Hi everyone, I’m a musician who plays saxophone, keyboards and loves to sing but I’ve never recorded anything.
My brother has a copy of Band in a Box that he says he can lend me but I don’t even have a computer. I only use my iPhone and occasionally my husband’s work computer. We don’t even have internet here but I’ve learned I don’t need it to use this.
I DO however have a great Roland keyboard, amplifier and microphone.
I’m an experienced player but not very computer savvy.
Could I get some ideas or suggestions and what to get and why.
I’m so excited to finally be able to make my own music.
If you never recorded anything...., but ok with iphone, My suggestion:
Get an MultiTrack DAW app for iphone or similar. The one that can record multiple tracks. You can get multitrack apps from $3-$10.
Get a simple interface like iRig (looks like AA battery, slightly bigger) that you connect to microphone and the other end to iphone. Or even skip the interface and microphone and record multiple tracks using iphone mic, just to see if you are ok with it.
I would say that would be your easiest and cheapest way to get into the magic of recording audio.
If you feel comfortable, and you want to learn more, you can use same interface (if you get one) for PC and explore the endless galaxy of computer world accompaniment / recording software and peripherals.
<< Could I get some ideas or suggestions and what to get and why. >>
First. You don't need to borrow your brothers copy of Band in a Box. It requires a computer and it would be useless to you. I'm not sure if it's even proper for him to loan the program. That may violate licensing agreements he's made when he purchased the program. Although PGMusic makes an IOS product, it works in conjunction with a copy of BIAB installed on a computer I think.
Your solution is to provide your brother a list of songs you'd like to play and sing along to and have him make a CD for you or alternately they can be loaded onto your iphone play list. You have everything else you need to record yourself singing and playing. Rustyspoon's suggestion to use an irig adaptor will provide a great interface for recording to your iphone. As Rustyspoon also said, it's not required or necessary to get excellent recordings. You can record the output of your amplifier speaker using the built in mic's of your iphone. The only obstacle is you will need some type of device to play the BIAB created backing tracks other than your iphone since it will be unable to play tracks and record at the same time. I suggest purchasing an inexpensive Olympus or Sony voice recorder available at Walmart, Target or any music store. They are less than $50 and your brother can put thousands of songs on the device. Most modern amplifiers have line inputs so you can connect the device directly to a line input on your amplifier. It may also be able to connect to your Roland Keyboard. Place the iphone very close to the amplifier speaker, make sure the input of the iphone is not set too high so it distorts, and your iphone can record the backing tracks, you playing your sax or singing along. If you record a backing track onto the voice recording and play the sax and record it using the microphone, you can play that recording back through your amplifier and sing along with that track that now consists of backing track + sax and add your vocals to that. Record and play that back using the same process and you can sing along and add a harmony vocal part.
You are using analog recording techniques to digital recording media.
If you want to get into recording and not be dependent on your brother to provide backing tracks for you or go to the expense of buying computers, software and other accessories you need to digitally record your singing and playing but still have BIAB to create accompaniment tracks, a Digitech Trio uses BIAB to create bass and drums accompaniment, loops and effects you can record yourself playing along with. No computer necessary. No internet necessary. You can also use it to play live solo gigs and for family and friends get togethers.
There are relatively inexpensive digital multi track recorders by Tascam, Zoom, and, on the higher side, Roland. These are four and eight track units that will take you a long way in the area of recordings to backing tracks, Karaoke. It does raise an interesting question, though, and that is, "Are there Band in a Box backing track producers out there who will produce tracks on demand or have tracks available? Once you enter the magic world of BiaB, it's not easy to back out. I'm afraid that does not answer your question as to how to break in to the computer music field. It also opens the door to your making your own companion tracks.
If you can visit your brother and he can assist with running the program, you can record your voice, saxophone etc directly into Band In A Box. That might get you going quickly and easily. There should be no need for separate Mixers, DAW's etc.
This one might be useful as a starter. Don't be concerned if it looks difficult, he'll be able to help you for sure:
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
As far as the BIAB question, that is licensed to one user, and that one user has three activations to cover three computers (not used at the same time).
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Thank you so much for your input. It’s much appreciated. I will have to research all this to even correspond back as it’s all gone ‘way over my head,’ but I WILL do so as I REALLY want to do this.
Perhaps I can ask questions as I’m learning. I think I will learn a lot here.
Feel free to ask questions. There is no such thing as stupid questions here (maybe some stupid answers from time-to-time ), but your questions will be well received, no matter how simple or how complex.
We'll do our best to help.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
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MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
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FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
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MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
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