Audacity/Reaper

JAYJO · February 2014

Im thinking of having a go at using one of these, ive never used a lap to for recording or phrase training etc, so i was wondering what else do i need to get up and running. (leads etc)

I have a Guitar and a lap top and thats it! . Thanks in advance

ThePrettyDamned · February 2014

You need an interface and either a mic or software to give you a sound.

So you plug a mic into the interface and record with that, or you can use software such as POD Farm to plug your guitar straight into the interface and use that.

benmurray85 · February 2014

im a technology idiot but i have a macbook, a focus rite scarlet 2i2, a few mice and i use reaper. I've used a few bits of recording software and for me reaper is comprehensive enough to do what i want but easy enough to use so as now to be too hard for an idiot like me to use.

JAYJO · February 2014

Pod farm how do i go about that? What lead would i need to plug into and interface? Thanks.

.

JAYJO · February 2014

benmurray85 said:

im a technology idiot but i have a macbook, a focus rite scarlet 2i2, a few mice and i use reaper. I've used a few bits of recording software and for me reaper is comprehensive enough to do what i want but easy enough to use so as now to be too hard for an idiot like me to use.

I was thinking about reaper and i am also a techno idiot. I am starting absolutely from scratch and i would like to keep as simple as poss.

Bidley · February 2014

You really need a USB audio interface. Line 6 do a few different models, which come with Pod Farm if you buy brand new. A used M-Audio Fast Track is a fairly cheap and accessible option.

Failing that, some Multi-fx pedals double up as USB interfaces. I use my Zoom G3 as a guitar interface, and it sounds the shit. I think the older Zoom multi-fx have the same capability too.

JAYJO · February 2014

Bidley said:

You really need a USB audio interface. Line 6 do a few different models, which come with Pod Farm if you buy brand new. A used M-Audio Fast Track is a fairly cheap and accessible option.

Failing that, some Multi-fx pedals double up as USB interfaces. I use my Zoom G3 as a guitar interface, and it sounds the shit. I think the older Zoom multi-fx have the same capability too.

Ive got a line 6 jm4 looper, and a boss me 50 and thats it im afraid. A usb audio interface with free pod farm maybe! I will have a google line 6 and see cheers.

benmurray85 · February 2014

JAYJO said:

benmurray85 said:

im a technology idiot but i have a macbook, a focus rite scarlet 2i2, a few mice and i use reaper. I've used a few bits of recording software and for me reaper is comprehensive enough to do what i want but easy enough to use so as now to be too hard for an idiot like me to use.

I was thinking about reaper and i am also a techno idiot. I am starting absolutely from scratch and i would like to keep as simple as poss.

honestly i am a complete idiot when it comes to computer based recording (or intact anything computer based) but i have managed to get some recordings done now. the scarlett came with ableton live which was absolute shite, complete waste of time.

reaper is on a 60 day trial but i think its something like 40 quid at the end of it. well worth it.

JAYJO · February 2014

benmurray85 said:

JAYJO said:

benmurray85 said:

im a technology idiot but i have a macbook, a focus rite scarlet 2i2, a few mice and i use reaper. I've used a few bits of recording software and for me reaper is comprehensive enough to do what i want but easy enough to use so as now to be too hard for an idiot like me to use.

I was thinking about reaper and i am also a techno idiot. I am starting absolutely from scratch and i would like to keep as simple as poss.

honestly i am a complete idiot when it comes to computer based recording (or intact anything computer based) but i have managed to get some recordings done now. the scarlett came with ableton live which was absolute shite, complete waste of time.
reaper is on a 60 day trial but i think its something like 40 quid at the end of it. well worth it.

So do i just download it for the trial ? How do i connect my guitar usb lead? do i need speakers etc. see i told you thick as fck. £40 seems really reasonable so im interested.

Bidley · February 2014

You need an interface. What this is is a box that connects to your PC via USB. It will have various inputs depending on what you buy, most have at least one 1/4 jack input and an XLR input, which you plug your guitar or mic into. You can usually hook speakers/headphones to this, or just use the speakers on your pc.

There are some little mixers that have USB capability too. You can get POD Farm for free, but you get limited effects/models.

Bidley · February 2014

Pour example: http://www.gak.co.uk/en/line6-pod-studio-ux1/18732?gclid=CPv7l4_m7rwCFeXLtAodfAgAkg

JAYJO · February 2014

JAYJO said:

Bidley said:

You really need a USB audio interface. Line 6 do a few different models, which come with Pod Farm if you buy brand new. A used M-Audio Fast Track is a fairly cheap and accessible option.

Failing that, some Multi-fx pedals double up as USB interfaces. I use my Zoom G3 as a guitar interface, and it sounds the shit. I think the older Zoom multi-fx have the same capability too.

Ive got a line 6 jm4 looper, and a boss me 50 and thats it im afraid. A usb audio interface with free pod farm maybe! I will have a google line 6 and see cheer

Bidley said:

Pour example: http://www.gak.co.uk/en/line6-pod-studio-ux1/18732?gclid=CPv7l4_m7rwCFeXLtAodfAgAkg

Thats £80 cheaper than the one i looked at a few mins ago! im tempted now

ecc83 · February 2014

The absolutely cheapest way to do this if you have a "proper" pedal (i.e. NOT "true" bypass!) is the Behringer UCA202 .

The pedal is needed to buffer the input as the 202 is too low for a good tone.

But yes, a proper AI is the best bet. I would suggest the Steinberg UR22 over the 2i2 and again, if cash strapped, a second hand M-A Fast track pro is ideal.

Reaper is good of course but a very useful FREE DAW is Samplitude Silver Cloud. Limited to 8 tracks but that is plenty for the noob.

