Tutorial: Home Recording On A Budget

Today we go over how to start recording home!
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[@mtnman1]

Can you do an updated version of this, PLEASE?!?!?

[@ariqrestyawan23]

Yo we need this

[@Randyroze69]

I’m also pulling for this

[@matt22blaster]

Yeah we really need it

[@glubglub2131]

Maybe one that covers multiple price points, other than that it's still the same really.

[@victorbicudo1374]

Nothing has changed. Good PC, focusrite interface, monitors or headphones, reaper, free amp sims.

[@NocturneVideos]

At last I found a clear, simple and very informative video. Thanks a lot for this and your videos in general!

[@TheAudioJourney]

Nocturne (EclecticGuitarMan) agreed! This guy knows what he's talking about, and Focusrite is an excellent recommendation

[@blackwinterproductions2185]

Nocturne (EclecticGuitarMan) agreed

[@ItsDrewsif]

My dude Ryan Bruce gives one of the best starter tutorials for a recording guitarist I've seen!

[@leegenix]

Ryan: Thanks for the advice. A few years ago when I was in a desperate situation, a friend of mine had a studio set up with both digital and analog recording machines. At that time, I had nothing, No guitars, amps, or even a stereo. I was living out of my car. Out of his kindness, my friend would pick me up and drive over his house for beer, music, and food. We recorded a few tracks and done in a rushed manner which sounded terrible later on. However, some of the crap we did actually sounded good. Since my friend owned everything and sponsored me, he pretty much ran the show. One song was pretty good and some of the best playing I have ever done. The next time I saw him, he gave me a copy which I played in my car. I noticed that my guitar solo was complete gone and he said it got in the way of his vocals. However, a friend of his soloed where my should have been. I was shocked and devastated but kept it all to myself. The point is: No more of this control crap. I will do my own recordings on machines that belong to me and I will be in charge of my own fate and Music. Thank you.

[@necurrence1776]

I started my guitar recording journey 1.5 years ago based mainly on this video.(I have this exact gear and software) Yesterday for the first time I felt like I really know what I'm doing while writing a complete song in a hour (drums, bass, guitar vsts, midis, ) The moral of the story is this : do not expect to rock like a superstar from the start. It will be frustrating as hell from time to time but it's really worth it. Thank you for the video.

[@freedom6046]

Have you made any money or created a fanbase since you have been making music? Ive been making music for a while but have trouble making a fan base.

[@necurrence1776]

@@freedom6046 I haven't made money yet and my fans so far are my family, friends and work colleagues that are very encouraging when they listen to my demos. I live off my full time job that pays my bills, feeds my family and allows me to maintain this music hobby with budget/used gear. I'm planning to reunite my garage band from highschool from 12 years ago and produce our album. Like a dad band

[@erenteker6908]

@@necurrence1776 good luck on your journey fellow musician! I just bought my first interface after using a friend's for a couple months. It looks like long road especially because of the amount of things you can do with the daw and the vst's.

[@necurrence1776]

@@erenteker6908 thank you and good luck to you too. True, DAWs and VSTs can be overwhelming. Just insert your favorite vsts into your DAW and save that project. So whenever you jam a new song, copy, paste and rename that same project,for better use of your time. Play your guitar on a drum track and think of your rhythm as a drummer does, in bars. MT power drumkit 2 is a good drum vst.

[@antoniojss]

@@freedom6046 where are your musics?

[@outofsightgermanpost-rock4629]

Using Reaper for years now. I`m still totally satisfied with it. Super cheap and gives you pretty much everything you need. For the Guitar-Software I can also recommend Bias FX and Guitar Rig 5. Not the cheapest stuff on the market but in my opinion it`s really worth the price.

[@IZZTZRN]

Is it easy to connect the Bias FX with the Reaper DAW? Also, how do you get drumtracks?

[@pierredeslandes9896]

yes, using Bias FX in Reaper is straight forward. For Drum tracks i would highly recommand EZ Drummer 2. That's what I use and it's pretty easy to start with.

[@jeremyschiesser6730]

So reaper will have a decent and simple drum key roll or whatever it’s called. It’s been so long since I’ve been in the home studio game I forgot. Hope I’m making sense. Like the map to create the actual beats.

[@gitarthsonowal6703]

How to get rid of the latancy issue of guitar rig 5?

[@TheBoondoggler]

what about drums? Can I run something like addictive drums vst inside Reaper?

[@randolphpatterson5061]

My budget for a laptop was 500 bucks and I got a laptop with 1 Terabyte for 375 with tax out the door. So now I can stay on budget, and still buy more weed.

[@Dylan-cj4hh]

Relatable, weed budget seems to always come first for me tbh

[@freedom6046]

You guys talking about weed makes me want to get high

[@SubieRow]

Grow your own save money make money record more

[@Charlesbakowski]

I've been looking for straight answers to everything you addressed for nearly a week. Thank you so much for this video!

[@JakeBailes]

Thanks for this fluff! I got my entire recording setup based on this video for just £300 ($400)!

[@tanw200]

Jake Bailes how has your setup been?

[@JakeBailes]

I've had no issues with my setup. I had a desktop PC already so I was a step ahead, But it works flawlessly!

