The Worst Gear I've ever Recorded 

Did RU-vid stop the video? God dammit RU-vid police

"way back in 2099"

Hey Glenn, new t-shirt idea: Practice is natures auto tune.

I thought the premiere messed up, I guess the end really is cut off

I can't believe Phillip Morris killed Glen before he could finish talking about cigarettes

About that multiple sound cards thing: when I started making music back in the 80s with a buddy from school, this is what our first attempt at multitrack recording looked like: we had a very simple hifi mixer and got a bunch of very cheap mono cassette recorders from the electronics department of a big lokal supermarket which we "synchronized" by plugging them into one multi outlet power strip with a power switch on it ... and it worked. That way we recorded our first tracks. I had also got me an external sound module with 8 bit drum samples in its ROM for my Atari 800XL and that was our drum machine. I played bass (yes - just go ahead ...) and he played guitar and together we added a few keyboard tracks with my Yamaha two operator FM home keyboard. We had a lot of fun and quite surprisingly, timing was not an issue with our strange homemade setup, at least for a 3 minute track ... Cheers!

Died at 14:48 Guess the cig company got to you 💣💥

I hate that your video got cut short when you were talking about the quitting smoking thing because that's really cool that you would answer question out of left field like that and it wasn't even gear or music related. I now have a newfound respect for you Mr. Glenn Fricker.

To the guy asking about recording without a computer, if you’re in a band, it never hurts to ask friends and others on the scene if you can record with them. Everybody has to learn somewhere, and there’s almost always someone that wants bands to record so they can get a few under their belt, and you can learn with them. Kids in University programs always have people looking for bands and projects, too.

Hey Glenn, your videos have really helped me setting up a home studio. My band is putting out our first LP in a few months, and watching your videos has increased the quality of our mixes dramatically from our first releases, especially the drum mix.

About not having a computer and how/what to record to: A few years ago, I had to put everything I owned (except for my guitar) in storage and when I was looking for an affordable storage company, I made the mistake to choose the cheapest one I found. When I went back to get my stuff, I found out that they were no longer there... The company disappeared, just like that and I never got my stuff back!!! I lost my computer, all my cassettes, mini-discs, CDs with all my demos, a P.A. I had recently purchased, all my clothes...EVERYTHING!!! So I had to start again from scratch but I'm not a wealthy guy, so it took me years to slowly buy the stuff I have now. I have an iPad Mini, a present I got and even though I could record with it, because it's an older model, it isn't fast and powerful enough to handle more than a couple of tracks. So I bought a small, digital 8-track recorder by Tascam. The model is the Tascam DP-008. It's very small, like a pocket book. There's also the model Tascam DP-008EX, with some effects (the DP-008 only has reverb, no compressor, no delay, nothing else). To this day, that's what I use to record my songs and I love it! The difference with recording with a computer is, if you want to edit a track, you don't see the sound wave. You have to use your ears and the time code. Also, the EQ is limited to Highs and lows (you choose the frequency and then add or cut db's). When I bought it, they had a huge discount: instead of almost $300, they had a 50% discount, so I got it for less than $150. I would totally recommend it or a similar device if you don't have a computer!

When it comes to smoking I always say, quitting is easy. It's the not starting again that is the trick. I used to quit all the time. It took me many tries to not start again.

No computer? Try the Zoom H4N or H6. They’re field recorders that are full-fledged multi-trackers- they even have variable speed! And when you get a computer, those units are also audio interfaces!

I actually started out recording on GarageBand. Both on my phone and computer, its free and good enough for basic recording. Just use that on an iPad and you’ll be fine

Holy shit Glenn. It only feels like maybe a week or two since I've watched a video, but I'm going to have to start keeping up or I'm going to think your son is taking over the channel. You look great man, not that you looked old before, but you look like 15 years younger, beyond the weight, just seeing you made me feel energetic.

