 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Rob W
Date: 2003-02-08 02:26
Does anyone here have any suggestions for software packages, hardware, etc, in order to make a recording to be burned on CD?
I've been wanting to do this for a while, but if I'm going to do it, I want to do it right, and if at all possible--cheaply. Any advice would be very much appreciated!
Rob
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jenna
Date: 2003-02-08 03:17
Tough to do well without inviesting a lot of money, in my experience. It's far easier to be a trumpet player and use a Silent Brass hooked through to the computer. Then run a keyboard into the computer for accompaniment.
I recently used a Silent Brass, actually wedged into my bell. It worked well enough. Lacked a lot of volume, mainly because of the nature of the instrument. If you wanted to invest a lot of time into the mixing of different notes and parts it would probably do well enough. Especially if there is someone you could borrow the Silent Brass from.
I'm sure others will have far better ideas and advice, so good luck. =)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bo
Date: 2003-02-08 03:19
I have Cakewalk, but am short on cash for a new sound card. If I had one, I would most likely get the Delta 1010 by Midiman. Go to http://www.midiman.com/products/m-audio/delt1010.php to see the card. It comes highly recommended. You will also need at least one decent microphone. I like Shure. Once you have a CD burner and a bunch of hard drive space (I have an 80 gig sitting there wiating to be used) and plenty of memory (at least 256mb ram), you are ready to go. Good luck.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bo
Date: 2003-02-08 03:23
OK...my double English degree holding wife says I should have gone with my first hunch...it was decent. I am a bit anal, can you tell?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bo
Date: 2003-02-08 03:24
I don't even want to hear it about the "wiating".
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ron b
Date: 2003-02-08 04:03
This is not a spelling bee, no need to mull over the small stuff
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Hans
Date: 2003-02-08 14:44
I record to tape (cassette) first, then use a Pioneer PDR-609 CD Recorder (not a computer CD-R/RW) to copy the tape to CD. The PDR-609 requires Audio CDs, which are more expensive than computer CDs, but the Audio CD-RWs can be copied using a computer and then erased for reuse about 1000 times.
Also for copying my old LPs to CD, it's easier than hooking everything up to my PC and there is no software involved. The CD recorder unit is not cheap but it's very simple to use. In Canada the PDR-609 cost around $250, in U.S. dollars, two years ago so it's probably cheaper now. If you live near the border, it is sometimes cheaper to buy things in Canada.
The results are good.
Hans
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: bob hoit
Date: 2003-02-08 15:25
Well the first thing you are goign to need to do it well is a good mic. This is one of the most crucial bits, because without it no matter how much software you have it still wont sound good. the good news is that u can get a very nice one for under 200 usd. I currently use a Rode 92 or somesuch, but i used a sure beta 4.2 for the longest time. I would say no matter what use a condensor mic.
ok after that. you need a way to get it into the computer. This depends on what kind of computer you have, what your soundcard already is and how much money you want to spend to do it. I record on my laptop and use a roland UA-30 to get the sound into the beast.
(one of my next projects is to upgrade that). pro sound cards can run to the ridiculously expensive, but depending on what you need it to do... you cna probably get by with a top of the line soundblaster or a turtle beach sound card... the main thing is somethign that will record at at least 48khz and 32 bits. this is standard adat level recording(cds are at 441khz and 16 bits... to burn to cd u will have to convert your sound files, but i think they sound better when originally recorded at the higher rate.) you can get something like this for probably aroudn 200 usd.
software.
if all you are interested in is recording yourself doign solo pieces or with prerecorded tracks(tape pieces or music minus one tracks) i would probably go with something like pro tools or its cheaper brother cool edit pro. i have been using cool edit for many yars and find that it is possible to do pretty much anythign with it.. if u have the time and inclination to do so. you can edit wave forms and mix and match between takes(jsut like they would in a studio) it takes soem effort to master, but is worth it.. the price tag on that is aroudn 400 if i am not mistaken.. i got my copy a long long time ago... price may have changed and they have a second edition out now that look svery intriguing.
and any regular cd burner will do the trick to put your masterpiece onto cd.