[@tanw200]

So spending the money was worth it? I'm really considering making the jump and buying a Focusrite Scarlet 2i2

[@JakeBailes]

I'd spend the extra and get the 2i4. It just has more options in functionality, thus can take you further into your recording

[@TheAudioJourney]

Definitely worth it Jake!

[@t0ddbr0wn731]

Thanks Fluff, I'm the 41 yr old player/collector who never done recording or computers at all! Thanks seem this was meant for me! Rock on!

[@synissilent9235]

I know for a fact this video still gets a lot of views, so I'mma just give yall my setup, which was wayyyyy more cost efficient and still great quality. Laptop: Lenovo Ideapad 320 4GB RAM ($350 back in 2017) (I have an Acer Aspire e15 6GB RAM now) $320 DAW: Cakewalk by Bandlab. Previously called Sonar (professional level for 100% free, comes with various versatile plugins Like an adjustable drum kit and amp sim, along with melodyne compatibility) Audio Interface: Behringer U-Phoria UMC-22 (USB, 1 XLR/instrument jack and instrument only jack, both with independent gain controls and a 48v phantom power supply) $60 Condenser Mic: Neewer NW-800 (Quality condensers for entry level musicians and fine for metal recordings, since there's distortion in vocals or amps most of the time anyways. Come with a boom arm, pop filter, windscreen, power supply, and all necessary cables) I actually have 2 and am very happy with them $25-35 each Boom mic stand: Musician's Gear BM100 $12 Midi Controller: Worlde Panda Mini (USB, 25 key midi kb with 4 knobs, 4 sliders, and 8 trigger pads, plus effects) $50-60 Akai MPK Midi Launch Pad: (USB, 16 trigger pads with multiple knobs, individual sliders, note repeat, and presets and effects screen) $80-100 Flat Studio Headphones: Resident Audio R100 $20-30 Besides the laptop, this adds up to a minimum of only $247

[@evabides3223]

Thanks this is helpful!!

[@NJhrdcore09]

Ryan!!! This is the exact info that I have been looking for!! I've been saying "Oh I have to buy a Mac BookPro" and all that stuff but your video made me realize that it's not necessary. I want to record mainly song ideas for my band and myself. Plus I want to learn the art of recording as well and I think your video has given me the knowledge of what I need!! Thank you for taking the time to make this video!! I'm really into your videos and all the other guys that you make videos with. You're a very talented group of musicians!! Cheers!!

[@blisteringfilth]

do you reckon you could do a video where you take some high end set-up and change out different parts to see how cheaping out can effect the sound. such as your interface of choice compared to a m-audio fast track or some shit like that it could be interesting

[@Obijohn_Wick]

Great video fluff, I think a lot of channels forget that not everybody is up to par with what they are preaching. Great job.

[@heshreds4049]

what if you would prefer to mic up an actual amp rather than amp sims, or if you want to record acoustic

[@xRainingBulletsx]

you need a mic plugged into the interface to record from

[@Darkokill35]

You can connect your amp into the audio interface

[@ryanbarker3978]

You have a couple options. In professional studios, they will get a good microphone, and record the amp that way. However, some amps also come with "Cabinet Voiced Outputs" that are designed to output line-level signal (I'm personally not a fan of these, especially on older amps). Lastly, you can get a loadbox like the Suhr Reactive Load and use it to step your amp down to line level and plug it into an interface that way.

[@enricovicente2217]

Them mooer amp sims

[@cyriljohn818]

Guess a lot of ppl who are posting similar videos like this should learn from you that basics means basics. I really enjoyed your step by step process to record stuff at home... Cheers

[@infelicitas]

"Windows, or mac" Me: *happily records all my music on Linux*

[@soundsfromtheneighborhood]

What interface you're using?

[@SpartanLaserCanon]

Linux is great for coding and web design from what I have heard and seen.

[@anibalojeda]

KZbin and Fluff making the life of everybody much easier! Nice video Fluff

[@dedik8SKB]

he didn't mention microphones... I'll just assume sm57

[@michaelscanlan6765]

dedik8SKB well thats because we are talking budget home recording...that usually means going directly into the box lol

[@iwontgiveyoumyname5126]

+AGPMandavel You don't need one when you are going for cheap HOME recording where you can't krank up your amp anyways and where you want to route your guitar straight into your audio interface. NO mics needed then. I do it this way, recording a dry signal, then driving into our rehearsal room, reamping the whole thing with the real thing.. in this case, you'd need mics and a direct box.

[@DoubleAHank]

Even though this was directed at recording via DI, I personally still use relatively low budget stuff like what he has shown here, but I still use a mic. As a live musician, I already had a great set up and sound with my guitar and bass rigs. When I started recording about 8 months ago, I bought a Focusrite 2i2 with Alesis Elevate3 monitors and a MXL 990 condenser mic. As Fluff mentioned, the 2i2 did have an issue with DI on the instrument settings. So I bought a SM57 and I mic my guitar cabs with that and MXL previously mentioned and run it through the XLR inputs on the interface. For the bass, I have a 4x12 cab and a 1x15 cab, so I use the SM57 on the 4x12 and an Audix D6 kick drum mic on the 1x15. It all sounds great for a low budget home recording set up. So my recommendations for low budget microphones would be: Shure SM57 dynamic microphone for mic'ing instuments and guitar cabs. They go for about $100. MXL 990 condesner microphone for mic'ing guitar cabs (if you choose to go with a dynamic and condenser mic...a lot of people just stick with one dynamic mic) and also for vocals. This mic also goes for just around $100. If you choose to mic your bass cab, I personally recommend the Audix D6 for cabs with 12 to 15 inch speakers. It helps capture a lot of the lower end output. The Audix D6 goes for about $200. I got mine from a friend for a much cheaper cost, but there are a lot of other similar microphones that are cheaper. The Shure PGA52 is a good choice and is about $120. I'm still relatively new to the recording scene, but this is what has worked for me. I do, however, recommend doing your own research before making any purchases.

