
You might just need to learn how to you use your DAW better. As much as it's important to record well, a great many improvements can be made in post-production.
So if you've never perused an Audio Engineering book, I would highly recommend it.
Post production is really important, definitely, and it's something I want to work on, but I want to make sure my actual recording quality is at the appropriate level first.
I will post some stuff later this week for people to comment on, to that end.
Well, to that end, all I can say is that splurging on a super expensive microphone is not the route to take.
A 57 can handle almost any application for an $80 investment, but your jank ass USB plug&play interface can't compare to some nice preamps. (Not that the US-122 is jank ass, I'm just speakin' with hyperbole.)
As much as using an array of Neumans, AKGs, and other high-end microphones in college, exposed me to the reality that $4000 mics can make a difference, it is not the right move for the bedroom producer.
I just bought the US-122 actually, along with a cheap (100 dollar) condenser mic.
My recording quality has gone up from the Rock Band USB microphone, but it's still not as awesome as I'd like it to be. I was a little disappointed with the results, to be honest.
I'm not sure what I should be doing to improve it beyond splurging on a ridiculously expensive microphone. Mostly I record acoustic and vocals, although I do use electric guitar and electronic drums as well.
You might just need to learn how to you use your DAW better. As much as it's important to record well, a great many improvements can be made in post-production.
So if you've never perused an Audio Engineering book, I would highly recommend it.
Post production is really important, definitely, and it's something I want to work on, but I want to make sure my actual recording quality is at the appropriate level first.
I will post some stuff later this week for people to comment on, to that end.
Well, to that end, all I can say is that splurging on a super expensive microphone is not the route to take.
A 57 can handle almost any application for an $80 investment, but your jank ass USB plug&play interface can't compare to some nice preamps. (Not that the US-122 is jank ass, I'm just speakin' with hyperbole.)
As much as using an array of Neumans, AKGs, and other high-end microphones in college, exposed me to the reality that $4000 mics can make a difference, it is not the right move for the bedroom producer.
that is an enormous relief. i don't want to feel stupid for going cheap on the mic.
but what exactly is a preamp, or more accurately, what is its function? What does a nice pre-amp do, and how would it make my sound improve? How would it compare to, say, recording through the US-122 and then fiddling with post production in Cubase or Reason or whatever?
edit: also, as someone who can record one instrument at a time but has multiple instruments, should I consider a mixer?
A preamp does a couple things. It converts the signal to line-level most importantly. Second, it'll color the tone of whatever you're recording. A good tube preamp'll give a nice warmth to the stuff being put through it, where a solid-state will be a closer exact reproduction of what you're recording.
On another note, I finished this bad motherfucker the other day:
Since I took this picture I've added another knob and a bitchin' toggleswitch.
I just bought the US-122 actually, along with a cheap (100 dollar) condenser mic.
My recording quality has gone up from the Rock Band USB microphone, but it's still not as awesome as I'd like it to be. I was a little disappointed with the results, to be honest.
I'm not sure what I should be doing to improve it beyond splurging on a ridiculously expensive microphone. Mostly I record acoustic and vocals, although I do use electric guitar and electronic drums as well.
You might just need to learn how to you use your DAW better. As much as it's important to record well, a great many improvements can be made in post-production.
So if you've never perused an Audio Engineering book, I would highly recommend it.
Post production is really important, definitely, and it's something I want to work on, but I want to make sure my actual recording quality is at the appropriate level first.
I will post some stuff later this week for people to comment on, to that end.
Well, to that end, all I can say is that splurging on a super expensive microphone is not the route to take.
A 57 can handle almost any application for an $80 investment, but your jank ass USB plug&play interface can't compare to some nice preamps. (Not that the US-122 is jank ass, I'm just speakin' with hyperbole.)
As much as using an array of Neumans, AKGs, and other high-end microphones in college, exposed me to the reality that $4000 mics can make a difference, it is not the right move for the bedroom producer.
What's going to affect your recording quality more than anything is what's actually being recorded. Fancy equipment and tons of post-processing is still going to make a noisy, flat recording sound noisy and flat. Before worrying about your gear, take a look at how you record. Even in a bedroom studio you can make some efforts to improve your recording.
