Recording Vocals - keeping PC out of the loop

dannyflint · Post by **dannyflint** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 2:52 pm

I'm not against Pcs. In fact I sit in front of one all day at work, and I'm studying an MA in Computer Games Design which means I spend most
of my evenings in front of one too !!!

The time I set aside for my relaxation time - my sp-404 - I want to spend as little time in front of the screen as possible !

Here is my current workflow.

1) Find a sound I like in Absynth ( on the pc ). Play out the 12 notes of an octave, record them and split using Recycle into 12 notes. Put them notes on my CF card.

2) Import into SP-404

3) Set up some beats with my tr-626 controlling the drums in a bank.

4) Play around with my samples / effects / resampling, and have some fun
and chill out.

Now I want to be able to record vocals on the fly while listening to my track
in the earphones. I dont want to do this sat at a pc... I understand I will probably need a new piece of kit. Maybe a zoom or something...

ANY ADVICE PLEASE GUYS !

D

PHeMoX · Post by **PHeMoX** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 3:13 pm

SP-555?

A Zoom H4 could do this I think.

A tad expensive perhaps, but it's excellent gear;
http://www.zzounds.com/item--ZOMH4
Review:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=hH-cyTvnEaI

dannyflint · Post by **dannyflint** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 3:34 pm

Thanks PHeMoX,

I kinda live hand to mouth, so anything past about £150 at a time isnt really an option for me...

Its a shame cos i already own a nice Rode NT1-A condenser mic, and a little soundcraft mixer... Just want to keep my ass away from the PC.

Does anyone know of a cheap quality audio recorder that i could plug the output of my mic/mixer into and record away.

D

Lopar-XL · Post by **Lopar-XL** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 3:49 pm

There's the Zoom PS-04 4-track digital recorder which costs about $150 (~£75.60). If you want to go analog, try the Fostex X-12 4-track cassette recorder (~$80 or ~£40.33).

Here's where I found the info:

http://www.fruity-loops.com/cat--Fostex ... --2193b203

dannyflint · Post by **dannyflint** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 4:09 pm

I think with the kit ive already got the Zoom PS-04 looks perfect.

And well within my budget. Cheers Lopar-XL.

It makes my whole setup a little less portable than I would have liked

but cheap wins !

dannyflint · Post by **dannyflint** » Mon May 05, 2008 12:35 pm

I went for the zoom H4 in the end. I realised the main thing I wanted was for my setup to be really portable, so I can travel with it.

so with my SP-404, TR-626, and Zoom H4 ( which is also a 4 track recorder), I'm about as portable a studio as possible.....

I cant wait for it to come !!

D

PHeMoX · Post by **PHeMoX** » Mon May 05, 2008 1:38 pm

Excellent choice, you won't regret that for sure!!

SP-FORUMS

Recording Vocals - keeping PC out of the loop

Recording Vocals - keeping PC out of the loop

Went for the H4