Many people love to write poetry, music, sing and create songs. Most of these people are thinking about how to record their work. A voice recorder is certainly good, but what if you make a professional recording?
For example, so that your song can be listen to relatives, friends. Or put it on the Internet for general access.
But spending extra money for professional recording you don't have the opportunity. Record a song with good quality at home is quite real. To do this, you just need to prepare correctly.
Equipment.
Voice and hearing- these are, of course, things that must be present during recording. Us you will need a microphone. The better the microphone, the better the voice will be recorded. Computer, on which we will edit the recorded material. Headphones. Do you think this is strange? Why headphones when you can use speakers? We will use them only when recording voices. If you use speakers, the microphone will pick up excess sound, which will be difficult to get rid of later. The room should be as isolated from noise as possible. It's better to record at night, or you can cover the windows and doors with blankets. Must be good software. Various programs and drivers that will help us record your voice, process it, create music etc.
Recording a song.
The phonogram should already be ready. For good recording quality, the room needs to be quiet. No unnecessary sounds. We need to microphone pick up clear voice, so the soundtrack is played through headphones (the importance of which we discussed earlier). In terms of volume, it should be as close as possible to the voice. Let's start recording. Don't think that everything will work out right away. You'll have to sing a lot before selecting the ideal option. It’s better to record a track in chunks, p separate verses and choruses. Record a verse, listen, if there are mistakes, sing again, and so on until everything is perfect. Do the same with the rest of the fragments. Afterwards, evaluate the entire vocal recording and combine it with the music (phonogram). If everything is good, proceed to the next step.
Treatment.
Fixing Vocal Recording is a change in the sound itself. But if you overdo it, you can ruin everything. Try to process what you record as little as possible. Trimming, getting rid of excess empty space. At the end, leave some free space for 1-2 seconds. This is necessary so that after applying some effects there is no sudden stop at the end of the vocal. It is necessary to correct some deviations in volume throughout the song using compression. Finally, you can experiment with the volume of your voice in a song, but in conjunction with the soundtrack.
List of the most common programs for audio recording at home:
—Adobe Audition
— Fruity Loops Studio
— Steinberg Cubase
—Steinberg Nuendo
— Logic Pro (for Mac systems)
— Avid Pro Tools
Record a song at home maybe even a whole one musical group. This option is suitable for creative people who do not have enough funds to record songs in a professional studio. It's not all that complicated, you just need great desire, some equipment and of course knowledge.
I wish you creative success and musical peaks!
Ps: Don’t forget to like and share this article with your friends 😉
Good afternoon friends!
Last time I told you. But what if you have neither the time nor the desire to install and study additional software? Is it possible to record and edit audio directly from the browser window? Oh yes, now it's possible! Just a few years ago, online sound recording was something out of science fiction. And now this is not just a reality, there are a lot of services thanks to which you can create, edit and combine audio files. We will talk about them today. So, let's go.
If you come up with an idea for a new article and are afraid of forgetting it, you can quickly open Vocaroo, record your thoughts in an audio file, and then translate it into text or send a link to the file to a freelancer who will transcribe it for you.
2. Online Audio Joiner - the most multifunctional service
I warn you right away, without knowing the basics of sound recording and music creation, you won’t be able to figure it out. But there is documentation (though only in English), and I think sound engineers and music makers will definitely appreciate this service.
Professional audio editors can be expensive and complex. Using them simply to rap a couple of phrases into a microphone or cut out the chorus of your favorite song for a ringtone is like shooting sparrows from a cannon.
In order not to score your HDD unnecessary programs, you just need to open an online sound recording service. All you have to do is choose the one that suits you. I hope I was able to help you with this today.
I suggest downloading for free two wonderful (excellent) programs for recording the sound of your own songs at home (at home) from a microphone to a computer (the first) and subsequently (the second) to a disk.
There are many such programs, but not all are in Russian, high-quality, so easy to use and so small in size.
While experimenting, what interested me most was accessibility. So that any user who has recently purchased a computer can easily figure it out and record songs at home, starting with the sound from the microphone, and then onto a disk.