Totally unrelated but dude you're lookin slim af,congrats on the weight loss Looks like the video cuts off early

Sorry Glenn, gonna have to disagree with ya. Hall of the Mountain King's production still holds up well today. And it's kind of amazing considering that no one tuned to C in the 80s!

The "Tyrant" sticker on the front of your Dual Rectifier is probably the best thing I've ever seen. Kudos.

Yes it would be nice to see TJ back on the show.

Djent is as tired as the Myspace-core, which incidentally came after the myspace-core thing.

How do people not see that Glenn is like the nicest dude?

Boss SD-1 into a Peavey Windsor into a 6505 4×12 cab for an inexpensive old school metal tone.

0:53 Glenn time traveling confirmed

Looking and sounding great Glenn - thanks for your good company, banter and expertise. Top dollar.

Hey Glenn, just wanted to ask if you have a fan mail address so I can send one of our band shirts to you? Love the content keep it up!

What made me quit tobacco? Realizing I was a slave to an industry which would give me cancer while not even getting me high in return, and feeling how weak it made me when I didn't have my fix.

I learned to record on a Tascam DP-008ex. Wonderful little machine with great preamps and a decent built in mic.

For a cheap recording rig (and portable) I use an Ipad which comes with Garageband and an Allen and Heath ZEDi8 mixer as it has usb in/out. Good for reference room recording at jams too.

You look very healthy Glenn. I'm happy for you! Greetings from Finland!

Just bought my first piece of outboard gear because of your recommendation! Picked up the ART PRO VLA II. I'm so excited!

The Mac Mini is fairly affordable and for an affordable interface checkout the Focusrite line.

I love your speaking style, it's really engaging and fun to watch!

I use a 2011 Mac Mini and a Tascam US-1800 on a bootlegged version of Logic Pro X. Can record a full drumset on my setup, cost under $500 (used) excluding mics/cables.

My favorite dirt cheap recording set up was an old 2008 MacBook pro laptop I found on Craigslist for $100, a Scarlett Solo 2 channel interface, Garage band and the Emmisary free plug-in. E-Z Drummer 2 to eliminate the need of the drummer. I spent a total of $300 bucks and made some recordings with similar quality to any low buck demo recorded in the studio. I didn't start out with any midi controllers and most things I did with automation. All in all it wasn't a bad set up.

The first version of Diamonds I heard was on Unleashed in the east, all other versions paled in comparison. I had just purchased Defenders on cassette. I was 17 in 1987, and had tickets to see them at the Winnipeg Arena. To this day the best concert I ever saw. Fantastic performance! The entire crowd was moved. When my brother and I left the building buses were being turned over, the people were out of control. It was mayhem, and I looked at my brother and said, just keep walking, what a fucking great concert. I've been to many excellent events but nothing compares to that crazy ass night.

Cheap recording "PC"? I´m currently setting up a raspberry pi with Reaper. You would probably spend around 60€. If you have an appropriate interface it´s totally fine for recording. For Mixing...naaah maybe not. ^^

Glenn's weight loss at his age is honestly really impressive. Keep up the good work!

Glenn's videos are the only ones that I watch that i dont have to speed up.. Cheers from Brazil!

I used to use a four track back in the day and after that I got the Boss BR-1600. This was an all in one recording device that made incredible recording with a lot of features even a mastering section. It also had a built in CD burner. The BR series came in several different sizes finding them in used gear would definitely be way cheaper than getting a computer. But because everybody uses recordings on their computer now I am Magine you can pick them up pretty cheap as there is not a high demand for those recording units. My dad picked up a Tascom reel to reel for almost nothing. Good recording equipment is out there you just got a look for it. You could even run garage band on an iPhone. Good luck man!

Thanks for answering the question :) I wasn't aware of the stems because I shun Facebook like a plague until I absolutely have to use it myself (which has to be soon, for the good of my own proliferation). Looking forward to ingest that sound!

