How to write and record a song

[icanhelp7]

hey dude from your experience what's the best way to record a song if i'm playing a guitar and singing only & how to add some effects to my recording if i don't have other instruments ?

[MusicFreak192939]

You're too cool!

[thomasisatwin]

can you give me instructions how to do it!!!

[TylerM4197]

where can i get the song?

[TylerM4197]

where can i download the song?

[TylerM4197]

does anyone know any way i can dwnload the song? it is epic :D

[VIG74]

Dude..........nice video! You sound like David Bowie!

[thomasisatwin]

can you record another song?

[nayrniak]

This looks really fun and cool and all, but just how much did all your equpment cost?

[truefd]

@nayrniak you need a decent computer, Sonar, an external soundcard, a mic and whatever instruments you want to record. If you're recording acoustic with just a vocal then not much. Depends of what you're trying to do.

[totmirmis]

do you have to record guitar parts tvice? isn´n it possible to copy the track to another track and then pan??

[sderoij]

@totmirmis That's possible, but you will hear that it's copied because it's exactly the same track. So unless you really want to have it that way I recommend recording 2 tracks

[Cali35Latin]

Nice info friend. reminds me a bit of Ronnie James Dio....I use an M-Audio Ozone & Ableton Live to the same effect.

[drh006]

What kind of mic do you use for vocals? And do you plug directly into your computer with the instruments, or do you mic an amp and record that way?

[8803Dorsey]

hey nice song I like it, my question is how do you connect the guitar to the computer and where can I get sonar?

[truefd]

@8803Dorsey m-audio Firewire 410 was what I used in the video. But I'm sure they have new stuff now. Basically plugs to the pc by firewire or usb. Has mic and guitar inputs to plug into. Guitar Rig even comes with Sonar now which you can find by searching for cakewalk sonar

[8803Dorsey]

@truefd yeah all I need is an adaptor and a usb plug, thats all and thanks man and awesome song i love it.

[8803Dorsey]

how can I get sonar and how can I get my guitar to record on it with guitar rig, do I need any like wires or plugs or anything of that nature?

[ButlerSONG]

Nice single :D

[kira32091]

this sounds like HIM lol

[jclp81]

got a david bowie sounding voice

[kirkg811]

@jclp81 exactly what I thought.

[WiiGuy14]

Man, I gotta give you two thumbs up. I am terrible at writing songs, even more so on the spot. I've only made one real song lol.

[billycat1965]

you singing voice sounds a little like David Bowie

[skhuxx]

fuck yes, props man

[TonyBlaine22]

do you have a son with the same name??

[RealtyStudioHD]

Awesome tutorial! Thanks so much for this

[TheRealMindblock]

Wow thats awsome ;o!

[roxi1adi]

i like this i herd on Myspace u rock man!

[roxi1adi]

lol nice voicee! XDLOL

[CodenameKillaD]

are the drums, bass and keyboard connected to the PC?

[hoodiecain]

awesome

[rockandwolf1379]

Awesome song!

[arnold9012]

how did you get that nice sound off the your E-drums, how did you record them?

[truefd]

@arnold9012 midi in using session drummer and then used my drum samples to build the kit.

[MikeDirntBass2468]

Are you recording the Guitar and bass with RODE NT1-A ?? ^^ nice thank you

[truefd]

@MikeDirntBass2468 No just the vocals. Everything else goes line in the m-audio 410.

[NecroHealth]

I might become a one man Black Metal band in the meantime while in the Army Active-Reserves

[ithinkimjoe69]

sound like bowie

[BTvisuals]

lol epic bc rich warlock i have a mocking bird

[NoFairWarfare]

how do I get sonar?

[yuutokun]

Jesus. You are a one man bad and are alot better than five man bands.

I like nickels.

[josephfaller1]

whats this song called?

[truefd]

@josephfaller1 Trials

[crabag]

Lol you sounded exactly like David Bowie when you did the vocals well done mate thanks for the documentary. :D

[McKenzie1249]

dude i use the same program, but the sound threw my guitar isn't really good, could you give me some tips on how to get a clean sound?

[truefd]

@McKenzie1249 guitar rig is great for sounds. Don't mic a guitar unless you are in an awesome studio with great mics. Not worth the trouble.

