6
60's guy
Guest
Fair enough. I wish you happy recording!monica said:
M
monica
New member
thanks! i still gotta clean up more confusion...how expensive can an interface get? i just read about one being like $500....also i just read some USB vs FireWire article but didnt understand any of it, or, wait, is firewire only for mac?...can someone shed some light? thanks60's guy said:Fair enough. I wish you happy recording!
rayc
retroreprobate
Any 1/2 decent comp. with a dedicated recording s/card w breakout box or interface or AD/DA converter, VERY LOW NOISE, a hefty chunk of RAM, a pair of hard drives, a good processor, minimal unrelated applications, etc etc etc would do. IF you added an analogue recorder with multiple outs to match the B/O box you'd be in semi digital heaven.
The 2 comps I'm using a present are reconditioned cheapies with the right tweaking to do the job. They don't do anything else so they aren't worked to death nor are they TOTRange but they do a great job dealing with my 4 track uploads & augmentation.
The 2 comps I'm using a present are reconditioned cheapies with the right tweaking to do the job. They don't do anything else so they aren't worked to death nor are they TOTRange but they do a great job dealing with my 4 track uploads & augmentation.
bubbagump
New member
monica said:
How expensive... heh, how much money you got? An interface can be as simple as a SoundBlaster on the low end to gigantic rigs as big as a closet (Ikon, Radar, etc.). So there is a huge range.
As for firewire and USB, they are competing standards that do essentially the same thing. USB tends to be a bit more common on PCs, firewire on Macs. Intel pioneered USB where as Apple pioneered firewire, thus the tendancy to see one technology more on one platform than the other. However, you can use USB and firewire with Mac or PC.
And to be very clear, a DAW is a piece of software that allows you to record multiple tracks on a computer. A sequencer in the tradition sense is something that allow you to record MIDI data. Many DAWs contain sequencers so you can record audio and MIDI. You also have what is known as a wave editor. Wave editor are for recording single tracks or editing finished mixes or single tracks. Wave editors generally have no MIDI funtionality.
Examples of DAWs:
Adobe Audition (no sequencer)
Cubase
Sonar
Tracktion
n-track
Samplitude
Saw Studio
Examples of Wave Editors:
Sound Forge
Gold Wave
Audacity
Wave Lab
Farview
Well-known member
NO SOUNDBLASTERS!!!!!!!!! M-audio makes cheaper stuff that performs better and doesn't lie about the specs and capabilities. Creative labs needs to be set on fire.bubbagump said:
bubbagump
New member
Heh, no doubt. I started on a SB Pro (8 bit mind you) way back in the day on a 286... so they do work. They have terrible drivers, crummy convertors, crappy support....
B
Beck
Guest
bubbagump said:
Gee, I was humming along on a 386 plus back in the day... I didn't know good I had it.
rayc
retroreprobate
Yeah, I have to put my hand up to using an SB in the beginning as well as a simple windows waverecorder. I learnt little by little & by trial & error until I hit this BBS - then ...well, the bank balance tells the story.
Farview
Well-known member
All I was trying to say is that there are much better alternatives for (sometimes) a cheaper price. When you think 'recording' you should never think SB. If you already have one and you want to start recording, fine. Just don't go out and by one for this purpose.
M
monica
New member
i need a bit more advice....do you suggest i get a seperate computer right away, or see how it goes on the one im using right now?
bubbagump
New member
For now, any old machine will work. I am talking in ideals above. You are so incredibly new to this, I would try using the onbaord soundcard you probably have now and a freebie/cheap DAw just to get your feet wet.... Then once you have some idea as to how all this works, you can start to look at a "real" interface, DAW, etc.
Creamyapples1
www.murphycabs.com
Just because I'm bored, my setup contains the following.
