Hanz Sapitan: Hi Sir Francis.. When doing your demo, what kind of software do you use, and as of the drum tracks.. do you also write/program the drum tracks? is there a free site to download free drum tracks for accompaniment?thanks po. more power po
i have a Macbook so i mostly do demos/jingles with Garageband and Reason :) if i’m in a hurry, yes i use drum loops and the ones in Garageband and in Rhythm Pack are pretty excellent. if i’m seriously working on my own stuff, i program the drums myself, specially if there’s a roll or accent that i hear in my head :)
Stratmangler: Hello sir kiko!Good day. I need your opinion to help me choose a guitar interface. I have my eye on two line 6 products. The guitar port with rifftracker and line 6 UX 2. Im even considering their base products like the GX. My head is spinning from reading all these reviews from the net,and I can’t believe Im reading reviews from 18 yr old kids… talk about to much info! So sir kiko can you please give me an advice on which product is the best for recording guitar tracks and at the same time user friendly in writing and arranging a whole tune in my computer.
Well, what i recommend is the Line 6 Toneport KB37. if you’re planning to do complete arrangements, and would like to program drum patterns as well, that would be your best bet. the interface is fantastic: 2 line inputs, 2 microphone inputs, 1 guitar input, and phantom power in case you use a condenser mike in the future. Plus 2 analog outputs and monitor inputs. it has 37keys as well so if you want to put a keyboard part or a bass line or something, you can do so. the action of the keyboard isn’t great: it’s plasticky. but it’s a minor concern. its really a UX2 with a keyboard :) i’m pretty happy with it; Jazz Nicolas of the Itchyworms has the same set-up. i’ve done every single project and demo in the last year or so with it and i can pretty much do anything :) but if you don’t need keyboards or will just use drum loops, the UX2 or the rifftracker will do just fine and they all come with Podfarm anyway.
Donnie: got another question, i planning to set-up my own home recording and rehearsal studio…which can accomodate a five pc band. So aside from the instruments and amps…can u give me an advise which is to be added like mixers PA system etc.. and how strong they should be…Thanks
Yeah a mixer, and a PA system with high headroom (meaning something that won’t distort or ‘clip’ easily), plus microphones and mike cables. if you’re planning to record basic stuff live, maybe get a mixer with at least 6 inputs. maybe get a rackmount compressor too, and basic processing gear like a good reverb. it’s quite a bit to talk about, but basically start with a good room with nice acoustics. if the room is too ‘live’, you know too much natural reverb, and you’re going to record a band playing live, trying to mix everything will be very difficult. also, try to have a separate room for the recording gear, and invest in good studio monitors (M-Audio has nice affordable models).
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