BubbaVO Posted January 16, 2008 Posted January 16, 2008 I'm thinking of setting up a mini-studio at home. Looking for ease and low cost ... Guitars I've got covered, but any suggestions on drum machine / recording gear / etc.?I've got an e-mac so software solutions would be appreciated (I've tried running garage band, but I always seem to run out of disc space).Thanks.
kenjones Posted January 16, 2008 Posted January 16, 2008 No matter what software you use to record, you really do need a separate hard drive to record onto. My suggestion would be to purchase an external firewire drive (250GB-500GB), plug it into your eMac, and just use Garageband.
geoff_hartwell Posted January 17, 2008 Posted January 17, 2008 Right on.Don't get caught up in fancy software or plug-ins right from the start.Drop $150 or so on a firewire drive used JUST for audio, and go with garageband.The MOST common pitfall with home studio recordists, is that they spend allof their time on learning software and messing with plug-ins, and neveractually accomplish (or FINISH) anything creative.Right now, every single person, young and old, has access to WAY better recording equipment thanthe Beatles had to record Revolver with- but the trouble is, nobody's made another Revolver...So go get that drive happenin and MAKE SOME MUSIC!!!
jerseydrew Posted January 17, 2008 Posted January 17, 2008 Right on.Don't get caught up in fancy software or plug-ins right from the start.Drop $150 or so on a firewire drive used JUST for audio, and go with garageband.The MOST common pitfall with home studio recordists, is that they spend allof their time on learning software and messing with plug-ins, and neveractually accomplish (or FINISH) anything creative.Right now, every single person, young and old, has access to WAY better recording equipment thanthe Beatles had to record Revolver with- but the trouble is, nobody's made another Revolver...So go get that drive happenin and MAKE SOME MUSIC!!!+1 You hit the nail on the head Geoff.
elduave Posted January 17, 2008 Posted January 17, 2008 Slight hi-jack. I *wanna* be one of those dudes who wows with Garageband, but I can't seem to get the hang of it. I think there may actually be something wrong with it. I gotta run my levels into oblivion to get any sound recorded. When I got the Mac (Jan. 05), I sold my trusty BR8, which has been my most productive machine. Recently, I bought a Zoom H4, but I'm slow on the uptake with that too. Now, I'm thinking fuck it, let me just get a BR8 again. Frustrating.To answer your question, try a BR8. Super simple, decent sounds, built in basic drum machine.
mathman Posted January 17, 2008 Posted January 17, 2008 Slight hi-jack. I *wanna* be one of those dudes who wows with Garageband, but I can't seem to get the hang of it. I think there may actually be something wrong with it. I gotta run my levels into oblivion to get any sound recorded. When I got the Mac (Jan. 05), I sold my trusty BR8, which has been my most productive machine. Recently, I bought a Zoom H4, but I'm slow on the uptake with that too. Now, I'm thinking fuck it, let me just get a BR8 again. Frustrating.To answer your question, try a BR8. Super simple, decent sounds, built in basic drum machine.Check you sound preferences, specifically the input tab. You may need to increase the volume there.
mathman Posted January 17, 2008 Posted January 17, 2008 I'm thinking of setting up a mini-studio at home. Looking for ease and low cost ... Guitars I've got covered, but any suggestions on drum machine / recording gear / etc.?I've got an e-mac so software solutions would be appreciated (I've tried running garage band, but I always seem to run out of disc space).Thanks.What version of Garageband do you have?http://www.drumsondemand.com/ has nice drum loops
jisham Posted January 18, 2008 Posted January 18, 2008 I use GarageBand with a line6 toneport. I just added a FireWire external drive.
mattb Posted January 18, 2008 Posted January 18, 2008 Decent mics are the best investment when on a budget. One SM57 and a decent LDC. Check out MAudio for an audio interface.
Scottcrud Posted January 18, 2008 Posted January 18, 2008 Another hijack...sorry, I've got a question or two,1. I'm wanting to record guitar riffs on my computer and either send them to the guys in my band or burn them to a CD.2. What would ya'll suggest to record band rehearsal with? Isn't there some sort of cheap recording device that will sound descent and allow us to burn it to CD?
mattb Posted January 18, 2008 Posted January 18, 2008 Another hijack...sorry, I've got a question or two,1. I'm wanting to record guitar riffs on my computer and either send them to the guys in my band or burn them to a CD.2. What would ya'll suggest to record band rehearsal with? Isn't there some sort of cheap recording device that will sound descent and allow us to burn it to CD?You could get a standalone recording unit if you are trying to avoid the computer route.I used to use an Edirol UA-25 into a laptop to do my rehearsal recording. Worked fine.
slickwillie2 Posted January 18, 2008 Posted January 18, 2008 'Plus one' on putting your money into at least one decent microphone and (maybe) a preamp.I would recomend a Shure SM7 (about $300). I use an SM7 in combination with a Joemeeks British Channel preamp. The British Channel also can be used as a usable bass guitar preamp. The SM7 is a cardeoid (sic?)microphone so your recording is less corrupted by the sound of a room you are recording in. That is a good thing as a basement with a drop ceiling can give everything a nasty mid range honk. The better the condensor microphone the more obvious the sonic limitations of the room you are recording in.Roger Mcguinn has a DVD out about setting up a laptop for recording. Check his web site.Slickwillie2
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