there are of course other considerations... you will need at least 60 gigs of harddrive space if u want to seriosuly record. the rule of thumb i always work by is that it always takes longer and more harddrive space than you think it will. somethign about pushing that record button...
as far as mixers and what not are concerned.. they are nice and cna make a difference, but you can do leveling inside cool edit as well as tweak with the equilizer.. of course it is not quite as fun as having sliders
all in all, u can set yourself up a reasonably professional studio for under 1k.. if all u want to do is record yourself or yourself with piano... if you want to do other stuff.. you are goign to need more mics and ways to get that into the computer.
good luck and happy recording
bob
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Eddie
Date: 2003-02-08 15:34
You need:
Computer
CD-R drive [w/burning software, usually included]
Microphone [possibly with a mike preamp, depends on the mike]
Sound card with input [99% of computers have one]
recording software ["sound recorder" included with windows, mac probably has something similar].
Better software will help you with editing and more complex tasks. [The windows software is awkward to use in a non-linear way.] I use ntrack (www.ntrack.com) to do multitrack recording. Your sound card may come with better software too.
Better software, mike, sound card etc are nice but the above should get you started. Basic procedure is to make .wav files and tell your CD burning software to burn them.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Benni
Date: 2003-02-08 16:24
Jenna mentioned about the Silent Brass and its limitations on clarinet (due to the fact that not all of our notes come right out of the bell). On eBay, I have occasionally seen old Selmer BTs and CTs with an extra barrel that has a pickup for a mic or a PA system in it. I've never had any experience with one of these barrels, but theoretically it's a very good idea. Maybe you could find one of these barrels by itself . . . ?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2003-02-08 17:56
Never mind all the software, CD recording, mixers, mikes, DAT recorders, or whatever ...
If you don't have good acoustics (and a piano in the room) everything else is moot. The basics (to the human ear) have to be there. Adding effects after (electronically) are for the most part a really bad idea. Professional recording engineers might be able to fix up some of the sound, but even then <b>they</b> make mistakes ... especially in the "electronic enhancement".
I remember a recording sent in for a competition. The contestant used a studio and a prefessional engineer for the recording. They added a bit of reverb to the recording to possible "enhance"it.
It ended up detracting considerably from the performance.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: John Elison
Date: 2003-02-08 19:48
I also wanted to record myself and I considered buying a portable DAT like the TASCAM DA-P1, but the price was just more than I wanted to pay. So, it occurred to me that I could simply buy an inexpensive mixer and microphone to use with my existing CD recorder. This proved to be an excellent solution for me.
I bought a Behringer Eurorack MX602A from MusciansFriend.com for $59.99 and I also bought a couple of Nady CM-88 electret condenser microphones for $49.99 each. The mixer provides 48-volt phantom power for the microphones and the combination offers unbelievably high quality for the price. I’m really impressed with the recordings.
I have several music books with CD accompaniment and I got the idea to record some of these songs by running the line-level signal from my CD player into the mixer while simultaneously listening to the accompaniment on headphones and playing into the microphone. It’s possible to produce some really professional sounding recordings using this technique.
Best regards,
John Elison
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Alex
Date: 2003-02-08 20:49
Look into the Digidesign MBox. It runs about $450 and comes with the full version of ProTools. Quite a nice audio suite, and it can handle 2 audio inputs (or as many as you like if you hook it up to a mixer) and attaches to a PC or Mac via a USB port. It's a full professional-quality audio processor, and quite easy to bounce to a CD-recordable track.
http://www.digidesign.com/products/mbox
Be sure to find out if it's compatible with your computer first (for PC users, requires Windows XP :( )
-Alex
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Nick
Date: 2003-02-08 22:19
Another approach is possible, too... minidisc. This is what nearly all of my friends use (here at peabody) for their application cds for camps and such. If you want a truly professional 'mastered' sound then you will indeed have to spend a lot of money. But minidisc is relatively inexpensive (I use a sony 707 with the 907 sony stereo mic) and it produces clear, accurate recordings that aren't that unflattering. Then you just trasfer the files to the pc and burn the cd right off. Simple.
