Kick Start! Need Some Major Help!!

[MuzicMadeMe]

Hey whats up recordingreview fam. im a noob to the site and seriously in need of your help. Ive been making music and writing songs for about 9 years now but never really got the chance to learn the recording aspect. Been trying for a min now but for some reason i guess being a female people dont take me seriously when i say "hey im tryna get a job in the recording arts". Im going to be going to Fullsail for recording arts and music business next by spring but im looking to get my own little recording studio set up just to get familiar with recording. Theres a few things i need help with tho...

Im just building a set up for me to be able to hook my electric acoustic guitar, my keyboard, a drum machine, and be able to record it on tracks.
Im wondering whats like the best program recording software w interface for me to do that and is good for beginners but still advanced recording engineers can use. Im gonna be recording all types of music like hiphop, pop, rock, acoustic rock, r&b, so im looking for a versitile music program. I hear fruity loops is the way but then someone has told me to go with reason. Just looking for some serious advice! PLEASE HELP ME!!!

[DogpitStudios]

http://www.recordingreview.com/soundcard/

That should help you with the hardware.

As for software, I'd have to suggest you go with anything except for protools. One, because it can get pricy, and two because I'm pretty sure you have to use hardware that is compatible with it, where as most other programs let you use almost any soundcard.

I personally use logic, but wouldn't recommend it because it took me wayy to long to finally learn all that you can do in it. Its also pretty expensive. I hear cubase is the way to go from a lot of people. Are you going to be programing drums too?

Ben

[richiebee]

Before you buy...

Since you're going to study this at college, I would highly recommend finding out what software they use there and build your system on that software.

Rich

[MuzicMadeMe]

no drums dude. just my electric acoustic guitar, my keyboard, and a beat machine. just lookin for some good hardware/software

[DT Chris]

Originally Posted by MuzicMadeMe

Im gonna be recording all types of music like hiphop, pop, rock, acoustic rock, r&b, so im looking for a versitile music program. I hear fruity loops is the way but then someone has told me to go with reason. Just looking for some serious advice! PLEASE HELP ME!!!

Fruity Loops is just that - making loops with midi tracks. I've been using it for a month now, not so sure it's so easy recording drum tracks, guitar tracks, vocal tracks, etc. It's more of a sampler sequencer. Though in version 5 (which I have), it claims you can record straight to it, there are other programs much better at recording multiple tracks. FL simply isn't built for this. It's for DJs.

Originally Posted by richiebee

Since you're going to study this at college, I would highly recommend finding out what software they use there and build your system on that software.

Take this advice. Contact the school and ask them what software they will be using. Even better, contact those that are already working in the recording 'arts' business and ask THEM what they are ACTUALLY using. What schools use and teach may differ from what the industry actually uses. If the industry is using Cubase, but your school is going to teach you "NubMonkeyStudio", this would be a cause for concern.

In this sense, beware the school you decide to go to. Like computer schools, what the industry uses/wants and what the school teaches may vary. Make sure your school teaches what the industry actually uses.

Some schools also let you use software as you learn the course, but actually don't INCLUDE the software in the course.

What I found the most retarded aspect of the computer school I went to was that I was working with Visual Basic 6, C++, and the only books I owned were what they made for the course (not the official books), and I never even got a copy of the programming software. Such a disgusting waste of money.... The worst waste of money was dedicating 300 hours (of course time) to following a tutorial book on VB6, which I found out later I could have bought online for $36 and taught myself.

[brandondrury]

for some reason i guess being a female people dont take me seriously when i say "hey im tryna get a job in the recording arts".

That could be because 90% of all women are useless but only 88% of all men are useless. (To quote Ron Burgundy again, "It's Science!").

In all seriousness, I don't take many people seriously who say there are going to work in the music industry. This isn't because I doubt them as individuals or anything like that. It's because I SERIOUSLY know how tough it is to get hired in the music biz....especially in the recording department.

I know way too many people who work at gas stations, guitar stores, etc who graduated from X recording school. All of them are glad they did it, but certainly aren't taking advantage of it. This could be that they fall into that category like 88% of all men do or it could be that this is a tough ass industry.

I almost went to recording school at the Conservatory, but reconsidered.
In all seriousness, being a woman may help you. Maybe not.

If you are going the recording school route, you are taking what I call "the high road". This only works if you stay on the high road. Meaning, you have a chance to intern somewhere and get in good with a few bigger producers, bigger engineers, etc. If you make your contacts, take it in the ass (saying that is funnier when I'm talking to guys...so just pretend), work non stop, have an enormous amount of luck, have a natural gift at this sort of thing, you just may get hired in a few years as X producer's assistant.

You have to remember that there are a couple thousand graduates from recording school each year and about 10% of the big studios closing each year. The high road is falling apart in a lot of ways.

The other route is to take the low road. Dump your tuition money in a recording rig, really learn the thing, start with shitty local bands, work your way up to better bands, etc. This is the path I've taken and I have to say that it isn't easy either. In fact, I CAN NOT rely on it for any real income.

Read this:
Recording School? The Right Career Move?


As for your gear situation.
More than likely, the high road is going to require Pro Tools. Personally, I'm a Cubase guy. If you are programming and such, most people seam to prefer Cubase for that. (My experience is very limited with Pro Tools).

Check out both links in my signature. Those will get you started. After that, feel free to ask any more questions you may have.

