Happy Friday everyone! I played hooky from work today to take care of some stuff around the house before it goes on the market. Got done with those chores and finally got some time to play some music (after a long time!). Went into the newly remodeled, very tiled, very reverb-y bathroom I had just finished working on, and took my Uke and harp with me! Recorded the Uke part first and then overdubbed the harp. One take each, and mostly just improvised the harp part on the fly, so sorry for the the couple of gaffs! Recorded both just on my phone, and then mixed them in Audacity. Some levels and compression were added, but that reverb is all naturale! Song is in B minor, I think. I'm using an A "Easy Third" tuned Special 20.
Isaac, how did you record both tracks on your phone?
This is what I'm guessing, but please enlighten me 1. Record Uke track 2. Play back Uke track (listening on headphones?) while simultaneously recording? 3. Mixed in Audacity
I wanted to mess around with layering tracks, but never have a good way to record a track and play over it.
Thanks for posting. I enjoyed the natural reverb and your material on easy third tuning.
@ridge: Yes, you guessed right! I used an app called "Twotrack audio recorder free" (I'm on Android). I made the initial recording of the Uke, saved it to a wav file. Then I used the app to record the harp part while playing back the first Uke track and saved it to another wav file (and yes, using headphones). I probably could have mixed them together on my phone too (the app allows that), but I'm more familiar with Audacity, so I just transfered the files to my computer and mixed them that way.
The app is ok, but I think there are some paid apps that would be easier to work with. I might drop the cash on one of them I hear good things about called "J4T Multitrack Recorder", which offers 4 separate tracks and better mixing capabilities. I think its $3.99 currently...
If you are an iPhone guy, I'm sure there are similar apps for iOS too...
EDIT: Writing this response made me realize that $3.99 is ridiculously little money for that app, so I went ahead and bought it. Just messing about with it for a couple of minutes tells me that it is MUCH better than the free app I was using before. The overdub and latency correction are awesome, and the mixer and effects are much better. I could mix a whole demo in this app very easily. It is going to be a very handy songwriting tool! ----------
Thanks John! It's worth it. I'm gonna mess with the new app tonight and see about re-recording this general song, perhaps with some percussion as well.
BTW, the phone I'm using is the Google Nexus 5x. Quite affordable as phones go, and it's got a great camera and mic. ----------
Thanks for the reply Isaac. I'm on a Windows Phone now which has very little in the way of app development going on, but this is good food for thought.
Yes, I've heard good things about the Nexus in general. It may be my next phone. ---------- Ridge's YouTube
Ah. Windows Phone. Yeah, dunno about any multi-track recording apps for that... I'm on my second Nexus phone now. Started with a Nexus 4 back in 2012 (which was my first "smart" phone), and just upgraded to the Nexus 5x this last Christmas. I've been quite pleased with these phones. They are affordable, and stay updated with the latest Android OS's well before other phones. Android has just kept getting better and better, and the app market has gotten larger and larger. If you do make the switch, I think you'll be pleased.
In terms of music apps, in addition to the recording software, I use:
Drummer's Metronome (a great, really flexible metronome app) PitchLab (an excellent and flexible chromatic tuner app) Chordbot (a cool MIDI "band in a box" type thing) ChordTouch (a great tool for figuring out chord progressions) DronePhone (generates a tanpura drone in any key(s)) Harmonica Tuner (which is like the old "Bendometer" software) Harmonica Key Finder (position and key finder app from Seydel) BasicChords (a chord finder for various stringed instruments)
I've messed with dozens of other music apps, and though some were fun, these are the ones that I find to be most useful and used. ----------
Isaac. Could you shed any light on compression. I haven't used it before. How does it help when recording harp and do you have any suggestions for trial settings to get me started. Thanks.
@Grey_Owl: Compression essentially makes the quieter sounds a little louder, and potentially makes the louder sounds a little quieter (or not). It does so according to a tunable "amplification ratio" so that as loudness of the original recording increases, the compression routine amplifies that sound less and less (and potentially eventually "decreasing" the volume of the loudest sounds). There is also the attack and release of the compressor, or how fast it does this operation, and the sharpness of the cutoff. Try the basic compressor in Audacity, and just see what the default setting do for a track. It has a nice graphical representation of the things I've tried to describe above, so it should become clearer as you mess with it.
