Archives for June 2011

Issues with Audacity Not Recognizing a USB Mic

June 27, 2011 by Ken 10 Comments

Home Recording Issues: One of our members just wrote in with the following question:
I am trying to use a logitech headset/mic for my input device on Audacity. When I plug it into the usb port, the light on the mic comes on but when I look at preferences the mic doesn’t showup as an option. The logitech site says that os comes with the drivers needed to make this happen. My os says its up to date. I running on a macbook wth os. Have you ever encountered an issue with Audacity not recognizing your input device?
Thanks.

Our Answer:

Unfortunately there are going to be any number of hardware and software combinations out there that we have not personally encountered. Here is how we answered the question for the member:
It seems like every system has its own quirks when it comes to the combination of OS, hardware, drivers and software. I’m afraid I have not run into that particular problem. Also I don’t use a mac, so am unfamiliar with it. In windows, what I would do is check the “sounds and audio devices” option in the Control Panel and see if the OS itself is picking up the mic. Then I would make the USB mic the primary Recording device for the system. That may force Audacity to pick up the mic as an option. Failing that, I would check out the Audacity forums. There are LOTS more folks there who have experience with Audacity and macs. They are here: http://forum.audacityteam.org/
Sorry I couldn’t be more direct help. Good luck!
Ken
If anyone out there can answer this question more specifically, please feel free to post a comment at the end of this post!
Cheers,
Ken

How To Set Up A Home Recording Studio – What Do I Need?

June 27, 2011 by Ken Leave a Comment

Questions like this one – How To Set Up A Home Recording Studio – What Do I Need? – are extraordinarily common. This particular one was asked on Yahoo! Answers a few days ago and we decided to chime in with our two pence. Lo and behold, this was chosen as the “Best Answer” to the question.

Here is the Question:

I want to record myself singing with good quality voice recording and I want to know what I need. I know I’ll need a condenser mic, some mixer thing? Software? Can someone tell me the basics for setting up a home recording studio. I have a mac book pro. If someone can recommend the stuff i need, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank You.
And here is the Home Brew Audio Answer:
Best Answer – Chosen by Voters
Hi John (not actual name),
Actually you don’t really NEED a mixer. First, go download Reaper software (a company called Cockos). Free to start and if you decide to keep it and use it regularly, it’s $49 – Amazing. Next, you could try a USB mic (if you’re on a tight budget) called the Samson Q1U for about $49. Then you wouldn’t need a separate audio interface box. The quality is very good as long as you do some good noise control. But if you can swing it, I say get an M-Audio FastTrack interface and a large diaphragm condenser mic. I use a Rode NT2-A, but there are lots to choose from, cost starting under $100 and going up from there. That’s really all you need for what you’re wanting to do. As for adding the music, will you be playing the music, or are you looking for backing tracks that are pre-recorded? Either way, you can do that in Reaper, which is multi-track software. Import the music file(s) onto a track or tracks into Reaper. Then on another track(s) record your singing while listening to the music. We have an article at Home Brew Audio on backing tracks for singers if you’re trying to do that.
Good luck.