Brandon

[MuzicMadeMe]

In all seriousness, I don't take many people seriously who say there are going to work in the music industry. This isn't because I doubt them as individuals or anything like that. It's because I SERIOUSLY know how tough it is to get hired in the music biz....especially in the recording department.

i mean i agree with you i know that the road to success in music biz is not easy. Im very aware of that. Its just that ive been trying to get madd experience in since i was like 16. While others where in school participating in the schools sports teams or the academics clubs i was at home either recording tracks on my cheap karaoke machine, keyboard, and guitar my peeps got me for chirstmas. Ive done alot of hands on stuff with music...not looking for fame or money but i was just happy to have the experience. you know? Ive always been driven to persue the music feild. Ive worked with major labels street teams...DJ'd for radio stations..and some more and ive met alot of people and got contacts. And some of them are really up there. But enough of that- basically its all about drive i believe and i have it. And im very confident in what i do cause i know i have to be-mos def in this business. It just sucks cause ive tried to go to no name recording labels in my city just to get the feel of how things work. not asking to be paid or anything-shoot i didnt care even if all i could do is watch. I just wanted that experience- u kno? and they still acted like they didnt want to share that. but eh- the business is dog eat dog so i cant be too mad. u kno?! im not gonna take it personal.

as far as the recording school...im checking my other options. The school is mad expensive and i understand that not everyone who pays is nessisarily gonna work with mariah carey or red hot chili peppers. But im motivated..im gonna get my deposit money back and set me up a nice little personal studio in my room..and keep focused. keep making my contacts and what not.

i really appreciate you advice tho guys i really REALLY do. hey brandon you have like a email or AIM name?! id really like to keep in touch with you.

oh yeah and madd peoples are tellin me about protools is the best route but i guess its based on what music ur tryna do. i guess ill jus get the fruity loops whgen i want to record some hiphop/r&b tracks.

[DT Chris]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

In all seriousness, I don't take many people seriously who say there are going to work in the music industry. This isn't because I doubt them as individuals or anything like that.

Like the person who is taking "Art History" or Art as a major. Good luck... Tell people you're going to be a big rock star... look at their reaction...
It's not personal nor has it to do with being female or male. Creative careers are a shot in the dark, compared to solid trades like Carpentry, Medical, etc.

Originally Posted by brandondrury

If you are going the recording school route, you are taking what I call "the high road". This only works if you stay on the high road. Meaning, you have a chance to intern somewhere and get in good with a few bigger producers, bigger engineers, etc. If you make your contacts, take it in the ass (saying that is funnier when I'm talking to guys...so just pretend), work non stop, have an enormous amount of luck, have a natural gift at this sort of thing, you just may get hired in a few years as X producer's assistant.

This is true of most trades. No point going to school unless you know where you are going to work, have employment lined up (with education as pre-requisite), and know some people that are currently working in the industry. Without these resources, the school (their recruiters, counsellors are actually commission salespeople so beware - private ones anyway) will sell you on the possibilities of work after the course, but may actually have no leads at all for you to pursue - which is bad news.

Originally Posted by brandondrury

The other route is to take the low road. Dump your tuition money in a recording rig, really learn the thing, start with shitty local bands, work your way up to better bands, etc. This is the path I've taken and I have to say that it isn't easy either. In fact, I CAN NOT rely on it for any real income.

Yes, but like other musicians, who can't rely on much income doing original music, it still benefits the aspiring engineer to hook up with several bands to help them record their projects. I know 2 people in the Vancouver area - one works for a studio, the other runs his own studio - who simply started out mixing our live show for free, and helped out in NAL Sound studios to mix our band's demo. He also got 1/5th of the money we made on several cover act performances ($2400) (so he made $400) just for mixing the sound.

Hopefully, after a few projects are mixed, a resume can start to be formed, that will allow entrance into the recording industry.

In the end, though, it is WHO you know, not WHAT you know.

[brandondrury]

basically its all about drive i believe and i have it.

Now we are talking. This is the name of the game. Penises and vaginas are totally irrelevant. Drive is the name of the game. I too am a driven person. Failure is not an option and therefore has never been considered.

The only difference is you could get pregnant, taking out all your failed ambitions on your kids while the father runs off to Vegas with a flight attendant. (Is it just me or does this sound like a bad Nicholas Cage movie?). (I'm kind of kidding here but I'm also semi-serious). (You brought the gender issue so now I'm running with it! )

peoples are tellin me about protools is the best route

This is a complex issue. Most major label type sessions use Pro Tools. Pro Tools HD3 (about $15,000 give or take) has some features that the mega pros with infinite $$$ like to use. Pro Tools LE is a very capable program in itself that will run on about any computer. It's easy to toss a Pro Tools LE session into the HD3 rig at a big studio to mix on a huge SSL console, if needed.

Besides the ability to very easily interface with other systems, I don't think Pro Tools LE is any better than anything else. It does cost more. It does require proprietary hardware. Some feel it's sequencer is lacking. There are many features on Pro Tools LE that intentionally crippled that you can unlock for $$$.

Most agree that Pro Tools is the more expensive route. If you are going to be on big time sessions, knowing Pro Tools is pretty much a requirement with many producers.

It just really depends, I guess. It depends on how you want to approach this whole thing. If the #1 goal is to work in big studios under big producers, you have to know Pro Tools one way or another. If this is not so important, there are routes where you won't use as much resources on Pro Tools hardware / software.

You may want to search this forum, we've debated the Pro Tools vs other stuff thingy pretty heavily in the past.

Brandon

[brandondrury]

In the end, though, it is WHO you know, not WHAT you know.

It's a lot easier to read an instructional book than it is to get George Lucas to give you a back rub.

Brandon