Monthly Archives: October 2014

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Edificial Intelligence

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I went up to my studio to practice bass and try recording a second track using Audacity and was having a hell of a time getting my Radio Shack adapter plug to work – I ended up realizing two things I really need to do:

1) Get an AI (Audio Interface, not Artificial Intelligence). I’ve had a few more recommendations via comments: Edirol (now Roland) UA 101 via David Husted’s comment on my “Jonesin…” post and a few others via an Audio Interface & Adapter Guide which I found through an online “paper,” which this blog ended up in (yeah I was Googling myself – not blind yet!), called The Unsigned Podcast – it looks like there’s some other good info there as well. Decisions, decisions…

2) I need to block out practice and writing time so that I don’t get distracted by technical stuff (ooh, shiny). Ended up only practicing bass for about 10 minutes. No matter how proficient I get at home recording and what the quality of my studio and DAW end up being, the songs and playing must be solid.

-Lopside Ed

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Jonesin for Your Average DAW

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I spent my Record Time this morning perusing home recording websites and found a couple that seem to have some decent information:

1) Home Recording Home: I started perusing their “What is the Best DAW for Beginners?” (finally committed to memory that the acronym is for Digital Audio Workstation) page which reaffirmed that it is probably best for me to start with Audacity and go from there after the demos are completed. It also has a line about, as a beginner, not wasting too much time sifting through all the options.

2) RecordingReview: Blogger Brandon Drury cites 10+ years experience working from humble beginnings, using “Sonic Foundry Vegas” software in his bedroom to recording local bands. I used his Audio Interface Wizard 2.0 to further (confuse?) my search for the appropriate Audio Interface for my needs.

I also saw the results of the below poll there that threatened to lead me down a whole other path (rabbit hole?)

How do you capture your guitar signal for recording?

  • I always mic a solid-state or tube amp for recording.
  • I always use an external processor such as a POD X3, Gt-10, or Axe-FX.
  • I plug in to a soundcard and process the guitar signal with software like Guitar Rig or ReValver.

I resisted researching the various processors and software (for now).

-Mice Elf

 

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Tunes and Wires (no drums yet) and Careful Notes

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I was torn between figuring out the Audacity program for multi-track recording, learning some of the features of my Casio WK-500 and actually recording something for a demo. Last night’s output fell somewhere in the middle.

As I attempted to plug things in, I became thankful that I have collected connectors from Radio Shack over the years (keeping them in business, I’m sure). My headphones’ male was too small for my keyboard’s female [insert joke here] and the opposite was true for plugging my Shure SM58 microphone into my laptop.

I used only the metronome on my keyboard and recorded an acoustic guitar track for Christie on audacity to play along and practice parts for bass, keyboard, etc. It took me a bit to figure out the settings in Audacity, and on the laptop, that would actually pick up the input from the microphone. The sound is OK for now. My feeling is that I will need to get an audio interface in the not-too-distant future.

-Dolby Gillis

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If He Has the Time

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A good friend warned me that there will be distractions to mitigate during this endeavor. (And he wasn’t speaking of the band whose album “Nobody’s Perfect” is still a treasure for which I seek on the rare occasion I stumble upon a record bin.)

Wife came back from a trip Sunday, not sure what happened Monday evening – a burrito and sweet snack run was involved, and last night Red Robin (where I was able to enjoy another bottle of Big Boss’s Monkey Biz-Ness) and grocery shopping.

Ya see?

I set up the studio  on Saturday morning and only just minutes ago started figuring out the bass for “Christie.”

And now the day job.

Must Make the Time – even if if 10 minutes here and there at times.

-Kirk Out

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Home Studio Scene – Take One

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Took some time to set up the home studio. I was thinking of naming it Silent Z Studio (really want to make it Studios as I think it sounds better, but there is only one – “Two Studios” Bejzak?) as I’ve wanted to use that name since I was a young man, but there was(is?) a New Jersey band named Silent Z (http://silent-z.com/) – listened to one of the tracks on the site & kinda liked it. Anyway…  Set up mostly involved making things more accessible for now so that I can work on the songs and ready them to make some demos.
[Disclaimer: Some items were positioned specifically for the photo – probably no surprise. The didgeridoo is not always at the ready.]

Speaking of Demos
A friend on Facebook mentioned Audacity, which I have used to convert my vinyl to digital, but hadn’t thought about to use for recording my songs. I’m thinking I will still need a hardware interface to my laptop as it only has a mic input.

Song ‘Stylings’
Worked on Christie some. This is one I’ve wanted to go all “Power Pop” on – we’ll see. Added a bridge that I was never aware it needed. It just kinda happened. I love that! Think I’ll work on the bass part next.

Found the lyrics to another song I had started, on my iPod Touch. It’s called Your Only Option and I actually remember how it sounded in my head – I just need to figure out the chords.

