building a studio from the ground up... help

[liveitloud]

Hello everyone,

Thanks in advance for any help you might be able to give me. This is what I have so far...

A Peavey 4 track mixer
Magix Music Sudio 10 deluxe
A newer emachine computer with 3400+ processer with 140 Gig of memory.
A mic
and my guitar.

I have this system all together and it works, but not very well. I am a singer-songwriter and have been trying to record my stuff for years but never quite got the system together. I am not very computer savvy, and the music terminology confuses me.

Can anyone tell me, what is the best way to get a recording together?? All I want is to get the equiptment I need and be able to understand how to do it.

What are your recommendations?

Thanks

Liveitloud.

[cusebassman]

Okay, first things first, you've got what I would imagine is a halfway decent desktop. 140 gig's of hard disk space, 3400+ processor... what's the memory of the machine (RAM)?

And, what type of microphone do you have?

[cusebassman]

I would imagine what you are doing is running the output of the mixer into the input of the soundcard built into the computer.

If that's the case, then you probably aren't getting very good audio.

Depending on the microphone, all you would really need to do is upgrade to some sort of recording interface that connects via USB or firewire.

Another question, for the machine you're using, what operating system do you have installed (Windows XP, Vista, Linux somethin-or-other, etc)?

There is a thread somewhere around here ranking the best inexpensive audio interfaces. Essentially, the thing would act as your mixer does, minus the mixing facilities - it would provide some mic inputs with halfway decent preamps built-in, and much better analog/digital converters than a soundcard has.

I'll find the thread and toss it up for ya

[cusebassman]

http://homerecording.com/bbs/showthr...ight=interface

And, there we go.

I didn't check pricing on any of those, so some might very well be out of your price range, but it'll give you a start.

[liveitloud]

512 Megabites of RAM,
Mic is a Pevey, it's a lower grade one, don't quite know which one to upgrade to.

Have Windows XP.

So the audio interface would be instead of the mixer? Because I also use the mixer for sound adjustments, and plug in's. Or does that do the same job?

I'll check out the link in the meantime...

Thanks!!

[gbondo9]

An Audio Interface is a way to get sound into your computer. Your mic and Mixer are (most likely) creating analog sound. The interface is a way to plug an Analog device (such as a mixer, a mic preamp, etc) into a digital machine (a PC). So the conversion happens here. The better the Audio Interface - the better the sound (the more unadulterated clear and clean sound) you get.
At it's most basic - an Audio Interface could provide a simple 1/4 inch input to plug a mixer or preamp into.

If you're currently using the sound card that came with your PC - that will be your weakest link - and thus make any great gear you have sound not quite as good as it could.

As for a mic recommendation - what exactly do you plan on doing with this mic? Accoustic guitar? Vocals (male or female)? Micing guitar amps? Drums? Piano? etc...

[cusebassman]

Originally Posted by gbondo9

If you're currently using the sound card that came with your PC - that will be your weakest link - and thus make any great gear you have sound not quite as good as it could.

After the soundcard, I'd say the next weakest would be the mixer, of course I don't know about Peavey mics, either

So, if you are going to spend some money on an interface, might as well go with a relatively inexpensive one that comes recommended, that also has at least one mic input channel with phantom power. Won't cost much more, and honestly, I don't know how many audio interfaces you can find that DON'T have any mic inputs on em...

I'm sure others will weigh in tho

[COOLCAT]

Originally Posted by liveitloud

A Peavey 4 track mixer
Magix Music Sudio 10 deluxe
A newer emachine computer with 3400+ processer with 140 Gig of memory.
A mic and my guitar.

a singer-songwriter
I am not very computer savvy, and the music terminology confuses me.

Can anyone tell me, what is the best way to get a recording together??
What are your recommendations?

I'm an old newbie... started doing this pc recording recently too.
agreeing with the post "your audio soundcard is the weak link" also.
It was the first thing I threw on per advice i received; these audio cards are made and tweaked for Audio Recording. Probably better AD/DA etc. And you don't have to tell people you have a stock audio card...hehee... even though these stock audio cards are probably better than PRO 1994 cards, anyway...

IMO, You should record some things with what you have right now, that way it will force the "learning curve" of what you can do. You'll get familiar with the windows mixer, the MAgix stuff and Soundcard locations thru the Windows-Control Panel etc..

Once its working, its no more effort than clicking on a desktop icon.

your system is good, and upgrades will become apparent thru the process, and the fact your a Songwriter setup is key to mention when asking advice, as you have no need for 40000Billion Gigs of memory and 3 gig ram to handle 432 Plug-Ins processing at the same time....your probably better off with one really nice Vocal mic/chain...a Golden channel some call it.

[TragikRemix]

wow i read that as 140gigs of ram!

hehe.

my opinion- a recording can sound no better than it's source.

therefore- is your guitar a nice sounding instrument , and (if electric) is your amp a good sounding amp?

a $70 rogue acoustic guitar isnt gonna sound like a $4000 taylor.

i'd say your computer is the last thing you need to change ATM. really, how many tracks can you put into a recording if you are using one mic and a guitar?

if you plan on expanding and doing drums etc, and are going to have many inputs and tracks, then the computer becomes an issue, but for now, you should be fine.

mic is important, as is preamp. really, if you have any decent mic and a decent 'transparent' pre amp, you can get a decent clean recording.

you dont want a shit 1/8 input stock soundcard though. 16 bit might not satisfy you. any low end, low i.o count soundcard will work, but i do recommend a 'real' soundcard, inteded for audio. check out e-mu and m-audio gear for some cheap but decent stuff.

and dont forget, you need a monitoring system... quite possibly the most vital part of any recording setup.

[liveitloud]

tell you what... I feel as if the gods have answerd my prayers. Thank you so much for not only responding but also for pointing me in the direction that was needed. I look forward to talking to you all soon. Tonight I picked up a used Zoom rt 123 drum machine. It's the first pice to the pie. Seconds step I wish to take is the Firebox... Baby steps....Then sound card...
Mic and so on
I Just what to say thanks
It's nice to know that there are people out there that are willing to help rather than to sell you a pice of shit you don't need.
You Rock

Live it Loud

[gbondo9]

The Firebox is an Audio Interface that connects to your computer via Firewire - so if you already have a Firewire jack on your PC - the Firebox will act as your Audio Interface, thus replacing the need for a soundcard Audio Interface.

If you don't have a firewire jack - you can pick up a PCI card that will install into your computer.

Hope this helps!
Thanks,
Todd

[jdier]

Originally Posted by liveitloud

tell you what... I feel as if the gods have answerd my prayers. Thank you so much for not only responding but also for pointing me in the direction that was needed. I look forward to talking to you all soon. Tonight I picked up a used Zoom rt 123 drum machine. It's the first pice to the pie. Seconds step I wish to take is the Firebox... Baby steps....Then sound card...
Mic and so on
I Just what to say thanks
It's nice to know that there are people out there that are willing to help rather than to sell you a pice of shit you don't need.
You Rock

Live it Loud

Like the other guy said...

Firebox IS A SOUND CARD... kind of.

If you buy that, you will not need a sound card. You will have loads of options.


You could:

1. Plug your mics and guitar right into the Firebox and hit record.... voila, done.

2. Plug your mics and guitar into your Peavey mixer, take 1/4 cables from the mixer to the Firebox, hit record... whammo! you are recording.


After you get the Firebox, you might want to download and try out a multitracking audio program like Reaper (www.reaper.fm) You can use it free or buy it for $40. It will allow you to throw all kinds of effects on your tracks and mix two guitar tracks, lay down harmonies...

You are on the right track. Keep on going!