[142suckerpunk]

are you in a band?

[truefd]

@142suckerpunk retired.

[jakemcneilsmusic]

hey i need help i record u tube covers but i wana put in clapping and bass lines and stuff but how do i record a video with multiple scenes

[sagetajr]

simple enough but how do you make a song that doesnt sound repeated or sound the same all the way ....

[truefd]

@sagetajr record it in pieces and record enough pieces, then move them around until it fills complete.

[joohop]

WELL DONE M8 woz david bowie an influence ? u sound like him

[truefd]

@joohop I like 4 of his songs.

[kennyleeee]

do you record the guitar and bass through the miscrophone or do you use an audio interface...?

[MrBeavisandbutthead1]

your just good at every instrument arnt you lol

[truefd]

@MrBeavisandbutthead1 good enough to write with.

[augenmaugen]

Nice, sounds pretty awesome! I like the Bowie / Xymox-esque vocals.

[truefd]

@augenmaugen thanks for getting the voice. Some don't know who they are so they don't get it.

[truefd]

@augenmaugen Xymox has a great sound.

[wweandtna12]

The song was actually really good aha

[stonedinsect]

song sounds like david bowie

[guircosta]

Rule #2 FTW! All the rules are important, but most of the bass players just go around with the guitar riffs and that's pretty annoying.

[cdlabelsideilive]

i was like wow when you sung like (this is bad) but ten i realize what you where going for. and at the end when you played the song i was amazed, it was good enough to think it was like some huge rock band not some random guy on youtube....HOW COME YOUR NOT FAMOUS???????!!!!!!!!!!

[truefd]

@cdlabelsideilive I was on MTV once, does that count?

[drloveko]

Was your program free? and I want to know wat wire did you used to connect the drumset to your computer because I have an electric yamaha set but idk how to connect it to my computer...I'm really eager to make a song but I need to know how to do that..plz let me kno asap thanx :)

[truefd]

@drloveko I use session drummer in Sonar.  Using the M-Audio external soundcard I connect through a midi cable.

[truefd]

@drloveko a midi cable and m-audio firewire box.

[grimvirus9455]

can u make another video that plays your whole song plz

[draftsman74]

easy work!!!

[Kotipelto1990]

Thanks guy! 5/5

[Albigatnz]

Very Very Bowie, when Bowie was good lol!

[puppetmetal]

How do you actually get all this stuff in the computer?

Like do you have mics in front of the amps and drums and plug them in the mixer, and from there plug the mixer into the computer?

[truefd]

Read the video description for programs and instruments I used.

[truefd]

@puppetmetal everything is direct in.

[diodoro73]

U made it look so effortless!!!!! - 1. do u do movie soundtracks 2.how did u program in the lead? 3.what DAW r u using?

[truefd]

Read the video description for programs and instruments I used.

You don't have to be an expert, just know your limits and write within that. When people like a song, the years of playing or writing don't even matter. Good song or not? That's all that matters.

[enriquemas]

you so need to make another one of these videos

[Boosley88]

Oh welllll....you're writing songs since 1988, since I was born....great, it means I'll never ever be able to write a song in my life, cause I can't figure out how to do so, maybe I'll have to wait untill 2088?

[truefd]

@Boosley88 not really, everyone is on a computer now. We had 4-tracks when I started.

[myspacceer]

oh and plus you got any tips on recording bass? i can never get a audible and warm feeling track when i record

[truefd]

Direct in, add compression and try guitar rig which has nice bass sounds.

[myspacceer]

@truefd

oh i see, also in the end you put the song in a program called sound forge to "normalize" it, what do you mean by normalizing it?

[truefd]

normalize is a function in sound forge that increases the volume as loud as it will go without distorting the audio. Also helps to have all the songs on a cd be the same volume so people aren't having to hold the volume knob.

[truefd]

@myspacceer get the wavs plugin. Has some great presets.

[zombiemash88]

sounds like bowie lol

[27ade]

When writing does each line have to match the sylabules of the line above it or the line in the rhyme scheme.e.g in ABAB does 'A' have the same sylabules in each line as each other

[truefd]

Don't over think it. There are no main rules. In rap it might matter cause the melody is following the drum beat where as other forms of music the melody can follow anything.

[27ade]

So do rnb songwriters need to know how to write melodies?

