About Me

Like many of you out there, I enjoy writing and recording music and dealing with all forms of audio. It can be in the form of a song, audio-for-video, podcasts, whatever… I just think it’s incredible what one can do with audio before and after it has been captured on tape or some other medium…

Name: Stephen B. Ruppe (“Stefan B. Roop,” maybe just “Steven B.”)

Age: Starting to get up there but hopefully have many more years to go.

Location: United States – Born in South Carolina, currently living in Missouri.

To begin with…

First off, the better part of my professional life has been spent in the military (Army 22+ years). This experience has had its ups and downs like any other form of employment / service. For instance, I’ve met a lot of different people that have added to my overall music / recording (life) knowledge, which of course, would be a positive aspect. The downside is that sometimes you’re away from your music, and musical equipment for a lengthy period of time, sometimes making it hard to find the motivation to get involved again when you gain your access back.

I’m no longer in the Army, but I still work for the U. S. Government as a federal “civilian.” At least, now when I have to go on business related travel, it’s nowhere near as long as before. For the most part, I now have a basic “9-5 type life.”

Musical Background…

The first musical instrument I started playing was the piano with songs such as, “Heart-N-Soul,” and “Chopsticks,” taught to me by my Father. I’m fairly certain I was still in elementary school when I started. From there (instead of staying with the piano, which would have probably been a good idea) I took up the trumpet in junior high.

I swapped between first and second chair fairly regularly. But, like the piano, I didn’t stick with it and instead opted for the guitar in high school. I think because it was deemed, “Kooler” at the time… Playing the trumpet did, however, teach me how to read music, which allowed me to pick up the guitar and a couple of books and teach myself. I did take a few guitar lessons eventually. I took 4x 30 minute lessons – 1x per week for one month, that drastically improved my overall understanding of the guitar and taught me how to finger pick. All-in-all, the guitar still tends to be my go-to instrument for musical inspiration.

Recording Experience…

My audio recording experiences started out around the age of 19-20 with a TASCAM Porta 05 cassette recorder, which I bought along with a Fender Squire Stratocaster (neither of which do I still have) with a co-signed loan. I was in-love with both, but thought the Porta 03 recorder was just “magical.”

Sadly, I never really took the time to make the quality of the recordings as good as I could. I just liked the idea of being to overdub multiple tracks – to play over something I’ve already recorded earlier. And therefore, just spent my time recording idea after idea as “rough drafts” usually without producing a “final copy.”

From the Porta 03, I graduated to an ADAT system, and managed to record a few songs on it and even take it to a couple of live events to record some friends’ shows. I think a great deal more could have been accomplished with the ADAT, but again, I didn’t take it as far as one could’ve (I still have it. Maybe I’ll crank back up one day… just because…)…

Now, like most I use a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). I started out with Pro Tools 8LE and have moved over to Logic Pro (10X) for now (long story). I don’t really have preference. I just wound up learning more about Logic Pro and have stayed with ever since. Other software that I use inside Logic are: EZ Drummer, Native Instruments, Output, Etc. …

I also like to use standalone recorders such as the TASCAM DP-24 and the BOSS Dr-880 Drum Machine. Sometimes these are just easier to turn on and off and they can make you focus on the actual audio you’re laying down initially, instead of thinking about how you are going to “doctor” it up later on the computer (even though audio recorded on these types of units still can be transferred to the computer)…

Website Purpose for Being

This site will eventually contain all of the answers to the questions that I’ve had over the years on the subject of recording audio / midi / etc. in the home studio. If I’ve “googled it,” you probably have too.

I’ve spent some time writing down these questions and will answer them here, providing actual examples of the results in practice. Unfortunately, over the years I’ve maintained a certain level of procrastination that has kept me from finishing a great many projects. Whether its songs I’ve left undone, or blogs I would never really start (out of doubt or fear usually), I would just keep saying “OK, I’ll start and/or finish this tomorrow”… and it would just never happen.

Fortunately… having gained a better understanding of how to approach music and how to combine that with providing useful content (beyond my music) to other musicians, I’ve become more focused which has provided me with more motivation to get this site up and running.

Referring to the basic experience levels of: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced… I would put myself in between the “Beginner – Intermediate” level. I can write and record a piece of music in a very short period; however, getting that “broadcast quality (or radio) sound” when it’s all said and done, can be quite a challenge. Sometimes, it might even prove more beneficial to pay for your material to be recorded by a professional studio. With that being said, this site will serve as a “living document” of how my audio recording journey is going. I’m sure we’ve asked a lot of the same questions and have tried out some of the same equipment. Whatever I’ve learned, you’ll have access to that same knowledge. Bottom line… I’m certainly NO “Pro,” or Advanced Level Musician, but I have a lot of knowledge that I can pass onto others.

Gear Reviews / Demos

“No, not more gear reviews!”… Yep, again, like many of you, I have a lot of gear laying around that needs some special attention. And, I don’t know about you, but I watch/read many different videos/articles before making a purchase. The more, the merrier is my opinion.

If you’re like me, you go straight to YouTube for reviews on just about anything; however, occasionally, I’ll prefer written content for the “particulars.” Knowing this might apply to others as well, each review that I post will “first” be about something I own myself… “Secondly,” will have a combination of a video and the written content (or blog post).

The Basic Idea…

… Is to simply share what little bit I know, along with my journey of continued growth, with the hopes of bringing joy and maybe a little education and insight to the few that are looking for it…

***Featured Image: One of my Memorex 4-track cassette tapes from back in the early 90’s