They work great with the mp3 format they play Cell phones, computers, netbooks, tablets and laptops.
The first song recording program - “UV Sound Recorder”
You can download this program for free using the direct link at the bottom of this subsection. It is in Russian, free, small in size and does not require much knowledge.
Developer: UVsoftium
Developer URL: http://www.uvsoftium.ru
Interface: Russian
License: free
The second program for recording songs is “UsefulUtils Discs Studio”
Using the program "UsefulUtils Discs Studio" - burn it to DVD disc. If you just copy it, then other devices (DVD players) will not be able to play it on your computer.
And using this small free program in Russian, and quite good quality) you can even send your songs by mail.
That's all, now you can create your own compositions and share them with friends. These applications are so accessible that any student can figure them out.
Of course, it’s hard to call them professional, but they are good and accessible to everyone - without deception - yes. Good luck and success to future stars.
Developer: UsefulUitls
Developer URL: http://ru.uus4u.com/
Operating system: Win XP/ Vista/Windows 7, Windows 8
Interface: Russian
License: free
LIVE versions are, of course, one thing, but what if you take a professional approach to recording the song?
I won’t bore MirSovetov readers with expectations. Let's get started.
Necessary equipment
Computer(let’s assume that the point has been completed. You somehow read the article, right?).Since modern software will be used, the computer requirements are also modern. This: Intel processor® Pentium® 4 or AMD Athlon® 64 (recommended Intel Core™ 2 Duo or AMD Phenom® II), 1 GB random access memory, 2 GB of free hard disk space for installation, sound card with support for ASIO or Microsoft WDM/MME protocol, headphones/speakers, microphone.
Microphone. Despite the fact that it is in the list of items above, the microphone deserves special attention. Fans of Skype and karaoke! Both of your options will be suitable (both a microphone with a 3.5 mm connector for a computer, and a microphone for a DVD or music center, with an adapter to 3.5 mm)! If there are several microphones, you need to choose the one whose quality is superior. Often the price-quality ratio can help you: a more expensive microphone will be of better quality, but there are exceptions. Your ears - best helper. Connect, try, listen!
Note! Recording from a studio microphone and further actions When recording songs, they are no different from recording from a headphone microphone. If you are the owner of a studio microphone and don’t know where to start, this article will also be useful to you. The only difference is the most important thing in the musical field - quality. It will prevail in your entry.Headphones. This point may seem strange to you. After all, speakers can also serve as a source of sound output. Yes, and it’s more common through them... This is true, but we will be able to play our song through the speakers after recording. And during it it is advisable to use. Otherwise, the microphone will pick up sound from the speakers, which is difficult to get rid of. The music itself should play on a separate track.
I draw the attention of MirSovetov readers!
Our task is to achieve maximum silence in the room where the recording will take place. Close all windows and doors, turn off the TV in the next room and ask your roommates to be silent while you sing. A clean record comes first. There will be less hassle during processing, higher sound quality.
Necessary drivers, programs
“Why are they needed,” you say, “if the microphone already works and records sound!? In the operating room Windows system everything is taken into account!This statement is true. But, as you know, there is no limit to perfection. Modern computer audio editors have reached such a level that only an audio gourmet can distinguish a studio recording from a home one: edited, processed, i.e. brought to mind.
For this we need:
Audio editor(at the time of writing, Adobe_Audition_CS5.5_v4.0.1815 is used). Very powerful, stable. You can get acquainted with the interface and subsequently master it after half an hour of work.
We install.
Driver Asio4All. It will monitor both our microphone and output sound through headphones/speakers. It turns on only during audio recording/editing using an editor program. A driver is required for an immediate, smooth playback process. In short, this driver will save us from all possible bugs and will only improve performance.
We install.
Note! Adobe work Audition is also possible through the built-in Microsoft driver WDM/MME (without Asio4All preinstallation). In this case, on computers with average performance, there may be delays, jerks, and interference during playback.iZotope Nectar VST plugin. This plugin will be used by Adobe Audition and will give your voice the proper coloration. It can make it softer/rougher, make your voice clear or blurry, can make it look like you're talking through a radio speaker or even screaming in space! The iZotope Nectar plugin comes with many ready-made add-ons. It is also possible to go outside the mold and work on creating your own unique style.
