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Topic: record acoustic music (Read 3581 times) previous topic - next topic

record acoustic music

I need to record Classical guitar, 'at home'.
Do I need to buy a new computer, (with an interface) or just get some sort of digital recorder that creates a wave format CD? What kind of micorphone do you need?

Re: record acoustic music

Reply #1 –
The lowest-tech and least-expensive way to do it:

(1) Record using an ordinary, high-quality tape recorder.

(2) Connect the tape recorder's lineout (or, earphone jack) to your computer's line-in on the soundcard. Be sure that the signal levels are compatible (this is, read your computer's instructions). Do not attempt to patch the tape recorder's loudspeaker jacks (if it has them) to your computer, since the connection for loudspeakers has too great a signal level.

(3) Play the recording into your computer, as you use software to record it to hard disk. Windows comes with a built-in sound recorder program, but it's only good for one minute of recording. "ALC Record," a German program, is free and will record indefinitely. There are many other alternatives.

(4) You can do some editing of the saved WAV file using the free "Audacity." Again, there are many alternatives. You can also convert it to MP3. If you wish to send your music over the Internet, consider Microsoft's free Windows Media encoder software, which will convert to WMA format.

It is easy enough to make simple recordings. But if you want serious editing capability, that's a complicated topic. There are a number of commercial and shareware programs that can do several tasks, and possibly can provide useful help.

But what will NOT happen is conversion of your sound into a format, such as MIDI, that can be input to a music notation program, such as NWC, for editing sheet music. Although there are some programs that claim such capability, as far as I know they are not useful.

On the other hand, you can merge the sound played by a MIDI file (such as one created by NWC) to sound from your real guitar. That can be done with Audacity and other programs with sound file editing capability. However, the MIDI accompaniment must first be played and recorded to WAV format.

Search this forum for WAV, MIDI for more info.

Re: record acoustic music

Reply #2 –
Thanks for the info. One correction. Windows Sound
recorder goes for a minute, but once something is
saved; then, the file can be opened and re-recorded,
without any time out. The one-minute New file is
probably a precaution/warning so the a novice does
not overwhelem the computer by leaving the record
button on, and generating a HUGE wave file.
I need CD quality so probably will have to get one
of these set-ups. (Venders feel free to bug me)
1. Microphone, preamp, sound card
2. Stand onlone digital recorder + burner
sniffysicehouse@hotmail.com

Re: record acoustic music

Reply #3 –
I feed the line out from my Radio Shack microphone mixer to the line in on my computer. This records as a wav file to my hard drive. With 60 gigs it tells me I have more than 2 hours of recording time available. After each session I delete the garbage and save the rest for editing later. If I feel like moving my stumps, I try to record in segments of about 15 minutes, but since the computer is in a room separate from my studio I can let it run if I need to. I generally use Sound Forge or n-track as my recording and editing programs. As you can see, this does not require major money except for microphones and some audio cable. Good musical instruments and talent are more important. Even accoustics can be greatly enhanced with the computer.
Carl Bangs
Fenwick Parva Press
Registered user since 1995

Re: record acoustic music

Reply #5 –
I use the Sound Forge program that was included with Soundblaster Live. It is not their most expensive product. I think n-track will do almost anything that Acid does, and the cost is reasonable. It is particularly good for transforming midi to wav.
Carl Bangs
Fenwick Parva Press
Registered user since 1995

Re: record acoustic music

Reply #6 –
Different sound cards, different prices.
This one is $80, I don't know if it is a 24 bit sound
card.
http://www.turtlebeach.com/site/products/santacruz/indetail.asp
Signal to noise is 96dB, I think yours is 106dB
Microphones sometimes require a power source, like
48 Volts. Not sure what that is about.
Working through Audacity, suggested above.