Rhelsing
Member
Any suggestions for recording software (Apple based)?
Recording software
- Thread starter Rhelsing
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Thats easy... Audacity. Its quite stable, fairly feature rich and most importantly, works on Apple or PC and is FREE.
Feel free to google it.
What will be more important is your choice of hardware use and method to record your accordion. For example, you will need multiple inputs, so that means adding an audio interface. I suggest something with a minimum of 4 channels (L-R for accordion mics and L-R for the digital audio, if desired).
If capturing MIDI data, that is yet another device to add to the list.
I have a bit more complex setup so it is a bit different for me.
http://syner-g.asuscomm.com/mymusic/recording-the-accordion-part-2/
So, what are you wanting to capture with and what are your goals?
Feel free to google it.
What will be more important is your choice of hardware use and method to record your accordion. For example, you will need multiple inputs, so that means adding an audio interface. I suggest something with a minimum of 4 channels (L-R for accordion mics and L-R for the digital audio, if desired).
If capturing MIDI data, that is yet another device to add to the list.
I have a bit more complex setup so it is a bit different for me.
http://syner-g.asuscomm.com/mymusic/recording-the-accordion-part-2/
So, what are you wanting to capture with and what are your goals?
Rhelsing
Member
For right now just audio - I want to record some of the arrangements I have done for the Concerto. Eventually, I want to do audio and visual instruction videos for the Concerto but I am living in an RV right now while my home is being built so that is not a good environment to be doing video.
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Howie
Guest
Audacity is good, another one worth checking out is Reaper, which has a generous free trial (I think you just get nagged after the time is up) and it's very affordable, there's really nothing you can't do with it.
The software is at the end of the chain and it can't rescue a recording done on a phone or cheap recorder. Assuming you want to record accordion, it's worth checking out something like the Zoom H4n Pro or the Tascam DR-05. I use the Zoom for recording acoustic instruments, the built-in mics are very good and it has 2 inputs for external mics and provides phantom power. It can serve as an audio interface as well. For the price, the audio quality of the Zoom is amazing. If someone drops a pin you will hear it on a recording.
If you want more inputs then either a dedicated interface for your computer, or the Zoom F4 (4 channels) or F8 (8 channels), neither of which have built-in mics.
Like a lot of things, in audio recording the sky is the limit on what you can spend. The Zoom and Tascam I mentioned are good for a non-pro to get excellent results, but sound guys spend more on a single microphone than both those recorders.
As Jerry says, a lot depends on your goals.
The software is at the end of the chain and it can't rescue a recording done on a phone or cheap recorder. Assuming you want to record accordion, it's worth checking out something like the Zoom H4n Pro or the Tascam DR-05. I use the Zoom for recording acoustic instruments, the built-in mics are very good and it has 2 inputs for external mics and provides phantom power. It can serve as an audio interface as well. For the price, the audio quality of the Zoom is amazing. If someone drops a pin you will hear it on a recording.
If you want more inputs then either a dedicated interface for your computer, or the Zoom F4 (4 channels) or F8 (8 channels), neither of which have built-in mics.
Like a lot of things, in audio recording the sky is the limit on what you can spend. The Zoom and Tascam I mentioned are good for a non-pro to get excellent results, but sound guys spend more on a single microphone than both those recorders.
As Jerry says, a lot depends on your goals.
I am always using nTrack, which is not free but not expensive either.Rhelsing said:
When you have an nTrack license you can use the Mac OS and the Windows version alike (and both at the same time if you want).
I have been using this over 10 years already. I did multi-track recording for a complete CD with nTrack back in 2005.
Even with the old hardware of that era I never ran into any performance problems combining many tracks and playing tracks while recording an additional one.
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Nuuksu
Guest
For simple single or multitrack recording Audacity is more than enough, but if advanced audio routing is needed, then I recommend Ardour - https://ardour.org/
Ardour is professional daw with very nice user interface. It also have video sync feature, which allows precise video and audio synchronisation. May be very useful for video tutorials to ensure that video and audio are in sync.
Ardour features page - https://ardour.org/features.html
Ardour is free and open-source, but as open-source community needs also monetary support they support themselves with selling installers for Windows, Mac and Linux. If You want to get it free You need to build it yourself from source code. Easy task on Linux but I dont know other systems.
Ardour is professional daw with very nice user interface. It also have video sync feature, which allows precise video and audio synchronisation. May be very useful for video tutorials to ensure that video and audio are in sync.
Ardour features page - https://ardour.org/features.html
Ardour is free and open-source, but as open-source community needs also monetary support they support themselves with selling installers for Windows, Mac and Linux. If You want to get it free You need to build it yourself from source code. Easy task on Linux but I dont know other systems.
