new to recording. need some info and recommendations

[Vaad1091]

So Ive finally decided to start recording. I apologize in advance if my question(s) seem rather broad.

Just as additional info, my plans as of now are to record guitar/bass and mix them with some form of program that creates drum beats as well as other melodic effects (digital sounds/lots of effects etc.) but I literally have no knowledge whatsoever in working with recording harware or software.

Ive recently been doing some research and am looking to buy an audio interface that will go straight from my guitar-guitar model processor-audio interface-PC. Not sure if I will also need to have my amp somewhere in the mix.

Firewire interfaces seem to be a decent buy, but one of my questions is, do they come with the software installed or will that come seperately. And if so what are some good recomendations.


I imagine your also thinking what my budget is, because when I started looking into this stuff I was deathly surprised at the cost of everything but as of now Im not too extremely worried about the price of the interface or the software as long as they are good quality and user friendly. As a boundary, however, Ide like to say that around $700-$800 is my maximum budget.


Incase your it helps for you to know my real ambitions, Im planning on recording things along the lines of reggae music. But also plan to do some of alternative/rock.

[Justin]

Wow, it's a lot to answer in a forum post.
I would call into our sales department and talk to someone. (800.222.4700) Our sales team can look at what you own now and get an idea how to best hook it up to a computer recording system.

If this is your first time recording, ask your sales person for a Groove 3 Web Pass, they'll send it with your gear and that'll get you access to some web training videos for 30 days.
You may want to look into some DVD's or books once you decide which software you're going to be working with.

As for the interface, a lot of them come with some basic edition of some recording software. Your salesperson can get a feel for what you want to do and figure out if there is a better software solution for you in the long run. Some are more specialized for different types of editing.

[Vaad1091]

Thanks, will do.

[TimOBrien]

My obligatory standard reply-for-newbies that I keep in Wordpad so this is just a paste (I don't want to re-type this all the time):

First off, immediately get a good beginner recording book (spend $20 before spending hundred$/thousand$) that shows you what you need to get started and how to hook everything up in your studio:
Home Recording for Musicians by Jeff Strong - $15
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0470385421?ie=UTF8&tag=myjescom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0470385421
(Wish I'd had that when I started; would have saved me lots of money and time and grief)
You can also pick up this book in most any Borders or Barnes&Noble in the Music Books section!

Another good one is: Recording Guitar and Bass by Huw Price
http://www.amazon.com/Recording-Guitar-Bass-Getting-Record/dp/0879307307/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215734124&sr=1-1
(I got my copy at a place called Half-Price Books for $6!!)

And you can get a FREE subscription to TapeOp magazine at www.tapeop.com

Barnes&Noble or Borders are great places to start --- they have recording books and you can go get a snack or coffee and read them for FREE! Don't pass by a good recording book --- this is a VERY technical hobby and you REALLY want to start a reference library!!!

Good Newbie guides that also explains all the basics and have good tips:
http://www.tweakheadz.com/guide.htm
http://www.computermusic.co.uk/page/computermusic?entry=free_beginner_pdfs
http://www.harmony-central.com/articles/
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/tips-techniques/168409-tips-techniques.html

21 Ways To Assemble a Recording Rig: http://www.tweakheadz.com/rigs.htm

Also Good Info: http://www.theprojectstudiohandbook.com/directory.htm

Other recording books: http://musicbooksplus.com/home-recording-c-31.html

Still using a built-in soundcard?? Unfortunately, those are made with less than $1 worth of chips for beeps, boops and light gaming (not to mention cheapness for the manufacturer) and NOT quality music production.
#1 Rule of Recording: You MUST replace the built-in soundcard.
Here's a good guide and user-tested suggestions that work: http://www.tweakheadz.com/soundcards_for_the_home_studio.htm
(you'll want to bookmark and read through all of Tweak's Guide while you're there...)
Another good article: Choosing an audio interface - http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep08/articles/audiointerfaces.htm


Plenty of software around to record for FREE to start out on:

Sony ACID Express (free 10-track sequencer): http://www.acidplanet.com/downloads/xpress/
Audacity: http://audacity.sourceforge.net (multi-track with VST support)
Wavosaur: http://www.wavosaur.com/ (a stereo audio file editor with VST support)\
Kristal: http://www.kreatives.org/kristal/
Other freebies and shareware: www.hitsquad.com/smm

Another great option is REAPER at http://www.cockos.com/reaper/ (It's $50 but runs for free until you get guilty enough to pay for it...)
I use Reaper and highly reccomend it...

Music Notation and MIDI recording: Melody Assistant ($25) and Harmony Assistant ($80) have the power of $600 notation packages - http://myriad-online.com
Demo you can try on the website.

And you can go out to any Barnes&Noble or Borders and pick up "Computer Music" magazine - they have a full FREE studio suite in every issue's DVD, including sequencers, plugins and tons of audio samples. (November 2006 they gave away a full copy of SamplitudeV8SE worth $150, November 2007-on the racks Dec in the US- they gave away SamplitudeV9SE and July 2009 issue they put out Samplitude10SE. FREE. It pays to watch 'em for giveaways...)

'Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day, teach a man to fish and he'll eat forever...'