We install.
Note! The programs below can be easily found and downloaded on the Internet. But they are paid (Except for the ASIO driver, it is free).Have all the necessary software been installed? Can't wait to get started? Okay, now let's set it up and record!
Settings
Open the Adobe Audition program. Let's get acquainted. We see many unfilled forms and, in general, emptiness. To get started, you need to open a new session. (File → New → Multitrack Session… or press Ctrl+N).Fill out the form (from the screenshot below, it was taken after launching the program and trying to start a new session).
To view an enlarged picture, click on it Session Name: session name, name of your project.
Folder Location: Save folder for this project and subsequent ones. Another one will be created in the specified directory, with a name identical to the Session Name.
Sample Rate (frequency), Bit Depth (sampling frequency), Master (Audio Output (Stereo/Mono/5.1)): technical parameters of audio recording quality. It is advisable, in order to avoid problems with recording from a microphone, to set the same numbers as for sound output in general mode.
If you don’t know what the default frequency and sampling rate is (in general mode), it doesn’t matter. Go to “Start” → “Control Panel” → “Manage sound devices” → “Speakers”, click “Properties” and in the “Advanced” tab we see the default format. Below I will provide a screenshot for MirSovetov readers so that it is clear what to look for.
I will also give possible options combinations:
- 16 Bit, 44100 Hz – CD quality;
- 16 Bit, 44800 Hz – DVD quality;
- 24 Bits and the same number of Hz, by definition, is a studio recording.
Promised screenshot:
After we have correctly filled in all the parameters for the new Adobe Audition session, you can click OK. The parameters will be fixed and the issue of bit depth and descritisation will not bother us anymore.
Recording a song
The next step is the most important and interesting.Working space. After opening a new session, Adobe Audition appeared before our eyes in all its glory. From the screenshot below:
- Switch between Adobe Audition modes: Waweform and Multitrack. Waweform mode is a mode for solo editing of one audio file, Multitrack mode is a mode with several active audio tracks (the default is 5, you can add another audio track by pressing the Alt+A hotkeys).
We will use Multitrack mode (active in the screenshot) for recording. It is convenient in that you can apply a separate sound effect to both each track and each file separately. - Effects window. Later, here, we will add the effects of the iZotope Nectar plugin.
- The same Waweform mode and several audio tracks mentioned in paragraph 1.
- Minus found on the Internet, i.e. add music (without words) to audio track 1 (Track 1). This can be done by dragging an audio file (of any format) onto the Track 1 strip or from the context menu of the audio track (Insert → Audio File).
If, when adding, the audio file format does not match the recording format you selected, the file will be converted. - Turn on the microphone for recording. Check that the microphone is connected and click Default Stereo Input in audio track 2 (Track 2), as in step 4 of the screenshot above. Then select your microphone from the list. If you have a stereo microphone, then it will be in the Default Stereo Input → Stereo list, if you have a mono microphone, then Default Stereo Input → Mono.
Note! To record, you need to turn on the recording mode by pressing the R button (it is underlined in screenshot 4). That, in turn, will light up red. By turning on the I button (it's next to R), we will turn on the preview mode and will be able to hear ourselves in real time.Don't be alarmed if there is a noticeable delay in the sound. It can be overcome using the ASIO driver (currently the default driver is MME).
Setting up the ASIO driver is described below in a separate paragraph of the article.
If you don’t feel any delay while listening or for some reason you cannot/will not install the ASIO driver, you can start recording.
We start recording with the Shift+Space hotkeys or by clicking the mouse on the record button in the program (located at the bottom, in the center, point 5 in the screenshot above).
You can monitor the recording in real time. It is displayed as sound waves on the monitor (in the audio track window). If the wave level is maximum, move away from the microphone. So much so that the level of the recording waves coincides with the level of the minus waves (music located on audio track 1).
It is very important when recording to use a POP filter or a windscreen (which is usually already installed on headphone microphones). Otherwise, the explosive letters “B” and “P” in Russian may ruin your recording.