The Adobe CS6 suite is expensive, but I like Adobe Audition, it has been my go to app for the last several years. The only thing that it cannot do is record MIDI, and that is when I use Reaper. I paid the personal use license and this APP does more than what 99% of even the most advanced users need. The one thing that I like that Reaper has that no other app has is completeness of learning materials. There are near 50 quality videos that explain in low level detail everything that you will ever need to record your audio... and then some.
If I was going to start over, and was looking to become an intermediate to advanced recorder of music, this is the software I would suggest over anything else, but it does take a small commitment in time and education to get down. However Audacity is quick, easy and free, but, one day you might need to do something more advanced and it will not be able to do it.
My favorite VST is Izotpe's Nectar 2. I use it for my EQing and reverb needs... very high quality.
If I was going to start over, and was looking to become an intermediate to advanced recorder of music, this is the software I would suggest over anything else, but it does take a small commitment in time and education to get down. However Audacity is quick, easy and free, but, one day you might need to do something more advanced and it will not be able to do it.
My favorite VST is Izotpe's Nectar 2. I use it for my EQing and reverb needs... very high quality.
If you haven't got yourself an audio interface as yet I would go for the Steinberg UR22 which is an inexpensive USB stereo audio interface. It comes with Cubase Elements which is an excellent recording DAW for the money and of course has a huge potential for VST plugins etc.
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boxplayer4000
Prolific poster
Rheising:-
If your computer is Apple does it not have 'GarageBand' already installed? It's reputation is high and is easily capable of recording two tracks at once with a stereo microphone or better still a simple stereo mixer.
If your computer is Apple does it not have 'GarageBand' already installed? It's reputation is high and is easily capable of recording two tracks at once with a stereo microphone or better still a simple stereo mixer.
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Howie
Guest
And, if you are recording a V-Accordion (possibly, since you asked in digital and midi accordions) don't make the mistake I heard today on a youtube video by someone playing a Roland who should have known better. I listened to it with headphones, and the two sides of the accordion had been recorded completely separated to left and right - it sounded like the accordion was twenty feet wide. Quite weird.
Howie said:
If you look above, he is using this for a Concerto, but by the comment should have known better, it is pretty obvious that you never played on a V-Accordion, as it is THE most complex piece of accordion technology on the market. Its so complex that 95% of the people never go beyond factory or at most installed sets and UPGs. The way that it is set up from the factory is medium stereo image, and it does give it a wide feel when listening to it over a good sound system or headphones...nothing wierd about that, it was just something that you were not used to. This is also something that is adjustable even by individual sound/instrument (where you want it to appear in the stereo sound stage).
As someone that was recording accordion and electronic sounds since the early 80s, having a wide stereo image was always something very desirable, something that made your music different from the mono tracks that everone else made at the time. It is very much a personal preference thing, but I recall making recordings in the beginning where left and right hands were on different sides/speakers. Unless one reversed cables, it was fun to hear left hand coming out of the right speakers and visa versa in videos, but in audio recordings, I would have instruments all over the stage from full right/left to somewhere in the center to full centered as well as even having sounds move around too. This is part of the fun and pleasure when you are making your recordings.
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Keymn
Guest
Depends on what quality of recording you want. Pro Tools is top of the line, although, I Been using Cakewalk for years. Apple Logic proX seems affordable and highly rated.
Make a wavv file from the accordion put on PC. You can then do editing with effects, add vocals or more instrument channels through an AUdio to digital box.
As far as stereo, some recordings pan effects heavier on the left or right channel. Can this be done on VAccordion?
There is no right or wrong way since a good mix depends on personal preference.
Make a wavv file from the accordion put on PC. You can then do editing with effects, add vocals or more instrument channels through an AUdio to digital box.
As far as stereo, some recordings pan effects heavier on the left or right channel. Can this be done on VAccordion?
There is no right or wrong way since a good mix depends on personal preference.
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Howie
Guest
JerryPH said:
Youre quite right Jerry, Ive never played a V-Accordion, I said should have known better because he is someone who has most definitely gone beyond the 95% - probably even the 99%
Oh, and like yourself, Ive been recording since the 80s too, synthesizers, electronics, acoustic etc. I started out with a Tascam 4 track. Weve come a long way
JerryPH said:
Youre quite right Jerry, Ive never played a V-Accordion, I said should have known better because he is someone who has most definitely gone beyond the 95% - probably even the 99%
Oh, and like yourself, Ive been recording since the 80s too, synthesizers, electronics, acoustic etc. I started out with a Tascam 4 track. Weve come a long way
[/quote]So who are you talking about? Youve piqued my interest. And indeed, computers have made recording and mastering audio a long way, so much easier and of higher quality than back in the day. BTW, just because someone might be a good musician, might not make them the technician that the V -Accordion often demands and even then, I have personally made recordings that are wide sounding in the manner that you suggest... not weird, just different, so it is more of a personal opinion nature than some kind of mistake. I am curious to see whom you are talking about.
