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yup, shock horror I finally did it. I bought a Focusrite Solo. I t comes with ( I presume a cut down version) of Pro Tools, and I just downloaded Reaper.
Any suggestions on "How too" videos on YouTube or any must have plugins? I have a mate who runs a studio but asking him questions is like speaking in Swahili, hard to get him to dumb it down :confused:
I'm not familiar with 'Reaper' but all DAW's are simply variations of the same theme.
If I remember the proper driver was named 'FocusriteUSBInstallerW10AU.exe'
Once installed it takes the role of the computers soundcard.
If Reaper (or any other software) doesn't find and install it automatically, you should be able to set it under that programs 'preferences'.
[edit] O.K. I downloaded the freeware Reaper to test it out.
Voila!!
Attachment 30216
cheers, Mark.
yea, I wont have the interface till next week ( too expensive locally) , just hoping to play with some files in the meantime.
Reaper's a pretty good DAW but the learning curve is a bit steep (the makers offer a $60 non-commercial license), if you're after a free DAW you could give Audacity a go, also, be sure to do a trawl of the internet for free vst plugins cause there are some pretty good ones out there, I'm currently using the following DAW software, FL Studio 20, Reason 10, and Ableton Live standard 9.7.
I'm using a Scarlett 2i2 audio interface with my new laptop, works great.
You can find some pretty good free amp vst plugins on the internet, as well as bass amp plugins too.
Once you get your new audio interface up and running, a good idea is to just spend some time familiarizing yourself with it, do lots of simple recordings even if they don't sound the greatest, like riding a bicycle the more you do it the better you get at it.
I still have some old recordings I made with a basic computer sound card and an old copy of Soundforge.
Oh yeah, good onya mate.
You can also try 'Audacity' which is another free program https://www.audacityteam.org/download/
I tried out a few of them and they all involve a learning curve just to do basic recording.
I stick to Cakewalk Sonar X2 as it's become so familiar with experience.
Having said that, I just downloaded the free version of 'Reaper' and with a bit of stumbling around it's off the ground.
Attachment 30217
cheers, Mark.
Funnily enough I already had Audcity installed, I used it to edit(removing silences ect) MP3's that I use in DJing, had totally forgot it is a DAW :P
Oh you’re going to have a ball. Can’t help with the PC daws, I’ve had a muck around in all of the ones mentioned here, but I’m so used to GarageBand I’ll probably stick with it forever.
I need to start doing something with Garageband. I've had it forever but never really done anything but noodle with it.
I've been using it since V1.0. If you have any questions chances are I can answer them. It's really an amazing piece of software. The virtual drummers alone are just awesome. A good way to get your head around it is to set up a backing track of a song you know (something like Claptons Cocaine is a good choice) do the drums, bass and rhythm and presto you've got a track to jam along to. I'll often just loop up an 8 bar progression and noodle away. It will record a heap of takes.. maybe as many as 20. Then you can chop them all up into a song and sound like you really know what you are doing.Quote:
Originally Posted by FrankenWashie
Reaper is a really powerful tool, and comes with a very extensive set of plugins as standard. It's really processor efficient and has a small footprint. $60 for a non-professional license gives you a full featured Daw that's as good as anything else and probably better for video, licensed for the duration of a major release.
And the trial version will, realistically, last as long as you need it to, you just hit 'keep evaluating'. There's a good and active support forum too.
But...
The learning curve can be quite steep. Right-click is your friend! On another forum a friend described it as a journey from 'Aaagh!' to 'Ahh!" as he figured out how to use it.
The manual is a bit marmite. Some people like it, I find it very frustrating and really not all that helpful. But it is there and does cover a lot.
The interfaces for the included plug-ins are very basic. Almost non-existent really. On the positive side, this means you tend to have to trust your ears. On the negative side, it can make figuring out how to use some of them properly very frustrating.
I went to it a few years ago from an old version of Cubase and am a committed user now. I think the value for money can't be beaten.
But YMMV (as I believe the young people used to say).
Going the same direction this week, Dedman. Picking up a new (to me) computer tonight, and an interface probably this weekend. Also going the Reaper route. Read a lot of great things about it.
Finally ditching the Roland VS1824CD machine. It's been good to me, but time to move on.
Audacity isn't really a full DAW. It's useful for editing the odd file but it comes with limited tools and lacks a whole raft of features that you get with a proper DAW, even the cut-down versions. You can only create a few tracks, so it's really best left alone f you want to be creative.
Reaper is great if you 'get it', but I've always been a Cubase user and though I've tried Reaper a couple of times I've always given up swearing in frustration at how illogical it all is and nothing is in the right place. Cubase is probably the one I know that's most like using a mixer. But you do have to be prepared to keep shelling out if you want to move on to the next version, so Reaper is one of the cheapest starting points (though it's easy to spend a fortune on plug-ins).
