Posted by: Grant Johnson
on October 22, 2004 09:18 AM
I can definitely agree with using Audacity for editing 2 track audio. It is nice, has the filters you need, and is easy to use. No the real recording studio part is how you get to two tracks. You will need at least 8 simultaneous inputs to do this reasonably, along with software that lets you simultaneously play any of those while recording any of them, including those playing (overdubs). I have not found software that does this reasonably on ANY OS. There are some specialized hardware rigs that allow this, but with just a keyboard and mouse, there is no reasonable way to simultaneously manipulate 10 to 12 controls on each of the 8 minimum to 24 tracks as I have in my small home studio. Once I have the audio assembled (using a regular analog mixer and digital tape decks supporting 24 simultaneous sources or "tracks") I do use the PC and specifically Audacity to trim up the ends and adjust the dead space at the end of each track. I then burn them with k3b to CD.
Now for the tips: If you are recording with CD as your final destination, use 16 bit samples at 44.1khz. This will be the final format anyway, and resampling always seems to lose more quality than you gain with the more detail of higher resolutions.
For microphones for a starter, I highly reccomend the Shure SM57 for instruments and SM58 for Vocals. The 57 is usually about $90, and can be found for $70. The 58 is usually about $120, and can be found for $90. Do not bother with the beta series. They are more expensive, and just have a little brighter sound, start with those. Move up if you find you need it afterward, but you will spend a lot more money, and you will still need those two.
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This is not a recording studio, but....
Posted by: Grant Johnson on October 22, 2004 09:18 AMNow for the tips:
If you are recording with CD as your final destination, use 16 bit samples at 44.1khz. This will be the final format anyway, and resampling always seems to lose more quality than you gain with the more detail of higher resolutions.
For microphones for a starter, I highly reccomend the Shure SM57 for instruments and SM58 for Vocals. The 57 is usually about $90, and can be found for $70. The 58 is usually about $120, and can be found for $90. Do not bother with the beta series. They are more expensive, and just have a little brighter sound, start with those. Move up if you find you need it afterward, but you will spend a lot more money, and you will still need those two.
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