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 Bouncing
in stereo...- Problem
recording acoustic guitar...
- Problem
recording distorted guitar...
- Who
invented the multi-track recorder?
- Improving
a room's sound...
- Can
I use high impedance mikes in a minidisk
recorder?
- How
do I get a good acoustic guitar sound on
tape?
- Porta
02 question...
- What
do I need for home recording?
- What
does "multitrack" mean?
- Any
difference in microphones?
- Why
use the "line out"?
- What
is bouncing tracks?
- Sharing
recording files with Mac and PC...
Q.
I want to use a stereo application for the drums, but I do
not want to use 2-3 tracks on the four track. What if I used
the mini-mixer, and use its four inputs and panning to make
the drums stereo, and then run it into one track on the four
track. Would that work?
A.
It would be terrific if it worked that way, but it doesn't.
Recording any type of signal or signals onto a single analog
track reduces it to being one mono track.
Q.
I recently bought an Epiphone Acoustic Regent 220 amplifier
to use with my Tascam Porta02. I usually mike my guitar and
connect the amp to the 4-track. The problem is I can't get
rid of an annoying hiss that comes through the headphones,
and even shows up on the recording. I don't want to return
my amp. I love the sound. But it's useless in recording, so
far. Can you recommend a way to get rid of the
hiss?
A.
I don't know
if I have a remedy, but we could try a couple of ideas.
First, are you using a line out from the amp to go into your
recorder? If so, you might have better luck using a second
microphone and positioning it a few inches from the speaker,
so that the guitar signal greatly overrides the amp hiss.
Aside from that, you
could try recording with a lowered treble setting, and then
add a little back in afterwards when you're mixing.
There also are
several noise-reduction units on the market, ranging from
$100 or so and up.
Q.
When I try to record a distorted guitar by direct line from
the amps pre amp out, I always get a bad sound. There's a
lot of high end buzz. I use quality cables and a compressor.
I've tried multiple amps and volume levels, different
guitars, and different tape recorders. What am I doing
wrong? Miking is a problem because we can't turn the amps up
too loud in my home. Any suggestions?
A.
This common but annoying problem is due to tape saturation,
and the way it interprets an already distorted signal. I
would recommend forgetting about what makes the amp sound
good in the room, and work on EQing it to sound good to you
after it's captured on tape. It will take some trial and
error, and it may end up sounding very different (maybe even
awful) in the room, but great on tape.
Q.
Could you tell me who
invented the mult-track recorder?
A.
The first multi-track recorder was invented by Les Paul. Les
Paul is most commonly thought of in association with the
electric guitar that Gibson named after him. If you do a
search for Les Paul, you will probably find info regarding
the multi-track invention.
Q.
I'm trying to improve
the sound quality of the room I use for home recording. I
don't have a big budget, but I do need some ideas to get me
started. A lot of people talk about egg foam.
A.
Egg crate foam is probably the best, but is likely to be the
most expensive as well. Carpet, curtains, even sleeping bags
hung on the wall will provide some density and
soundproofing. The thicker, the better, and the more surface
area any material you use has, will be better, too. That's
part of why the egg foam works well, is because the shape
adds a lot more surface, rather than just being
flat.
So if you use curtains,
blanket, sleeping bags, etc, have lots of puckers in them,
rather than stretching them out straight. Hope this helps!
Q.
I inherited two AKG mikes. I've been told that they are high
impedance microphones. If I connect them to my Sony Minidisk
four track, will the mics do damage to the recorder or vice
versa? I've been told that high impedance mics are useless
with today's low impedance transistorized equipment. If you
could shed any advice on impedance and the microphones in
relation to the recorder, it would be greatly
appreciated.
A.
Using high or low impedance microphones poses no danger to
your recorder at all. If it's the wrong impedance, you just
won't get much volume input level. If your Sony minidisk
recorder has low impedance inputs, you'll need a line
matching transformer or direct box. These devices will
change high to low, or low to high impedance. Prices start
at $19.95 (for each mike line) and up, depending on which
device you need.
Q.
I've been trying to get a really nice acoustic guitar sound
on tape. I'm using a multi-track, and I've tried effects
like chorus and reverb, and I've tried EQ's, but there's
just something missing. I can't really afford one of those
digital multi-effect units.
A.
When recording an acoustic guitar, mandolin, banjo, etc,
try using two or three microphones from different angles and
distances from the instrument. Experiment by aiming
microphones at the body, neck, perhaps even from behind. If
you have a built-in pickup, use it also. Record your tracks,
and then bounce all tracks together on one, or create a
stereo split with one tonality on one side, and a different
sound on the other. Results? Big, fat sound, with more
character and dynamics than you'll get with just one
microphone.
Q.
I've been hunting down a multitrack recorder for a while,
and I just came across your site. I have a question about
the Tascam Porta 02. Would it be possible to record many
tracks non-simultaneously with overdubs (record one track,
than record the second one over it. Revert the two combined
tracks to one single track and record a third one over it,
and so forth...)?
A.
You can bounce tracks in the way that you are asking with
all current Tascam multi-track cassette recorders
except the Porta 02. To bounce with the Porta 02, you
will need to use a second recorder. This recorder can be a
standard home deck.