I'd suggest starting with a cut-down version of a DAW until you find your way around, but Reaper has no cut-down version, so it is very much being thrown straight in at the deep end and hoping you manage to swim to the side.
I've been using Reaper for a few years now after having a hate / hate relationship with Cubase and not getting into Protools or Cakewalk at all ( have the grey hair to show for the effort with those I don't use )
I have a bunch of 3rd party plugins but the native Reaper ones are the ones that do all the work, Reaper has more native plugins than you can poke a stick at and the main ones I use are EQ, Comp, Delay, Verb & Trem, I also have Kuassa Vermillion as an amp sim that I find meets my needs. ( also use Reatune because 70+ year old voices don't quite hit the notes like they did 40 years ago :D )
It doesn't really matter which DAW you finish up with, it's the creation of templates and workflow that is the answer to a maidens prayer.
Focusrite Solo comes with a Comp and EQ that look pretty good but haven't done much with them yet and there's also a few extra bits of software that have extended trial which I haven't installed.
Feel free to fire Reaper questions my way and I'll help where I can.
We have an album recorded & mixed in Reaper coming out in the next couple of weeks and another 50 tracks well under way
I hope there'll be an appropriate promotional link for the album here Dave? ;)
Likewise happy to chip in on any Reaper questions if I can help. :)
Oh yes, and if it's the standard focusrite scarlett compressor, I rather like it.
"looks around the room shamefully"
I use an old Digidesign Mbox2, bought off eBay for pennies. It does everything I want it to do and I'm now wondering what the differences are from the newer generation of interfaces? It came with no software, but I downloaded the drivers and it hooks into Garageband seamlessly and performs its' tasks very well.... as far as I know!
I do very basic recording - just layer the tracks in, alter levels and position in the stereo spectrum etc. - and wish to take up Sonics' offer of assistance with Garageband as I'm very much the fumbler at this.... :-)
Well ask away. There is a lot to cover, so if you are trying to do or find something specific let me know.
There certainly will be DrewQuote:
Originally Posted by blinddrew
The A/D and D/A converters of today are a step up from the ones available in 2005 when it was released. Clocking and jitter rates have improved considerably, which probably matters if making a commercial release, but for own entertainment purposes, it won't. The Mbox 2 wasn't a basic interface, so differences will be smaller than with some other interfaces of the period, but you might notice a slight improvement in the quality of your recordings with a new interface. But you may also notice differences simply because the pre-amps won't be the same.Quote:
Originally Posted by corsair
The USB1.1 connection limited the maximum sample rate to 48kHz. Which isn't a problem for most people, but a USB2 or USB3 based interface allows more input channels, higher sampling rates (if you really feel it's that important) and normally reduced latency (though that does depend on the interface and the quality of the drivers).
The Mbox2 doesn't have a huge amount of gain available (40dB). Fine for condenser mics and dynamic mics on loud sources (like a loud guitar cab), but less so for dynamic and ribbon mics on vocals other quieter applications. You have to turn the gain right up to get a reasonable signal, which adds noise to the signal. If you are using dynamics, then an AI (audio interface) with an available gain of 60dB or more should allow you to provide sufficient gain for a reasonable signal level without having to be right up in the last 10dB of gain, when extra noise normally creeps in.
I'm using a MOTU Traveller which was also a 2005 design and is still fine for my needs. It's got 8 ins and outs (just 4 mic pres though), a reasonable sound, 60dB of digitally controlled gain (so easy to match levels if recording with mics in a stereo set-up), and has been very reliable (apart from one big glitch that required a factory reset to clear). It's Firewire, so it's not of much use to anyone else now, but it's still fine for me. I keep thinking about updating, but as I do so little actual recording, I then think 'why bother?' Before anything else , i need to try and improve my 'studio' with better desk positioning and an attempt at some acoustic treatment.
Thanks, Simon!
Hey Dedman, I do all my crappy recordings using REAPER. Couldn't be happier with it. I must admit that I didn't find the learning curve too bad, but I haven't even scratched the surface yet, and probably never will. I just wanted a bog standard DAW.
You can Demo it for free, I think. It will give you a nag screen after a month or so. Their upgrade path is a bit hard to explain but for $60 you get 2 complete version upgrades. I bought mine at v4.8 (I think) about 3 years ago and it is now on v5.9, so at v6 I will have to fork out another $60, which I will do gladly. But v6 will be released shortly so if you can make do with the demo until then, and then buy v6 instead of v5.9 it should be good for several years.
Join the REAPER Forums. Next to BYOG Forums, they are the best, very friendly, and a goldmine of information.
You should also check out videos from Kenny Goiai - http://www.kennymania.com/reaper-videos/#latest-videos
A fully featured DAW for $60, its a no-brainer. Although I must admit I have spent too much on 3rd party plugins.
rob
p.s. I'm going to post my next sound demo shortly, it has been done with REAPER.