[@676bun]

Even though this is about going cheap, don't go cheap on mics, I wasted a lot of time with cheap mics and when I finally got some decent mics I was shocked by how much better everything sounded,... if your on a budget then spend the money up front for some decent mics. I recently got a MXL v69 tube mic for $269 and found a used Shure KSM 32 for $200 soo for less than $500 I got 2 decent mics. I was using cheapo $20 mics before that.

[@whitewalker608]

AT2035 is a really good option now

[@TheSpineSplitter1990]

I've been using my Digitech GSP1101 USB straight into my Laptop, Using Reaper. Been loving that simple setup for a while now, works for me just great.

[@batmayn123]

6 minutes into the video and i realise how much you look like Benny from ABBA!

[@Tzalmavet]

I started out on some poop ass lenovo dual core that would always crash halfway through a project. At the time i was using a single usb guitar jack and a knockoff sm58. Now i have a gaming pc/workstation, ditched the usb jack for a focusrite 2i2, and bought an mxl 770 condenser mic. I also lined the inside of my closet with some foam. It's totally worth the small amount of money i've invested and the results are beyond expectation.

[@ugurkaracay1]

why that stupid background music. are you making fun of us just because we are poor.

[@sammartinez8437]

Bruh

[@jgmusicman2281]

wow someone is being a little over sensitive.

[@SupproductionVideos]

lol

[@jonathanvillalobos7994]

+dead end Man you made me laugh so hard!! I can't stop laughing!!! that's a good one!!😁😁😁😃😃😃😂😂😂😅!

[@jamisbillson4872]

dead end how has this got 100 thumbs up? Must have done that yourself. Weirdo. Great video mate. Thank you.

[@SilentKnight1337]

this was probably the best tutorial on this stuff I've ever seen. thank you. you took the time to explain each part in detail which I see lacking in other videos

[@shermankeller3179]

I just found your channel so I hope you are still willing to answer some questions on this video. You show the Focusrite interface here. What about the Ableton Live Lite 8 software that comes with it? Do you need a DAW then or is that your DAW? Completely new to this home recording thing but its really got my attention! Also: What do you think of the Line6 UX1 with the Pod-Farm software?

[@shermankeller3179]

Awesome! Thanks for your info guys! Fluff!!!: I saw a Howards Cams sticker on your table. You use any of their products? Ive got my Stroker build revolved around one of their mech. flat tappet bumpsticks.....Awesome music btw!!!

[@npaz24]

*HEY GUYS* i wanna start recording dual guitars (left and right) using vst (bias fx) plugins, but im wondering if a core i3 pc with 4gb ram 64 bit will be enough to do so ? cuz i tried on a dual core 3gb ram pc and it wasnt possible at all! plz reply, thx :)

[@snorkygroovitz2207]

Fluff, I found this videos extremely helpful. I hadn't done any recording in 15 years and wanted to start back up again. After searching the internet for tips on home recording I came across this video. I already had a MacBook so I went ahead and purchased the Focusrite 2i4 and Reaper. I also purchased a pair of Tanoy monitors which you recommended in another video. Everything you suggested was super easy to setup and get started, without costing a ton of money. Thanks for the accurate info!

[@AscentToZenith]

I am using a 30 dollar Behringer Guitar Link UCG102 with Reaper(free version) and I use the X30 by TSE for tones. My budget was non existent.

[@NutsTesticles]

Im the same except I pirated GR4 for my tonez jhaha.

[@DCWelker]

I use a Behringer UMC202HD, a Behringer C-1 condenser mic, Reaper, Hydrogen and my guitar rig ;)

[@crazyeybrowdancer5777]

Can I just record by setting my phone in front of my amp?

[@111Moose]

This video was exactly what I was looking for. Thanks dude. Here’s your well deserved “like.”

[@KoreanTakeout]

"Budget" I got $20

[@ivansafont304]

What he meant is in a budget. not in miserable poor situation like ourselves haha

[@mlwsf]

If you have an iPhone see what you can do with GarageBand. It comes free. ;-)

[@KoreanTakeout]

Mark Wilkins Oh I have a job and music equipment now, lol. Thanks though (;

[@mlwsf]

@@KoreanTakeout that's awesome.

[@asherplatts6253]

form a union at your workplace

[@Noone-of-your-Business]

For guitar amp sim, I am running the (free) demo version of *Native Instruments Guitar Rig 5* . It is fully functional without time limit, it does not castrate the output in any way, and the only limitation of the demo is the number of simulated components. BUT there is one of every major component (1 amp, 1 speaker sim, 1 reverb, 1 distortion etc.) that work without limitations and are freely configurable, which I find plenty for what I want to accomplish. Then, invest the money you save on the guitar sim in a microphone, such as the Rhodes NT-1A for about $200, which does everything I expect really well.