You can stop the recording process with the “stop” button or hotkey"space".
Recording the second and subsequent tracks. To ensure your song sounds good, you will need to record a second track: record your second voice, your backing vocals. Decorate with it those places where intonation enhancements are needed or where the voice is not clearly heard from the first part.
On the second track, it is advisable to sing along in a voice different from the main vocal. It is advisable to use effects other than the main vocal.
This makes the recording more expressive and vibrant.
Setting up the ASIO driver
Let me remind you that the ASIO driver is used to get rid of latency.It's free latest version can be downloaded from the official website (asio4all.com).
You can enable the ASIO driver (after installation) by clicking Default Stereo Input → Audio Hardware. In the Device Class item, select ASIO (item 1 of the screenshot below). The Setting button is visible next to it. Clicking it will open the ASIO settings (point 2 in the screenshot). Using the mouse slider we can change the ASIO Buffer Size (number of samples). The number of samples changes the load on the processor. The recommended value is 512. If jerks and problems in operation are noticeable, it is necessary to increase the number of samples to the required level (workable). If you have powerful processor, the number of samples can be reduced.
Editing audio
The most labor-intensive job. True, necessary. After all, during recording, problems of a domestic nature may arise. For example, from emotions you can shout into the microphone so much that you exceed the limits of what is permissible. In this case, it is not necessary to rewrite the entire record.Sound level. Depending on the problem, it can be fixed.
Click on the track and go to Waweform mode (point 1 in the screenshot below).
If at a certain moment in the recording you came close to the microphone or moved away too far, or some kind of noise was heard extraneous sound and you want to remove it, reduce the sound level in the selected area.
Select the problem area, as in the screenshot, step 2, and adjust the decibel level by moving the slider left/right. In real time you can control the desired level of sound waves.
If you want to completely get rid of sound in the selected area, reduce the decibel level to minus infinity or use the context menu → Silence.
We remove the noise. Initially, it is impossible to record material without noise. Even if you are in a soundproof studio or a room isolated from external sources. Noise comes from electrical wires, and, ultimately, from the device itself.
Expensive microphones (professional, studio) produce little noise, cheap ones - more.
Fortunately, this noise is monotonous, and removing it in semi-automatic mode will not be difficult.
We will need the audio material itself and a recording of only one noise (possibly in one file). Getting a recording of the noise is not a problem. Just be quiet into the microphone and don't make any movements.
How to remove noise:
Advice! Working with sound is a very complex procedure. This is technique, not magic. And if the noise level is too high, it is almost impossible to remove it without loss of quality. It is also possible for artifacts to appear, i.e. distortion caused by excessive audio processing. To avoid this unpleasant moment, I advise readers of MirSovetov to use a clean recording of an example of noise. Without any other sounds. You can record the noise at a lower microphone volume and use this option as a source.Effects. We connect and use VST plugins. So, the words are recorded, cleared of noise, the volume is edited and is the same throughout the entire track. But something is missing, right?
With good processing, you can achieve crystal clear voice recordings (with the appropriate equipment). But the most important thing is to simply achieve a result that is acceptable to the ear.
For example, in the songs of our favorite performers we can hear a little echo in a certain place, but in another place the voice is somehow unnatural. This is normal for the audio industry! This makes the audio recording more beautiful and interesting to listen to!
Fortunately, computers have come a long way in this area and can afford a lot. IN Adobe program Audition has a large number of built-in effects and features. But I would still recommend that MirSovetov readers use third-party programs for some purposes. For example, the company iZotope has established itself well in the world of computer music. Makes excellent equalizers.
To process vocals, you can use the iZotope Nectar VST plugin.
VST plugins − special programs from third party manufacturers. They seamlessly join the Adobe Audition editor. When installed, VST plugins ask for a separate folder to store their “.dll” files. Thus, with one click, all VST plugins stored on a given computer can be installed.To connect installed plugin iZotope Nectar or any other, in Adobe Audition click Effects → Audio Plug-In Manager (in context menu programs).
A window will open. Point 1 in the screenshot below.
VST Plug-In Folder is the folder that you specified as VST storage during installation.
