vrbpodcast Episode 5

This is how I record my guitar tracks part 1 outline:

1. Computer = Desktop or Laptop

"When buying a gear, buy one that you can afford." Don't buy cheap gears that's not gonna last long or poor performance or quality. Also never buy gear which is beyond your budget where you'll end up bankrupt or broke.

2. Software: DAW (digital audio workstation) softwares. To name afew: Garageband, Cubase, Mixcraft, Ableton Live, etc. and in my case I am using EnergyXT.

3. Audio Interface: USB vs Firewire

Things to consider are number and types of connections. Minimum of 2 inputs, one for vocals and one for instrument. Then 2 outputs for stereo outputs. Lastly, 1 headphone socket for a quiet and up close monitor. I am using Guitar Rig Session by Native Instruments.

4. Microphone: Dynamic vs Condenser

Shure SM57 and SM58 but I am using Shure C606. Although, instrumental microphones or guitar microphones are not a necessity now because of the digital audio workstation or the softwares now got the necessary effects, amplifiers, etc. or even the setup of microphones, the distance, room size, all sorts are already in the softwares built in. In my case, I am using Digitech RP55 digital multieffects processor which got not only the effects but the amp and how big the amp, like 2x12 or 4x12 cabinets.

5. Setup your guitar: Meaning new sets of strings should be stretched overnight and tuned properly. Control knobs should not make any noise and are clean, buzzy fret should be sorted, guitar intonation, etc. In short, a guitar expert or Luthier should see your guitar before recording that will make a difference although not so much of a requirement but would be helpful.

You are now almost ready to record. There's no shortcut on this one, you really need to do or have these before you start your first guitar recording.

Comments

How to export MP3 in EnergyXT

Energy XT file save as MP3 The first thing we need to do in order to export our file, loop, clip, song or project into MP3 is to download and install LAME file to EnergyXT program. Here’s the link where to download the LAME codec http://lame.sourceforge.net/ Here’s another site where you can download LAME file. http://www.rarewares.org/mp3-lame-bundle.php After successfully downloading the LAME exe file. Copy it and paste it in your EnergyXT folder. Normally the directory will be like this C:\Program Files\Energy XT\energyXT 2.5 for Windows Try and open now your EnergyXT and save or export file as MP3 to see if it works.

My first recording experience

I went to Norwich, a couple days back with my band, Crossedwind, to record our original compositions. We've been exchanging on the net about ideas and backing tracks on our songs. We made use of our celphones, recording our raw materials... pretty rough record but we managed Then, I keep doing the backing tracks so that my bandmates can rehearse the song whilst Im away because I live here in Southampton. To cut the story short, we almost managed to practise and finalised our songs virtually. We have four songs to record, so I arrived in Norwich last May 22 at around 6 pm, went straight to Earth Studio to rehearse. It was like an overnight practise and then due for recording the following day. We struggled a little bit, because backing tracks was far from doing the real thing with my bandmates. There were changes made from intro, on how the adlib would sound, up to how we'll do the ending of the songs and so forth. Even after our rehe...

EnergyXT comes with a flashdrive

EnegyXT comes with a portable drive or what we call flash drive. In there are necessary files to run EnergyXT to any computer from a desktop or a laptop or a netbook as long as you got access to USB. The files that we need to copy are: clips presets projects samples temp\ energyXT2.exe energyXT.ini lame.exe libaam.dll xt.lck energyXT2 VST.dll energyXT.ini And paste these files in the program files with your folder EnergyXT then create a desktop shortcut or copy the shortcut onto your desktop. The more you update your EnergyXT the more files will be included like rexloader, etc. You can now hop from one computer to another always make sure to keep your flashdrive safe and secure. This is what Im doing now, from Dell Inspiron to Sony Vaio to my wife's HP mini. Really portable and handy.

Vincent Ryan Borres

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