[@MrGreenYeti]

Possibly stupid question, where does the Rocksmith Real Tone Cable compare to a cheap interface?

[@ryangould8352]

This guy uses the same cable. Here's a song from him

[@MrRabidKiwi]

I tried it it's pretty bad

[@polpottopg]

MrGreenYeti works fine for me

[@scadoodlemusic3682]

Lmao it’s what I’m using

[@charlesm8482]

it might not be bad if you got a nicer computer, but I was trying to use it with my older model computer, and it wouldn't work. I had to use my soundcard, which didn't sound bad, but was kind of limiting but worked. I just picked up a audiobox itwo and it works awesome even on my older model computer. Not to mention the nice software that came with it. That was easy to upgrade for free with some hacks.

[@shane1388]

This guy knows what he's talking about, cheers

[@AndyMcSteel]

I love you for this video dude... Even more than ever. :D

[@marcelojulio]

Many, many, many thank´s Fluff ! This is a GREAT video for those want to enter this universe but have not the minimum idea how to do it!

[@alexhooi7970]

I just got 124GB of ddr4 ram, a Titan z in quad sli and an 18 core Intel Xeon processor, is that good enough?

[@karikaroyt2689]

Nah dude, you need an Athlon x860k, R7 240, and 12 GB of DDR2 Ram. But don't worry, you can download all those specs off of downloadmoredetitatedwam(dot)com.

[@Superxpninja]

"Mac is best"

[@ammardyaakob]

You need more deddeteated wham for the shuerver

[@jmcwd]

titan z can't run in sli, because it is a card that has to GPUs on it. you could only run 2-way SLI

[@alexhooi7970]

+jmcwd don't question my logic

[@brotendo]

I have a Mac and was super happy to learn that GarageBand was a cool enough DAW that's free on my computer. Probably won't upgrade til later.

[@EmpyralT]

Hey Ryan. I saw your channel through Jared Dines'; very interesting and informative, you have a great channel. I have a question related to this video: Could you do a video on a full set-up on a budget? For example, if your budget was $1000, and you had to start from scratch, what guitar, amps, pedals, and accessories (cables, picks, etc.) would you get to be able to record from the stuff in this video? And if there are any close price points, e.g.: "At the $1200 range, this is what I would get, and it would be this much better than $1000, it may or may not be worth saving up for it" and/or "At the $750 range, this is what I would get, and it would be similar to the $1000 price for a fraction of the cost". Something like that, I think, would be great for a lot of viewers (such as myself) who need a suggestion on where to start. Thanks!

[@jacobacostamasterscribe2200]

For a budget guitar, can't go wrong with the Schecter Omen (or omen extreme) series. Especially if you want to get into 7 and 8 string playing, best band for the buck.

[@Rails2Revolution]

Hey I know I'm not Ryan but perhaps I can help :) *Guitar:* Spend as little on the actual guitar as you can. If you're goal is to get a recording set up going including the instruments then you're going to have to make a lot of cuts. Find something literally less then $300. There are plenty of well made guitars in this price range, you have to do a lot of research though. And of course make sure you try before buying. Heck though, if you can scavenge a free starter kit guitar from some friend who "totally thought they would be a guitarist but touched it once and never again" do it! You want to aim for something that has decent electronic, good fretwork right off the bat, and a working truss rod. Even if it's your popular 25.5" 6 string, at this point it doesn't matter because the extended range you would get from 7 or 8 strings is a luxury. If you want to tune low adjust your truss and intonation for some thicker strings. There are no limits to what tuning you want ...ish. Now pickups are something you can take time researching before spending you're money on, as it will be the start of whether you love or hate your end tone. Obviously do you research, check out the sound samples, but with the little budget you have, go for popularity over your own hunch. Generally if it's well received there's probably a reason for it (relevant to your type of playing style of course). I wouldn't recommend spending $200 on bareknuckles though, there's plenty of great stuff in the $100 range. *Amp* As much as you can, look for amps that don't have the brand name that pushes their prices. e.g. While mesa dual recs are great, you're looking over a thousand for the head alone. Look at all the amps in budget range, this will most likely end up as a combo however, as you want to keep this relatively in the $500-$600 to satisfy the budget. A 5150 combo may be a good idea if distorted tones are your main thing. you may even need to end up settling for a modeller amp, like a Peavey vypyr, or solid state amp. *Microphone* Honestly anything dynamic around the $100 range. an SM57 is the obvious choice, but if you're going for a different tone color, perhaps try a beta 57 for a more midrange growl, or a Samson CS if you're looking for something cheaper. Mic stand is a luxury at this point. You'll have to engineer something homemade, even if its a pile of books holding it up ;D Along with a mic you'll need an interface to take you from XLR to USB. You can find things like an M-Audio M-track for around $100, but probably not much lower. *Boosting* If boosting is an essential part of your tone, literally try find anything as cheap as possible that can go between your guitar and the amp the can raise the volume going in. It could be a pedal, it could even be some cheap piece of audio gear like a preamp. Try looking for tube screamer rip-offs like the digitech bad monkey. *Software* Just find anything free. Audacity for instance. Don't spend money here if $1000 is the roof. Download any post-effects as free plugins. Look around forums for the best free ones. this eliminates the cost of you buying reverb, chorus, etc, pedals if you're thinking of using them. All this probably won't leave you with your ideal set up, but with a bit more than $1000 it'll be enough to get a basic recording set up. Thee's probably a tonne of things you already know but hope it helps nonetheless!