In answer to Doug Dugan's question - you can find used laptops pretty cheap these days. I got one with good specs on craigslist for $75. I use my old Zoom H2 recorder as a USB interface. You can find these around $50 used. I run my cheap little Behringer mixer (about $30 used) into the H2 then into the laptop. For a DAW, I use Audacity (which is free). The most expensive part of my little home studio was the Mackie powered monitors. I may be a total cheap-ass, but I believe speakers are the one thing you shouldn't skimp on. Hope this helps.

Hi Glenn - long time subscriber. Just want to say, your channel is still rocking. Also - Your focus on higher level recording and studio mastering has been highly useful to me as a home-studio "muck about". If you had a couple, newer version of (?), smaller episodes dedicated to "how to set-up home recording" aka the super basic stuff - I feel that would get a lot of traction. My bet is a lot of your viewers are, like me, trying to "get over the hump" in their knowledge. Continuing to appreciate your candour.

Hey, Glenn, idk if this has been asked, but here goes: What are some of your favorite records that commit some major production sins?

Garage band’s DAW system for direct input is about $5, with pretty decent built in amps. Apogee had an AUX to iPhone/ipad converter for $100-$200 for direct plug in of instruments. If you boost the compressor, you can even use it to play gigs. I used it for the first two songs I recorded for this account, and as my first gig setup. but what you can do for mixing is kind of limited. Reshuffle around the budget with different gear might help but honestly if you can’t afford a laptop, you might want to wait and focus on your craft until then

Hey Glenn, can you teach us how to mix a 3 piece metal band with just one guitar performance, if that's possible? Is multitracking guitars always necessary for studio recordings? Thanks and love the channel!

Answer to recording without a computer, the tascam model 12 is a smal mixing console with built in multitrack funktions. It records straight to an SD card. I think it costs around 400$ but you can look it up yourself. I myself am using the tascam model 16 with a few more channels and I have had great expirience with it. Exuse my spelling.

If you get amplitube on your iPhone it has an 8 track recording feature, 10 quid for the app 20 quid for the irig interface and you’re away :)

Regarding cheap recording solutions, I started out on a cheap RCA tablet with N-Track, which can be downloaded for dirt cheap. I was using the tablet's built-in mic to record my guitar and bass amps.

Great episode as always, on the subject of great albums that were produced terribly, it pains me to say that my favourite band of all time Genesis’ first few studio albums are really really really badly recorded, Trespass, Nursery Cryme, Foxtrot, Selling England, and the Lamb are definitely my favourite albums of all time but they are so so badly recorded and produced

Hey Glenn, I know your not a big fan of 90s grunge but what kind of gear would you recommend for that guitar sound like Dean Deleo from STP or Kim Thayil from Soundgarden

For Doug; For recording without a PC on the cheap, Tascam has made some workstations that you can record directly onto CD. You could probably find them for sub $200 US. They are 6 or 8 track units. I've used one to cut demos in my friend's basement. He recorded his band's several demo tracks with it too. It Definitely gets the job done. I think the new ones record directly to SD cards now. Think they are called, Tascam DP-03 CD.

Heyo, Glenn! In response to the question about recording without a computer, I'd say grab a thrift-store cassette boombox for capturing ideas on the fly and, for something of higher quality, a Tascam Portastudio 414 MkII cassette 4-track recorder. It's got a small mixer for each channel and can take XLR inputs. Plus you can record direct to cassette within the Tascam and check the sound on the aforementioned boombox. Worked alright in the 90's. Thanks for sharing!

To answer Doug, using an iPad or iPhone with GarageBand is probably the most budget/user friendly daw out there. I’ve extensively taught my students how to use it durning the pandemic and a lot of them are now working independently. Like Glen said, picking up.a scarlet interface can make the difference(berinhger also makes an interface for less as well).If an interface is out of the question, earbuds with an external mic will go long way while you amass your gear. Dani

My main recording system is a 2007 iMac running Pro Tools LE 8.0.5 with an Avid 2 channel interface. Yes, I use a 13 year old machine. I purchased it used from the local Apple service centre for $300 roughy 7 years ago, and it has been a rock solid machine. Legacy software? Hey, if it isn’t broke, why fix it? Mind you, every time I attempt a mix I’m always learning some sort of new technique just from getting in there and “tweaking the knobs.” A used Mac can be your friend!