Don't record anywhere near your computer. It's noisier than you think and your monitor is a hated source of 60hz hum. Make a little blanket fort around yourself. It's not going to compare to an actual vocal booth, but it'll sound nicer than your untreated room with it's wild reflections.
You can't polish a turd, so make sure that the sounds going into your mics are actually worth hearing.
So by "noisy, flat recording" you mean something recorded in a room full of random junk including humming screens and computers and various angles and surfaces? Basically, problems of acoustics?
I guess this would be the major problem that a guy in his apartment, recording his instruments, would face - you can't really make a studio for recording when you're living in a one-bedroom. So besides blanket forts, what other strategies are there? I know that for mic-ing and electric, most people recommend building a little box for the amp and mic to have some private time together. What about for an acoustic guitar? Is there really any practical way to make sure my acoustics aren't shit when I'm doing vox or folksy guitar?
listen to some tests, and if the acoustics are crap, throw some towels over the biggest problem areas
creating a perfect acoustic space in a small apartment with a tight budget is going to be impossible, so get creative and work with what you have. you won't get a studio quality recording, but with a little thought and effort you can certainly get a pretty good sounding one
My Christmas haul sucked ass this year, so I went ahead and bought myself a present.
Epiphone Les Paul Special
It's nothing too fancy, but I've wanted a bass for a long, long time. I also have a terrible old Samick guitar that was given to me, as well as my friend's Cort hanging out in my room. I run the bass through a terrible AXL amp that I got back when the Samick was given to me (3 years ago). No point in blowing several hundred dollars on an amp when I can barely play, though. I have been enjoying the hell out of this bass since I got it. I'm happy with my purchase.
Fuck me, I installed a Dimarzio D-Activator in the bridge of my Squier 51. That thing fucking screams. I plugged in to my Traynor amp and dimed it and the first chord was like somebody hitting me in the stomach. I'm really happy with the switch from the stock humbucker (not that there was anything wrong with it)
My baby is a Hagstrom Ultra Swede. Les Paul body, but lighter, and a neck about half as thick as a normal guitar. Action's incredibly fast and easy, and it's got a coil-tap, which is a gift from god.
The sound is perfect for jazz, and I've got a Midi controller with my crate amp controlling most effects, then a Crybaby Wah and Bose Distortion. My amp is a really nice Crate that can do Delay, Chorus, Touch wah, Echo, Flange, and some combinations of those, and can do some nice emulation. I use one of its amp emulations for softer rhythm distortion, and sometimes I use a fuzzbox on single-coil for melodic distortion. With all that I can play a bunch of other styles too. Jazz is it's best though.
I've also got a crappy little Epiphone Les Paul, but I much prefer the Hag for pretty much everything. Then I've got a Gibson acoustic and a little in-sound-hole mic that's useful since I don't have an acoustic-electric. I need a bass, and I need a digital piano, but the Hag is goddamn awesome.
Anybody have any tips on micing acoustic guitars? I'm helping my friend record some stuff and we're having trouble getting it to sound good.
We're using a single Shure 57, by the way.
I always have used two condenser mics when recording acoustics. One in the room a decent distance away with more gain, and one darn near right in front of the "hole" of the guitar with less gain.
If you are stuck using just one SM-57, point that sucker directly into the hole and don't move the guitar. That can be the hardest part to getting an even sound unless you have a way of bracing it in place. Play with distance and gain adjustments. With just one mic it may be hard to get it to sound full without it sounding muddy.
Posts
I would also like to know the answer to this question.
Have you ever seen the movie Face/Off?
Alternatively, turn down the offer.
I have a friend who turned down an offer to do lead guitar for a good local band because he believed they were too good, and didn't want to make them look bad or hold them back.
edit:: or just a big ol' kettle drum.
Mainly I hope you learned your lesson.
I am having some serious drum lessons from my friend and he's lending me his electronic kit, when I see her again I'll take my bass along at the same time (Which I actually can play and am pretty good at) and suggest I play that instead.
After 'fessing up, of course
But you can always throw some spin on it.
"I just thought you were really cool and wasn't really thinking..."
Just get yourself an MBOX or something of its ilk. Should cost you about $200 or below. Make sure they're capable of recording "direct", meaning the XLR ports are also Line In/Instrument ports. (This is something should all do, but you never know.)
