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Recording equipment for a young musician/songwriter?
Posted on 12/13/19 at 6:45 am
Posted on 12/13/19 at 6:45 am
My preteen daughter is obsessed with playing music and singing and recently has expressed interest in composing and recording some of her music. I have no idea where to start, but I’m looking for an ability to record demos live instruments but also some type of computer software that has instrumentation at her fingertips. Right now she has access to an upright piano, Casio keyboard, drum kit, electric and acoustic guitars and a laptop. No microphones and no music software.
Do y’all have any suggestions on where and what to get started with? I’m not looking for professional quality, rather tools to get the flame lit. Thanks in advance for your help.
Do y’all have any suggestions on where and what to get started with? I’m not looking for professional quality, rather tools to get the flame lit. Thanks in advance for your help.
10
Posted on 12/13/19 at 7:05 am to Sheepdog1833
Audacity was a great program. You can record a track, play it back and record a second...then a third...
It’s probably much better now and free.
It’s probably much better now and free.
Posted on 12/13/19 at 7:46 am to Sheepdog1833
Your going to need a couple microphones, preferably one for voice and once for instrumentation. Then a DAW. Those range from free (Apples garageband) to thousands of dollars. Then you’ll need a digitial interface to get the signal from microphone and instruments to the laptop. Again they have simple ones for $50 all the way to professional stuff.
Posted on 12/13/19 at 7:57 am to Sheepdog1833
If you have a Mac, you can record using their free (comes with the OS) Garage Band software. If you need more features, you can buy Logic Pro X.
To record on Mac or Windows, you’ll likely need an audio interface. I use one of the Focusrite Scarlett models and I highly recommend it. ( Focusrite Scarlett).
If you want to forgo the audio interface, you can use a USB Microphone. I use a Blue Snowball ( Blue Snowball) and it works great.
Both the audio interface and the USB mic are recognized by Garage Band/Logic Pro.
To record on Mac or Windows, you’ll likely need an audio interface. I use one of the Focusrite Scarlett models and I highly recommend it. ( Focusrite Scarlett).
If you want to forgo the audio interface, you can use a USB Microphone. I use a Blue Snowball ( Blue Snowball) and it works great.
Both the audio interface and the USB mic are recognized by Garage Band/Logic Pro.
Posted on 12/13/19 at 8:04 am to Sheepdog1833
Good computer, LINK
That interface comes with a free downloadable recording program and downloadable effects. I don't know how good that recording program is.
Most people recommend a Pro Tools First program, that is free to download, supposed to be the easiest to use.
… or, I'll sell you a Tascam digital 8 track recorder for cheap
That interface comes with a free downloadable recording program and downloadable effects. I don't know how good that recording program is.
Most people recommend a Pro Tools First program, that is free to download, supposed to be the easiest to use.
… or, I'll sell you a Tascam digital 8 track recorder for cheap
Posted on 12/13/19 at 9:25 am to MaroonWhite
I use the focusrite Scarlett that I mix in Reaper and have a Snowball that I’ll take with me for catching sets or something. Both are awesome.
Posted on 12/13/19 at 9:29 am to MontanaMax
I've got one of those blue snowball deals, but have never taken it out of the box yet. Does it work OK for recording guitar/vocal?
Posted on 12/13/19 at 12:20 pm to Sheepdog1833
What kind of music? If its extreme metal, let me know and I can suggest some things that will be good for clipping
Posted on 12/13/19 at 12:49 pm to Sheepdog1833
Don’t use studio one. I once got a presonus audiobox for Christmas that came with studio one, and it was so frustrating and counter-intuitive to learn that I haven’t been able to record a single decent thing on it. Cubase and logic are much easier to use programs
Posted on 12/14/19 at 10:02 am to auggie
quote:
Does it work OK for recording guitar/vocal?
I think it does. There are more expensive mics that are going to sound better, but for the price it's great for both vocal and guitar.
Posted on 12/14/19 at 12:26 pm to auggie
The sound quality is great. Had it for about 4 years now and it’s still going strong.
This post was edited on 12/14/19 at 12:27 pm
Posted on 12/14/19 at 1:22 pm to MontanaMax
quote:
The sound quality is great.
probably going to try this one out in a bit.
Posted on 12/14/19 at 3:46 pm to Sheepdog1833
For software, garage band and audacity do a lot for free. Garage band has a lot of options, presets, and customization to help get started with writing. Audacity is strictly for recording and isn’t the easiest interface to learn, but it isn’t too bad, and it doesn’t take too long to get the hang of it. It gets the job done well for a free program. If you want to look for something nicer, I use Logic Pro and it’s fantastic. That plus a midi keyboard will let her do anything she could think up.
For a mic, I’d recommend an AudioTechnica 2020. You can get it used for around $100, and it can record pretty much any instrument. Blue snowballs are good for voice but not the best for louder instruments, at least from my experience. They’ll get the job done pretty well though. The AT 2020 is durable and versatile, and she’ll be able to get a lot of use out of it
For a mic, I’d recommend an AudioTechnica 2020. You can get it used for around $100, and it can record pretty much any instrument. Blue snowballs are good for voice but not the best for louder instruments, at least from my experience. They’ll get the job done pretty well though. The AT 2020 is durable and versatile, and she’ll be able to get a lot of use out of it
Posted on 12/15/19 at 12:39 pm to Sheepdog1833
I still like the simplicity and portability of a Tascam DP-008ex. 8 tracks, easy interface, built-in condenser, 2 xlr inputs, reverb, built-in mixing and mastering. Lots of fun!
This post was edited on 12/15/19 at 12:40 pm
Posted on 12/15/19 at 12:55 pm to TigerRanter
quote:
I still like the simplicity and portability of a Tascam DP-008ex. 8 tracks, easy interface, built-in condenser, 2 xlr inputs, reverb, built-in mixing and mastering.
I have that exact same one, but I don't care for how it operates and having to always jump back and forth between different screens.
It could be a great thing, if you could hook it up to your laptop and have all of the screens showing at once, so you could navigate with a mouse.
Maybe there is a way to do that, that I don't know about?
Posted on 12/15/19 at 1:01 pm to auggie
Not that I’m aware of
Posted on 12/15/19 at 1:10 pm to TigerRanter
quote:
Not that I’m aware of
I just bought a new laptop just for recording, and downloaded the audacity program and Pro tools. Gonna spend today learning about them both and go from there.
I really wish I had one of the old Tascam DA-88 machines, I think it would work better for my purposes.
I'm not trying to get master recordings. but I want a really quick easy way, to work out different guitar parts.
This post was edited on 12/15/19 at 1:45 pm
Posted on 12/15/19 at 1:11 pm to Sheepdog1833
Get a good pair of studio monitors for around 200-250 for the pair. I use JBL 350s and like them.
And definitely a DAW... she won’t need protools, but i would look into all of them for reference.
- audio interface. I have an apollo twin, which is great, but a focusrite scarlett is probably the best bang for your buck on a budget
And definitely a DAW... she won’t need protools, but i would look into all of them for reference.
- audio interface. I have an apollo twin, which is great, but a focusrite scarlett is probably the best bang for your buck on a budget
This post was edited on 12/15/19 at 1:14 pm
Posted on 12/16/19 at 8:48 am to Sheepdog1833
Thanks for all the info. It will take a while for me to digest. I’ll be back with questions.
Posted on 12/16/19 at 1:59 pm to Sheepdog1833
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