For the PC question. You can always get an older ex-office dell optiplex on eBay for really cheap (an i5 is preferable, don't go for i3, it's just trash). A full setup with monitor keyboard and mouse can go as low as $150 US. It would be plenty processing power for a beginner in audio work and it will be more comfortable to work on as opposed to a laptop. For audio interfaces on a budget, try behringer stuff. I currently use one of their usb mixers, it does the job and it's cheap af, though there are mixed opinions on them, so probably a Scarlett would be a sort of benchmark. Try Facebook marketplace for cheaper used ones.

Couple overall tips. 1. Used laptops are 100 bucks or less on Craigslist. 2. If you're in an apartment and can't make noise and you know your neighbors ask when they'll be out of the house or let them know what you're doing a week or 2 in advance. And do it in the middle of the day on a weekday if all possible. Never had any issues with this at my friends places but than again the neighbors would bring us snacks when jamming so we were pretty fortunate

Neumann U87 is the flagship recording mic we had (two of) when I was in college studying recording/production. I have a pair of large-diaphragm capacitor mics now (which sound great, even for a dirt-cheap special at an unnamed mega music retailer), but they don't have all the pattern switches and low-cuts which make the U87 so geedarn versatile. Also was spoiled on an AMEK Einstein console, but all that great equipment gave me the theory foundation to apply to sitting at my computer on basic recording/editing software, and still making things sound professional.

7:15 I heard the ‘who wants to be a millionaire’ music in my head and Glen just used his ‘ask the audience’ lifeline

Not having computer to record to: I use a Zoom R24. Records up to 24 tracks, (8 simultaneously), has phantom power, onboard effects and EQ, plus can act as an interface so if you ever do get a computer you won't need to buy one. I record everything on mine dry and then upload everything to my computer for editing and mixing on Reaper. But you can do all mixing and mastering on the Zoom R24 if you like. Works as a stand alone start to finish if you want. Biggest drawback is obviously no plug ins or amp sims etc, so it's not the solution for everybody. But I love mine. Bought it used. Some of the best money I ever spent. Will never part with it.

Yeah for 80's glam tone JCM800s are classic, but another option is Soldano (I believe Mick from Motley Crue blended both). If the Pod Go has the same model as the Helix it should be pretty friggin stellar

Hey Dude i just bought my First SM57 and I'm Learning how to Record Heavy Guitar. I Love it mean so mutch to find out! I allredy learned so mutch from your Chanel! Love your Content

Question 7:15 try get any used laptop priced anywhere around $300 or less. Specs you should look for are at least 4GB RAM, and at least 480GB SSD. Upgrade the RAM to 8GB if you like. For interface/effects processor, I currently have the Boss GT1 but I'm not satisfied with the tone, they're okay, not great. Get a Mooer GE200 instead, I've heard great things about it. I think that's the cheapest set of equipments I can think of. Edit: keep in mind prices of any goods and equipments may vary in different. countries. you may or may not get used laptops with better specs at $300. Edit 2: I've heard of good things about the Lenovo ThinkPads. Try and give that a go.

you lost more weight and your hair looks better

I saw the title and I was like "What, ANOTHER Line 6 video?"

Cheap recording solution: I have a Boss BR-800 compact multitrack recording device and I find it amazing. For quick demos and experimenting it's my go to device as it's easy to use and gets really nice results. The BR-80 is even smaller and cheaper and also really good. About the sie of a Walkman (remember those?). Due to the small size of the screens on those devices, editing is not really possible. Maybe you can hook it up to a computer to do that, but I haven't figured that out yet.