What it does, effectively, is narrow the dynamic range of the recording a little bit (or a lot, depending upon how heavily you use it). This makes it nicer to listen to, up to a point. I usually use compression only sparingly on the separate tracks of a multitrack recording, preferring to apply it the mixdown as part of the "mastering" phase. For example, I might use it if the quiet parts of a track are almost inaudible due to mic placement, etc., but I wouldn't apply it to a track that is sounding nice and clearly. I might also apply it to the solo if I wanted that solo to have a tighter definition in the mix, and to stand out more against the backing tracks. In the end, after mix down, I would usually apply a bit of global reverb, and then compression to even out the track.
Those are just how I do it, though, and I'm sure there's other ways to effectively use compression during mixing and mastering... I'm still learing all about this stuff myself! ----------
Howdy again folks! So I used the new R4T app to re-record this little tune. This time, I added a second Ukulele track and some rhythm on the Cajon. Even cooler, fellow formite AW added a nice bassline on his Kala U-Bass! Here's the new take on this track:
Anyway, now that this little ditty has been filled out some, I'm thinking about recording it "for real" with my better mic and audio interface. I think I need to work more on the harp part -- it's way too busy now. I should probably write it out instead of just improvising. Anyone have any ideas there? Also, thoughts on the arrangement? The second Uke track currently just doubles the first. Should I do something different with it? Any suggestions will be appreciated!!
EDIT: I know the current mix is pretty muddy, and that some of the tracks are clipping. That's all part of having done it on the phone! These would be corrected in the 'real" recording... ----------
I like the tune It is kinda hard to know what is the instrument and what is the recording To me, the main uske sounds a little spongy and the notes sometimes indefinite Are you using gut or nylagut strings ? If so Martin Florocarbons will give a crisper sound
Thanks Goldbrick! Yes, I'm using Aquila Nylgut strings, which are the only ones I've really ever tried (on my fourth or so set). I agree that a crisper sound would be nice on this track. I'll order up a set of those Martin's and give that a try! Another issue is likely barre technique, which I know still needs more work. I often don't have my finger completely flat, and so sometimes don't fully fret that A string... ----------
Ha ha Isaacullah. You and I both travelling down the same path. Ukulele plus harp plus Android apps homemade mics etc etc. There are so many toys available to the curious and adventurous minded amongst us. Liking the sound you're getting keep it up.
Ref. Ukes. I have a Stagg US60 Soprano recent acquisition and I thought a Concert size would be easier due to slightly larger frets so I bought a Korala Concert in polycarbonate ( check them out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDN5N_rehc4 )for ridiculously cheap sum of £30. Brilliant uke but the strings are hard for me so may get some lighter gauge strings until my fingers are hardened up.
Last Edited by tookatooka on May 03, 2016 2:21 PM
I play a lot of uke and substitute it for a banjo on some of our country recordings
Strings make a huge difference on ukes Nylaguts can make poorly set up ukes sound good and quality ukes sound bad because their spongyness hides flaws but deadens good wood
florocarbon is crisp and makes ingle notes sound great especially on tenor or concert scale ukes
I was disappointed in a beautiful 50's Kamaka I got until I realized the Aquillas were killing the sound
@tookatooka: Lol! Looks like a lot of us are heading down this path! You, me, jodanchudan, goldbrick, AW, and probably several others. As Goldbrick says, it's at least as addicting as Harmonica!! I've got two ukes as well: a Tenor Kala Makala that I'm using in this little tune. It's actually a decent little instrument for being at the low end if their range (koa wood, etc). I've got it string low G with those nylguts mentioned above. I've also got a Lanakai LU-21B Baritone uke, which is pretty good too (also lower end koa wood). I believe Lanakai is (or was) owned by Hohner, so I feel like it's keeping it all in the family, lol! I like these lower and bigger ukes because of my fat fingers. I do have the urge to buy MOAR UKULELES though!!
@Gildbrick: Thanks for the tips! Yes, I think nylguts are recommended to beginners for precisely the reasons you mention. I've got that pack of fluorocarbons on the way, so can't wait to hear what they sound like! ----------
Found this thread interesting from all contributors. I'm still taking baby steps with the Uke but as soon as I can come up with some uke/harp recording, Ill be sure to post.
@tookatooka: Will love to hear what you eventually come up with! I feel like these two instruments were made to go together. So much fun in such small packages! :) ----------
