Free Music Recording Software

[brandondrury]

Here is a list of free audio recording software programs.? I've had tremendous luck with Open Source / GPL programs for just about everything I've ever tried them on from my word processing software (Open Office) to this forum.? This thread is for beginners who may want to save a little cash in the beginning of their recording quest or maybe put more money into hardware, mics, etc.


Reaper
http://www.cockos.com/reaper/index.php


Audacity
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Kristal
http://www.kreatives.org/kristal/

Luna
http://www.mutools.com/products.html

If anyone would like to add to the list, please PM me.

Thanks
Brandon

[volsball]

So if I download any one of these, what else would i need to begin recording at home? I know I saw this in another thread, but I don;t remember wher eit was. Thanks!

[brandondrury]

I need to rewrite that article anyway...maybe make a video.

In no particular order, you'll need a microphone, a mic cable, a preamp, a soundcard, a computer, recording software, and studio monitors.

That'll get you started. Feel free to ask if you have any specific questions.

Brandon

[volsball]

Thanks Brandon. I know a lot of my questions sound stupid to those of you who have been doing this stuff for a while. But I don't know anything about recording. I don't even know that much about computers in general.

[guitar junkie]

You my friend are in for a lot of work!

it will stretch you out a lot in life, kill your wallet ;D

[TimRP]

Reaper just went to 1.0 it is now $40 hobby, $200 comercial. They have a 30 trial period, after which its on the honor system, $40 for a home recordist is not unreasonable.

http://www.reaper.fm/~pipeline/REAPERVideos/basics/ <---some nice video tutorials

One highlight I saw: Flexible FX chains allow unlimited FX per track

http://documentwrite.com/reaper/ <----manual

I tried reaper out 4-5 months ago, as buggy as it was it was promising. Now it seems like a chalenger to the big boys. No its not Cubase, Protules, Sonar, Logic, Traction, but its getting there. There is still stuff missing to me, but yet it seems like everything I would need is there or will be there in a few months (maybe more). Anyways try it out guys, post on their forum if you see something missing or lacking. I have already, and half of it was my misunderstanding, half of it was a feature that is/was not the same as cubase, so I worked around it and came to the same results Cubase would give have given me. Now am I gonna give up Cubase just yet fulltime, mmmmmmmm NO!!!!!!!

[guitar junkie]

You left out Garage Band.

Comes with every Mac

;D

[randall321]

Blagh.. garage band.

I prefer audacity..

What if you want to wait a bit before buying a good soundcard, preamp, etc...

Could you just use a microphone hooked into the computer?? and for the guitar, just place microphone clsoe by?

[brandondrury]

What if you want to wait a bit before buying a good soundcard, preamp, etc...

Could you just use a microphone hooked into the computer?? and for the guitar, just place microphone clsoe by?

You can record sound with your built in soundcard. However, the sound will be a little lacking. More importantly, the latency will probably be horrendously long. Getting a headphone mix could be impossible.

For $200-300, it's usually just way easier to get the real thing. Actually, there are a few models that are pretty awesome and are more like $150. If you need help with the soundcard, let me know. I've got a new tool that I'm not quite done with that you can try out.

Brandon

[guitar junkie]

Blagh.. garage band.

I prefer audacity..

What if you want to wait a bit before buying a good soundcard, preamp, etc...

Could you just use a microphone hooked into the computer?? and for the guitar, just place microphone clsoe by?

with the rest of your post in mind, I question your merit as a true rating of the work flow that is Garage Band. Not saying that Garage Band is by far the best of anything, I use both Audacity and GB but I will say that for getting ideas down Garage Band is way better at making things happen. Oh yeah does Audacity let you monitor effects? NO! does it support VSTi Midi? nope.

Don't go trashing the oranges just because the apples have less seeds.

[YLG]

any advice on which is the best of these? i.e. the quickest to learn.

thanks

[guitar junkie]

any advice on which is the best of these? i.e. the quickest to learn.

thanks

You my friend must be the type who thinks it is possible to go right in and blow out a record with about two hours under your belt....

I really don't want to tell which is best here, for that matter.... You did not us what you want to do with the software... Midi? General audio? basic editing? film scoring?

You see none of these programs are "the best" they are all good for one thing or another, at times they have places where they fall short. I happen to love Audacity for some things, hate it for others... I also happen to like things that can be done in Reaper...

How much time are you willing to put into your music? How many details are you willing to gloss over, in order to do this faster?

Also what is your goal with your music recordings?

All these questions you have to bring to yourself if you want to just dive into things then that is good.... But if you work out what it is you want to do in ADVANCE you have a clear head to be creative... As I wrap up my third CD I can still see myself finding all the new stuff in Audacity (which I spent the better part of a year learning to use to the fullest) I find that if it had not been for the times when I started with a clear plan and a goal for my projects... I might still be trying to track songs for the very first one.

I would say that if you really want to get a good chunk of software then you need to look into REAPER which is shareware.... spend the $40 when you feel ready to, when I first started this thing called "studio recording" I would have killed to have that stuff ready for me to download and use.

Good luck my friend and stay focused.

[brandondrury]

You may want to read this:The Problem With Simple Recording Software

Quick is good if you are looking for an oil change. If it was me, I'd think a little further down the road.

The hours spent watching Cubase SX3 DVDs, reading the manual, etc this last summer seamed like hell at the time. Now I consider it to be one of the best investments I've ever made.

Brandon

[YLG]

With a young family and a full time job spent sitting at a computer I just don't have a lot of time to spend learning a sophisticated program (much as I would like to.) I use a 4 track tape machine... that is about all I need i.e. just to record and play back my songs (although 8 tracks would be better). I'm not looking for professional sounding recordings. But at the same time I would like to make mp3s to share my music. Any advice on how to do this, on a laptop and a limited budget?

thanks

[brandondrury]

If a 4 track does everything you need it to, stick with it.

To get your music onto a computer isn't a big deal. I wouldn't be super comfortable recording you 4 track mix straight into the PC, but I would try it first before upgrading the sound card.

All you really need is free recording software like Audacity. Plug the stereo output of your mixer into the input of the laptop's sound card. Arm the track in Audacity, hit record, and push play on your 4 track.

From there you will be in the digital domain and shouldn't have much problem converting them to mp3. I use Razorlame for that, btw.

Brandon