[myspacceer]

so you just do one section like a verse once and then copy and paste it for the rest of the song?

[truefd]

Yeah basically to write the song and then maybe change some fills here and there. Get the rough version and decide if you like it before polishing it.

[kjgreen900]

nice but needs work on vocals

[steelstrings1312]

vocals kind of remind me of Misfits a little bit. the lyrics definitely do. great song though. you should be doing more than youtube videos

[universaldave999]

This video has help me better understand and simplify the single musician recording concept.

Thanks man!

[billycat1965]

that was great

[diegoss]

omfg syd barrett playing comercial songs!!!!

[MattyQStudios]

okay, what if you don't have $5,000,000 worth of equipment? xD

[truefd]

You don't need tons of equipment. A PC with Sonar installed (the new Sonar even comes with Guitar Rig).

[drummerdudex017]

@MattyQStudios i do it with about 200 bucks worth of shitty gear. But it works.

[figaz555]

@MattyQStudios

It's probably less than a thousand dollars. That's barely a weeks pay for someone on the average wave.

[AstralSunrise222]

@MattyQStudios You could find a recording studio. They have the equipment, and it's not that expensive to record a song at a studio. I know a studio close to me that charges only $75/hr, and the people who work there are experts with their technology.

[truefd]

@AstralSunrise222 recording studios are not for writing in. Even big bands are recording with Pro Tools on their own these days. Recording a cd for $75 an hour doesn't work anymore.  If it takes you a 40 hours to record everything is 3k plus the cost of mixing and then mastering. For 4k you could buy everything you need on your pc.

[AstralSunrise222]

@truefd hehhh :/

[soroland1]

@MattyQStudios I do it and my set up is only about £170. Go to TheMitigate and you can hear my song which is done in my studio.

[cockofthenorth]

Nice. The vocals remind me of David Bowie a little bit.

[frankz00]

@cockofthenorth LOL He totally does!

[tony2diablo]

yea i agree man sounds good....

[ryno9534]

WOW this is a good song

[youwastemytime]

BC Rich ftw!

[tomanu7]

Very good ! i wish i could do that, : )

I know how to record guitar, and soon vocals because i shall buy a studio tomorrow, with a good mic.

[IdRatherBeANinja]

i wanna put that song on my ipod!

[truefd]

Download it from myspace.

[leeshabecca]

wow. hes talented.

[Gongchime]

All these posters saying what software to use but no one seems to realize that they're not really composition programs. They don't help you write songs. They help you record, notate, or program not compose.

[coldfanx195]

Good job!

[TheClubSecret]

hey what mic are you using???

[thekcor]

Im gonna have to look into Sonar

I record my guitar stuff with Audacity (I know its cheap)

when ever I get my own computer, I might try either Sonar or Sundbooth.

[ewanstatic2006]

You're American, but sing in a German accent : )

[MetalSwitch95]

Does he?!

[ewanstatic2006]

I thought so!

[MetalSwitch95]

Okay. :P

Don't you think this is a good song?

I find it amazing, that he could come up with such a good song like on the fly.

[ickomusic]

i like it, it's not that bad! :P

[avantgarde120]

That helps,thanks!

[Garytherapgod]

One talented dude, thanks for taking the time this has really helped me

[SoWat96]

Cooll are you workin with singers now?? Cool

[CoolPunkCovers]

hi sir i have a question.

am starting to record my own songs but when i record bass it doesn't sound that well, i use sonar as well do you record the bass sound from any amp or directly from bass?

greetings from colombia

[05lramsay]

what bass you using.........if its crap that mite effect your sound also are you using any plug-ins.

regards

[EmanTheKidd]

I recommend you use direct bass to comp. It's the best. Try using a pod x3. Pricy but worth it. Otherwise use a simple foot pedal.

[truefd]

I go direct into my m-audio firewire 410 and then use guitar rig 4 to adjust the sound.

[iluvmusic1480]

you're quite the musician/producer aren't you? Amazing job.

[linkmaster112233]

you sound alot like bowie

[vanityaffection]

sweet dude you rock

[pepepoop666]

What a great musician sounds really pro and without a studio recording haha

is that a BC Rich Warlock? I just got one and playing with that guitar is like 10 times easier than with my acoustic but i dont have a stand for it nor a box to keep it a normal guitar stand works for that weird body of guitar?

