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RealBand
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18
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OP
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18 |
New here. Been trying to do a lot of research on several programs. I've settled on BIAB to get real tracks and for it's hopefully ease of use. It's in the mail. Basically I'm a songwriter who is an intermediate acoustic guitar player who wants to be able to make basic but quality recordings of my songs. I have a couple of questions if I may.
1. Does anyone here record thier own vocals with RB/BIAB?
2. Do you all have recommendations for relatively inexpensive interfaces for my guitar if necessary?
thanks
steve
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RealBand
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 235
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 235 |
1. I am sure there are people who do, I personally like too record my vocals inside Protools, after finsihing my music creation in BB. I add eventually some extra instruments there as well. If you don't have any other program (you could also download some freeware) you could also try realband, this way you got a bit more overview to what you are doing. I did not work with it in fact, but I bet others can tell you much more about it.
2. By interfaces you mean external soundcards or amp simulators?
I'll be back...
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RealBand
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18 |
Thanks AB. I am getting RealBand 09. The less programs I have to go through to put down a simple but quality track the better for me. And by interfaces I mean either. External soundcards seem a little pricey for me. The cheapest good one I have seen is around 200.00. I just want to get my acoustic on the track.
Steve
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RealBand
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,695
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Joined: Aug 2006
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What kind of sound card do you use? Many start with the built in, and find it lacking. Truth be told it is, but for the beginner with simple needs it can be used. For free you can download the ASIO4All driver and enhance it's basic features. Next get a cheap small mixer like a behringer 802 zenyx, and that will give you a decent place to input tracks and monitor as well. $59 average online and at Guitar Centers
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Presonus Audiobox USB96
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RealBand
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,471
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,471 |
I have recorded many vocals and other tracks (including acoustic guitar) using Realband. It is a very capable tool.
For your guitar.. it sounds like you need a mic and preamp if its an acoustic.. what have you got to work with?
Give us soundcard info and any other equipment you have, then we can can make an econimcal suggestion..
.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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RealBand
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18
Enthusiast
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OP
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18 |
Thanks Rharv. I currently have a Dell pc with SigmaTell hi def audio, 2.8 ghz with 1 gig of ram and 230 gigs of hardrive space. I have a Blue Snowball USB mic which I'm growing to love. I have a Martin Dred with an LR Baggs iBeam setup. And of course the RealBand 09 coming. haven't gotten an external soundcard or interface yet. Trying to keep the cost down.
steve
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RealBand
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
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Joined: May 2000
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I-Beam pickup and matching preamp records divine when connected to Line Input of soundcard. Sounds as good as using a Mic.
That plus the snowball should be able to turn in some pretty decent recordings for you.
--Mac
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RealBand
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,122
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,122 |
I use a Edirol by roland UA-4fx interface, and currently I use vsc/dxi, forte, and the stantard Realtec audio sounds that came with my computer. Still waiting to upgrade to a better sound card. I sometimes use my Yamaha PSR2000 as a midi sound engine.
the UA-4fx is a pretty cool interface, comes with the ASIO4all, as well as a lite edition of sonar, at least when I bought it. Look up the unit on the internet, it may do what you want. I use it go go direct with my LR Baggs Larrivee, it does have a tube simulator with an xlr mic infput as well and phantom power. quite a bundle.
New I think was $140.00 when I got it. I'm starting to see them show up both new and used on Ebay now.
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RealBand
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 235
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 235 |
Not bad considering what you are using. I wonder though, why is the volume so low? Maybe you could normalize the tracks before putting them on the net? Just my two cents (or better 5 dollar in those days of inflation)
I'll be back...
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RealBand
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 436
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 436 |
That sounded good. Nice and clear. Even just the way it is, you could edit that in Real Band, turn on the "dynamics effects" built in, and boost the quality of that recording, without anymore equipment if you wanted to. Although at least a $59.00 Behringer mixer like I have, or a preamp would probably be the least amount of equipment needed.
