Recording Software

concertpianist16 · Post by **concertpianist16** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:35 pm

Does anyone out there know a good slightly inexpensive recording software for home use. I'd probably spend up to $50.
But it would be nice if it came with some midi cables. Can midi cables hook up to a laptop? I've never seen the other end of midi cables.
Also does anyone know if I can buy a microphone (a slightly nicer one than $10) at Radio Shack?
And I have an electric accoustic mandolin. I find that recording isn't working out to well. Is there a way to hook it up to my computer?
The stuff I'm looking for in the software is:
1. Easy use
2. Able to mix multiple traks
3. Etc. Etc. I can't think of anything else. Lol

pied_piper · Post by **pied_piper** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 4:12 pm

Give Audacity a try - it's FREE!

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/

concertpianist16 · Post by **concertpianist16** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 9:40 pm

Actually I love Audacity but if I can pay for one it would be nice to buy something that has more features and all that stuff.

fluttiegurl · Post by **fluttiegurl** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:09 pm

To be honest, Audacity is the best home use software that I have found. Good software that does much more than that will run you around $300 and up.

I took a class on MIDI this summer and what I learned was that MIDI is not exactly what I thought it was. I thought MIDI was a way to record live sound on the computer. What I learned was that it is actually a way for the computer to translate sound into something that it knows and understands. To get a true sound out of your computer recordings, you are better off to invest in good mics. You can buy inexpensive mics pretty much anywhere, but they are all designed to do certain functions. That may be why your mandolin is not picking up so well. If you were to decide to go directly into the computer, the cable that you would want for this would be an inexpensive audio cable, not a MIDI. This should go into your laptop.

I hope this helps. I am by no means an expert, but what I learned this summer was definitely enlightening for me. Come to find out, all I needed to get my keyboard to record was a $6 cable from Radio Shack. Go figure!

pied_piper · Post by **pied_piper** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:29 pm

Well, if you really want commercial software, you might look at Adobe Soundbooth CS3, but it lists for about $200 and IMO, you don't get that much more than Audacity. http://www.adobe.com/products/soundbooth/

Also, in your original post, you mentioned using MIDI with a laptop. If your laptop is not equipped with MIDI (most are not), I believe that you can get a USB MIDI adapter that should get any MIDI keyboard or other MIDI device working with a laptop, but that won't help for recording the other instruments.

For a microphone, you get what you pay for. So, if you want exceptional quality, expect to pay a bunch.

If your mandolin has a pickup like an electric guitar, you may need a preamp to get the output level high enough for recording on a line-in input.

concertpianist16 · Post by **concertpianist16** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:50 pm

Well thanks. My mandolin has a 1/4 inch jack, but my laptop has a 1/8 inch jack (or the normal headphone size)
Does anyone know the cost of a preamp?

Phineas · Post by **Phineas** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 6:40 am

Here is what you will need to do it right, and it will not cost a lot.

Ntrack studio does audio, and midi. You can use it for free, and the full version is around 65 dollars.

http://ntrack.com/

Next thing that would be good is a USB sound interface. Here is one for example, but there are many to choose from. Expect to spend anywhere from $30 dollars, to $500 USD.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=241228

Here is one I HIGHLY recommend.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=241406

This is the one I use for portable work. This interface has Midi, SPDIF, and Phantom power for condencer mics.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=241710

Do this, and you will be all set! Anything less would not be good. You could buy an adapter, however the mic input on the laptop is not really suited for instruments.

I hope this helps.

Phineas

concertpianist16 · Post by **concertpianist16** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 11:34 am

Thanks I was wondering the ad says guitar but I play the mandolin better and use it more often is this going to work with the mandolin as well?

Phineas · Post by **Phineas** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 9:20 pm

It will REALLY work with any instrument that has a pickup. So yes, it will work with the mandolin. Any interface will work as long as it is made to accept an instrument level input. You will like the Line6 because of the cool sounds you can make with it!

Phineas

etgohomeok · Post by **etgohomeok** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 6:48 pm

I've had experience with Cubase, an expensive program, and Audacity. In the end, I got rid of Cubase and I use Audacity. It is better than anything you'll find under thousands of dollars.

concertpianist16 · Post by **concertpianist16** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 10:13 pm

Audacity is having a problem! It won't record unless the headphone volume is turned all the way down. So I can't hear the music when I'm recording multiple lines. Has anyone else experienced this problem.