best way to record without protools

[jamon]

If I am just looking to throw a few mic's in the room and record my bands jams, what would be a good device to do so, that would yield good sound, and maybe be able to make into a tape or cd, like an 8 track or something? Prefrablynot too expensive. I would love to get a tascam 388 that would be great, but theyre like 500 dollars plus tape.

[rainbowgunshow]

if any of you guys have a mac you can just use garage band.

[tripp2k]

PC? Reaper.

[Kaji13]

Yeah, Reaper or Tracktion..MF is blowing out Tracktion 3 for $49, it's a great, simple program.

[sadicious]

It might be getting a little expensive for your budget, but my band had been using a Zoom R16 for the same thing. They usually go for $399

http://www.samsontech.com/products/p...fm?prodID=2009

[RustyAxe]

We use a Zoom H2 ... now priced crazy low at Musicians' Friend. Set it up with all four capsules active and it'll give you great recordings, either direct to mp3, or as WAVs ... lo or high fidelity. Learn to use the simple effects (compression, limiter, etc). I then take those tracks into my PC, and using REAPER (http://www.cockos.com) I render them into the format I want, usually mp3 (using the LAME encoder). Best money I ever spent on a recorder.

[buddaman71]

Tascam 2488 is great bang for the buck, portable plug n play and CDR built in.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...rkstation.html

[Fuchsaudio]

Originally Posted by tripp2k

PC? Reaper.

Any good sites/forums/etc with tips and Reaper support ? I have it, but am challenged at getting of the ground with it. I've used Cool Edit Pro as well, thought I might try Reaper.

[LSGoCards7]

Audacity can be used as a free DAW.

[fr8_trane]

Originally Posted by Fuchsaudio

Any good sites/forums/etc with tips and Reaper support ? I have it, but am challenged at getting of the ground with it. I've used Cool Edit Pro as well, thought I might try Reaper.

The only site you need
http://forum.cockos.com/forumdisplay.php?f=20

Also Sound on sound magazine has a new Reaper Tips section that will begin in the August issue

[tonemnstr]

Originally Posted by Fuchsaudio

Any good sites/forums/etc with tips and Reaper support ? I have it, but am challenged at getting of the ground with it. I've used Cool Edit Pro as well, thought I might try Reaper.

Yep!

http://forum.cockos.com/forumdisplay.php?f=20

The user manual is here:

http://www.cockos.com/reaper/userguide.php

[bigroy]

+1

Easy, just RTFM.....

[smallbutmighty]

Reaper.

[kludge]

Look for one of the little hardware digital recorders that are widely available used for a fraction of the new price. Probably a lot easier than dinking around with a computer for basic tracking. Computers are great for SERIOUS recording and editing, but if you just want to track your jams, easy is much more important than perfect.

And if you want to release a cd, care seriously about your sound quality, and don't know your way around a studio, do yourself a favor and just pay for pro studio time. It'll be cheaper than trying to teach yourself, and you'll get better results.

[kludge]

Oh, and as for Reaper, I don't find it particularly easier or harder than any of the other DAWs I've used. I'd choose it over Tracktion because Tracktion is basically abandoned, despite its lovely design. Reaper is VERY actively supported, with a terrific community and new releases almost weekly. Personally, I like Reaper because I find the routing model very intuitive, but not everyone would agree.

But yeah, a DAW is a DAW. They all have multitrack i/o, effects, busses, submixes, timelines, etc. Some are a bit better or easier at certain tasks than others, but they're all doing the same basic things. And usually, the basic model is your best buy for a DAW. Paying for the Super Platinum PRO N++ 2.1 bundle of whatever is mostly just buying extra bundled fx and instruments you don't really need.

If I were starting from scratch with no DAW commitment (particularly no VST commitment) and more than a scraping-bottom budget, I'd go for Propellerhead's Record software. It's simpler and sounds really great.