[@wingsofpurityofficial4031]

+Rails2Revolution Wouldn't audacity be limiting if you don't have instruments other than the guitar, since it doesn't support midi?

[@Rails2Revolution]

True, perhaps not audacity specifically but point is dont overspend on software once you have the essentials. Obviously if you intend on a lot of midi work it becomes part of the essentials but yeah hopefully you get the point

[@usaflagraybans]

I'm glad you mentioned Amplitube. Those amp sims are incredibly underrated.

[@masonrydin5369]

On Jareds video you said not to use pro tools.

[@MarcDLange]

Mason Rydin he meant its not necessary to use pro tools, as there are tons of recording programs at your disposal.

[@MarioMario-my5ib]

Mason Rydin He said you don't NEED to use Pro tools

[@1835msd]

I haven't tried it on a laptop, but I daisy chain 2 presonus firestudio mobiles (16 tracks) without a powersupply on a desktop. It surprised me when it came on, but it did it. As long as you are not needing a large collection of amps: amplitube, line6, and guitar rig have free versions of their plug-ins. Usually you only get 1 or 2 amps(usually Marshall or Fender). I don't know if they still offer it, but I purchased the Peavey Revalver Hp which comes with all the peavey amps(jsx, 6505, etc.) for like $15 in 2014. And it sounds and feels exactly like my live JSX and 5150. That's a pretty amazing deal. Amplitube is my favorite though and you can do "custom shop" with it and only buy the amps you are interested in as opposed to buying the whole thing.

[@nilla003]

I keep hearing 'latency'': Is that some sort of delayed signal out or what?

[@nilla003]

***** From where does it originate? Using the equipment and software that you suggest here, is it a significant factor? Or is it the computer that is at fault? I have some powered 12" monitors. Will those work to monitor the recording? And thanks for the quick reply, really.

[@nilla003]

***** Ok, bought the Focusrite 2i4 last evening. It has included a free download of Ableton Live Lite 9. Is this a viable alternative to the Reaper that you suggest?

[@angelramirez171]

nilla003 Reaper is the most practical :/ If you feel that you might be running low on your budget, you could take the free download, but Reaper has a larger array than Reason 6, Pro Tools, Garage Band, Audacity, Ableton, Cubase, and a few other bundled DAW's... It's just way more powerful for the low price

[@jamesstonehouse3448]

+Angel Ramirez I moved from cubase to Reaper about 11 months ago. the customizable features and work flow are just awesome. I'll never go back

[@SynthApprentice]

nilla003 consider the fact that your computer has to take some amount of time to actually do anything. Usually, that time is measured in milliseconds, but audio recording requires the computer to do a lot of really complex things, and those milliseconds quickly add up. That creates a delay in the signal, which is what latency is.

[@billtaylor4897]

This might be the start of something Big. Thanks Flip

[@Superxpninja]

Gotta disagree with the Mac recommendation

[@Bflatest]

I had issues until I switched to MAC

[@wadspo7155]

Hackintosh!

[@anhthiensaigon]

especially after Rick Beato brutally roasted Apple a year ago

[@stankfanger1366]

A PC for half the price of that glorified, fruity fashion accessory will do everything it will do. At one time Mac was better for audio sampling and recording, but it's no longer the case. The problem is that people aren't smart enough to realize when standards like that are no longer true, and they won't acknowledge it because they bought into a cult. PC Master Race.

[@charlesstiles8904]

I have a fender mustang 3 modeling amp with Fender fuse software. You can plug the amp straight into the computer using a USB and I run my computer to my av receiver, krk monitors to the av receiver pre-outs.

[@ExtremeMusicPromotion]

im still using cool edit pro 2.1 like a boss. or a poor ass.

[@azatheguitarist]

I have been doing home recording for 2 years now and I have been using Reaper ever since I started and I love it I has everything that I need and for a usb interface for the last year I have been using a Roland Duocapture MKII its a nice cheap interface for starting out if anyone is looking for a cheap USB interface too get you up and running you should check out the Roland DuoCapture MKII its nothing special but it gets the job done :)

[@Trainfan10550]

How would I enable jamup on garageband if it is connected into something like the Focusrite Scarlet 2i2?

[@briansykora8047]

Hey Fluff, I think you should re-do this video for all of us newbies here in 2021. Yes, it's bare bones basic but tech has changed quite a bit and you yourself have evolved since this. Thank you for your consideration bro!

[@slyrez]

what if you dont want to use an amp sim and want to mic your own amp?

[@MiikeyLawless]

Then get an SM57 or similar, a mic stand, cable, and have at it.

[@KrachWerke]

Very good advice here! Glad it didn't go gear snobbish, IE, Apple etc I use a sony vaio, cubase, alesis i/o, amplitube, addictive drums etc etc and get great results

[@MrPascal231]

when will the desktop version of jamup come out? can't wait for that!

[@AscentToZenith]

Yeah that sounds awesome. Hope to get it.

[@MrPascal231]

The Zerk oh yeah! not everybody has an ipad.. but we all want those amp-sims. just noticed we are kinda using the same stuff to get our tones.. funny haha!

[@BadSensation]

Awesome video Ryan. You´ve absolutly become my favourite gear-youtuber. All the FAQ, gear, beard files, tutorial and all the other videos are brilliant! Keep it up man!

[@bartpak1547]

hey ryan! i was thinking about buying a recording bundle which includes a focusrite 2i2 you said that when you plug in a guitar the sound is going to clip. But you can turn down the gain by just turning the gain down on your interface or is this not enough? i hope to hear from you soon! sorry for the bad english!

[@mattydaskater]

Bart Pak you can get a di box impedance which turns your guitar from hi frequency to low frequency

[@juanmarin9484]

I had a fender squier guitar and the pickups had a low/medium output (with this guitar I would probably had the gain knob in the interface to about 60% and I got a good signal without peaks) however I just recently got a new guitar with active pickups and now I have to roll down the knob to about 30% because the signal from the pickups is too hot. With a higher budget interface you could avoid clips and low gain bypressing that button he talked about in the video

[@RadicalAns2]

Good call on the pad. I have a 2i2 and have to crank the gain all the way down when connecting a guitar directly. This is especially prevalent on bass. I've taken to running my guitar through a TubeMP preamp before going into the 2i2.

[@lokboxx]

How would I go about doing drums on a low budget?

[@seansouthwood9296]

I found a decent mic set on a really big sale for $100 and it works great. You can probably find an equivalent for $150-$200 and they are not as bad as the reviews say (usually). What I did, is I borrowed 2 mixers and some XLR's from a couple friends, then plugged one mixer into the other, and from that mixer into the computer. If you're REALLY on a budget though, for my first cover, I just used one decent overhead mic that my friend had, it sounded decent enough. Any "condenser" or RECORDING vocal microphone can be used as an overhead mic. In general, salvage, even if it doesn't necessarily seem explicitly for drum recording.

[@nickkapp1736]

+Adam Bock Drum machine. Found a good open source one called Hydrogen: sourceforge.net/projects/hydrogen/?stars=5#reviews-n-ratings

[@Heavymetalinigo10]

use triggers i guess

[@SonovMi]

i use Hydrogen and totally recommend it.

[@genejas]

i know this isnt what youre looking for, bit check out superior drummer. its a vst that mimics real drum recording to a ridiculous level, all the pros use it, and its filthy cheap for what you get

[@VitorDuzarte]

I'm using a Miditech USB interface, and i've been using Mixcraft as my DAW for 3 years now. Love the simplicity and the features of it.

[@camilob.9542]

literally just a young teenager who plays guitar and wants to record his sounds

[@UDstudios42]

No, you're a street lamp.

[@camilob.9542]

Unknow User did you just assume my gender?

[@wardkdouglas]

street lamp *triggered*

[@culturefan]

Thanks man, I've been looking for some information like this for a couple of years now. Just a no nonsense description of how to get started recording something. Thanks again.

[@humantacos9800]

Does no one use real amps and mics anymore? I feel like a hipster or something.

[@carlosbell1132]

read the title: HOME recording on a BUDGET ... with 500 bucks you get a used valve amp without cab that may sound well with new tubes and now you are able to record what? exactly: nothing. but considering you already have mics, cabs, a valve amp, etc and record your 100watt marshall jcm 800 at home and obviously want the best sound of that amp and crank it up to like 115 dB, lets wait until the neighbours call the police.

[@humantacos9800]

The Defenestrator You can do decent home recordings on a Spider combo amp, if mic'd and eq'd well.

[@carlosbell1132]

+Human Tacos thats a modeling amp so whats the problem with just using a model from your pc? i don't get the point of that.

[@humantacos9800]

The Defenestrator That's just an example...we could be talking about a Bugera V55 Vintage Tube Combo Amp. The point is you always get a unique sound with real mics/amps, whether it's through mic placement, room acoustics, or imperfections with an amp or mic. Besides, this is a video on recording on a budget, not buying all your equipment on a budget. He's under the assumption you have instruments, know how to play, but want to do affordable home recordings. A Scarlet 2i2, Reaper, and a SM57 with boom is just as cheap as all this.

[@raywoods5213]

Hey, Human Tacos, I am trying to figure this out myself. How am I able to capture the sound of a physical amp? I would rather use real equipment as well, and if you have any tips I would appreciate them. Thanks...

[@instinctbrosgaming9699]

Loophole to the guitar tones, just buy an effects processsor and have the processor go into the interface

[@iliatevzadze5667]

good thing I can pirate all these softwares :X D:

[@randomdude8862]

;)))))

[@xavierazad]

That'll kill the support for the softwares faster, and they'll soon die out.

[@cosmocalypse3708]

ilia tevzadze thief

[@Dude_Slick]

You should use Linux. It's free and has more than enough free software to keep you from having to be a douchebag.

[@killslay]

To the pirate bay me hearties!

[@Strafprozessordnung]

Thanks for this video. Easy to understand. I never got into the recording shit until this day. Thank you again.

[@noruv3816]

this is why we need communism

[@toefurniture]

come live in china then tell me how much you want communism....

[@FonZ4590]

i noticed pretty much nobody is saying something about the Peavey Revalver plugin, it has all the real peavey amps and tries to simulate them as good as possible, to me that gives the perfect tone, i expected you as a peavey lover to recommend that :P

[@henrikpetersson2899]

Solid advice! Just a small correction. A lot of Firewire interfaces are able to run off bus power as well, and some USB interfaces will need an AC adapter.

[@Xyrium]

2i2 is fantastic. Never has recording been this cheap for such high quality.

[@charlesm8482]

I just picked up a older model computer ( AMD phenom CPU,6g of ram) for 15 bucks. Added a Audiobox Itwo bundle from American musical supply to it (interface, monitors, and microphone) $300. 8 easy payments of 37.50 a month for 8 months. Then added a akai dp8 midi controller used from guitar center 20 dollars, plus they had a microphone stand on sale as the deal of the day for 10 so I added that... That's a complete recording setup for $345. plus the price of shipping. I couldn't be happier with it. I was worried the computer might not be powerful enough but I have ran into zero problems.

[@MrTikne]

I have a old laptop, behringer 2-channel interface, and with a mixer, we record the whole band, well we have a lot of mics and stuff, but with Cubase, it delivers almost releasing - class material, though we like to have a live feeling, and not-so-polished sound.

[@XxVIPERxX666]

I'm quite new to the whole recording thing but I've been recording guitars with just a Line 6 PodXT Live I got for $200. Going straight into the computer via usb, the quality of the tones really is amazing for how easy it is. Sounds just as good as the Carvin amp I run it through to jam. That, and Reaper is great! That's just me though, suits my needs. Great video as usual Fluff!

[@anthonyortolano9375]

Thanks Fluff for the video and clarification. Now time to start saving money.

[@YannMetalhead]

Best video I ever watched about the subject. Congratulations!

[@benmacdonald5445]

GarageBand is great. It has automation, although it doesn’t have mix buses. (Not that big of a deal). I was able to get a bang on Marshall JCM800 tone with the stock plugins. (No, not with the Marshall sim, you use a Vox and a fender amp sim with the vintage drive in front of both. Make sure you crank the gain on each amp to 10 though).

[@swissarmyknight4306]

I really strongly appreciate videos like this one, thanks for doing it.

[@EvilOverlord96]

I can recommend using some Midi controllers for controlling faders and stuff. You can even build your own ones using arduino or other microcontroller boards. It's pretty simple and you can save a Lot of money

[@ronnieremark3355]

Riffs,gear, beards, and beers! This is relevant fluff, thanks man

[@promixing7714]

Hey "Fluff", you're a heck of a guy man, thank you for all of this info and you have a new subscriber sir.

[@theguyinthefunnyhat]

I took a totally different approach. I use Linux instead of Windows and OSX. My DAW's include LMMS for MIDI stuff and Qtractor for recording. Sometimes I use Ardour but I find Qtractor works just as well. For monitors I just use a Hi-Fi system - shoot me. I use an analogue mixer rather than an interface because you get more options for expansion including more inputs and controls. For guitar effects, I use Rackarrack/guitarix within Linux (running through JACK) or the effects that come on the Boss BR-8 (Old hardware mixer thing - given it for free). For microphones, I use the Tascam TM-80 and the Behringer XM8500.

[@legendguitargamer]

Awesome fluff, helped a lot here. Just one thing to add: if you had recorded some example and showed for us in the video I would get more inspired with my small budget hahahahah. Thanks!

[@Johnthefearless]

Mixcraft is also a cheaper Recording program simple but really effective! A friend and i have been recording with it about a year now, so far hasn't let us down!

[@collincarter188]

Hi Ryan. I'm pretty sure I just answered my own question regarding passive or active pickups by watching your DI box video. I thought I would post it anyways since I'm sure others will appreciate the question. Q: Does the pad information you talked about apply to both active and passive guitar pickups? (Basically, can I plug my guitar with passive pickups into a 2i2 (without pads) and its sound good?) A: No, because the signal is too high, regardless of pickup type (active or passive). You will either need a DI box or an instrument input with pads (2i4). Thank you for the video. It was very helpful.

[@TheAudioJourney]

Hey Collin, I'd say that your answer isn't true in all cases. You can still play a guitar with active pick ups into a 2i2 without clipping, but it depends on the pick ups and the playing style. Also, the 2i2 2nd generation has more headroom on the inputs. All the best!

[@7thwave42]

Great video mate. Just want to add that folk should download a small program called DPC Latency Checker to make sure their laptop is suited to recording. My old laptop that had really good specs for the time, could not record without audio artifacts. It was an internal architecture problem that could not be fixed. Horribly frustrating. Cheers.

[@Maxze]

i started out with a Line 6 Ux1 and podfarm running into reaper with a pair of behringer monitors :) costed me less than 150€ and absolutely gets the job done, now i have changed up a little during those 3 years but still sticking true to Reaper! my setup atm kinda looks the same, still using the UX1 but with an ART Tube Mic Pre amp to get Phantom power and that extra crunch, BIAS for the tonez, KRK Monitors and as i stated, Reaper

[@Pooosth]

Holy Moley Fluff, the background music made the video 200% better than it already was! Anyways, thanks for your advice and keep on the great work.

[@jian2069]

Great free VST tone signal chain: 'TSE 808' -> LePou 'LeCto' OR 'SoloC' -> 'LeCab2' with 'GuitarHack Impulses'. Just google each of these things. You have to register to download guitarhack impulses but it's a great forum with a lot of great resources.

[@georgeblazhev]

Fluff, thank you for your video! This is exactly what I was looking for.

[@abramtreadwell722]

Thanks for discussing windows. This videos was super helpful! Thanks man!

[@cloudjin893]

this was honestly very informative especially about that daw. I've been wanting to get into recording but a lot of the people i know have mac and ios and all pretty much tell me that it's the only way to record the best because the professionals use it apparently. i don't have $1300 to buy a mac book and i don't really want to go pro unless i try it out for myself. Thank you for making the barrier to entry for me a little bit easier.

[@nordicomsystems8841]

I use a 2010 27" iMac w/ a 1st Gen i7, 16GB of RAM and an SSD...it's still going strong and you can pick one up for relatively cheap these days. It has Firewire too, which is faster than USB 2 and the interfaces are cheap since Firewire is older tech and everyone is on Thunderbolt now. It's a nice setup, I use a Behringer Xenyx 302USB interface and M-Audio monitors. All in all the whole setup cost under $600.

[@SpartanLaserCanon]

I have tested getting deader tones in a closset and if you have a room with a big enough closset for the gear you want to record than I suggest doing it if you have hangers and clothes and a mic. Recording in a closet is a music hack that I actually wish more poeple talked about and It could potentially save you so much money if you already have lots of clothes. I do like the direct in sound for some genres, but I prefer the mic and amp setup for my hollow bodies for jazz tones for sure as I was never able to get a satisfying enough Jazz Tone untiI started recording my hollow bodies with a mic and my Boss Katana Mini which I would actually use on an album, just not with the distortion tones built in which are not bad and better than on lots of other small amps I have seen L0L. Almost all the Positive Grid stuff and Neural DSP stuff is are the best plugins for guitars. I have even seen so many things on sale from Positive Grid lots of times. I also think that Focusrite makes the best interfaces and have heard shootouts from many other brands.

[@ridgeshukrun4323]

super helpful, this should have more views. thanks buddy

[@falcore93Live]

thank you SOOO much for making this video man! ive been looking to start home recording with more quality than garage band!

[@techniqueswithtodd]

He's a got some great points. Especially about GARAGE BAND. Garage Band is like FINAL CUT PRO in that it's not like any other system. It's in a world by itself. If you learn REAPER, other daws will make sense :)

[@techniqueswithtodd]

Also, JAM UP PRO is AMAZING!!!! I'm on the beta team for BIAS for MACINTOSH as a plugin and it's coming out soon!!!!! So get ready for a new player in the plugin field!!!

[@Finulian]

After doing lots of research and ended up ordering a 2i4 and a SM57! I'm venturing into home recording and I hope my ultra plus holds up when mic'd!

[@jonrivera]

That was indeed helpful. You have my gratitude.

[@lemsdarkapprentice]

really helpful, loads of thanks, Ryan.

[@rafagoat4890]

Ryan ... always great videos!! I change my foscurite by the new duo roland capture ex and I'm super happy

[@Stagyar-Zil-Doggo]

very cool tutorial. There's other alternatives for us Linux users too (save even more $$ for an os and DAW). Use Guitarix for amp modeling (or better yet, just mic your amp), Ardour4 or Audacity for your DAW. I have that exact laptop running Ubuntu Studio and these packages come with it standard.

[@x9x9x9x9x9]

I still record with a computer that is 8 years old. As far as recording with macs go, I have never been a fan of them. I have lost so many good files because the mac decided it would freeze up and this was a brand new multi-thousand dollar mac pr in 2008-2009 at Tulsa Technology Center. My buddy just built a studio here in Tulsa called The Closet Studios you can find him in instagram (closet studios) and see picture of his studio its pretty damn nice. Side note: if you are truly broke you can torrent plugins and your DAW I don't recommend it but you can do it.

[@Mikeyprs21]

You don't have to have a license to run Reaper because when you read the details, you are given the option to buy a license and they state that they will never 'hack' their own DAW (if you will to make you buy a license), it will always be fully functional. In my experience, I find amplitube to be quite poor for high gain guitar tones unless you loads any other Impulse Responses that can be found around the web into kefir or lecab 2.0 - bypassing the plug-ins cab of course, however for clean and bass they are OK. there are many freeware amp sims that are pretty awesome such as simulogman, anything by Lepou, Nick crow is another good one as for other paid products you've got Revalver by peavey, Guitar Rig by Native instruments (v5 sounds fairly good imo). People can also got Pod Farm 2.5 for free as well, I can't remember how I got it from the line 6 website (it was quite some time ago). my DAW of choice is Cubase 5 that i've been using since my college days and i built my own home recording pc for about £300 in all =)