Home recording

[Trev]

Ive always just played as a bit of a hobby, but want to start looking at put together a small set up, mostly just for recording basic demos(2 or 3 guitar/bass tracks and maybe programmed drums).

What would people recommend for something cheap enough and simple to use? I've literally zero experience at this stuff, so something that you can just plug and play would suit me to start off, and can add fancy extras once I get more used to it

[liamish]

You can get Reaper for free. Its a DAW or recording program. And youll need an audio interface. Pretty much any cheapish 2 channel interface would do what you want. These are great https://www.thomann.de/ie/focusrite_scarlett_solo_2nd_gen.htm
But anything in the 50 - 100 euro range with two inputs will do essentially the same thing at the same quality. You can just plug the guitar into it and use software effects and amp sims. Loads of free ones of those.

Or you can pick up a Shure SM57 microphone if you want to play through a real amp and record it that way. There are cheaper mics available but thats the most commonly used mic worldwide. and its only 100 quid roughly. Heres a cheaper alternative a lot of people like https://www.thomann.de/ie/the_tbone_mb75.htm its sort of a clone of the 57 but its not an exact copy.

Other than that youll want a decent pair of headphones. no need to go crazy but 10 euro tesco own brand wont really cut it for any real recording.

Loads of resources on youtube for learning the basics too.

[ochoill]

If you have your instruments / amps / pedals already ready to go there's a few ways about it.  The absolute most cheap and cheerful would be to pick up a cheap interface or USB mixer, a DI, a Mic, and Monitors if you don't have some useable speakers.  Download Reaper as a DAW (it's free).  Find some free/cheap drum software online (there's recs in the main thread).

If it's just for home demoing and you're keeping it cheap, there's some handy options on Thomann.  You could pick up this absurdly cheap interface or this slightly better interface for cheap, fire this mic in front of your amp, adjust to your preference and track right into reaper.  For your bass fire This DI in at the end of your chain but before your amp, or if your amp has a DI out built in even better, and on into the interface to record.  No monitors?  Pick up these or similar to get you off the ground.  Install a few drivers for the interface and you're ready to go with zero issues.

You could always stick the guitar through the DI if you can't record an amp at volume at home too, and use amp sims online, guitar rig or the like.  I don't do that so someone else might have better recommendations there.  I recently recommended my brother to get a similar set up to what's listed above for home recording but replaced the interface with this usb mixer purely because he'll be recording 3-4 keyboards in one take or running a few instruments at once.  Handy piece of kit but doesn't track the channels separately through the USB, rather out to one stereo channel.

I have recorded albums on worse than this but this is the cheapest/handiest combo I could put together this quick.  Everything is tame enough and could be replaced down the line but no matter what way you put these together, you'd still have to fill the order up with whatever cables you need to get to €200 on Thomann.

[ochoill]

@Liamish - great minds think alike and all that.

[Emphyrio]

With the new laptop I'd to go through all this shit again last weekend.

I also use Reaper as my DAW. FREE
I downloaded this.... https://www.powerdrumkit.com/ which seems similar enough to EZ Drummer etc except it's FREE!!
I also got Guitar Rig 5 PLAYER. A more limited version of the regular guitar rig but again, it's FREE.

I'll be recording directly (bass/guitars/keys)  so won't even be using Guitar Rig as much as I was before, nor will I be mic'ing up cabs etc.  Depending on your recording circumstances/needs you may or may not need mic'ing.

As mentioned an interface is defo needed. The Focusrite stuff is great. I've a discontinued one but the drivers were still available online luckily.
Then a pair of decent headphones and/or speakers.

[Mags]

I've gotten to the stage where I'm building my home recording setup now too. Going to splurge on a focusrite 2i2 very shortly. I have good headphones and a good laptop and actually got that same Power Drum Kit for Reaper the other day. Really good for a free VST, and should be perfect for just demos. I'm sure one could find some sample packs on the interwebs and switch them in for something different?

Lads, say I'm trying to get decent quality but rough live recording on the go with as little mics as possible. Is there a certain jack of all trades type of mic that can do it all (drums, vocals, guitars)? Head's spinning with all the reading on cardioid, ribbon, large/small diaphragm and dynamic vs condensers. Good to know that the Thomann brand mics have a good rep.

[The Butcher]

 The Audient iD14 as an interface is stupidly good for its price point. It blows away the focusrite I used to have. The preamps and di and converters on the unit are awesome. JFET input. Can't go wrong with it.