Hey, Glenn! First, gotta say it's awesome to see you continuing to look more energetic and healthy as time goes on. Keep it up! Anyways, I've performed on recordings with bands, but have literally never tried my hand at mixing in a DAW, so this'll be a very noobish question. I downloaded Reaper, and got familiar with it (love the easy learning curve on that program), so I'm going to take a shot at doing some practice mixes. If anything, the goal is to get familiar enough with the process so I can be less of a hassle for any producer I'm working with, even if I'm not the one at the controls. Are there any rules of thumb or common mistakes that I should keep in mind when mixing a typical 4-piece rock band? Thanks!

Can't agree more with hybrid kit...That's what i've set on at the moment, acoustic cymables, and a good drum module with fine triggering detection, no bleed, nice to record, fast and easy !

Honestly, Ive had some good experience with recording on Fl Studio Mobile for Chromebook. It a good learning experience for basic recordings. Ive recorded 3 songs on it so far and its ok. Only problem is that the songs dont have the audio output because of the Android audio limiter. Id recommend it for beginners.

For a cheap laptop suitable for recording, older Lenovo T series hold up really well. I don't do recording, but my workhorse laptop is a Lenovo T440p that I picked up for £120 on eBay. The great thing about these is they are fully upgradeable. Throw an SSD in there. Throw two in there. Add RAM. Replace the CPU if you really want. Plenty of connectivity available for audio interfaces and output to a monitor for a second display. Best of all, they are physically very robust.

Vibrated like a FUCKING BANJO!!! I fucking lost it when you said that. I think I hurt myself laughing so hard!!!

I’m no expert in recording but my laptop crapped out a few months back and I ended up buying a used 2007 iMac 7,1 for $200, running Reaper, and it works great. The con of it is that a lot newer DAWs aren’t compatible with it because the iMac 7,1 doesn’t run anything past El Capitan....

re: Aggregate device. When I first started recording I was using two interface set up like this to do drums. Ended up with major phase issues between the two that after measuring and troubleshooting I could only attribute to clocking errors. I am talking putting two mics side by side on snare top and not being able to get them in phase across two interfaces. Plugging close mics all into the same interface solved the issue

Doug: If you really want a nice cheap rig, assuming you have an iOS device, get Positive Grid Bias FX 2 (unlock the ultimate license, 1 also available), get an IK multimedia iRig HD2, and any pair of wired headphones will do (I personally use some Sony ANC on-the-ear headphones I got from Target for $50), and you could seamlessly add into other DAWs as well.

re:Doug I would recommend finding a used gaming PC or otherwise decent computer. You can usually find something decent for around $300-400. I know thats not no money, but definitely cheaper than anything good brand new. I run my studio on a 2011 Mac Mini that I bought used for $400. Stuck an SSD in it and it runs beautifully.

I picked up a refurb Dell laptop a couple years ago off Newegg for $250. i5, 256GB SSD, 8GB RAM. I've recorded over 100 shows and recordings running 16 tracks from a Behringer X Air X18 without a single hiccup at all. Not the most powerful editing machine as I bounce everything over to a more robust desktop for that. But for capturing, it's more than sufficient.

Re: Doug and cheap mixing Try Bandlab, free to use, downloadable to Tablet in App stores, and raw on the web. Comes with it's own two track interface, I've used it for a bit. A computer would be a major upgrade, but if you just want to get ideas into a work flow, go for it. You can export the tracks/stems to email for distribution to your bandmates.

speaking of TJ, i once had a very brief conversation with him on FB, he says that he doesn't really feel like it anymore. Let's just hope that he can get through and wanting to appear in the show again.

That tone for the "Butthurt of the Week" clip was fucking massive!!! Loved it!!

