NWB - Community Blog

01 Jun 2010

computer Recording and free backing tracks

Filed Under : Hello

Posted By : Rob Redfern, Black Rose,more flange..and more cowbell.. | Comments : 33

Help needed

Hiya deans blog re 4 tracks has got me thinking

it's been about 8 years since I did some home recording and sold my old Roland vs880 and cd recorder back then, I've got all the guitars amps and vocal mics and leads etc of course and I could Talk the hind legs off ya about guitar stuff, but when it comes to pc recording I'm well out of date, I wish I had 20 years of recording knowledge as well as guitar but I don't mind admitting I do not :-( always been a plug in and record person

so I need to know..

What free programmes could I use for pc recording?

Where to get the latest free cool backing tracks(looking for commercial well known rock tracks to do some vocals on ) and to do some guitar instrumentals covers again (satriani,vai etc)

I have all the other stuff as I say and of course my pod xtlive will be a breeze in this situation and I can do guitars(acoustic and electric) and vocals, i can even put the vocals thru the line 6 as it has enough eq, comp, gate and fx for this too, and also has USB connectivity, i have a laptop with windows vista and a desktop with Windows Xp both have loads of free memory space( i dont keep a lot stored on my pcs, only use em really for surfin , watchin films and playing music etc)

please help

so to summarise i have the guitar and vocal kit, just need a programme to record this on, to convert from the analogue to digital world if you will,rock backing tracks that already have bass drums and or keyboard on,, then mix it and record to mp3 or cd

many thanks
Rob

Comments

# Posted by TEX & THE HARDCORE TROUBAD... - 01/06/2010, 17:34 (GMT)

would you be thinking of midi file backing tracks or audio backing tracks?

# Posted by SKP - 01/06/2010, 17:36 (GMT)

hey Rob! Re: recording Paul, our bass player/engineer swears by a progam called 'pro-tools' not sure if you can get a free version or if you have to buy the sofware...cant help with the backing tracks tho - but he uses pro-tools to record his own :)

# Posted by Anthem - 01/06/2010, 17:37 (GMT)

we got loads of backing tracks mate, any particular ones you're after?

# Posted by Rob Redfern, Black Rose,more f... - 01/06/2010, 17:41 (GMT)

i think there is a free version of pro tools, im gonna have a look on www.download.com, which is always good for free cool programs :-)

cant really think of any particular songs at the moment Mark, but you know me well prob know what kinda stuff i mean :-)

# Posted by TEX & THE HARDCORE TROUBAD... - 01/06/2010, 17:47 (GMT)

got heaps of midi files I could copy for you if thats what you are after?

# Posted by Chipps the Bassist - 01/06/2010, 17:48 (GMT)

Every time we've recorded at studios, are tracks have been recorded using pro-tools. Im pretty sure you cant get a free version (unless its a pirate copy) but there are different versions, some cheaper than others.
The only other recording software im aware of is garageband, which is quite a good and easy programme to use, but i think its only for macs.
Would totally recommend using pro-tools though, it does what it says on the tin and more. :)

# Posted by Rob Redfern, Black Rose,more f... - 01/06/2010, 17:50 (GMT)

i could prob find my way around some midi files, i used them for the drums tracks on my satriani and vai covers on my myspace page, then added guitars, keyboards and bass(i dont have a bass now though so any tracks would need to have bass

i used sound studio gold back in the day i think, had the tracks on disk thru a yamaha qs300,into a roland v studio, but now itd be laptop recording all the way (and prob a lot easier too)

# Posted by lynnmonk - 01/06/2010, 18:43 (GMT)

For Audio Recording, you could use either ProTools-Free (a very basic version of protools) It had a lot of issues with crashing on PC's some years ago, but they should have ironed these out by now.

or Garageband (comes pre-loaded if you have a Mac)

or Cubasis - (The free version of Cubase)

Here are some links to some others. They all have their quirks and the one that will suit you will be entirely down to the way you lioke to work. Personally, I recommend the Kristal program for all my artists and collaborators. It records in high resolutions and can export as FLAC files for easy transfer on the net.

