I do vocals only. No instruments...I do lyrics over instrumentals already made (beats).
In terms of quality I realize that mastering takes years of practice. What I am asking is can I record my vocals and just my vocals in Audacity and then mix them with my Sonar 8 program? In other words...is there really a big difference recording vocals on Sonar vrs Audacity in terms of quality? Audacity is a lot easier to use for me personally when it comes to just recording the vocals. With Sonar just getting to the point to record is very complicated. Strictly for vocals (rap) is it going to make a huge difference? This assuming I actually already have a decent voice.

welcome to the forum
 
yes, audacity is free for a reason, it will get you the basics, but sonar is a professional, intricate digital audio system.
it can do things to the vocal before recording them, like D'essing, compression,exc. thing audacity doesn't have.
try and wrap your head around it by watching you tube videos.

I have watched a lot of those videos. Seems like Compression and EQ are the main triggers behind everything. I took notes on how to preset stuff for recording like compression and EQ for Sonar so I am currently doing the homework. I need to go through the actual tutorials from the book but overall I thought that Audacity was easier to use for a beginner.
I guess you have answered the question...By using pre-sets for vocals it will make a difference in terms of the pops, essses, compression, etc and thus produce better quality no?

A small correction: You can't do anything to the audio before the recording in SONAR. SONAR always records only the dry signal. So the basic things in Audacity and SONAR are exactly the same: You arm the track and record. After that you have all the time in the world to play with compression and such. If you want, you put Input Echo on to hear the FX in real time, but you don't need to worry about detailed settings, 'cause the FX will not be recorded.

Kalle Rantaaho


A small correction: You can't do anything to the audio before the recording in SONAR. SONAR always records only the dry signal. So the basic things in Audacity and SONAR are exactly the same: You arm the track and record. After that you have all the time in the world to play with compression and such. If you want, you put Input Echo on to hear the FX in real time, but you don't need to worry about detailed settings, 'cause the FX will not be recorded.

opps.
 
hey, lining up even vocal audio tracks imported into sonar from audacity can be fun.
wouldn't you say so ?
 
 

E.I.T.S


I have watched a lot of those videos. Seems like Compression and EQ are the main triggers behind everything. I took notes on how to preset stuff for recording like compression and EQ for Sonar so I am currently doing the homework. I need to go through the actual tutorials from the book but overall I thought that Audacity was easier to use for a beginner.
I guess you have answered the question...By using pre-sets for vocals it will make a difference in terms of the pops, essses, compression, etc and thus produce better quality no?

no,  what I should have said is is has more effects to do these same things after you record the signal.
kalle is right, records totally dry.

Thanks fellas, imma go ahead and just walk myself through the tutorials to see if I can do it. I didn't realize the amount of work involved with this stuff until I got serious about it.
I really just need to see if there is any difference with just simple recording. It's just easier to record and edit breaths and such in Audacity and then add the dry mix to Sonar and use Sonars effects to fine tune it. If I can do this and put out respectable voice quality it's how i'll do it. Thoughts? Tell me if thats a bad way please.

E.I.T.S


I do vocals only. No instruments...I do lyrics over instrumentals already made (beats).
In terms of quality I realize that mastering takes years of practice. What I am asking is can I record my vocals and just my vocals in Audacity and then mix them with my Sonar 8 program? In other words...is there really a big difference recording vocals on Sonar vrs Audacity in terms of quality? Audacity is a lot easier to use for me personally when it comes to just recording the vocals. With Sonar just getting to the point to record is very complicated. Strictly for vocals (rap) is it going to make a huge difference? This assuming I actually already have a decent voice.

I would say that if you recorded your vocals with Sonar's "Vocal Strip" enabled, you would drop the Audacity program. It is simple really, you just need to learn the basic way to get your vocal going through the Sonar program. Learn how to add one of the Effects (Vocal Strip) to the track you are recording on. Then you can listen to yourself through the mic while running through the many presets that are on that plugin. And I think there are some rap ones in there. It easily makes you sound commercial with a single preset.

GOT IT! Hell yeah...It sounds good already! I just need to figure out the volume settings at this point. Really need to upgrade my speakers as well. Vocal Strip, Compression can all be pre-set. It wasn't too bad to figure out. Thanks for the tips.
Any tips of compression setting? I read that compression has to be done according to the beat you are using...Is that something I just have to trial and error?
What about EQ preset? Or should that be done afterwards? Soooo many questions man....Oh well I got time.

Mixer has EQ strips for each channel, just play with them but do not overuse them

when it comes to compression: 
there is life without I can tell you. I use it as composition tool, not to fix the mix.