I would definitely consider Audient first -> https://www.thomann.de/ie/audient_id4.htm

I just plug my guitar into the interface DI and use Reaper as my DAW and use TSE as the amp plugin -> https://www.tseaudio.com/home

[Trev]

Cheers lads! Got about €300ish to spend so I'll start going through those recommendations and see what I can knock together, or convince the missus to sort me out for Christmas!

[liamish]

I've gotten to the stage where I'm building my home recording setup now too. Going to splurge on a focusrite 2i2 very shortly. I have good headphones and a good laptop and actually got that same Power Drum Kit for Reaper the other day. Really good for a free VST, and should be perfect for just demos. I'm sure one could find some sample packs on the interwebs and switch them in for something different?

Lads, say I'm trying to get decent quality but rough live recording on the go with as little mics as possible. Is there a certain jack of all trades type of mic that can do it all (drums, vocals, guitars)? Head's spinning with all the reading on cardioid, ribbon, large/small diaphragm and dynamic vs condensers. Good to know that the Thomann brand mics have a good rep.

If you want just one mic to do lots to start with id get an sm57. You can always pick up other mics that are geared to specific needs later but you can get a long way by just slapping a sm57 in front of whatever youre recording.

[Hambeast]

If you're wanting to be really cheap, just focus on spending 50-100 on a cheap interface. Assuming you already have a somewhat decent computer, you can handle the rest with software. Guitars and bass can be amped with software, drums and synths can all be programmed. There's plent of free stuff which will do the job. Once you've figured out what you're doing, you can focus on things like mics and better interfaces.

If you're getting an interface you might want to make sure it has phantom power to allow you to use condenser mics further down the line.

[cerealboxfort]

Get this:
https://www.thomann.de/ie/focusrite_scarlett_solo_2nd_gen.htm

Download (all free):
1. Reaper - https://www.reaper.fm/download.php
2. Ignite Emissary (Amp Simulator) - https://www.kvraudio.com/product/emissary-by-ignite-amps
3. NadIR (Cabinet Simulator) - https://www.kvraudio.com/product/nadir-by-ignite-amps
4. Cabinet Impulse Responses (loaded into NadIR) - https://www.wilkinsonaudio.com/product/gods-cab/?v=d2cb7bbc0d23
5. Drum simulator - https://www.powerdrumkit.com/
6. If you don't own a bass guitar  - http://www.yohng.com/software/bass.html

Then just onto YouTube for as many tutorials as you can soak up.

This is all I use for songwriting and recording demos at home. With EQ and compression plugins built into Reaper, you can get stuff more than acceptable for your purposes:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Z9p3-G0v5yhBeQUc6xZaUaf1O_ZngQb9

[jackanapes]

You can get Reaper for free. Its a DAW or recording program. And youll need an audio interface. Pretty much any cheapish 2 channel interface would do what you want. These are great https://www.thomann.de/ie/focusrite_scarlett_solo_2nd_gen.htm
But anything in the 50 - 100 euro range with two inputs will do essentially the same thing at the same quality. You can just plug the guitar into it and use software effects and amp sims. Loads of free ones of those.

Or you can pick up a Shure SM57 microphone if you want to play through a real amp and record it that way. There are cheaper mics available but thats the most commonly used mic worldwide. and its only 100 quid roughly. Heres a cheaper alternative a lot of people like https://www.thomann.de/ie/the_tbone_mb75.htm its sort of a clone of the 57 but its not an exact copy.

Other than that youll want a decent pair of headphones. no need to go crazy but 10 euro tesco own brand wont really cut it for any real recording.

Loads of resources on youtube for learning the basics too.

Just seconding this post. Reaper is great, Focusrite is great, SM57s are great. As an addition to the Focusrite, theres a great Amp simulator called Bias by a company called Positive Grid that sounds great too.

[Hambeast]

What's Bias like compared to the other sims? The demos sound great and the tone matching looks interesting, but I've never tried it.

[astfgyl]

Fruity Loops from about 5 versions ago, Cool Edit Pro (Peter Quistgard), Free VSTs from here there and everywhere, Tascam 2x2 interface which is simple and great, shitty old bass, shitty old mic, casio keyboard, my mind.

I am firmly of the opinion that it isn't any good having the latest and best of anything if you can't be creative with what you do have, first. It is more important to understand what a compressor actually does for example, rather than using the presets on some 300 quid thing. I actually get more enjoyment out of making the best of shit stuff.

[Trev]

Thanks for he suggestions,  have the little two channel interface ordered, having a look at reaper and it seems simple enough to get started on, I'll have some super shitty EPs ready in no time