http://www.hitsquad.com/smm/programs/Mstudio_win95/

http://www.hitsquad.com/smm/programs/QuartzStudio_Free/

http://www.hitsquad.com/smm/programs/DDClip_Free/

http://www.hitsquad.com/smm/programs/QuartzAudioMasterFreeware/

http://www.hitsquad.com/smm/programs/KRISTAL/

http://www.hitsquad.com/smm/programs/FatRockStudio/

http://tinyurl.com/6nrl7 - This is the download link for "Music Studio Pro"

You'll notice that "hitsquad.com" is the site to go to for all your music software!

For backing tracks, I would recommend that you seek out some audio karaoke tracks (MP3 versions) for the best quality. You may have to buy these as royalties have to be paid, of course!

Have fun!

Lynn

# Posted by Glyn H - 01/06/2010, 18:50 (GMT)

cubase is popular, i have Tracktion 2 by Mackie which is quite simple to use, i am fairly sure that your pod is a anaolg to digital converter, when plugged in via usb.

RAM is the most important thing to have on your laptop i would say minimum 2 gig, preferably 4 gig.

good luck with it, it is quite tricky to set up but great fun once you have got it going

# Posted by Glyn H - 01/06/2010, 18:51 (GMT)

http://www.guitarbackingtrack.com/

try here for backing :)

# Posted by Rob Redfern, Black Rose,more f... - 01/06/2010, 18:55 (GMT)

cheers glyn, yeah im thinkin toward Cubase

and thats cool about the backing track website, thats the best one ive found so far too :-)

# Posted by Bad Horsie (Mick) - 01/06/2010, 19:22 (GMT)

Audacity is the easiest multi track recording tool I've ever encountered. And it's free and small.

# Posted by Rob Redfern, Black Rose,more f... - 01/06/2010, 19:27 (GMT)

i just want to get a good backing track, play and or sing over it and have a little tweak with it to make it all sound nice and shiny, and be able to do that from my pod xt live for a lot of the guitar and any other sounds :-)

its getting there i dont have a f**kin clue on, im old school that way ha ha

# Posted by Rob Redfern, Black Rose,more f... - 01/06/2010, 19:29 (GMT)

just Dl audacity and tracktion

# Posted by Jez (Route 69) - 01/06/2010, 19:31 (GMT)

ita all personal but i used to have cubase and its a bit like having a space shuttle to get from Bury to Huddersfield, you dont need or use 80% of the stuff so its great kit but maybe not what you need. I once got samplitude SE (a light version) with a magazine and fell for it - simple to use (Ithen got a version of the full software for mixing/mastering with). I think there is a light version of pro tools and cubase which are, the full versions are "industry standards" - thats what you'll get in a pro studio. As mentioned Audicity is a great prog also (I still use Cool Edit - which was audacityI think - correct me if im wrong) for changing format (eg mp3 to WAV - cd format) and taking vocals of existing tracks to hear the music better!!!
As for backing tracks theres loads of midi file sites - just grab the files, usually really small, and play them through your DAW software, Cubase, Samplitude, Audacity,whatever and you can play along.

# Posted by Rob Redfern, Black Rose,more f... - 01/06/2010, 19:36 (GMT)

thats it yep my requirements are very simple, this audacity looks all i need TBH, ive got line 6 monkey on my laptop, would audacity detect guitars and or vocals coming thru and is that done via USB, i really dont know eeeeekkk

my knowledge consists of guitars amps effects pa systems a bit and messing with tones and effects generally and making a cup of tea, the computer connection is all thick muddy gravy , i am however pretty computer literate, just merging the music side to the computer side that is the only bit i am rubbish at :-))))))))))))))))

# Posted by Bad Horsie (Mick) - 01/06/2010, 19:39 (GMT)

Rob, I used your XTLive via USB onto my laptop. It can be done. As long as you have the XTL drivers installed and the XTL switched on before you open Audacity, it will show the XTL as Input/Output options.