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Howie
Guest
JerryPH said:BTW, just because someone might be a good musician, might not make them the technician that the V -Accordion often demands and even then, I have personally made recordings that are wide sounding in the manner that you suggest... not weird, just different, so it is more of a personal opinion nature than some kind of mistake. I am curious to see whom you are talking about.
On this recording (which after all is a youtube, not as if its for release on an album) the left and right - to my ears at least - were as if each side had been consigned to far corners of the room. I heard the super-stereo records in the 60s when it was in vogue to place different instruments practically entirely either left or right - when stereo was still a novelty. It just didnt sound right for accordion, because Im looking at a guy playing accordion, but each side is coming not from the accordion, but way left and way right. Perhaps it was deliberate - but Ive not noticed it on his other recordings. My point was only that it sounded weird, like a disconnect. And I guessed that because the accordion is digital it maybe does put out the left hand to one channel and right hand to the other - but no panning was done in the mixing. For a while I thought I might get a V-Accordion and so Ive skimmed through the V-Accordion manuals before but dont recall if thats what they do with the output as a rule.
As for the player - Im hesitant to name him because then I really am drifting off-topic, and it could sound like Im attacking the man or singling him out, which isnt my intention. Its just that recording digital accordion came up on the same day I watched the youtube and so I mentioned it. Ive huge respect for the guys skills, and no problem with his playing itself, or what he does. If youre still really curious though youre welcome to PM me.
Rhelsing
Member
Thanks. I finally did get something recorded - too soft - but will work on that. On some songs with a virtual accordion you do want to split the instruments pretty wide. Nothin wrong with the string section coming from a separate direction from the oboe solo. On other things, I agree, you want them close together. If i am going for a full orchestra sound the pan difference between instruments is much wider than for a band because orchestras are big - the strings coming from the right and the brass from the left is not abnormal. On the concerto, however, you are doing that with each instrument in the registration - not at that mixer or by recording different things on different tracks. I suppose that is possible, but if you arrange the song you are playing to get the realism you were looking for then to change anything in the mixer that you have already set up when you set the registers in the instrument makes it real wiggy. The Pan, velocity, relative volume, etc are all arranged for that track in the instrument itself across all six sound channels. About the only thing left to control with the mixer would be the reeds from the tone chamber and they definitely should sound like the are coming from the same place to the listener. I hope that made sense.
JerryPH post_id=47286 time=1497257351 user_id=1475 said:
Wow, I have CS6 (cheap through my university) which I use mainly for Photoshop, and occasionally for DreamWeaver, and didnt realize I have Audition. It looks impressive. More exciting stuff to learn! Thanks for the hint.
And as I have an Apple I of course also have Garageband but it did not give me a very good first impression, and I never gave it a chance for a second impression...
So many options... and they are all installed on my machine already!
debra post_id=47574 time=1498067570 user_id=605 said:
Audition is good, but not great. For example it cannot handle video (Reaper does) and it does not handle MIDI (Reaper does), but it was what I started out with a long time ago (I think I started with Audition 1.2 or 1.5!), and I am pretty comfortable with it. If I start using Reaper more, I will get just as comfy with it as with I am with Audition fairly quick... and Reaper really took a LOT of time to make high quality tutorials... a TON of them.
If I get the time this weekend, Ill make some kind of video tutorial about this topic.
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Keymn
Guest
I have been using Cakewalk for the past 25 years. Although, only PC support as far as I know. Pro tools is the standard in many major recording studios. The most difficult is mixing. I think the country music industry does the best in mixing.
Try panning on your car radio...I find it interesting how the effects, especially vocals is stronger on the right or left channel...
I would record a Wav file direct on the USB stick on a VAccordion. Place it on your favorite recording software, add vocals etc.
Try panning on your car radio...I find it interesting how the effects, especially vocals is stronger on the right or left channel...
I would record a Wav file direct on the USB stick on a VAccordion. Place it on your favorite recording software, add vocals etc.
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Howie
Guest
Keymn post_id=47597 time=1498139265 user_id=2286 said:
Yes, a great way to test if your mix is any good is to not just listen in headphones or your nice hi-fi at home. Burn it to a CD or onto cassette and take a drive. If it still sounds good in the car youve mixed it well.
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