Making/Recording Music (novice on both counts)

[InfernoSTi]

Hope I can post this in Grainger's Corner...it does seem to fit the criteria (i.e. Dan can't be held responsible for this post).

So I'm not a musician but I love music, both recorded and live. I've decided to take a bit of a plunge into the artist side of things and learn a little more about making music myself.

I've got a hand-me-down guitar from my mom's college days: a 1956 Guild F-20 Troubadour that has been in need of repair for many years. I finally found a luthier I like that is doing the repairs (yes, he warned me the value after repairs probably wouldn't equal the costs, but it is sentimental coming from my mom). The repairs are slow and methodical but I'm optimistic about the results.

In the meantime, I picked up an el-cheapo electric guitar/amp to start to learn to play. I also got some basic recording equipment that I can use both at home and carry with me to concerts should I want to. Finally, I have my Mac and have started to learn to use it as a DAW using Logic Pro.

I'm having fun and it has certainly changed the way I listen to some music...I'm finding it a great way to go back through my music collection and "rehear" things again. For the cost of things these days, there isn't a reason anyone can't set up a very basic home recording setup and enjoy making their own music.

Any thoughts or recommendations from those who have already been down this path would be welcome!

Best,
John

 

[Grainger49]

John,

Happy to have you here.  Sadly, I'm no help with digital recording.  I'm from the days of tape and did some recording in the 60s and 70s.  Nothing since.

 

[Yoder]

Lucky for you in that you are using the Mac platform. Logic Pro can be tough to begin with; especially setting up mics. If you have a tough time with it then you can always fall back on GarageBand. Here is a page of numerous recording white papers and Logic Pro tutorials. http://co-bw.com/Index_DIY_Recording.htm The recording stuff starts a bit down the page. What type of interface, mics, and monitors are you using? I taught digital recording for years and have a lot of experience in purchasing recording gear. If you need any info then please ask. If you have Logic Pro already then you can get set-up with a decent unit for under $500.

Personally, I would start with an E-Mu 0404 as the interface...best bang for the buck. MXL also makes some very good mics (I have two 2008's--about $125 a piece,) and KRK are supposed to make some great active monitors for the money. I love my E-Mu monitors, but they are no longer in production.

 

[dbishopbliss]

I just enrolled in a "Introduction to Recording Engineering" class at the local community college.  First class is tomorrow.  Should be fun!

 

[Yoder]

I just enrolled in a "Introduction to Recording Engineering" class at the local community college.  First class is tomorrow.  Should be fun!

If you need some resource material or just some good background material then check out the page above. I have a ton of white papers, tech stuff, and tutorials on recording. I got permission to use all of it, or I would make a small contribution to the chap's site to use some papers. There is some good stuff and it may save you some time if you have to do a research paper.

 

[Grainger49]

I did think of one suggestion to make.  I recorded on my brother's Nakamichi 700 for a while.  Naks have three mike inputs, right, left and center.  I would set right and left then bring up the center till I could hear it then backed it off a little.  This kept me from being strongly aware of the center mike and still allowed it to fill the hole in the middle.

 

[InfernoSTi]

Yoder, those white papers are very cool.  Thank you...the detail on the Pro Logic items is perfect!  What a nice resource!

dbishopbliss, that class would be interesting...I looked at our local Community College and they have some classes out of the downtown campus that are kind of similar.  They have some prereq's that I don't meet and I'm not sure I want to take intro to music appreciation to get into a studio class.  I'll have to see what can be waived...anyway, good luck with your class and please post if you found it helpful (and any other thoughts, please).

Grainger, I never would have thought about that for three mic's...great suggestion!