home recording advice

[Jim Waldrop]

I have been playing non-pedal for about 16 months and need to start recording my practice/playing sessions to check my progress or lack thereof. I just need something reasonable to record digitally where I can download into my computer. I know nothing about this. Can anyone suggest some recording equipment I can buy? Thanks

[Tony Prior]

Jim, there are many threads where the discussion was built around the small portable MP3/Wave recorders such as the Zoom H2. Nice unit, records in MP3/Wave and has on board mics. You can pull the SD card or transfer the music files by USB.

It sounds like this would be a good place to start.

good luck

t

[Jim Waldrop]

Thanks Tony

[Doug Beaumier]

I use a FREE download called Audacity. I used it to record all of my mp3s linked at the bottom of this reply.

[Jim Waldrop]

Thanks Doug. Would I just purchase a good microphone and record into the audacity software? If so how would I connect to the computer? Through a USB port? Forgive these dumb questions but I don't know a single thing about this.

[Doug Beaumier]

If you just want to record your lap steel, no mic is necessary. Just patch your guitar into the 'line in' on the back of your computer and set the input on Audacity for line in. (The input selector in Audacity will not work on some systems, or with some integrated sound cards). Or you can patch into a reverb or whatever effect you want and then into computer. If you want a backing track try band-in-a-box. That's what I use.

[Lee Gillespie]

Great sound Doug.... and your a fine picker.
I've gone the route you mentioned but cant get the clarity that you get. I use Guitar Tracks pro as my recording board. Believe me I have tried many different things and still not getting the great sound your getting. Keep up the good work... Lee Sound card maybe>>>>???? Hmmmmm???

[Doug Beaumier]

Thanks Lee, I usually record without a volume pedal to get a punchier sound, except on slow stuff. My chain goes like this: steel ---> black box (tube filter)---> delay ---> into computer.

Here's another one, Emmons push/pull: Invitation to the Blues

[Jim Waldrop]

Doug, one last dumb question. Do I just run a cable from one of the send jacks on my PV NV 112 into the line in jack on my computer? My computer is a Dell with Windows XP software if that makes any difference. Thanks a lot for the good advice .

[Doug Beaumier]

Do I just run a cable from one of the send jacks on my PV NV 112 into the line in jack on my computer?

I guess you could do it that way, but I don't use an amp to record. I go into the effects and then into the computer and I monitor through the computer speakers. You might want to try steel guitar---> reverb (or delay, or other effect)---> into computer. I see that you are playing non-pedal steel. When I record non-pedal steel I usually don't use a volume pedal.

Maybe the first thing you should do is patch your lap steel directly into the line in of your computer to make sure that the recording software is receiving the signal from the guitar. Then add effects to the chain before you record.

[Jim Waldrop]

I will patch the steel directly into the computer as you suggested. Thanks very much for all the help.

[Al Marcus]

Doug-I just heard your sleepy lagoon. very nice and the tone was very good. How do you just pick out the bass and rythm, from BIAB? I don't seem able to mute out the instruments and leave just what I want. I usually use MGU and mute the melody.But am not getting the affect you are.Thanks...al.:)

Direct Email address.. almarcus@cmedic.net

[Doug Beaumier]

Thanks Al, the volume of each instrument in BIAB may be turned down or up... or an instrument may be muted completely. To mute an instrument Right click on it. To adjust the volume, "check off" the instrument and put the Volume up or down.

[Al Marcus]

Doug-Thanks, the manual is so thick and daunting, that I just wont go through it all. And sometimes they don't put the simplest instructions in them. I will listen to your other URL's when I get the time...al.:)