I need some help on Home Recording

[Mudskipper Cory]

Hello whoever reads this, ok my brother kept yelling at me to look at this site to find out information about home recording. I have a Tascam 8 track recording/ cd burner. I make all of my own music so if i wanted drums, because it only took 2 inputs I would just put the mic about the drums. The guitar/bass/keyboard, I would go directly into the 8 track to have a nice clean sound.When I record the banjo I have to mic that as well Now I live at home so alot of times I would come up with a song and my mothers room is next to mine so I could not mic the amp because I could not get a loud sound with her room next to mine, that is one of the reasons why I wold go directly into the machine. So I have been recording on the for about two years it's actually a good machine.
I'm in a band so we wanted to making a good recording so what I did ( because local studios want too much money) I got a Tascam 24 2488MKII Digital Recorder, but I also have an 8 track mixer.
This is where my questions come in.
We record in my brothers room which is the down stair of the house, the room has all of our instrument, but also his furniture. He refuses to listen to me and for a clean sound plug into the machine, and also when he records he put his amp volume up high. What is the best way for the bass and guitar to record as far as how loud should their amp volume be? where should the mics be positioned? should they plug straight into the machine? should they plug into the mixer? I know that the drums have to be messed with more then the guitar and bass when you are trying to get the sound. But my drums are tuned a certain way so they are giving alot of echo on the recording( they are not my drums the other drummer we pay with tunes them very bright)
Now with me I know there is a difference with a studio recording and a live recording, but other people in the band won't listen to me about this, and that is another reason why I plug straight into the machine because I know that I want a nice clean, clear.. RECORDING......but anyway. If anybody has some answers I would really be thankful
Thanks
Mudskipper Cory

[brandondrury]

my brother kept yelling at me to look at this site to find out information about home recording

I like your brother!

Now with me I know there is a difference with a studio recording and a live recording

Like what? The concepts are all the same.

Best

You used the word "best". EVERYTHING in recording is subjective when you get out of the technical realm.

He refuses to listen to me and for a clean sound plug into the machine

I have no idea what a "clean" sound is. Does this mean you like the sound of electric guitars recorded directly into the machine? If you like the sound better, it is better.

Personally, I HATE the sound of direct guitar for anything other than industrial music. If I need a guitar sound that sounds like a real amp, I use a real amp. I'm not aware of their being any benefits to plugging straight into a machine for most instruments except for maybe keyboard and things like that. Bass I do record DI quite often.

when he records he put his amp volume up high

I've been recording for years with my 100 watt heads on 10 through a 4x12 cabinet. Lately, I started using a THD Hotplate and a 1x12" speaker.

What is the best way for the bass and guitar to record as far as how loud should their amp volume be?

You are asking very general questions, so I'm limited to giving you a general answer. I always try to make the guitar and bass sound exciting to the people buying the cds. In terms of volume, there can be huge benefits to cranking up. There can be huge drawbacks. Use whatever sounds best.

Maybe you could post a mp3 in Recording Reviews and we could give you better advice.

Brandon

[MetalDave]

I have used some pedals to plug Direct in Boss makes a great pedal. The problem is it loses meat. You have nothing left but vegitables. If you want **** thick chewy guitar sound you need to run it with true distortion ex: Marshall half stack turned up to 9 or 10. this is the way the pros' do it and for a reason. If you don't like hearing it loud, go in the other room with your mixer. As with anything it does depend on the sound you are trying to get.

[brandondrury]

If you want **** thick chewy guitar sound you need to run it with true distortion

I would have agreed with you a month or so ago, but then I heard these damn impulses. They've shaken up my world significantly!

I went through a phase where I tracked electric guitars on 10 for about 6 months. I stopped and went to more quiet recording with good results. However, I went and listened to some of those old mixes and there is something to a guitar on 10. It's fairly subtle. If you know what you are doing you can get some killer tones at lower volumes, but in an ideal situation I would always crank it.

Check out my Guitar Fort in the member's only section.

Brandon

[MetalDave]

Yeah I have already talked about the amp box I built 5 years ago as a reply on your Guitar fort page. It works good for Bass too. Although I usuially DI Bass guitar. Again, it all depends on what you want. The best thing to do is try everything.

[basu1299]

Hello ! I am a beginner in recording. I need some help here,I recorded some music twice in my computer but everytime,I can hear that only on the left speaker and right one is silent, why and what I should do to

[MetalDave]

How are you recording? Are you using a board? Also look at the software and see if you have everything panned to one side. Are you plugging a computer mic into line? I need more info. Please specify how you are recording ex: USB, directly into sound card, using a mixer etc... The more you tell me, the more I can help.

[brandondrury]

I can hear that only on the left speaker and right one is silent, why and what I should do to

It sounds like you are using a stereo track to record a mono source. Try using a mono track and see if that fixes it.

Brandon

[basu1299]

My computer HP pavilion m7560y it has digital front panal one point for Mic another for head phone or speaker.Back panal is analog having four jack point for speakers only,plus one for Mic and another for Line in.I am using four speakers besides the two with the monitor.Microphone jack I put once in front pannal and another time in back pannal.Microphone I am using is PH62080 bought from wal mart by $10.00 don't know, if it is condensor Microphone, I bought it before coming to this site. Software using roxio RecordingNow 9 Music Lab.recording streaming web music.

[YAZAM68]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

It sounds like you are using a stereo track to record a mono source. Try using a mono track and see if that fixes it.

Brandon

Mr Brandon..

How can we know that we using a mono track or stereo? I always confuse when it comes to this mono n stereo.