-Moving Edward

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Software Resolution To Be Determined

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I researched the 2 recommendations I had for recording software.

http://www.presonus.com/products/AudioBox-i-Series
PreSonus Studio One:  The Artist version comes with the AudioBox USB 2X2 interface box purchase ($99). This seems to be enough to get me started with the option to upgrade to Professional. A key here for me is the requirement of monitor resolution no lower than 1280 x 768 pixels. I did see a few questionable comments on the box reliability/durability.

https://www.cakewalk.com/Products/SONAR/X3-Producer
SONAR X3 Producer (Cakewalk): This is their top of the line product ($329). They had a Studio version ($199) and a base version ($99). I would still need to get an interface box. Also, their requirement for monitor resolution is 1280 x 800 (my laptop max is1366 x 768 – could be a show-stopper),

This is going to require some more thought and research.

Perhaps a trip to Guitar Center is in order.

-LoadEd

 

 

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Lyrically Serious Fun

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I don’t know that I plan to blog absolutely every day (but most days of the week).

Working  on getting ideas together from the several places I’ve “scribbled” them (post-its, iPod Touch, Android phone, Google Docs/Drive) and massaging lyrics.

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Edeas

Current proposed tracks include the aforementioned Christie and Policy of Love with:

  • Fool Play (initially thinking a hint of Motown/Hall  & Oates soul for this one)
  • Summer Wanes
  • Future Psychic Girlfriend
  • Make Fun
  • The Christmas Door [possible bonus holiday track]. Thought up for a proposed door decorating contest at work a few years back that never came to fruition.
  • If there is an instrumental, I might go with Monster Pie Sandwich – I’ve had that name at the ready for many years

I plan to have some serious fun throughout this process.

-Jiggy Stardust

 

 

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Words from the Wise

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Already beginning to get some good advice. From the simplicity of “Do it!” to the suggestion of adding pictures and a few recommendations from the boys in the band for recording software/interfaces:

1) SONAR X3 Producer (with the caveat “…it is expensive”)
2) ProSonus Studio One. (Rumour, without Graham Parker, has it that “If you buy an interface for about $150, you get the software free.”)

Plan to mic my legendary Standell amp. Procured by my father from a co-worker for $75 (a better offer was made to the seller, but  dad poured out a sob story about how the guy had promised it to me) and once partially backed over with me at the wheel of my 1st car – a 1976 Pontiac Ventura.

Amplifier
The Legendary Standell

The decision to mic comes solely from my one extracurricular recording affair (I swear, it meant nothing). I met a few times with a good group of guys that, at that time, were Stamina led by talented guitarist Ron Russikoff (who I was put in touch with by my friend, and Get-Up fan club president, Ian Skuse). I went into the recording studio (I have no idea which one it was) and made it through one track – not sure if it ever saw the light of day. Anyway, the Standell was in a separate room with a microphone.

I also tickled some “ivories” (here at home) to get the creative juices flowing (a Carolina Pale Ale was enjoyed as well). Full disclosure: I don’t technically play keyboard. No piano lessons, just self-taught (with a little tutoring from David Husted a long time ago).

I am a bassist with enough 6-string experience to write songs and hopefully support my tracks.

-Bejzak B. Nimble

 

 

 

 

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Record Ed

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I like to fancy myself a songwriter – writing more than a handful over the years (and co-writing quite a good lot more) and I’ve got it in my head that I can home brew an album. I’ve been inspired by the fine work of my good friend David Husted (his album is available on Spotify: Love’s Marrow and readily purchased at cdbaby).

I will attempt to “amateurize” my way through. I’ll start out with one old song, Christie, that I could never quite make work for our band, The Get-Up (which includes the aforementioned Mr. Husted, Bill O’Driscoll & Alan Schwartz – though the 2 songs available via the link are minus the talents of Bill O. ) and another, fairly recent, one: The Policy of Love (SoundCloud demo see below).  (Thinking of dedicating a future post to some Get-Up history – currently, we gather annually at a cabin for a weekend to play our songs and some covers for an audience of birds and squirrels.)

Instrumentation will include: Ibanez acoustic guitar, (maybe electric if I can fix it), Fender Bass (the bass is Precision, the playing probably not so much), Casio keyboard (more than a toy, but not a professional model – if they even make one), possibly additions of clarinet (if it still works), accordion (if I can find it) and/or didgeridoo (if I can get the drone going). Percussion will be handled via the keyboard and anything else I can tap, bang on, shake, etc.

Not sure on the software yet.  I have FourTracks Lite on my phone to at least get the ideas down (I used that to record the Policy of Love demo).

My musical tastes/influences cover a broad spectrum (loosely categorized here): Pop (XTC, Elvis Costello, Francis Dunnery, Madness), Progrock (Gentle Giant, Genesis, Triumvirat), Jazzrock (Gong, Passport)

Suggestions, as well as positive vibes, are always welcome.

-RecordEd