mixdown computer

[AdrianF]

Hey, I apologize if this question has already been answered like 1000 times, but this is my first time to even visit this forum. I have a Tascam 688 and I need to mix down a recording I,ve made onto my computer or onto a CD so that I can put it on my computer. I know you plug it into the line in of your soundcard and all that, but when I've done that the sound quality is horrible and almost all you can hear is fuzz. Now I'm assuming that this is because my soundcard sucks, but before I go out and buy like a $200 soundcard I want to make sure that will fix the problem. So my question is, should I buy a nice soundcard? If so, what features does it need to have? OR... do I need a nice computer program in order to get good sound quality. For example, if my soundcard is nice, will the sound quality (not the extra effects, but just the quality of the sound) be any different if I just use the basic sound recorder as opposed to something like SoundForge?
OR... will I get better sound quality if I do it straight to a CD burner? And if so, what kind of features does the CD burner I buy need to have?

Any insights would be appreciated, thanks!

[Derek Verner]

Some sound cards only have mic level inputs. You need one with line level inputs. Check to see if you have both.

[jake-owa]

Your software will have little to do with your sound quality. Get a decent soundcard like an Echo Mia or M-audio Audiophile.

You should be able to get a decent sound with a soundblaster card but many of the generic cards have horrible quality that is not even worth the effort. Check to see what level you are recording at, if you are going to the line in too hot it will distort and sound like crapola.

If you are using the windows wave recorder you need to set it to 16 bit 44.1 khz but even then the wibndows recorder sounds pretty bad. Get a decent freeware recorder program.

[The Ghost of FM]

Read this post too for more help.

http://www.homerecording.com/bbs/sho...hreadid=102018

Cheers!

[AdrianF]

thanks so much for the help. I just figured the whole thing out and I don't need to get a new soundcard or anything, although I guess it would sound even better if I did.