Could this be my problem, the interface

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mark1971a

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I have been happy with my analog rack stuff, and live sound. Recently I have been getting into recording on the pc more and more. The sound is not there. The ease of production sure is. Reaper can do all kinds of editing. Crazy , anyways. I think my problem is the interface. It is a line 6 toneport ux2 which they still sell. It is not any better the a 2x2 presonus I also tried.

I am honestly lost here. If I put the signal to a 1/4 inch reel to reel it sounds awesome. I can provide clips of examples , if you want to try to diagnose what is wrong. Even making clips from the reel to reel into the ux2 usb it looses so much. Still you can get the picture of the problem at hand.

Anybody have problems with a toneport ux2? or have a similar situation with usb/pc recording and not getting results?

Done on 8 track 1/4"


Now recording pop junk on the toneport it sounds sterile
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on 1/4 tape a building chorus and ending not too bad /ez drummer needs work..
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POP on the toneportusb dead, turn down poor mix warning.
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Kind of hard to describe, the tape sounds like a passable demo cassette, the usb sounds like garabage even with a bunch of high shelf..
 
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mark1971a said:
If I put the signal to a 1/4 inch reel to reel it sounds awesome.
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6a00d8341bf89d53ef01156fc7dd2f970c-pi.webp


I don't really disagree...but you'll find that pro-analog, tape deck views over digital, don't wash easy around here....though you'll have lots of friends in the Analog Forum. :D

I spin tape regularly (before taking it to DAW)...but at this point, I'll just say that with tape, I prefer "that sound"...and leave it at that.


:eatpopcorn:
 
mark1971a said:
I am honestly lost here. If I put the signal to a 1/4 inch reel to reel it sounds awesome. I can provide clips of examples , if you want to try to diagnose what is wrong.
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Hi Mark,
Maybe posting those clips would be a good idea.
Miroslav's right with that pic! lol.

Posting clips should let us identify if you're hearing a problem or a preference.
 
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Gimme a minute to get organized here.

The voices , guitars , and , drum programming have differences. The problem is a real dead sounding recording that hurts my ears.

Even if the music isn't your taste , or sucks, it should still be able to record a proper mix, right?

Is this hardware, software, or ASIO that I am learning about, or a latency problem? Some of the drum programming seems knocked out of time.
 
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Call me crazy....but your tape tracks have a ton of reverb...and your toneport have none that I can hear.

Big difference.

What happend to the reverb on the toneport tracks?
 
What you need to do is buy the most expensive preamps you can because they are the magic bullet you need.


Ok, not really.
 
Are saying the line 6 toneport doesn't have top tier pre's? A surprise to all.

No, I left out the digital reverb to hear the digital hissless-ness in the room. It sounds like way to much treble but it is shelfed.

The last clip was poor, and didn't spend much time there. The timing is coming apart, and I don't know why. Then still no roundness or fullness of sound . Something with the midi keys? Latency ?

What would cause a midi sequence to be out of synch with the analog in?
 
mark1971a said:
Are saying the line 6 toneport doesn't have top tier pres? A surprise to all.
Click to expand...

I'm saying it doesn't matter. You can do whatever you want with that interface and DAW - provided of course it's set up and working correctly. Any limitations are your own.
 
I installed it with the disc. It seems to be working?

These examples are showing the limitations at hand. Either way Im bringing the cord to input of the recording device. Same mics, instruments, chains, techniques etc.

I would like to use the digital reverbs on the toneport , but right now it sounds terrible. Do you want me to make a clip of the scratchy one with a digital reverb? I will spare you.
 
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mark1971a said:
No, I left out the digital reverb to hear the digital hissless-ness in the room. It sounds like way to much treble but it is shelfed.
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Well...you said the toneport tracks sounded "dead"....so it's awkward to compare one set of tracks WITH reverb against another set without....and then figure out why the ones without sound dead. :)

No...you don't need expensive preamps, get the cheapest ones you can find....it just doesn't matter, good gear makes no difference, it's all a myth.
 
It cant be, oh buy the top tier pre's comps and interface, then you can sound similar to the common old 1/4" reels. What would be the point of up/ down grading to Digital?

tonight I will run the digital clip output through the quadraverb so the digital clip can have some reverb too. It is gonna sound ugly.
 
I'm not hearing dead or alive. I'm hearing two with a shitload of reverb and too much bass, and the others seems haphazardly slapped together and dry. I don't understand what you're trying to achieve here. If you like the way your tape tracks sound, stick to tape.
 