But uh, recording direct is, IMO, hells of lame. But whatever, recording is fun as shit.
I just got a nifty piece of mixing and editing software so I can record and arrange guitar music. However, I don't have the actual hardware necessary to make the pretty tunes go into my computer.
Can anyone recommend some decent hardware for doing so? Preferably in the sub-$50 range, unless that will only result in utter shit, in which case I'm willing to go higher. But I'm just a dude who kinda plays the guitar, not a professional musician, so I'm more in the "dicking around" demographic.
Tons of generic soundcards and mixing software will work directly from the soundcards 1/8" in, meaning you can plug in a mic, hit record, and be done with it. The epitome of just dicking around.
In the context of metaghost's post. Make sure what you buy has built in pre-amp(s) for the number of inputs. I didn't do this when I bought a motu mkII and so then had to buy a seperate 8 channel mic pre-amp.
I would hope that all smaller models of direct recording devices (which sounds like you're not looking to multi-track record simultaneously) would have a pre-amp, but make sure.
PSN : Bolthorn
If you're playing electric, you could just pick up a DI-Box, like this, and then you'd need a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter.
Yeah, I'm playing electric. So I basically plug my guitar into that box (via the adapter), plug the box into the mic-in on the sound card, and I'm good to go?
I mean, I guess I could just plug in a mic and sit it next to my guitar while I play, but I'd like something a little more sophisticated.
I bit more pricey, Jeff, but I think an external soundcard would be perfect for you. The US-122 would be great, because it has 1/8 inch guitar inputs AND Mic inputs, and it can send MIDI data as well, and it sends it all via USB. For just a bit more, you get a lot. You never know: maybe you'll want to start recording acoustic guitar or playing keyboard. This would allow you to do all that. Check around on ebay: you could probably get one for $70.
You would actually be plugging the DI-Box into the soundcard via the adapter, just to clarify, as the DI-Box will likely only have 1/4" I/O ports.
But podly made an excellent suggestion. I've never used one of those so I was unaware of their existence, but it sounds like what you would want.
I have been working on this piece off and on for a while now; it is really REALLY simple, but the mood it evokes in me is something I like, so I guess I'll post the WIP here. It's different from the other stuff I have posted.
Let's play Mario Kart or something...
This is a reworking of a song I posted about a page ago; still in development. I originally started this as a song heavily influenced by Metallica/GnR... but somewhere along the way it broke out from that and became this weird symphonic/rock thing. Gonna keep hammering away at it, but I dunno where I am going to take it.
Also, surely there are other D&D people here who are fucking around with their awesome gear; post yer shit, folks
Let's play Mario Kart or something...
You may want to double up the distorted guitars (maybe even four times) and mix one (2 if you record 4) left and the other right. Everything sounds like it's in the middle. You want to create a wider depth of field.
For references and to allow you to critique myself I have solo music posted at myspace.com/bolthorn (I will not take criticism on my vocals from people that instantly hate that vocal style so don't bother) and my band's material at myspace.com/theconquering. Hear the fullness? It's because of the wider depth of field.
Unless of course you're going for that centered "smaller" sound. I'm not sure you are though, because the riff has this "yeah, this should be loud and heavy as hell" feel, but it's not souding that way currently.
Or you can tell me to shut the hell up.
Also, maybe double up the vocals in a few places? Either unison or harmony, just for a little empahsis on some lines. I probably do this too much when recording.
PSN : Bolthorn
I just bought the US-122 actually, along with a cheap (100 dollar) condenser mic.
My recording quality has gone up from the Rock Band USB microphone, but it's still not as awesome as I'd like it to be. I was a little disappointed with the results, to be honest.
I'm not sure what I should be doing to improve it beyond splurging on a ridiculously expensive microphone. Mostly I record acoustic and vocals, although I do use electric guitar and electronic drums as well.
You might just need to learn how to you use your DAW better. As much as it's important to record well, a great many improvements can be made in post-production.
So if you've never perused an Audio Engineering book, I would highly recommend it.
And I gotta figure out how to NOT name the band Blackwater. God.
Post production is really important, definitely, and it's something I want to work on, but I want to make sure my actual recording quality is at the appropriate level first.
I will post some stuff later this week for people to comment on, to that end.