The required plugin is highlighted in red in the screenshot. Enable it with a checkmark and click OK.
Now, you need to connect the plugin directly to the track or file. Click on the required track and select the one you need from all the plugins (point 2 in the screenshot).
Usually, plugins have their own menu and, after clicking on them, in the effects window (in our case, after clicking on iZotope Nectar, underlined in point 2 of the screenshot), a separate window will open (point 4 of the screenshot).
For our case, for voice processing, iZotope Nectar has many built-in presets. With microphone pre-listening turned on (button I must be active, point 3 of the screenshot), we can evaluate the advantage of the effect in real time.
Note! A large number of simultaneously enabled VST plugins/highly powerful effects are sometimes not available in real time. The computer cannot withstand such a load, slowdown may be noticeable, or the work may not work at all. In this case, in Waveform mode in the effects window, click Apply. The sound will be processed by the VST effect and re-recorded, this file will no longer create a load on the processor.Remember, undoing any actions one step is Ctrl + Z. One step forward is Ctrl+Shift+Z.
Saving a song
The final stage.Make sure you are satisfied with everything. Listen to the recording as a whole again, from beginning to end, and you can safely save your creation.
First, save the session with all the files, so that after saving and turning off the program, you are not left with one mp3 file, but can reopen the project in editing mode. The session is saved by pressing File → Save As (program menu) or using the hot keys Ctrl+Shift+S.
Now you can save the session in audio format. Wave/mp3 formats are preferred. You are already familiar with the concepts of frequency and sampling rate. It's best to put it in mp3 format maximum quality– 320 Kbps. You can save the session in audio format from the program menu (File → Export → Multitrack Mixdown → Entire Session…).
Final note! This article describes the basic plan for recording a song. To get a good result you will need to work hard. And each conflict must be resolved using the built-in capabilities of the audio editor or using the appropriate plugins (additional). There are many of them, I’m sure you can easily find a plugin that will solve exactly your problem or make the sound exactly the way you want to hear it.It is your ears that are the determining test of the quality of the work done.
If you have any questions, ask in the comments. I wish you good luck and creative success on behalf of MirSovetov.
We will talk about how to record a song with a guitar, no matter your own, or one you already have, on your computer to an Mp3 file using the audio editing program Audacity.
We inserted the microphone, brought the guitar to it and click on the record icon in Audacity. And then an unpleasant event may await us - an error occurs " Error while opening sound device please check the input device settings and the project sample rate":
Let's go to control panel - equipment and sound - Realtek dispatcher And make sure that the microphone is displayed:
If the microphone is not displayed, try reconnecting it. Perhaps he is not working. If there is no checkmark on it, then set it as " standard device".
Restart the Audacity program and see if the microphone is displayed in the program itself:
Let's check the record. If the microphone is visible everywhere, then recording should work.
Next, we record pre-prepared and rehearsed guitar music for the song. When we have recorded it once, we record the same music a second time. This is necessary so that the quality is better. That is, we should have two guitar tracks. Now we assign the first one to the left channel (to the left ear), and the second to the right channel (to the right ear) by about 50%:
This way we will get a more spacious sound.
Voice recording
After the guitar music is ready, the most interesting thing remains - recording the voice. Before this, of course, we rehearse our vocals, after which we press record and record. Conveniently, while recording a voice, we can already hear the previously recorded guitar.
Applying effects to recordings
After recording all the tracks, you can apply cool, beautiful effects. To do this, we need to select part of the track or the entire track to which we want to apply the effect. Then select the desired effect from the appropriate section:
You can play around with the effects and see what they mean.
After the song is ready, save it: File - Export. Select mp3 format. That's it :)
Conclusion
As you can see, record a song with guitar using a computer is not difficult, even for a beginner. But this method is more amateur, because it is unlikely that we will get a high-quality studio recording. But you won’t be ashamed to show such a recording to your friends, and with this recording you can already go to the studio to record there for a certain fee :)
But you can still get a more professional recording. Only this requires special skills and professional programs, but this is a completely different level...
If you don't understand, ask questions in the comments.
