I'm going to start this question in guitar and move it if needs be.
As part of my getting back to feeling the inspiration for guitar playing, I want to get set up to make some recordings. I have an iMac running iOS 10.11.6 and have a Zoom G3x (which can be a sound card I think). I am happy to buy an audio interface and know I will need a DAW of some kind (can I use Garageband - do I want to?).
I would prefer as close to PnP as possible, but recognise that this has been done before and I am reasonably able to follow tech instructions if people can help..... so, what is the best way to start recording?
I would prefer not to have cables strewn around my small office / music emporium, so, when recording, is it possible to have the sounds playing through the PC speakers rather than linking in to an amp (if i need monitors then which?).
BTW - I tried downloading Reaper and connecting the Zoom by USB (with drivers) but although I could see the Zoom input I couldn't get any sound from the PC either from recordings, or while playing guitar.
Thanks
Comments
(er, and it's free..)
A fairly cheap and simple USB interface will do - others will be along to recommend (I use my Helix) or (dare I say it) a Katana would be a good cheap option..
Get some headphones too..
Recording is, frankly, brilliant.
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Just because you're paranoid, don't mean they're not after youActually looking at most of the tutorials they are overly complicated. If you haven't sussed this out yet then PM me and I will send a step by step but your Zoom G3 should be identified By Mac OSX within Reaper straight out of the box. However when you open reaper you will need to click on Options (top menu) --> Preferences -> In the audio section click on device --> You should see you zoom G3 device (that will play back too). --> OK --> then from the menu at the top insert new track --> Name the track immediately by clicking in the black text field between the brown round button and the silver volume control that (all this appears in the left hand side) Call it something like Rhythm1. Now arm the track by clicking on the round brown circle on the left of the text field you just named Rhythm1. When you hit a note you should see the recording levels flicker up and down with volume.
At the bottom of the black panel on the left there is a similar brown round button (cmd + R) to record hit that to record and press space bar to finish.
I can do screen grabs but not easy on TFB - let me know if you need further help.
1) If you are recording an acoustic instrument or your voice via a microphone, any sound played via the computer's built-in loudspeakers will be captured by that microphone. (Spill.)
2) Whenever a sound source is fed via the monitor loudspeakers back to the microphone that originally captured it, there is a possibility of howl round feedback.
3) The built-in loudspeakers of most computers lack the full range frequency reproduction capability necessary for critical monitoring.
The lack of low frequency response in built-in computer loudspeakers will tempt you to lay on more low end is actually necessary/desirable for the music that you are making.
Similarly, the intentional bass boost designed into many external 2.1 loudspeaker systems will cause you to think that you have more low frequency content in your music than has actually been recorded.
I did it this way for a year then moved on to logic for Mac with ezdrummer 2 and it’s been all I’ve needed ( except talent obviously, that I’m still waiting for).
Good point about the spill, I thought the internal microphone was / could be disabled in the PC or Reaper settings?
Don't underestimate some of the stand alone DAW's that can be bought very cheaply. I ditched my computer based recording set up and went back to a KORG D16 that outputs digital files for cleaning up on Audacity and then re-imported for mix down back into the D16.
It's a very clean and inexpensive set up that cuts out the endless fiddling/tinkering/crashing that a computer based DAW can cause.
Now I think reaper will let you check an option to use separate input and output devices, but doesn't recommend it. So you could set zoom as input device and 'built in audio' as output.
Or, I think that they prefer that you create an 'aggregate device' in OSX which can combine 2 interfaces, but I never got that to work using my helix and focusrite interfaces together
- Yes, Garageband is absolutely fine for your purposes. There are more feature rich programs available, but I would wager that GB will do everything you want it to and more at this stage. There are great tutorials out there on YouTube etc for GB with it being so widely used.
- I don't know anything about the Zoom but I use a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 interface and it does everything I need it to. It has mic and guitar inputs so you’re covered for guitars, either direct in or micd, and vocals. Takes power from the computer so no power cables needed just a single usb to the computer. Hardly any setup was needed, just plug in to the computer, fire up GB and go.
- I use a £20 pair of Logitech desktop speakers which are connected to my laptop via the headphone socket. They work perfectly for monitoring for my purposes and are light years ahead of the built in laptop speakers. I will get some decent headphones eventually I expect.
I actually bought some £150 monitor speakers and prefer the setup I have with the cheap PC speakers. The monitors were bulky and far too loud for my small home ‘bedroom’ style setup.
YMMV but I can’t see why you’d need expensive professional monitor speakers for simple home recording purposes - of course depends on your goal but as a beginner just looking to make clips to share with family and friends, and as an aid to practice, my £20 speakers do a great job.
https://www.pmtonline.co.uk/m-audio-studiophile-av-32-powered-monitors?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&gclid=CjwKCAiA6K_QBRA8EiwASvtjZeCJI7Zz3I0JeVKIsqpRseVbmc0yvonilWJxf5BQFVPBVQ1JhclwsBoCGT8QAvD_BwE
They sound great and are perfect for just using as good computers speakers when you're not recording.
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Just because you're paranoid, don't mean they're not after youI would thoroughly recommend the small Presonus interfaces. They come with a slimmed down version of their incredibly easy to use DAW "Studio One" so you get all the components you need to get started. The upgrade path from there is easy if you get into it and want to progress but there is more than enough to get going that is included for "free".
A decent set of headphones will get you going as well if you wanted to wait before getting monitors. All the "experts" will say you can't monitor through stereo/hi fi speakers and, while they are right and they aren't ideal, if you aren't tracking loud sources and are using them purely as playback monitors there's no reason why you can't use anything you already have. Saying that, there are some very reasonably priced studio monitors these days and there are always used ones on the usual classified pages and sites.
Bottom line; don't let the gear, or lack of it, stop you! Get a small interface and GO!
I've been a long time Cakewalk user, in various guises. I've recently started using Reaper - what I found with Cakewalk was that I was getting bogged down in the process of recording rather than actual creation of music. Somehow, Reaper - even though it's cheaper and maybe less feature rich - got me producing end results more quickly.
I quite like what @@Wolfetone has to say about the physical mixer - that's a good idea, and I'm actually tempted by it. Although I suspect I'll still be sucked back into the digital world.
I use a Focusrite DSP Pro24, by the way, which is excellent, and not hideously expensive. And a couple of M-Audio monitors, again not mega bucks.
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I learnt most of what I know from reading Sound on Sound articles, and a couple of books by the excellent Paul White who writes for the magazine. You won't be disappointed if you buy one of his books.
Reaper does all the basics but doesn't have all the built in stuff that some of the others do. When I was using Logic, it had built in (crappy) amp simulation. It had built in drum loop stuff. The version I had came on something like 8 DVDs most of which were sound samples.
Reaper does have a basic set of plugins like compression, reverb etc built in but it doesn't have the complex stuff. Given that most people use 3rd party plugins anyway it's not a huge issue.
With my physical recorder, everything is a little more in my face and easy to access. I discovered that I can focus more on the music rather than the method of making it. When I have the raw files, I export them to Audacity, normalise, trim, silence, compress and any other things I have to do and then import them for mix down and final polish.
My experience will possibly be anathema to those that are completely settled in the full on computer based workflow but I find that my method is just a bit more accessible for me.
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself