A somewhat related question to all who record their own music; how do you do it? Which software? Any hardware? What's your set-up like?
My set-up?
Software: Cakewalk Sonar 4 Producer Edition for multitrack recording and mixing. SoundForge for mastering the final stereo track.
Sound card: Edirol DA2496 8-in, 8-out.
Mixer: Behringer Eurorack MX 2004A
Microphones: A few dynamic mics, including a Shure SM58; A Marshall MX9090 condenser.
I record guitars (including bass) through a Zoom GFX-707 effects processor. I record acoustic guitars, vocals and trumpet with the condenser mic.
Guitars: 1957 Martin six-string acoustic; Samick 12-string acoustic; Dean 6-string electric; a modified Fender Telecaster 6-string electric; Fender Musicmaster bass.
Keyboards: I just ordered and am awaiting the delivery of a Yamaha P-150 digital piano, about which I am very excited! Also have a Roland JX-10 Super JX with some keys that won't sound again until I get it worked on. Also a Yamaha FB-01 FM synthesizer unit (that I can play by MIDI input from a controller).
Drums: a vintage Stewart 4-piece kit, with a crash and a ride cymbal. Recording drums: A dynamic mic in the kick (don't have a proper kick mic right now, but it helps), the SM58 mic just above and to the left of the snare, pointing towards the floor tom. The condenser is positioned as an overhead to the right of the floor tom in line with the SM58 (to avoid phase problems), pointing down at the snare.
How do I do it?
I like laying the drums down first (playing along to a click track) to establish a groove and sometimes a general arrangement to work from (if I haven't already figured it out). Then what comes next depends on the tune. Typically bass next, then guitar or keys. Vocals and backing vocals next. Then other stuff for flavor, including additional guitar, synth or percussion tracks. I also own a shaker, tambourine, a trumpet, and a G-scale diatonic harmonica (which I'm just learning to play).
I just discovered the Berklee School of Music's
free online learning materials. Great, great advice to be found there on producing records. I learned most of what I know about miking instruments and mixing tracks from a handy little free program called
Studio Buddy. I learned how to equalize from
The Equalization Primer. I currently don't have flat-EQ reference monitors; those are essential for mixing and mastering tracks. (I intend to get some soon.)
Sometimes I'll start recording a tune with very little established and see what happens; other times I know exactly how I want it to go before I start. Typically, when I've got a new batch of material I want to tackle, I start by recording a few covers to "warm up" and establish a sound. I've got a somewhat different setup than what I used to record my last batch of music, which was back in 2005-2006. Mostly different instruments and microphones, but same sound card and software.
Going to attempt to lay down drums for a vocal cover of Toots Theilemans' "Bluesette" now!