For the Guy who wants his GF to quit smoking: I'm a Navy vet and I'd been smoking since I was 19 and going to the Persian Gulf to take part in Desert Shield/Storm. When I was 36 I got pneumonia and ended up coughing up 2% of my total lung mass and received Adult Onset Asthma as a parting gift. I spent 2 years being rushed to the hospital at least twice a month because of my asthma (when you get it as an adult it's fucking terrifying; like drowning in open air). I lost my job as a phone customer service trainer because I couldn't talk for more than two minutes without causing a mild attack. I faced the reality that everything I was trained to do my entire adult life was now beyond me and would be for the rest of my life. I'm a freelance writer now, making terrible money and I still end up having an asthma attack once every three months (I'm 49 now). So yeah, if that sounds fun, light 'em up. FYI, I only know of one person that lived a long, healthy life and smoked regularly that didn't die from complications from smoking; that was George Burns.

My advice for a budget recording solution: - Get a pair of KRK 6 inch gen1 Rokkits, the Gen1's because they are dirt cheap and solid wood as supposed to ply so they can take a hit and resonate a lot better than the newer ones. - For a laptop, if your must, just get anything you can find with at least 4-cores on the CPU and at least 16 gigs of RAM. If you cannot find the amount of RAM you need, buy it second hand as well. Just make sure you got 2x8 gigs instead of 1x16 gigs, it really makes a difference. Single stick RAM usually is going to cause a bottleneck because everything is trying to access the same ramstick at once. - As for a DAW, Reaper is your buddy! - As for plugins, there's a whole database of freeware plugins from guys like Kjaerhus and Dead Duck. - Audio interface, you're spoiled for choice! I would personnally recommend a Focusrite Scarlet, a two channel Xenyx mixer from Behringer or a Roland UA-1. Those I have personal experience with and CAN recommend!

As for a recording system: in the days before powerful computers were available to us all, I used a Yamaha AW1600 console. I got some damned good work out of it. It was a complete recording studio in one piece and I still kind of wish I hadn't sold it! I sold it for five hundred bucks. The thing had good preamps, and the internal effects were pretty decent. It even has a built-in amp simulator. The interface isn't ideal but you can work with it. You do your mixing in the console, and then you can export the finished work, and also export the stems.

Wow! As a person who smoked for years, that ending... right as he was about to seemingly say "Die" - the video... dies. Well played, Glenn! Impactfully makes the statement more than the word itself. At least that was how I interpreted it. As a longtime viewer and patron, I'm obviously a fan of the show, but this whole episode was awesome! Oh, and as a musician in my 50's with tons of low level recording experience behind me, but my former recording gear went belly up, and I've also been looking at the least expensive gear to get me up and going again, but I'm stuck at the laptop/computer end. i have support gear - mics, outboard gear DI & reamp boxes, TS mini interface, and even recently got a Zoom R16 with the intent of it being an interface, doubling as mobile multitrack, (which alao comes with a basic version of Cubase). The R16 can record onto an SD card, but I'm wanting to affordably finally ascend to working on a somewhat modern laptop. In the 80's i went to school for Audio Engineering in the analog era, and went back in the mid 90's to learn/start getting experience with digital recording (I still have that old mid 90's Pro Tools manual somewhere, lol). Most of my recording time since, has been on either analog multitracks, or a hard disc digital recorder (Tascam 788). The financial struggle is real, so an episode on affordable laptops with the features we will need, what to look for, what to avoid, and what bullshit people will TELL us we need, that we might (or definitely) not need in reality, would be awesome! Oh amd fuck you, Glenn!

I don't record in a computer. I use the Tascam Multitrack recorder, which alouds me to record anywhere without the distraction of a PC or tablet. It records un 16 and 24 bits so, quality is there.

I'm assuming the cut at the end wasn't intentional. Another version coming with the full ending?

Hey Glenn, congrats on being smoke free, I am working on it myself, love the channel all of the topics you cover, I'll be subbed as long as you're on RU-vid, big respect and rock on! \m/

The video cut off early man 😢 was interested in your smoking point as well. There seems to be an abnormally high percentage of smokers within my "type" despite the fact it's a bit of a turn off. I'm no angel myself as I'm known to go through half a packet when drunk but I've never smoked a cigarette whilst sober

At 11:23, one time I used a Zoom R24 (8 inputs) along with another little zoom recorder (H2 I think) with 2 inputs to record a large funk band that was playing all night long and the 2 tracks from the H2 were going out of sync with the tracks from the R24 over time, both units were working independently recording to SD cards and I synced the tracks up in the DAW later. I knew I had it all at the same sample rate and it was fine at the start of the takes so I'm really glad I finally know what that was.

