The Song Fight Bulletin Board

I have been frustrated after I recored my band during a rehearsal. I cannot seem to import the session into iTunes. Here's what I did:
After each song, I stopped he process creating a gap. When a new tune started, I pressed record. The complete session was done in stereo on one track. I used two overheads to capture the process. When I was finished I sent it to iTunes hoping to hear the outcome, but each time it gave me about 4 seconds of silence. What did I do wrong? Of course when I open the session back up, its all there. As you can imagine, the guys in the band have been waiting somewhat patiently while I get this figured out. I want to import it, transfer to a wave file and burn each band member a CD. Help, please!

Drummerdude wrote:After each song, I stopped he process creating a gap. When a new tune started, I pressed record. The complete session was done in stereo on one track.

Saint Helens? PNW Reprahsent!

What is the specific process that you are using? Protools on a mac?

I don't know itunes, but I'll guess that your recording format isn't compatible with it. Did you record your jam as a 16bit/44.1 stereo wav or what? Is it one big long file and you have to export as a bunch of small files?

Ken

Did you do it in Garage Band? If so could you hear the audio in GB? What was the length of the file when you put it in iTunes?

Make sure you don't have the loop button pushed in GB when you export, it will only export the section you're looping. There's a little purple arrow next to the timeline (at the top of the screen) that represents the end of the song. If you have somehow mistakenly moved it the file will stop at that point. You can just move it to the end of the recording. Check all those things first then let us know.

Drummerdude wrote:I have been frustrated after I recored my band during a rehearsal...

You sir, are an animal. In-satiable!

More seriously, give us an idea of what you're working with, the more specific the better. DAW (software program that you're recording into) first and foremost.

One thing is for certain, GB is compatible with iTunes and Mac...it's all Apple. You guys are great. I am going to play with this and use the info you've all so graciously provided and get back with you.

Mark of Project D is indeed the man! Thanks for all the responses, but Mark has provided me with the solution to the problem I was having: not being able to import my session of a live Garage Band recording into iTunes. Thanks so much. Now I have have to experiment with mike placement because the recording was, well, it sucked. Using condenser mikes, I am getting too much distortion and a crappy mix to boot. I'm going to try switching to the 10 db switch on each mike and place the mikes together (as opposed to 1 mike close and the other far). Anyone who is adversed in live recording using 2 overheads, I'm all ears.

Drummerdude wrote: Anyone who is adversed in live recording using 2 overheads, I'm all ears.

Ken may be your man here. But do please tell us what you used and how you saved it. It seems you recorded into Garageband. Then did you use the "export to iTunes" option? We've gotten hints of what you did but generally if you're asking for advice, clearly state your environment and detail the steps you took. This way in the end not only do you figure out your situation but others can learn from the thread.

OK. I don't want to confuse. I have one project which involves recording my drums and sending out wave files across the globe to other musicians whom I have worked with in the past (road stuff) to add their parts. I also perform in Portland with a western/honky tonk swing band doing originals. This is what I want to focus on. I've enlisted my MacBook and Garage Band software to record the band's live rehearsals so that I have a reference point to study my tempos and explore better fills and grooves (I play drums) by listening to past rehearsals over and over. Here's what I've done: I set up my MacBook next to my drum kit and open up a session. When a tune is clicked off, I can press the record button and go. Once the song has ended I stop the recording and proceed until rehearsal has ended. I am using a ProTools MBox into the USB on the computer and using two MXL condenser mikes. Last time I recorded it was horrible, so this time I am going to switch the button on the mikes to 10DB. Of course, any suggestions contrary to this will be definitely considered. In the past, I posted one mike in the back of the room and one closer to the PA speakers. Nothing is being miked except the vocals. We are setup in a small room, close together. The room is very live -- acoustically speaking -- and a huge challenge in itself. The levels also are a problem. I have the knobs on the MBox turned almost completely off and the levels on the GB software down to almost nothing. I've move to the auto levels switch was has been somewhat beneficial. I am suspicious that I am also getting a signal from the mike on the computer (located on top of the laptop monitor) because when I completely shutdown the levels I am getting a signal. Perhaps -- and this is wild -- the MBox isn't picking up anything at all? I have tried another mixer which has the same effect. Perhaps there is a situation that requires the operator to disenable the outside source (the computer mike)? So that's my situation. I am trying to do this without too much disruption on rehearsals. Unfortunately, I don't have the liberty to shut down rehearsals and play around with mike placement and other procedures. Instead, I have to plot out what it is I'll be doing, place the mikes prior to the session and go. If things don't work out, I have to access the situations and makes changes the next rehearsal. I am doing this as a live drummer who has stepped in from the session drummer to play the live shows. Things move professional and very fast around here. I am expected to learn this original material incredibly fast and correct to keep up with the scheduled shows. If anyone has any ideas to help me get a better recording, I'm listening with undivided attention. Thanks.

Disabling the computer mike/setting the sound input: System Preferences->Sound->Input-> (make sure your MBox is connected, and select it from the list).

Recording practices in a lively room: Tricky. I'm having some luck with a mike over the drumset at head height (standing up head height, not sitting down) aimed at the snare, I have an electronic kick, so I don't worry about miking that--though I suspect you'd want to mike your kick, and bringing the bass' input at the board way down to open up some headroom for the rest of the instruments. But I'm running to cassette tape from the mixer so... your mileage may vary.

Glad I could help, I did almost all my recording with GB before I got Logic. And Mark is my title not my name which is David/Project-D. Anyway, about mic placement - there are people here much better versed than me but I'll give my 2 cents. I think your biggest problem is a live room, that's small, and most likely square. You could try hanging some comforters in the corners, drape them over a boom mic stand or something, that would help for a start. Using the 10 dB pad on your mics would help too.

Since you're using the MXL mics to record band practice, try this sort of mic placement:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/chris.burm ... cident.htm

You might not be able to get far enough back to get a good sound, but you can try it. That site also has some stuff songfighters might be interested in too. Recording techniques etc.

You might be using your computer mic without realizing it. Plug in your interface and mics after you start GB it will usually recognize them automatically and ask if you want to use your MBox as your interface. If that doesn't happen, go to GB Preferences then select the Audio/Midi Icon on the left (the speaker) and choose your input and output under your drop down menu. If you don't see the Mbox as an option, it needs to be restarted or some drivers installed.

Try the mic placement above on your kit when you practice alone and see if you can get a decent sound there. Then you'll be a little closer to what you want with your full band rehearsals.

Check this drum recording technique out, from Hometracked. It might get a decent sound for you, it probably needs a decent sounding room too.