oldguy said:
I'd wondered what you used to record/overdub myself. Mind sharing, or is it a trade secret?
I love talking shop..
I use a very frugal setup..
I use cakewalk pro9 (15 year old software) with a free vst wrap I found on the net so I can use other than ust direct X plugs that the original cakewalk would allow.
I get my audio into my laptop using one of these.
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Behringer-UCONTROL-UCA202-USBAudio-Interface?sku=702540
For my guitar I use one of these plugged directly into the laptop.
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/...AMP-Guitar-Multi-Effects-Processor?sku=480732
For vocals I used a Shure 58 plugged directly into this direct into the laptop
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Behringer-TUBE-ULTRAGAIN-MIC100-Preamp?sku=182482
I use a $299 laptop I bought at Wallmart with a whopping 256mb of memory.
My piano keyboard is another Wallmart special, a $150 Yamaha with mid ins and outs, velocity sensitive.
All the 'sounds' such as Drums and Synth strings and Cello in this song started as me creating a midi file, then converting them into VST instruments that I found for free on the net. The drums I tap out the individual beats on the keyboard, record it into a midi file then use a free drum sampler I found on the net, and assign drum heads from free drum kits I found on the net (and it shows, my real weak spot).
Once I had my drums, Bass, Piano, Cello and Symph strings recorded into midi and turned into virtual instruments via VST I then went on to guitar.
The guitar was recorded one time through (except for the one over dub in the beggining of the solo swell) (although in many trys) using the same model amp, no FX (just added room verb to the whole mix at the end).
Once Ihad the main guitar recorded I then recorded the harmony lines.. again, one time through, but many takes to get it that way.
At this point my computer is sputtering and stammering, it keeps shutting down during takes and I lose that track.. it is getting frustrating, only two vocal tracks to go.. *crosses finger*..
To record the vocals (again, 58 into 29 dollar pre amp into computer) I recorded the vocals (again, I try and do everything in one take, no matter how many trys it takes) on one track, totaly dry. Then when it was done I recorded a second track of vocals trying to be exact to the original as possible (many many trys).
WHen I had both dry vocal tracks recorded I took the second track and moved it just slightly ahead of the other track.. giving it that cheesy spacial sound.
Once I had all the tracks down and mixed I then aded a room verb to each track simultaneously (big mistake) my computer took over 4 hours to render the final mix, and I thought I lost everything, which wouldn't of been too bad but I never saved the original when I started recording vocals, so I was a bit worried I was going to have to redo everything vocaly.
After 4 hours of whizzing and whirring, the computer finaly produced the mix and I was able to convert it to .wav and the .mp3 you hear now.
I hope this help explain what was going on in creating this song. My biggest hurdle was my laptop resources.
Here is a photo of my room, with the USB, modeler, mic pre etc.. for a visual into my trip..
If there is anything you specificly want to know about (getting, using VST, more about the guitars or vocals etc, please ask.
Thanks for the interest.
Very nice indeed:AOK: 
