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?)

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

-Mice Elf

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

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