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Hey.
I know absolutely nothing about the technology for making music and, i guess, today is my first day of learning all about it.

So i'm looking for a multitrack recorder... i imagine i should start with a portable or cassette one? I'd most likely be using it to record and layer my voice, and really just beginning to learn a little about the technology and what can be done, what things are called, how to do things.

I can't play any instruments particularly well so it'd be more for playing with the equipment than making any sort of primitive songs, but that'd probably come soon after.

Ideally i'd be making some beats with a computer but want to start with the beginning basics.

Please make recommendations or ask questions as you like.

Somebody will probably disagree, but I would say the cassette ones are pretty much obsolete now, you can get a decent 6 or 8 track digital recorder for a couple of hunded quid.

[soundian]

Have a look at this, it might be suitable and it's free (you'd probably need to buy a pre-amp though)
KRISTAL Audio Engine

[The Byre]

In a word Reaper. It is free and very advanced recording and editing package. It looks fairly complicated at first, but it is definately the way to go for the beginner - and the price is dead right!!! (Reaper, dead, get it? Oh never mind!)

Look here - REAPER | About

[HairyScaryMark]

First of all I think it would be sensible to purchase (or get from library) a book on recording. I don't know what I would recommend but there are a fair few around. Amazon has user reviews and with any luck someone else will recommend something.

Reading up on internet is also worth doing.

If you are going down route of computers, free software is the way to go. I see that stuff and notice I have paid money for something which does exactly the same as that. Effects are expandable anyhow.

Here is an extensive list of free software

However, you will still end up spending a fair bit of money on hardware and even with budget sollutions, you are going to spend an amount of money that could get you a notable about of time in a (decent) studio.

You will need the following things for a computer based setup
software (free in this case)
microphones
microphone pre amps
A/D converter - recording interface
speaker monitors to hear what you record and/or headphones

For microphones, 1000s posibilites although it depends on your budget and what you want to record. Maybe best to start with something like Shure SM57 and expand collection later. If you don't get into recording, it wont become redundant or can be sold.

Not all voices are terribly suited to be recorded with condensors but some are. Some budget condensor microphones include AKG C1000, Studio Projects B1, Samson CO2

Converter/ recording interface - There are 100s of devices which allow you to record a few channels at once and sometimes include a microphone pre amp.

If you only want to record one or two instruments at a time (which it sounds like you do). There are various recording interfaces made from around the £50-200 mark which may be suitable. Companies to look for such things from include, M-Audio, Presonus and EMU. The cheaper devices usually don't sound great though.

If you wanted to record an entire band, including drums, something like the Presonus Firepod (renamed to FP10) would be worth concidering. It allows up to 10 input channels through firewire and contains 8 microphone pre amps. It typically goes for around £280.

pre amp - often there is one on your recorordng interface but you will need a microphone pre amp per microphone you record or else the microphone is recorded at an unsuitable level and will never sound 'right'. The ART MP tube is a popular choice for a budget microphone pre amp.

speakers - most people will tell you to get studio monitors. A set of good head phones might be sufficent but most people prefer to mix with speakers. Typical headphones for CD players generally wont cut it for this purpose. You are also better recording voice with headphones as no sound will leak into microphone.

Many recording interfaces have a built in headphone socket, but if it doesn't you will need an external headphone amplifier.

Active monitors are often better value for money in the budget end and more variety has appeared in recent years. There are active monitors for less than £150, such Alesis m1 Active 520 (Tom O Shanter bought a pair). Tannoy Reveal can be got for little over £200 a pair. KRK RP5 or similar might be worth concidering. They are around £280 a pair.

You roughly get what you pay for, but not always.

Thank you very very much for the responses so far.

[KimyReizeger]

I could sell you one of these is you want something compact and easy to use....

Tascam 424MkIII Four Track Recorder from zZounds.com!

Was great for several years of guitar / vocal type recordings.

[Tam o' Shantie]

Originally Posted by KimyReizeger

I could sell you one of these is you want something compact and easy to use....

Tascam 424MkIII Four Track Recorder from zZounds.com!

Was great for several years of guitar / vocal type recordings.

Was about to post on this thread suggesting the very same thing, congratulations for actually answering the guy's question.

[remington blastcap]

Originally Posted by DustyDeviada

Somebody will probably disagree, but I would say the cassette ones are pretty much obsolete now, you can get a decent 6 or 8 track digital recorder for a couple of hunded quid.

i disagree. you can get a four track tape recorder for £40. you can still buy c90's. tape sounds better.

there you go.


most digital portable set ups allow only two tracks live. some old analogue decks will do four. tidy.
see e bay. if cheapness is an issue head to e bay. portable digital still looks chintzy, analogue set ups are "functional".
be a man.
(or whatever)

i reserve the right to stand corrected, then get crabby.

If you recommend a digital multitrack, any one in particular to get me started?