? about audio recording software

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autonickv

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I know that sound cards can come in 8 bit, 16 bit .....and so forth. I know that the alesis adat 8track digital recorder is 20 bit - is this the same idea?

Are we talking about the same thing here?

Also, do audio recording software programs such as Cakewalk or PowerTracks limit what a soundcard can process at, for example: the Delta44 I believe is a 24bit card - would PowerTracks (very inexpensive) and Cakewalk record the same audio to hardisk?

I'm getting ready to upgrade and I'm trying to figure out if I should go to an external digital recorder such as the Roland V#### 8 track or 18 track or an Alesis adat 8 track that uses VHS tapes OR should I stick to my PC and get a good sound card such as the Delta 44, which I can get real cheap from a friend. If I do that I wonder if I need to go to a better software package in order to take advantage of the new card - I currently use PowerTracks and I'm basiclly happy with it - I just want cleaner tracks than what I'm getting with my SB64 soundcard.

any help would be appreciated!
 
Just my opinoin

autonickv,
Just my opinion, but if you have access to a quality soundcard...cheap, then by all means you should stick with the PC route. It will offer you more flexibility over a longer period of time ( at least thats what I think ) and you will be able to upgrade with different plugins and software as you go along. As far as the bit deal goes, I think most of the current recording software out there will handle at least 24 bits, as I'm sure the card your buddy has does too. It would be a great way for you to get started in the PC end of it. I personally like Cakewalk, I use v8.01. It has some drawbacks, but it is relatively easy to learn, and the sound quality is mainly dependant upon your sound card and the quality of the sound you're getting prior to entering the soundcard. I hope this helps you somewhat. I'm sure there will be other opinions, so do alot of research before you decide whats best for you.
 
Thanks RockenRobert, that's kinda what I expected and what I wanted to hear.
 
autonickv,

Regarding your first question, the bits you mention are the same thing, the number of bits used to record an audio sample. A bit is simply a binary digit, which has only two possible values, 0 or 1. Just like a 6-digit decimal number is built from 10 possible digits, binary numbers are built from two possible digits. The more bits, the more available numbers there are to encode the amplitude of the voltage at a given instant (zero being no amplitude at all and the maximum number being the loudest amplitude). For example, 8 bits can divide up the range of a signal into only 256 possible values. With 16 bits, there are 65,536 possible values -- a much finer gradation. With 24 bits, you get 16,777,216 possible values -- a much finer gradation still. This is commonly called the resolution of a sample.

Often spoken about in conjunction with resolution is sampling rate, or how many samples are recorded per second. In other words, with a sampling rate of 44.1 kHz, 44,100 samples are captured every second, or about one every 0.00002 seconds.

Regarding the choice you are trying to make, I agree with RockinRobert, but I am also very comfortable with PCs, and I think that is an important factor in your decision. Trying to get a DAW put together and working at its best can often be a struggle.

The Delta is a fantastic recording interface, but if you use the SB you now have (AWE 64?) as a MIDI instrument, note that the Delta has no on-board synthesizer or MIDI interface. It's very possible to keep the SB in there but be aware it increases the potential for configuration difficulties.
 
Delta 44

Thanks AlChuck, very good point that I never considered. I use midi for every instrument that I can (I'm a bass player)so this will be a problem. How would I go about interfacing midi while using the Delta 44 without the SB64?
 
Midiman

If you are going to go the computer route and want to use midi simply get a midi interface. If you can get sound card real cheap you'll probably have enough cash to buy a midi interface as well. You can get something like the Midiman USB 2x2 midi interface for well under a hundred bucks.
 
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