Author Topic: Recording Question (Read 6449 times)

Dakine · « **on:** September 29, 2006, 03:48:59 PM »

Right, ere we go....:)

I have a M-Audio Black Box (used it for 'chug' pig track) and have used Line 6 UX2 for other tracks (also have a Zoom MRS8).

Anyway, I have two very nice amps (and now am settled in UK) wanna record from them, not necessarily a 'modellor'.

Anyway, the Toneport has phantom powered mic connection. Therefore it should be poss. (using dry) to use the toneport as solely an interface? Anyone have one and done this?

The other option is a standalone interface such as an M-Audio Firewire Solo.

The Toneport, I think, may be handy to use to 'sketch' ideas however, without setting up the valve amp/mic etc.

Anyway, basically, anyone used a Toneport as a straight 'interface' to record from a mic'd amp?

Also, drum loops, anyone used this?
http://www.betamonkeymusic.com/index.html

No great hurry for this as awaiting my laptop to arrive from Texas with missus (as pc here cannot produce enough 'steam' to run either lol).

Thanks,
Nick

Dakine · « **Reply #1 on:** September 29, 2006, 06:38:59 PM »

Never mind, found info. myself :)

Except the Drum Loop question, any advice/experience?

_tom_ · « **Reply #2 on:** September 29, 2006, 08:52:50 PM »

I cant help with your question but thanks for posting that link to the drum loops, I'm tempted to buy the Double Bass Mania II lot sometime, sick of programming my own stuff :lol: I take it the REX2 ones will work in cubase/cubasis fine?

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #3 on:** September 29, 2006, 09:17:41 PM »

no experience with the toneport so I'm not sure what you can do with it.

+1 with the drum samples though - BADASS!!!

:twisted:

Dakine · « **Reply #4 on:** September 29, 2006, 09:38:12 PM »

well, toneport has 2 x xlr inputs with phantom power :) so can direct mic amp (heard samples and def. good enough for mp3's).

As for drum loops :)
Me lieky too, only double bass ones around apparently. Not too costly either.

_tom_ · « **Reply #5 on:** September 29, 2006, 10:17:18 PM »

Well I downloaded the sample pack of the Double Bass II Metal thing, it forced me to create chuggage :twisted: :twisted:

http://download.yousendit.com/C3E4014462A09691

Its so good not having to program your own things, based on the samples you should definately get em, inspiring stuff :P

Dakine · « **Reply #6 on:** September 29, 2006, 10:20:37 PM »

_tom_, not 30 seconds ago ordered the triple header deal, Bass I and II and Werks II.
Hope they get here ok (used US credit card to UK address LOL.

BTW, according to their faq, you can use either Rex or Wav with Cubase.

Woohoo, riffage on way.

_tom_ · « **Reply #7 on:** September 29, 2006, 10:29:13 PM »

Quote from: Dakine

_tom_, not 30 seconds ago ordered the triple header deal, Bass I and II and Werks II.
Hope they get here ok (used US credit card to UK address LOL.

BTW, according to their faq, you can use either Rex or Wav with Cubase.

Woohoo, riffage on way.

Awesome, I didnt know you could get em in packs of 3, those are all the ones that interested me :twisted: Cant wait till I have enough for em all, samples of bass II will have to do for now :lol:

Dakine · « **Reply #8 on:** September 29, 2006, 10:30:07 PM »

this months special offer apparently, ends tomorrow. All 3 for $59!

Darn, just looked, thats 2,700 loops!!!!!!!!!!! Even if alot suck, still gvfm.

_tom_ · « **Reply #9 on:** September 29, 2006, 10:35:02 PM »

Gah! Cant afford right now as I'm saving my monthly allowance to get a Crunch Box :( Was meant to get a phone call back from Wickes Extra to tell me if I got the job or not but they said the latest theyd ring is Thurs.. :lol:

Dakine · « **Reply #10 on:** October 03, 2006, 04:12:54 PM »

Beta Monkey Drum Loops arrived this a.m. (thats ordered Friday night and arrive Tuesday morning from US! damn good service) and they RAWK!!!!!!!!
Got the deal 'Double Bass Mania I & II and Drum Werks vol. II' and they are amazing. Great hard rocking tracks can be put together with ease.

Anyway, fantastic turnaround,great product and wonderful company! Highly recommended!!!!!!!!!!!

hunter · « **Reply #11 on:** October 03, 2006, 04:44:43 PM »

Haven't tried the Toneport, but I guess it will be OK quality, however you will need a channel strip/mic preamp or sth to get real good quality. Even a cheapo 100€ mic preamp will improve the quality drastically. And then you could even use the line in on your interface.

Maybe you could already precompress the signal with an outboard compressor/preamp (look for analog/tube/opto-compressor) in order to decrease the dynamics just a bit, as it will improve the resolution of your audio if you can use the bits more economically.

carlaz · « **Reply #12 on:** October 04, 2006, 11:26:21 AM »

I have the BetaMonkey Drum Werks VII, and it's pretty good. I have some free samples from, I think, Drums on Demand, which also sound very good and have a very user-friendly file-naming system, but DoD's catalogue isn't (at this time) as rock-oriented as BetaMonkey and is more expensive (their best collection for rock is USD 80, while the BetaMonkey 3-pack is just USD 60 for the next couple of days .....

Mmm, damn, that's tempting. I hadn't been planning on ordering more drum loops anytime real soon, but that's really tempting. Uh, I'm gonna try to resist until at least tomorrow! :P

I sometimes do my own programming and sometimes use loops -- it depends on how I'm approaching the recording, how I feel in the moment. There's a lot of satisfaction from tweaking about the programming just the way you want, but there's equally a ot of satisfaction in just dropping in some loops and getting on with the other parts of the song! Many people who are more into the Zen of Mixing get fed up with loops because you can't twiddle with the levels and effects on the individual drums -- you've got what you've got -- but I've been coming to appreciate that, for a newbie (like me!), drum loops are a very handy way to hear how people mix drums that are meant to sit in a mix with other instruments. Handy reference points when you start struggling to mix your own programmed-from-scratch drum parts! :)

_tom_ · « **Reply #13 on:** October 06, 2006, 10:03:07 AM »

Are the Drum Werks good for rock/hard rock and old metal? Thinking about getting "Drum Werks I" or II when I have the cash as I'm getting sick of programming em myself, it puts me off recording.

carlaz · « **Reply #14 on:** October 06, 2006, 10:46:02 AM »

Quote from: _tom_

Are the Drum Werks good for rock/hard rock and old metal? Thinking about getting "Drum Werks I" or II when I have the cash as I'm getting sick of programming em myself, it puts me off recording.

The answer is "yes" there's a bunch of stuff from the Drum Werks series that's good for hard rock/metal. The DWI set is aimed at classic rock type vibes, the DWII set for modern rock vibes, and the others are, I think, kind of a mixed bag. I have DWVII, which promises loops for "all rock styles, classic to modern", and I think delivers pretty well (especially for the price!).

In the end, I couldn't resist -- I had to jump in on the Double-Bass-Mania 2-pack + DWII offer. For heaven's sake, its only 32 quid and will give you enough loops to quick start more songs than Metallica's written in 20 years! :) OK, the missus will skin me if/when she finds out ;) but sometimes ya gotta stick yer hand in the fire fer yer art :roll:

Doubtless there are outfits offering better/easier to use drum loops, but the BetaMonkey stuff is unbeatable value, IMO. If you want to get some drums up and running without dishing out a lot of cash, I think they're good to go.