Dave.

Misterg · February 2014

If *really* cash strapped, the 'Realtone Cable' from the Rocksmith game works fine as an interface - about £25.

JAYJO · February 2014

Thanks everyone though still confused. I may get funds together for the one Bidley linked me too as it seems to be the only one i understand.

digitalscream · February 2014

Dunno if this'll help, but I've just discovered an M-Audio Fast Track in my box of bits. You can have it for £35 posted...

JAYJO · March 2014

digitalscream said:

Dunno if this'll help, but I've just discovered an M-Audio Fast Track in my box of bits. You can have it for £35 posted...

OK. Thanks! pmd.

benmurray85 · March 2014

Put basically, in a way I'd understand so forgive me if I'm teaching you to suck eggs! You need a way of getting your guitar into your laptop then a method of listening back. So as mentioned there's loads of cheap ways if you just wanna record guitar straight to the DAW (reaper?) if you wanna record using mics then you'd generally want something with preamps to warm the sound up?? (I think) which is where you'd look into a better USB interface I think? Listening back-wise you could invest in some monitors off eBay or something or just grab some headphones. Generally your laptop speakers will be shite for this use. This is all VERY general and is completely the limit of my knowledge. Just get stuck in and learn as you go!

LastMantra · March 2014

I think it depends on what you actually hope to achieve.

Bidley · March 2014

@JAYJO that's a great deal from @digitalscream, just what you need too.

benmurray85 · March 2014

LastMantra said:

I think it depends on what you actually hope to achieve.

yeah!

Fez · March 2014

M-Audio stuff is good I also like the Stealth plug from IK Reaper is great.

JAYJO · March 2014

Cheers all. Ive got the deal from digitalscream so i will be starting from there ie M audio fast track. next up i think will be what to go with, Audacity ,Reaper, Pod Farm etc. pros cons please ? All advice appreciated Thanks.

Cacofonix · March 2014

OK.

Install the M-audio software (get it from the M-audio site if you don't get the CD with it).

Then - plug in.

It goes:

Instrument - > cable - > M-Audio - > USB Lead -> computer.

That gets the sound into your machine. Go to control panel and sounds and audio interfaces.

Plan A Set the M-audio as input device and the machine soundcard as output.
Plan B Invest in external speakers and plug those into the M-Audio and you can use the M-Audio for both input and output. Trust me, this is a better plan than plan A, because with plan A you'll get a slight delay in the sound played and the sound heard back. This can be fun, and you'll have a play, but it will be a pain if you want to play along to anything.

Reaper - open up the Tools menu and check the audio interfaces. You need to set the M-Audio as the audio input interface and the PC soundcard as the audio output. This is Plan A but within Reaper.

Then create a new audio track in reaper. Input is (guess it! - M-Audio interface). Output is the PC audio interface.

Set it to "monitor audio" or hit the "record" button in reaper.

Play something - sound!

Press stop in reaper and a waveform should appear. Then go to beginning of track by clicking the back buttons and click the play button. Sound!

Create another audio track and open a backing track into it (reaper manual).

Select the first audio track and delete the waveform. Press record and the backing track should play as you jam along.

Off you go!

If you want to get clever, you can plug an amp modeller into the track you are recording onto (reaper manual) and play with distortion and other effects.

Audacity is pretty much the same, but reaper gives you more flexibility to vary the sound, by adding pretend amps and stuff. Audacity is great, though, for mangling and playing with the sound after you've recorded it.

JAYJO · March 2014

Thank you very much for this info i will refer to it when i get the M audio fast track.

JAYJO · March 2014

Ive got reaper up and running . Ive got an idea of how to record tracks and im looking into how to edit etc. What i have no idea of is the Drum tracks etc. Are there any available with reaper ? (cant see any in the fx folder etc). Do i need to download M drummer or the likes to get drums onto this. What would you recommend for a nooby trying to add drums to a recording with reaper?. Thank you in advance for any help with this Cheers!

Bidley · March 2014

I use this for drums; http://sourceforge.net/projects/drumtrack/

Not the best sounds but it's free and relatively easy to use. Just export the tracks as .wavs, then import them into Reaper (which you can do by dragging and dropping).

JAYJO · March 2014

Bidley said:

I use this for drums; http://sourceforge.net/projects/drumtrack/

Not the best sounds but it's free and relatively easy to use. Just export the tracks as .wavs, then import them into Reaper (which you can do by dragging and dropping).

Thanks mate! will have a go at this tonight.

JAYJO · April 2014

Ive downloaded this and had a look at it.(Drumtrack link!) Is there any tutorials available?, i cant find anything. I will keep tinkering but a few pointers for an absolute noob would be really appreciated cheers!

Bidley · April 2014

What are you looking to do? Make a basic track or export one?

Basically, the grid is your drum sounds. Add a mark to the grid to make that drum sound at that point in the loop. The panel on the left is your settings for that particular loop. If you want to change tempo and/or time signature for the whole song, you can do this in the settings menu. The bar at the top right is your sequencer, highlight the loops you make in the box in the top left (you can create more by clicking the '+' button above it, you can also name the loops here too), then click the boxes in the sequencer. You can use this to arrange your loops into a song.

Exporting I'll explain as best I can when I get home, I need the program in front of me really... Hope all this helps, I'm not the best at explaining stuff. The key is to mess around with the grid until you can make a standard beat, everything will fall into place from there.

JAYJO · April 2014

As you guessed, im not up to exporting yet, just trying to get to grips with creating a track and then exporting later. I too will have another look tonight. Thanks for your help its much appreciated.

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Audacity/Reaper

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