Recording equipment/software?
 

Hi all. Let me start by admitting that I'm musically and technically challenged, so any help is truly appreciated. I'd like to get my husband some recording gear for Christmas, but have no idea what to look for or where to start.

He plays a few instruments in his spare time and does a few open nights and side gigs at local bars every few months, and has always talked about getting more into the song writing side. Spends a lot of time on the drums, and the guitar as a close second (acoustic & electric), plus vocals. We use Windows.. our computers and computer skills are basic and functional, just to give you an idea about our technical capabilities as far as software goes. This would be mostly just for fun so he wouldn't need anything super professional, but it is something he spends a lot of time doing so I don't want to go cheap either. So I'm hoping to find something practical that he would really enjoy playing around with. Been reading descriptions and reviews online for various stuff but there is SO much out there. I am completely clueless about what would be needed outside of a microphone, he's definitely the only musically talented one of our family. Thinking maybe a loop pedal too, if you have any recommendations for those.

Can anyone offer some more insight about what I should be looking for? Specific equipment, audio editor programs, recommended brands, technical info I need to have before buying to make sure everything is compatible, etc?

Thanks in advance!

Are you ever comforted by the relative brevity of your forced existence in the heart of this eternally uncaring universe?

This would be all he'd need, except for the mic's as you've stated. An excellent starter package that he can build upon. It's not real expensive, but not real cheap either:

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...-scarlett-18i8

...as for a looper, here's two decent ones:

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...k-looper-pedal

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...y-looper-pedal

Depending on your budget, I'd go for a 2 or 4 channel interface (Focusrite do great ones).

Re mics, a bundle of Shure mics (something with SM57s and maybe a BETA 52A) are great cause they're pretty much industry standard, and not expensive... And very versatile!

Re computers, for me, you can't go wrong with Mac. GarageBand is free with Apple computers too, and they're solid.

So what I'm saying is,

1) plugging your Interface into a Mac is super easy
2) A 4 channel interface with a mic bundle lets you record a full drum set (you can get great sounds with 3 or 4 mics), you can use these mics to record vox and guitars too

Hope that helps! :)

I'm using

a Focusrite Scarlett 3rd Gen

a Shure 57 microphone

a couple of effect pedals (delay, chorus/vibrato, flanger and wah)

a Fender Rambler Bass amp

and a lot of instruments


In my experience having as many instruments as possible, and as many weird/unusual (as for our culture) instruments as possible is a great help in songwriting, as their sound/tone itself makes you wonder what can you do with them.

Mine include a Fender Jazz Bass, two electric guitars, two acoustic guitars, a ukulele, a baritone ukulele (with sitar strings on it), an Indian Sitar, an Oud, a mandolin, an electric harmonium, a saxophone, a flute, a baritone flute, some drumsticks, a keyboard, a piano, a plastic saxophone (the size of two hands put together), and a lot of homemade stuff (like cardboard with towels on it for making kick sounds, spices to make hi-hats and cymbals, etc)

But really what's important in songwriting is an acoustic guitar and your voice. The rest is important for arrangements, not actual writing

btw what did you finally buy for your husband?
It's. been a long time since your question