Backing Tracks for Singers – Virtual Band For Song Demos, Karaoke or Auditions

June 27, 2011 by Ken Leave a Comment

With the popularity of American Idol and America’s Got Talent, The Voice, etc. there are many budding songbirds out there. Plenty of folks with hidden talents are coming out of the woodwork. So to optimize your chances, you should jump at the opportunity to create your own professional sound recordings. For all you fantastic future artistes who are blessed with a singing talent but no instrumental prowess, there is a solution.
To begin with you will need this simple equipment:
A Multi-Track Recording Software Program with MIDI (musical instrument digital interface) capability and ideally a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). See our article – MIDI Recording – What Is It And Why Is It Awesome? for a review (or intro if you’ve never heard of it) of what MIDI is all about.
Some popular and reputable programs include Adobe Audition, Garage Band (for Apple), Reaper, and Sonar. Any of these systems will allow you to record your vocals on top of a pre-bought or downloaded MIDI track, not to mention allow you to record your own backing tracks if you play an instrument.
A MIDI Keyboard
A MIDI keyboard is essential for adding the virtual instruments you will need to complete your recordings. There are many models out there from many well-known brands including Korg, Akai and M-Audio. Personally, I use one similar to the Korg microKEY for this. It’s small and sits right on my computer desk.
A Decent Microphone
Your computer’s built-in microphone is probably not up to the task for creating professional audio. However, despite what most experts and music store employees will tell you, it is not necessary to buy an expensive microphone. These days you can enter the zone of professional quality audio for the cost of a good USB microphone, such as the Samson Q1U for $50. This was not possible just a few years ago, but the quality of these USB mics in 2011 is very good.
When you have all your equipment the next thing you’ll need is the audio tracks you want to sing along to. If you don’t already have a recording set-up on your computer and if you don’t play any instruments, fear not. Across the web you will find downloadable MIDI versions of many popular hits. Some of these sites also have audio tracks of these songs with the vocals removed. Some of the best sites include: Midi-Hits, Cybermidi, and Hittrax. MIDI tracks are available on these sites for a few bucks and will allow you to basically have you’re your own band.
Once you have downloaded your track, you will need to import your MIDI backing track into your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). In the majority of programs you will find a basic IMPORT/INSERT button and by using this you can import your track. As soon as your track is imported all you need to do is plug your mic into the computer, press the record button and sing along. You have the opportunity to mix the perfect track for your next live performance, karaoke party, or demo recording for that audition.
By the way, lesson 11 in our newest tutorial course – The Newbies Guide To Audio Recording Awesomeness: Pro Recording With Reaper – shows you how to use the MIDI tools in Reaper to do what I just mentioned above.
As you’re in control of the mixing board as well as the vocals, you can edit your track post-production. If you notice a slight wobble in your voice, you can erase it. If you need to up the tempo you can. If you notice the track is in the wrong pitch for your vocal range, you can change it. Using this innovative software you can edit your track until its note perfect. Maximize the value of your natural talents and maximize your chances of commercial success.
Get Your Own Band Now
The opportunity to work from your own home studio at your computer screen is fantastic. You can work in the comfort of your own home and test out as many different tracks and samples as you desire, without the worry of the cost of studio time. If you’re really serious about a career in music, investing in some decent software, a range of MIDI tracks and a decent quality microphone could seriously boost your chances. Who knows, you could be the next big star!

Home Recording – How Computer Literate Do I Need To Be?

June 26, 2011 by Ken Leave a Comment

In order to take full advantage of the massive technology advantages available in the world of home recording, we have to accept that we’ll be working with computers.
It has been our going-in assumption that pretty much anybody and everybody these days is computer literate, by which I mean familiar with and adept at the basic user commands in today’s consumer computers. That’s what I consider to be about where someone needs to be in their “comfortable-ness” with computers in or to really get into home audio recording. You surely do not need to be any kind of computer geek or programmer or anything approaching that level. But the fact is there are still lots and lots of people out there, very smart and capable people, who are uncomfortable with or even intimidated by computers.
We’ve been blithely talking about how easy, inexpensive, yet powerful home recording is now, assuming a level of computer literacy that may not be reflective of reality (a fancy way of saying “wrong”). We received a comment on a blog post yesterday that basically said:
I’m a musician and really into harmony, and would love to do what you are doing with the harmony recording, but I am computer illiterate and feel like I don’t understand what to do in order to get involved.
Well that was an eye-opener. So in response, we plan to publish more articles and guides geared toward the folks who are, as they call themselves, more computer illiterate than the average joe. This content will attempt to provide the minimum computer literacy needed to at least do the cool audio recording stuff.
Thanks to the Home Brew Audio readers for opening our eyes to this bias we’ve had! We hear you and hereby commit to make this magic world of home recording available and practical for ALL our readers.
Cheers!
Ken

EQ And Compression Techniques For Vocals, Acoustic Guitar

June 22, 2011 by Ken Leave a Comment

Compression and EQ techniques for vocal and guitar are explained here. Compression is the technique of evening out the loud and soft parts of the vocal or instrumental music. EQ should be used to subtly color the sound of a particular track. While doing so, it is usually more effective to pull out some frequencies rather than adding some.
Read the full article from the ProSound Web site here:
EQ And Compression Techniques For Vocals, Acoustic Guitar