Nick
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Stéphane
Date: 2003-02-09 07:42
Nick,
I do own a Sony 707 too, but using the USB connection to the PC, the software won't allow you to transfer files from the MD to the PC, while you can do it the opposite way, from the PC to the MD, which I find completely useless. I guess Sony did it to avoid pirate recordings to be transferred onto CDs.
So, how do you "just transfer" the files from your 707 to the pc as you're saying, using other line in to the PC?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: werner
Date: 2003-02-09 10:46
I own a Sony MZ-R700.
Digital file transfer in direction
PC is not possible (digital copy protection).
But analog transfer works:
(MD Headphone out) --> (Soundcard-Line in)
This connection needs an analog cable with two male fittings.
BTW, the sound-editor audacity is freeware:
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/index.php?lang=en
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2003-02-09 20:11
Interesting anout the Sony (my RZ-55 allows bi-directional). It's actually interesting because MD format is a lossy compression: digital out is not equal to digital in, just a close approximation of the digital in.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Sloss
Date: 2003-02-10 13:51
Rob,
If you buy (last time I checked, anyway) Roxio CD Toast + Jam, you get Bias Peak LE as a freebie, which is pretty decent for 2-track recording. It will also accomodate VST plugins. As far as inexpensive interfaces, get something with USB and you won't have to crack the case on your computer to get going. There are a number of boxes in the sub-$500 category that even have mic pres onboard. If you are a little more discerning, the absolute best low cost mic pres you will find are in Mackie's VLZ-series mixers. They make a little one (1202VLZ I believe) that might fit the bill.
Mic(s) are critical, but price point determines what you are looking for.
If you have a clearer description of what you are trying to achieve and how much $$$ you want to spend, email me and I'll see if I can help.
Mark.
Northbranch Records
Splendid Isolation Studios
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Eileen
Date: 2003-02-10 21:28
This is a little off track but what are the advantages/disadvantages of a CD recorder (hook up to stereo) versus a CD writer (computer)? I just have a 56K modem dial up at home so downloading from the internet isn't a priority. I want to be able to copy my own CDs and CDs from friends and maybe do some recording. Which one should I buy?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Hans
Date: 2003-02-10 22:13
Eileen,
Here is what comes to mind:
CD recorder (hook up to stereo) advantages
- can record from another CD player, record player, tape, or even live broadcasts
- almost as easy as recording to a cassette deck
CD recorder disadvantages
- cost of acquisition is greater than computer CD recorder
- cost of blank media is relatively high, although this can be mitigated by using audio CD-RW and copying to data CD-R on a computer, then re-using the audio CD-RW
Computer CD writer advantages
- can be used to store computer data, photos, etc. as well as make copies of music CDs
- extremely low cost of acquisition
- extremely low cost of media
- copying CDs is very simple
Computer CD writer disadvantages
- live recording (I have not tried it) looks more complicated. I recall that Mark has pointed out previously that the computer's ambient noise is likely to be a problem and most people don't keep their computers in a room with suitable acoustics for recording
I have found it useful to have both technologies; if I could have only one, it would be the computer CD writer.
I hope this helps,
Hans
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Sloss
Date: 2003-02-11 13:58
Eileen,
First and foremost, the computer-based solution, unless you add purpose-built hardware, is not an audio device. If you are ripping CDs the PC is great, but if you want to record LPs or yourself playing, you will have to add parts and software to get a satisfactory outcome. It doesn't end up being the "cheap" solution if you want the same utility as the "hook up to stereo" type deck.
Best of all worlds is a "pro" CD recording deck. They are now available at sub-$500 price points, as Hans said they can be used like a tape deck, and the bonus is they use the cheapo computer CDRs. Pretty cool all the way around.
Mark.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: MC
Date: 2003-02-11 16:13
I also use minidisc. Didn't like the results of the analog transfer from MD to my PC, so I bought a minidisc "drive" (also by Sony) that has digital out. Now I can get bidirectional digital transfers. I'm not sure if Sony still makes the drive or not. I bought mine through Crutchfield.com (it was a customer return, so I was able to get a great price).
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