You get two full version releases from where you bought in, I started with Reaper 3.x and had to send another $60.00US when it went to 5.x
As I have said elsewhere I had a hate/hate relationship with Cubase, didn't get along with ProTools at all and despite downloading and installing it couldn't see the point in changing to Cakewalk even though it's now free, also wasn't keen on saving into their cloud.
GarageBand and Audacity will also get you out of the blocks at the right price but ultimately don't have the features you will want not long after you get into it
Also to add, join TDPRI and lurk the Recording In Progress sub forum, there are many very skilled recording dudes there who will offer a lot of help with the "black art" of recording & production.
Some of those very skilled dudes do this stuff for a living who are more than generous with their advice ( Bob Womack to name but one )
Thanks for the heads-up Dave. I visit TDPRI quite regularly and didn't know about their Recording Forums. Will take a visit
Hides down in Other Discussion ForumsQuote:
Originally Posted by robin
well, my work station died before the interface even arrived so....stalled
Bumma Deddie
head - desk - interface
Sorry to hear that.
Recoverable? Or doornails?
Don't feel too ashamed. I've been dragging myself kicking and screaming into the 21st century. Trying to do it with as little budgetary impact as possible. Bought a $200 Dell 23" all-in-one off FB Marketplace, $130 Behringer 4-channel interface, $60 Reaper DAW, $260 Monoprice powered nearfield monitors and sub, and $150 EZdrummer 2 that I downloaded last night.Quote:
Originally Posted by corsair
because it IS my workstation every thing was backed up, but now comes the tedious task of installing the many programs , utilities and libraries as well as the fun of trying to remember passwords for umpteen web sites :confused:
Bugger. If you use chrome while logged into google it should remember most of your passwords.
When I switched to PC for work is was a very tedious task transferring all my passwords over as I'd been using Safari on the Mac.
You’re all speaking gibberish. Have we been sniffing the solvents or spraying without respirators? 😜
I keep meaning to do something in this line, but never get around to it. I’m flat out just finding time to finish builds, never mind playing and then practicing to be able to play well enough to actually record something without cringing.
its fascinating stuff, but I fear it amounts to another squirrel I don’t need to chase just now!
To be serious for a moment, having a recording regime helps enormously in gaining improvement to playing.Quote:
Originally Posted by FrankenWashie
With the advent of technology, (once it's set up of course) it's so easy to record take after take with minimal wasted time.
The task of playing along with a backing track cements the idea of good timing and hand/ear co-ordination.
Also critically listening back to your work (recorders are pitilessly objective) helps greatly in improvement.
cheers, Mark.
Yeah, it really is great for making backing tracks. The big downfall for me is in songwriting. Previously, I would have to really learn the progressions, lead breaks etc and write the lyrics simultaneously, then practice it over and over to cement it in my head.
Now I can bang out a song structure and I only have to worry about getting the progression right once, and I can just loop it. Same with solos, I can just record 10 takes and stitch together the best bits and not actually have to learn it properly.
If I ever want to play it live I have to go back and learn it all again from my recording, so in that sense it's made me lazy.
Hell of a lot of fun though and pretty easy to make yourself sound way better than you are :)
Frankie, luckily or unluckily I have about 6months of the year where it's too hot for me to work on builds, hopefully this will encourage me to play more. I'm just setting up the new puter today, as the weather cools off and I can back to whats on the bench LOL
All good points gents, i have garageband in my Mac but i've never really used it.
Perhaps it's time to start eh?
This I find a problem, we have recorded a truckload of stuff ( over 60 original tracks in the past 18 months ) and I have to go back and learn all of the guitar parts I've done.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sonic Mountain
Yeah it's annoying. I also find myself doing things that I find difficult to replicate after ward. I'm reasonable at playing and singing (I mean I can keep time and melody, but my voice is very ordinary) but writing this way will often let me record a melody that is very difficult to sing over the progression. But really, I'm not any performing at the moment and Garageband is a hell of a lot easier than trying to find a rehearsal space and 3 other musicians to play with.Quote:
Originally Posted by dave.king1
It's really easy to use and heaps of fun, but hard to explain. Do you have an interface? On the older macs you can just line in without one and it works fine.Quote:
Originally Posted by FrankenWashie
Even just opening it and creating a guitar track, you'll see there are a stack of great presets, but you can also fool around with virtual amps and pedals for ages. Add a drum track, again heaps of presets and away you go. The virtual drummer is one of the best things ever for having a bedroom studio.
I've resisted sharing my soundcloud, but I might as well, these are all at least a year old and I'm learning all the time, but might give you a bit of an idea whats possible. The only thing I don't play in these tracks are the Drums, but I arrange them and tweak the virtual drummer. Excuse the mixes...something I've been focusing on improving lately.
If you just want to hear one generic rock instrumental:
https://soundcloud.com/magicbullets/drive
Couple of others here:
https://soundcloud.com/magicbullets