I am trying to get the tape fullness, and the editing ease of digital.

In the preamp thread, somebody had a clip of a daw recorded 610 pre comparison. That digital rift recording sounded fine.

Do you think this is a latency issue. Yes the sounds are different, different mixing time was spent. I know there is a difference that anyone can hear. Talent and methods are the same. If the digital recording were clear enough I would have put on some reverb.

You cant polish a turd. You can use it to learn from on what is wrong. Like I said the cord into the A8 sounds good.

I guess it could be used to record. Lay it down on the 1/4" reel, then edit on a DAW, then bounce it back to the reel and hope it doesn't sound ruined.
 
mark1971a said:
I am trying to get the tape fullness, and the editing ease of digital.

In the preamp thread, somebody had a clip of a daw recorded 610 pre comparison. That digital rift recording sounded fine.

Do you think this is a latency issue. Yes the sounds are different, different mixing time was spent. I know there is a difference that anyone can hear. Talent and methods are the same. If the digital recording were clear enough I would have put on some reverb.

You cant polish a turd. You can use it to learn from on what is wrong. Like I said the cord into the A8 sounds good.
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The digital recording isn't "clear" enough. I'm not understanding your terminology. What's not clear about it? I'm not hearing anything disastrously wrong with any of it. Not anything great either. They're just different - the gobs of hilarious reverb notwithstanding. Can you record to tape then transfer it into your DAW? Lots of people do that. Lots of people also make the change from tape to digital with great results. Don't be stuck on bias or preconceived notions. It's a learning process just like anything else.
 
I swear anything recorded with midi into the DAW is like a split second behind everything else. You almost have to stay a beat ahead. Anything done via the mic input is on time but sounds treble heavy and lifeless.

I am not screwing around or retarded, I just don't know what to call it.
 
mark1971a said:
I swear anything recorded with midi into the DAW is like a split second behind everything else. You almost have to stay a beat ahead. Anything done via the mic input is on time but sounds treble heavy and lifeless.

I am not screwing around or retarded, I just don't know what to call it.
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Latency is one thing. It can be fixed, or at least minimised.
All you have to do is click the right settings in your software.

Small buffer size eg 32/64 = low latency + heavy load on computer.
Large buffer size eg 512/1024 = high latency + light load on computer.

The other stuff...it's hard to tell because your mixes are at varying stages.
The two tape examples have been dealt a generous helping of verbs/delays/whatever....
If I wanted to do an off-kilter, see-through, biased illustration of why analog's better, I'd pick these files as examples. :p



Try a like-for-like raw recording of an acoustic guitar for comparison.




PS: I think these guys are dicking around a little 'cos there's been a big preamp debate going on here lately.
Either that or you're a troll alias and I totally missed the gag. :facepalm:
 
Steen, I assure you this is no gag. Thank you for your serious reply. I am a bit frustrated.

I only have so many digitally layed recordings. It has only been a couple weekends with this unit.

I need to research latency. I read something about asio, but I have no idea.

Okay , there isn't time to loop it with the alesis reverb. this is reapers VST reverb on the vocals, re EQ on the bass.

2nd CLIP WITH REVERB [

Pic of rack.

View attachment 81462
 
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Steenamaroo said:
Latency is one thing. It can be fixed, or at least minimised.
All you have to do is click the right settings in your software.

Small buffer size eg 32/64 = low latency + heavy load on computer.
Large buffer size eg 512/1024 = high latency + light load on computer.

The other stuff...it's hard to tell because your mixes are at varying stages.
The two tape examples have been dealt a generous helping of verbs/delays/whatever....
If I wanted to do an off-kilter, see-through, biased illustration of why analog's better, I'd pick these files as examples. :p



Try a like-for-like raw recording of an acoustic guitar for comparison.




PS: I think these guys are dicking around a little 'cos there's been a big preamp debate going on here lately.
Either that or you're a troll alias and I totally missed the gag. :facepalm:
Click to expand...

Yes, all of this.

The rest is strictly operator error.

As I mentioned already, if you are set in your mind that you just like tape better, stay that way. It's not a big deal. Some people just prefer it. If you want to record to tape and transfer it into your DAW, there are ways to do that too. As you say you've only been at it a few weekends? It takes time to figure out your own workflow and what works best for you.

And of course, the most expensive preamps around are a must.

Not really.
 
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