Keep in mind that each
time you bounce (with any tape unit) you will lose a
generation of sound quality. The 02 has no tone controls, so
it's hard to "fix" it after. If you are interested in
combining lots of tracks, I would suggest the next model up,
(Tascam 414) which has EQ for all channels, and this would
let you bring back the brightness you'll lose after bouncing
a few times. Hope this doesn't discourage you, but I want to
make sure you have a good idea of the Porta 02's
capabilities.
Q.
What do I need to record our band practices at home
?
A.
For recording band practices at home, you can get as simple
or elaborate as you want! The easiest and least expensive
would be the Tascam Porta 02 for $179.00. It is a four-track
recorder that you could use for
both
live stereo recording, or as a multi-track to record one
track at a time and then overdub. Decent quality microphones
will start about $49.00, and you can start off with one, but
you will need two for true stereo recording. You will also
need a couple of microphone stands to hold them. That would
be $39.95 for a black, tripod base stand with a boom arm. If
you already have a band, you probably have everything else
you need, and you may already have the microphones. If you
need mikes, we carry the Benson Audio line which is a great
value, and not a lot of money.
Q.
What does a "multi-track" recorder do?
A.
Unlike a standard tape recorder that records one "layer " of
material, a multi-track allows you to record several
instruments or voices on the same tape, one by one, without
erasing the previous tracks. You can then adjust each
tracks' volume, tone and left-to-right balance. A great tool
for songwriters, arrangers, or for practicing by yourself.
Q.
Are microphones really that much different from each other?
A.
That's where it
all starts! An OK mike will work, and plugging into a good
recorder or sound system will make an inexpensive microphone
sound pretty good, but if you compare them side-by-side, you
will notice a startling difference between $50 and $100,
$100 and $150, etc. Transparent clarity in the high end, and
bass without boominess are the first things you'll detect as
you move up the ladder, plus a more natural sound overall.
One warning...when you try an excellent quality microphone,
you'll never settle for anything less again!
Q.
When I record my electric guitar, should I use the "line
out" on my amp, or use a mike?
A.
Try both ways, each will have it's own sound. We usually
prefer miking it, to get more of the speaker tone, and the
acoustics of the room, (if they're good) but most amps
these days have pretty good electronics, and sound great
coming right off the output. You could also use both
methods, blending them together in the mix, to get the best
qualities of each signal.
Q.
What's "bouncing tracks" mean?
A.
Bouncing, also referred to as "ping-pong" is when you take
two or more already recorded tracks, and record them onto an
adjacent track in your multi-track recorder. Once you
have "bounced" or combined these tracks, you can then
re-record over those previous tracks, thereby adding many
more tracks to your mix than by dedicating only one
instrument per track. With a cassette multi-track, you
should try to bounce each track no more than once, to retain
the best fidelity.
Here's a more step-by-step
guide:
Record your first
instrument tracks on tracks one and two, then listen to them
carefully and adjust the volume and tone the way you think
it sounds best. Then, leave tracks one and two set up to
play them back, and also set up track four to be able to
record. Then, starting at the beginning of the tape, let the
song run through it's entire length while recording
trackfour. The sound will go through the multi-track from
tracks one and two over onto track four internally without
any additional wiring or connections. Once you are finished,
listen to track four to make sure it sounds the way you want
it to. If the balance or volume isn't right, start again and
repeat this same process.
Caution! There are a very
few entry level multitrack recorders that do not have the
ability to bounce tracks.
Q.
I'm a complete novice dunce when it comes to home studio
recording, so be merciful :-) I live in Japan & my
songwriting partner is in LA. He's a PC guy, I'm Power Mac.
We want to exchange sound files for collaboration. He's set
himself up with a nice little home studio, using Digital
Orchestra Plus as his sequencing program.
I'm wondering if the
following scenario is feasible (the idea being for me to be
able to retain my Mac). Install SoftWindows by Insignia
Solutions for purposes of running DOP on my Mac. I get a
CD-R (my partner's already got one). We exchange & work
on things together via CD. I know nothing about such things,
but my partner says DOP is designed to expect a Soundblaster
AWE64, Event Gina, or some other PC-type soundcard. I'm
wondering if this a big deal, enough to sink the PC/Mac
sound file exchange idea.
The alternative would be
for me to get a PC - financial considerations necessitate me
accommodating my partner's existing setup. I'd appreciate
any input anyone might offer. Thanks a lot for your
time.
A.
Whereas I do not have a definitive answer for you, I can
attempt to guide you in a couple directions.
1) The path of least
resistance would be to bite the bullet (or the Mac, so to
speak) and go PC. I was a die-hard Mac user for over 10
years, fighting and screaming all the way about not being to
get certain software, not being able to exchange any kind of
files without glitches or format problems, etc., and
finally, due to business needs, and with great annoyance,
bought my first PC, and just complained all the way about
DOS this and DOS that.Then Windows came along, and it was
like, hmmm, looks like a Mac, works like a Mac, maybe a Mac
in disguise?
Anybody who doesn't
believe that Bill Gates wasn't a closet Mac user when
Microsoft was developing Windows should get their mouse
inspected. Whereas I still can taste the bitterness of
leaving my Mac, it was the best step I ever took in computer
usage. .....but I still feel bad saying that.
2) To get real answers as
far as using your Mac in the way you outline, you really
need to talk to Insignia Solutions personally about
SoftWindows. I'm sure they have techs available who can
inform you of the ease or unease of that application. My
instinct says it would probably work, but with any software,
there's a list of disclaimers in the Read Me file that you
want to find out about before, and not after.
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