XBL/PSN/Steam: APZonerunner
Well, to that end, all I can say is that splurging on a super expensive microphone is not the route to take.
A 57 can handle almost any application for an $80 investment, but your jank ass USB plug&play interface can't compare to some nice preamps. (Not that the US-122 is jank ass, I'm just speakin' with hyperbole.)
As much as using an array of Neumans, AKGs, and other high-end microphones in college, exposed me to the reality that $4000 mics can make a difference, it is not the right move for the bedroom producer.
that is an enormous relief. i don't want to feel stupid for going cheap on the mic.
but what exactly is a preamp, or more accurately, what is its function? What does a nice pre-amp do, and how would it make my sound improve? How would it compare to, say, recording through the US-122 and then fiddling with post production in Cubase or Reason or whatever?
edit: also, as someone who can record one instrument at a time but has multiple instruments, should I consider a mixer?
On another note, I finished this bad motherfucker the other day:
Since I took this picture I've added another knob and a bitchin' toggleswitch.
hitting hot metal with hammers
What's going to affect your recording quality more than anything is what's actually being recorded. Fancy equipment and tons of post-processing is still going to make a noisy, flat recording sound noisy and flat. Before worrying about your gear, take a look at how you record. Even in a bedroom studio you can make some efforts to improve your recording.
Don't record anywhere near your computer. It's noisier than you think and your monitor is a hated source of 60hz hum. Make a little blanket fort around yourself. It's not going to compare to an actual vocal booth, but it'll sound nicer than your untreated room with it's wild reflections.
You can't polish a turd, so make sure that the sounds going into your mics are actually worth hearing.
I guess this would be the major problem that a guy in his apartment, recording his instruments, would face - you can't really make a studio for recording when you're living in a one-bedroom. So besides blanket forts, what other strategies are there? I know that for mic-ing and electric, most people recommend building a little box for the amp and mic to have some private time together. What about for an acoustic guitar? Is there really any practical way to make sure my acoustics aren't shit when I'm doing vox or folksy guitar?
listen to some tests, and if the acoustics are crap, throw some towels over the biggest problem areas
creating a perfect acoustic space in a small apartment with a tight budget is going to be impossible, so get creative and work with what you have. you won't get a studio quality recording, but with a little thought and effort you can certainly get a pretty good sounding one
2004 Platinum SG Special
My Christmas haul sucked ass this year, so I went ahead and bought myself a present.
It's nothing too fancy, but I've wanted a bass for a long, long time. I also have a terrible old Samick guitar that was given to me, as well as my friend's Cort hanging out in my room. I run the bass through a terrible AXL amp that I got back when the Samick was given to me (3 years ago). No point in blowing several hundred dollars on an amp when I can barely play, though. I have been enjoying the hell out of this bass since I got it. I'm happy with my purchase.
The sound is perfect for jazz, and I've got a Midi controller with my crate amp controlling most effects, then a Crybaby Wah and Bose Distortion. My amp is a really nice Crate that can do Delay, Chorus, Touch wah, Echo, Flange, and some combinations of those, and can do some nice emulation. I use one of its amp emulations for softer rhythm distortion, and sometimes I use a fuzzbox on single-coil for melodic distortion. With all that I can play a bunch of other styles too. Jazz is it's best though.
I've also got a crappy little Epiphone Les Paul, but I much prefer the Hag for pretty much everything. Then I've got a Gibson acoustic and a little in-sound-hole mic that's useful since I don't have an acoustic-electric. I need a bass, and I need a digital piano, but the Hag is goddamn awesome.
I am tres happy!
Remember when I lied to that girl about playing drums a few pages back?
I came clean and she offered to let me play bass
Apparently she is booking studio time on Monday so I can prove I can play
I think I speak for all of us when I say "I require a transcription of this conversation."
We're using a single Shure 57, by the way.
I always have used two condenser mics when recording acoustics. One in the room a decent distance away with more gain, and one darn near right in front of the "hole" of the guitar with less gain.
If you are stuck using just one SM-57, point that sucker directly into the hole and don't move the guitar. That can be the hardest part to getting an even sound unless you have a way of bracing it in place. Play with distance and gain adjustments. With just one mic it may be hard to get it to sound full without it sounding muddy.
PSN : Bolthorn