RU-vid couldn't handle how badass this channel is so they had to flex on ol' Glenn!

Glenn is probably screaming at his computer for messing up the video render.

I just found out that izotope’s trash 2 (free distorsion plugin) works as a amp sim and its fucking incredible. There is a huge collection of amp impulses and you can change what type of mic for every amp.

Glen, have you ever got a package of guitar picks thrown in with a purchase, then ten years later after they all were toast and you realize that the pick was one of your favorites, but then couldn't find it anywhere online? I had this issue with a Hughes and Kettner Blue Celluloid. I contacted H&K but the never got back to me on whether they still made it. I decided to take a gamble a Jim Dunlop blue celluloid Med, Large, and X large, and after I got them they were close but still not the same, so I contacted in Jim Dunlap to see if they were the manufacturer of the H&K Blue Celluloid to actually get a response back that they were but it was discontinued.

dude, i love this channel, really interesting and helpful content all the time. i am pretty new to the channel, and to the whole recording and mixing stuff.. so for the moment, most of the things you talk about are like freaking rocket science to me. i know my share of music theory BUT I JUST SUCK AT RECORDING AND MIXING altogether. i have a randy rhoads flying V guitar and an old marshall code 25 with built in interface or something like that and i plug it to the computer via USB and use ASIO drivers for Reaper and it is only listenable by 90s death metal demo standards =))) what gear would you recommend for recording at home. do you have an idea of like a budget interface that would work with a free DAW? (if it's possible to also work with a mic like shure sm75 or sm7b cause i would like to scream the shit out of me on some tracks). sorry for being a total noob around here.. but keep the show running, i feel it is helping me a lot in understanding gear. peace!

I got my friend a used spire studio for about $200. It's a good compromise to get started with a simple setup and simple user interface but still have room to go a bit further later.

Couldn't agree more with Deep Purple, but they are still great on vinyl.

The mix contest sounds really cool! I would definitely submit!

No pc question. For portable when abroad I've a focusrite scarlet ipad dock with bias on it. Garageband is free on the ipad. Winner! It's not perfect but definitely handy for tracking ideas on the fly. You could go even more portable by using an "iRig" instead of the focusrite dock. With bias Amp/Fx and a bias bluetooth footswitch it pretty much becomes a Kemper/AxeFX for 1/4 the price. Might not sound "quite" as good..... But if an audience can tell then difference I'd be amazed.

The small screen sucks like hell but I have recorded to my iPhone many times. I sometimes still use my old iPhone 6 to record some stuff. On the other hand, if you have enough money for an iPhone or an iPad you can also get a used desktop and used interface...

If you cant afford a computer I highly recommend a Tascam portable recorder (DP-03SD). They have 8 recording tracks and a built in mic if you cant afford a mic, or you plug straight into it and record that way and put a few basic effects and eq the instrument. You can also mix down and master the recordings right on the thing and its only a few hundred dollars. They can do a ton of stuff considering the price. It wont sound amazing compared to fully mixing a track on protools or a comparable program but it gets the job done!

I'm a bit anti laptop, because if one thing breaks (like the keyboard or screen), you can throw the whole thing out. Try finding an old desk top computer, and maybe buy a sound card to put in; the onboard audio is bearable at best, but an old socket 775 quad core pc doesn't have to be that expensive (bought mine, a converted one with a xeon quad core processor for € 40,-) Screen doesn't have to be that expensive, and if the psu and case are any good, you can keep them when you upgrade over the years. Oh, and Glenn, can you do a Broadway-esque mix for the Butthurt Of The Week? I'd love to hear that :D

My engineer/head of the label and I both watch this channel religiously. We get along very well.