# Posted by Rob Redfern, Black Rose,more f... - 01/06/2010, 19:42 (GMT)

ace thats all i need to get started!! :-)

# Posted by Glyn H - 01/06/2010, 19:42 (GMT)

in the DAW settings you will have the option to pick your inputs and outputs so input would be along the lines of line6 device. probably on a pop down menu

# Posted by Rob Redfern, Black Rose,more f... - 01/06/2010, 19:43 (GMT)

now to get some backing tracks, some Satriani to get started methinks , not tonight though, this has already frazzled my brain :-)

# Posted by Rob Redfern, Black Rose,more f... - 01/06/2010, 19:43 (GMT)

cheers guys

# Posted by Rob Redfern, Black Rose,more f... - 01/06/2010, 19:47 (GMT)

if there was ever a spinal tap style Metalleeka movie, id definitely be a Nigel Tufnel style dumbass "where do i plug my guitar in" thats all i would be interested in, typical guitarist.............im a guitarist with no desire to be George Martin!!

it really very basic things im after, just connected up to my pc, from pod xtl, find some nice backing tracks, and then get those fingers moving, and hopefully making something magical and shiny sounding at the end of it :-) while by no means a luddite, im am a bit analogue, but ready to embrace digital with open arms :-)

# Posted by Jez (Route 69) - 01/06/2010, 19:49 (GMT)

you'll prob find biggest ball ache is input output settings; ive tried running usb mics, usb guitar and seperate soundcard and it blows your head till you get it sussed but like anything, once you can you wonder why you couldnt in the first place :-) Happy future aggrevation!!!

# Posted by Glyn H - 01/06/2010, 19:50 (GMT)

agreed Jez c....
my biggest ballache was latency and vst instruments :)

# Posted by Rob Redfern, Black Rose,more f... - 01/06/2010, 19:52 (GMT)

im just after some more nice shiny tracks to add on my myspace to showcase some more of my guitar work with maybe some vocals here and there too, i used to love doing recording and really miss it

# Posted by Rob Redfern, Black Rose,more f... - 01/06/2010, 19:53 (GMT)

my biggest ballache is when i forget to turn my wireless pack on, thats what youre dealing with here, what i like to think i apparently have in guitar ability i lose by way of compensation in common sense :-)

# Posted by Jez (Route 69) - 01/06/2010, 19:53 (GMT)

@glyn blog jackingnow i know - sorry!! but get your vst instrument converted straight to WAV audio files/tracks - frees up memory. As i mention on Deans original blog, its easy to spend hours tweaking with computers, with an old 4 track you plugged in. played, fcked off!! simples!

# Posted by Rob Redfern, Black Rose,more f... - 01/06/2010, 19:55 (GMT)

yep i was a lot better at that ha ha, if i can figure out a guitar multi fx without reading the manual surely i can sort this stuff? i hope..............

# Posted by lynnmonk - 01/06/2010, 20:04 (GMT)

I never recommend Audacity. It is a terribly noisy program compared to most of the others.

I use Logic Pro in my studio. They used to do a free version for PC many years ago, but I'm not sure that you can get hold of it now. Garageband is the free version of logic now, but of course it is only available for the Mac (as is the full version).

Lynn

# Posted by Glyn H - 01/06/2010, 22:18 (GMT)

@ Jez.... i have it reasonably sussed now...

@ everyone ... get toontracks EZ Drummer ... it rocks!

:)

# Posted by Glyn H - 01/06/2010, 22:21 (GMT)

back to small multitrackers... i used to have a boss BR8 that was cool ... you can get one dead cheap and install a flash reader in place of the zip drive. good piece of kit... but the mastering was limited.

# Posted by Jez (Route 69) - 01/06/2010, 22:23 (GMT)

@glyn - likewise Addictive Drums,great programme - (just dont tell the drummers!!)

# Posted by JOHNNY MEERKAT - 02/06/2010, 13:34 (GMT)

www.karaoke-version.com has MP3 backing tracks that allow you to remove instruments, but you have to pay & it's a limited library

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