Haven’t been around for a while (How’s everybody?), but I’ve got a couple questions and I’ll bet someone here can help me.
Question 1: I want to set up a PC based recording studio in my classroom so my kids can see how multi-track recording, mixing, etc. works. Can anyone recommend some inexpensive software that includes an easy-to-follow visual interface (so the kids can see what’s happening on my smartboard), effects processing, equalizer, and mixing? I “officially” have $50 to spend, but I could probably fudge that just a bit if necessary.
Question 2: I use a Fostex VX160 in my home studio with onboard effects processor. I want to make an instrumental track sound like a nice, natural, outdoor echo. I’ve tried pan and mono delay, but the result is always too “computery” sounding. Maybe just the nature of the beast. Short of getting a solar port and taking my recorder up to the canyon, is there a way to get a decent echo sound? The manual was written by someone for whom I’m guessing English was not a first language, and I’m stumped.
1). I have been using Cool Edit Pro for years, but that was bought out by Adobe a few years ago and re-issued as Adobe Audition. I haven’t tried it, but a lot of people have reported good results with a package called Audacity. Give it a try. Its free. What have you got to lose?
I wish I could have been in a class like that when I was in school
Do you want to be recording in the classroom, or just show then a finished project whilst they hear it? If so, then you will need more than just the software and $50 is not going to get you a lot of hardware. Kristal is a free piece of Multitrack software. Never used it myself, but have read many positive comments about it - and it looks like it does everything the expensive programs do.
Cooledit Pro is a decent piece of Software, with some restrictions (no midi, and processing effects rather than non destructive plugins). It can be found on Oldversions Download Old Versions of Cool Edit Pro for Windows - OldVersion.com
You will get very little echo recording outside unless there are some reflective surfaces around. Usually the added background noises make outdoor recording of anything other than nature a pain. Accoustics are often a problem. Only the big studios can afford the large ‘natural’ rooms.
At home it’s a question of working with what you’ve got. Eliminating basic accoustic disturbances in the room and experimenting with the mix.
Sometimes broadening the stereo image on a track will give the desired ‘space’. Pan the L and R channel of the track hard Left and right and/or double the stereo track and leave one ‘drier’ and experiment with the reverb on the other and the balance between the two.
I don’t know the device you are using. Have only used a PC for multitracking.
If you don’t know them already I can highly recommend the articles from the Alexander institute and their related message board. Great tips there! http://www.eqweekly.com/default.asp http://www.recordingwebsite.com/forum/
Gee, if you’d bought a Mac instead of that PC you would have gotten GarageBand bundled in with it for free, and it does all of that stuff and more. Oh, well. Bill Gates thanks you anyway. Oh wait, no he doesn’t. He just cashes your check…
Yeah, yeah, I know. Our librarian is a Mackie, and she’s chided me about the same thing (PC vs. Mac is like a religion with some people–let’s hope clearer heads prevail and jihad is avoided). I am basically looking for a PC equivelant of garage band.
As for question 2, recording outside really isn’t an option anyway. But I would think that a digital recorder would have some sort of echo effect. But mine doesn’t. Or I’m too dumb to find it. But what do you expect from a PC user?
I’ll check out those links, Pixyy. Thanks a bunch!
Speaking of Mackie, The software that comes with MACKIE boards (I want to say it’s Traction or trax or something?? don’t know for sure I’m a Cubase guy myself) has a freeware version that is limited to 6 tracks i believe.
Not really equiv., but for your demo purposes, Audacity might be
sufficient. It’s free: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
You could also use Audacity to post-process your recordings to
add echo…
