Author Topic: What is the Most Basic Way to Record? (Read 111 times)

goop · « **on:** April 24, 2009, 09:27:41 AM »

I just read another post about listning to a recording of yourself and how that is a much different experinece than playing. I have very limited recording experience, but agree, that this would be very cool to experience.

Can anyone suggest what the easiest and least way would be to make a recording of my playing and or my son and myself jamming?

I am thinking of recording to my PC. Is there a way?

Colin

57basstra · « **Reply #1 on:** April 24, 2009, 09:34:55 AM »

I am an iMac person and it has a great pre-installed software called Garageband. There are others for MAC. I am sure you can record with a PC; I am no PC expert.

When I am trying out new licks, songs, etc., or trying to get my instrument and vocal phrasing down I simply use one of the old time cassette recorders like you can get at RadioShack. These have surprising quality. I have also even used one of these with a mic level to get a raw recording of a several piece jam along and the quality was not bad. If you want production, you can get as complicated as you want.

I know some sound engineers and such would scoff at the basic cassette, but for simplicity and immediate playback it works.

if you can get an iMac I recommend them!

olieoliver · « **Reply #2 on:** April 24, 2009, 09:37:42 AM »

The simplest way is to use Sound Recorder that is on all Windows PC's. You can either hook a Mic to the mic-in on your sound card or get an adapter (1/4 mono to 1/8 stereo-Radio Shack has them) and plug straight into the sound card.

You can also find some inexpensive software and even freeware on the web that will allow you to record in different formats than a wav file.

OO

elwoodblue · « **Reply #3 on:** April 24, 2009, 11:39:31 AM »

Here's one I've used in the past that was fairly friendly,
audacity

olieoliver · « **Reply #4 on:** April 24, 2009, 11:47:58 AM »

Audacity is very user friendly I thought. Nice suggestion.

olieoliver · « **Reply #5 on:** April 24, 2009, 11:57:08 AM »

I actually use both PC and Mac. I have Cubase 4.5 on both but I agree with David about the Mac, much more dependable for serious recording.

OO

honninscrave · « **Reply #6 on:** April 24, 2009, 12:27:57 PM »

I love my POD X3 for recording. With its amp, cab, mic, and stompbox modelling, you've got everything you need in one device. It outputs 8 audio channels over USB which you can feed into your favourite recording software (Audacity, Reaper, etc.). It's very slick.

(Note: The X3 Live model has had a few problems with the USB audio dropping out but the Bean and Pro models are not affected.)

crobbins · « **Reply #7 on:** April 24, 2009, 12:40:05 PM »

If you want to record yourself live. The cheapest route to go is with either a Zoom H-2, or H-4....Both record well imho.....

lbpesq · « **Reply #8 on:** April 24, 2009, 01:12:01 PM »

Another vote for the Zoom H2. Less than $200, easy to use, reliable, impressive quality recordings. What more could you ask for?

Bill, tgo