[RabK92]

is this song copyrighted?

[atshapi13]

All are

[05lramsay]

Hey Heard Your Full SOng On Myspace What Microphone Are You Using

[eemetahuo]

You have great knowledge man! :)

[bisex2008]

You created a really intelligent approach, easy to understand way to both write a song and record it at the same time. Thanks for doing it.

[jomster447]

it is so you dont hear a wind type sound when you breath

[AMC8551]

What is the actual purpose of the wind screen? If you could please answer it would be greatly appreciated!

[Wrathorn]

Its to mute plosives such as "P" sounds and any sound that produces too much air/wind from your mouth. These sounds are greatly amplified on a microphone.

[bbathtub101]

is good to record rhythm guitar then lead then bass then drums then vocals?

[truefd]

You can record it anyway that works for you. I was writing the song so I did it my way.

[Roobatronix]

what is the tab for the bass?????

[truefd]

Don't remember as I wrote the song on the spot.

[Dulac91]

common

if you can't figure out tha simple riff by ear you should really do som ear training...

there aren't always tabs...

[atshapi13]

That's one of my problem always using tab but started to pratice my ear

[EmanTheKidd]

I honestly recommend you use Guitar Pro 5...it's a multi-instrument tab program which plays the tabs in realistic instrument sounds while u watch

[atshapi13]

Can find a free one =S

[itto44]

progression is way better than GP5

[DangerousMusicProd]

guys pls send me a link to a sampler machine or some that i can record drums from a friends house and place it in m computer. and ls tell me how to record guitar and bass aswell :D pls pls pls

[SK8ERBoixxxx]

Does the order really matter? I usually record guitar first, then drums, then bass, and then vocals. Is that ok?

[mashivalentine]

thats the way i do it

[bestachraf]

its a wonderful video i love it

and i love what all you do alone cuz no budy help you...

but i want to know how you save all this music "bass,the beat,even your voice.."

please sent me a msg and tell me how , what's the name of that programe...

[adwraj]

Hi, very useful video. Can I know what kind of mic is that and what type of mic should I get ? If i record 2 vocals at different time, will the environment sound get in too ?? How to eliminate environment sound. e.g air.. And how do you connect your guitar to your computer ? You have soundcard ?

[Boddingtons2007]

Im slightly confused but if i watch enough im sure i'll pick it up, good video.... thanks!

[goran11101995]

software cubase sx3  plugin-guitar rig

[MRPACMAN19]

can u use guitar rig with pro tools?

[spaterman]

yep

[harrystone632]

whats the program?

[MRPACMAN19]

what program do u use to record?

[inkman12345678910]

cakewalk sonar 5 but sonar 8 is much better

[SunnyShawFilms]

its magic of this high frequency range mic, Pro studio mic frequency range is 20hz 1800khz,

[SunnyShawFilms]

its magic of magic, Now i know

[SetsuSora]

dude, you have almost a look-alike to my bass. good job!! ☺☻

-§etsu§ora

[MoneyMaker4Ads]

got a bowie sound too it.

[firetools666]

good tutorial for how to compose a song i know you can do a better song, but this song is good for a tutorial because i want to compose my own song

[savageman23]

work on the singing just a bit man it was cool though

[candylady1625]

That was pretty good but it seemed like it would be kind of complicated for someone to try it, especially if they didn't know what they were doing on the computer, lols.

[renatobalao]

Not anymore. =/

[05lramsay]

Dude what keyboard is that

[scarr6]

dude, that was sweet, btw, nice Warlock

[MrDellano]

the bass can be what you want. if you're looking to try something different, use the guitar for rhythm and groove, and have the bass lead the way. give it a shot, you might like it. and have the drums vary a bit. straight forward beats are boring.

[lobzunpreston]

I think he just wanted to show the basics of to make a song he wasn't going for anything technical

[ryubakura27722]

tnx for the info it helped me alot im a fan of BFMV

[JacktheLamb]

Awesome. I was so impressed!

Completely Inspiring man... I was like what? on the Vocals Alone...but you sure knew what you're doing I guess it was the rock style to fit the music? MAnn this is THE EXACT Advise I've been searching years for...But what prog