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RealBand
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18 |
Well I just received my RealBand 09 pro and installed it so it's going to take me awhile to get used to it. I did import an mp3 of a song I co-wrote and used the chord wizard. It had vocals on the master track. I was able to generate a little band to play along with it and was pretty close. It's pretty cool. Right now the chord wizard does not match the chords I played but I can edit that. It's pretty cool. Thanks for everyone's help so far
steve
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RealBand
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,695
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,695 |
I might add a mixer as was mentioned above, but would be careful adding another USB interface, i haseen USB mike cause funky issues due to the fact they act as sound cards so the system thinks it has two USB cards or interfaces.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Presonus Audiobox USB96
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RealBand
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18 |
Rob my plan for the moment is to lay down the tracks and vocals on RealBand and then maybe mix them down in another program. I'll try to do it all here to see what I can come up with but the other option is open. I guess my only issue right now is whether I'll end up needing an interface such as the M Pro Audio or a different sound card.
I'm discovering there is a whole lot to this................... :-)
steve
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RealBand
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,695
Veteran
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Veteran
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Posts: 8,695 |
RB will do it all for you. It really boils down to what you are comfortable with, everyone has a favorite program. For simple stuff, Rb is pretty solid. AS long as the USB mike send a good signal to RB it will be good. For guitar and such a nice little mixer can be great attached to the sound card.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Presonus Audiobox USB96
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RealBand
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 436
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 436 |
I really think you will like Real Band. I have used several others. This forum will have you up and running quickly with these programs. Answers come quick. Between BB, and RB, I really think you have some quality editing software available. I am not sure that you will really need interfaces for your guitar. You could plug right in to your soundcard direct, record dry, and find a lot of effects to make it sound good. You could go thru a mixer, and add an effects loop, and send it to your computer, or whatever. Depends what you want everything to sound like. I have recorded my acoustic direct, mic'd, . . . My electric direct, thru effects and then in, and have had good results. I am new to digital recording, however. I found out that, "Red, you're dead". No headroom like analog used to be. One or two red lights, and it sounds like S@#T. It is a blast, come editing time, to "select" noise, pops, breath noise, and CUT. Good, quiet, (Sterile recordings. . . another argument). Sometimes I miss cleaning an album with the juice on the cleaner bar, before playing the record.. . . . Ahhh, the old daze. . . . You will have fun, and get quality recordings like you wouldn't believe.
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RealBand
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,330
Veteran
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,330 |
Quote:
Here is an example of a scratch recording with the Blue Snowball USB mic straight into my computer recorded on Mixcraft4 with no mixing done. Just so you can hear what the mic sounds like. Click on the song Waiting In The Wings
steve
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=460722370
Steve, I hear nothing wrong with “Waiting in the Wings”! Super song.
My suggestion would be to keep recording as you are doing now using RB. Learn the program inside and out. That is learn how to record both your guitar and vocals-what settings sounds best for each-what recording volume is best for each etc. Since I don’t know your exact set up this will probably mean your will have to record your guitar and vocals separately. Actually that’s how I record hear. I build songs in layers by using my bass, guitar and vocal.
I also record dry and add the effects to my vocals and guitar after the fact. Here you can download a ton of free effects for both your vox and guitar. There are some good effects here.
The best thing is that all of this is free. Then after you get a handle on things you can determine exactly what you need or want.
I think my wife has started to show the first signs of dementia.
She said she can't remember what she ever saw in me!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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RealBand
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18 |
Thanks Mario, Rob and Luv..........I'm still trying to get settled with this program. Gotta tell you that the instruction pdf that comes with it seems a little hard to follow sometimes. I'll be looking through the tutorials here and on youtube. Basics don't seem too hard. I was able to import a guitar/vocal track I made, hit generate in the chord wizard and it all came up. I can see the real benefit of recording everything to a click track so you can stay close to your timing. When I hit generate RB set up a group of instruments but they were slightly off. I know there's ways to adjust that some. Starting to get my feet wet. It's fun. Thanks all
steve
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RealBand
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,695
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,695 |
Go here and do the tutorials, the Powertracks one do apply to RB as Rb is based on Power tracks with some Band in a Box mixed in. http://rsthigpen.com/free/
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Presonus Audiobox USB96
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RealBand
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,122
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,122 |
You have some cool songs there Steve. I'm hearing shades of Don Francisco, which is a good thing as far as I'm concerned. I love writing Christian and old style gospel music. Keep it up.
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