PC (specs in sig)
2 M-Audio Delta 410 PCI cards 4 analog inputs and 16 analog outputs (I don't record more than 4 ins at present, but I can still upgrade if/when needed)
Yamaha MG16/4 Mixing Board
When I record I plug my mics into the board and run the 4 ins on the soundcards from the insert plugs using the "one click" method to send the signal from the preamps to my PC and I capture it with Sonar Cakewalk Homestudio 4.0XL
This allows me to record any 4 tracks at one time be-it 2 mics on 2 seperate guitar amps, 4 mics on a single amp, 4 mics on a drum kit, blah blah blah
I can use far more tracks in Sonar than I'll ever need. Using VST plug-ins I EQ, or otherwise effect the tracks as needed inside Cakewalk. 16 tracks is the most I've needed so far. I run the 16 individual tracks back out to my board for mixing, I use reverb on the aux. buss of the board then main out to a compressor (eek) then to my cd burner then to a power amp and speakers. My reasoning was a combination of analog gear that I already possessed but utilizing the flexibility of being able to edit and effect indivudual tracks with the PC with little frustration and less analog gear (after getting use to and reading tons) I started out with a 4 track fostex, moved up to tinkering with a single ADAT then on to the "digilog" setup now. Love it.
Anyway you slice it, your chain is going to be: (If using PC)
Mic/Instrument >
Preamp/Direct Box > sometimes built in to the interface, not always.
Input on the recorder > Audiocard/interface in this case
Software > records your tracks, lets you edit, effect, etc
Studio monitors/headphones > for monitoring your sounds - This is the part where your options come into play. Some chose to use an analog board, then on to monitors/phones, some use only their interface/audiocard and software for it all (mixing in the box) this part has more to do with preference than anything else.
/end boredom
PC (specs in sig)
2 M-Audio Delta 410 PCI cards 4 analog inputs and 16 analog outputs (I don't record more than 4 ins at present, but I can still upgrade if/when needed)
Yamaha MG16/4 Mixing Board
When I record I plug my mics into the board and run the 4 ins on the soundcards from the insert plugs using the "one click" method to send the signal from the preamps to my PC and I capture it with Sonar Cakewalk Homestudio 4.0XL
This allows me to record any 4 tracks at one time be-it 2 mics on 2 seperate guitar amps, 4 mics on a single amp, 4 mics on a drum kit, blah blah blah
I can use far more tracks in Sonar than I'll ever need. Using VST plug-ins I EQ, or otherwise effect the tracks as needed inside Cakewalk. 16 tracks is the most I've needed so far. I run the 16 individual tracks back out to my board for mixing, I use reverb on the aux. buss of the board then main out to a compressor (eek) then to my cd burner then to a power amp and speakers. My reasoning was a combination of analog gear that I already possessed but utilizing the flexibility of being able to edit and effect indivudual tracks with the PC with little frustration and less analog gear (after getting use to and reading tons) I started out with a 4 track fostex, moved up to tinkering with a single ADAT then on to the "digilog" setup now. Love it.
Anyway you slice it, your chain is going to be: (If using PC)
Mic/Instrument >
Preamp/Direct Box > sometimes built in to the interface, not always.
Input on the recorder > Audiocard/interface in this case
Software > records your tracks, lets you edit, effect, etc
Studio monitors/headphones > for monitoring your sounds - This is the part where your options come into play. Some chose to use an analog board, then on to monitors/phones, some use only their interface/audiocard and software for it all (mixing in the box) this part has more to do with preference than anything else.
/end boredom
M
monica
New member
so when you say freebie/cheap you mean like audacity right? cause i have that now. and hows this for an interface? http://www.tascam.com/Products/US-144.htmlbubbagump said:
bubbagump
New member
That is an ok interface, but really, I would hold off a bit until you have some experience under your belt. The sound card built into your machine will work for the short term until you get the hang of everything. It may not be the best sounding thing in the world, but at least it is paid for. Then once you know more what you want you can choose an interface that will suit your needs.
As for software, look at my post above... Audacity is a wave editor. For multitrack, you will want to use a DAW. Check out Reaper which is free or n-track which is a very good and inexpensive DAW.
As for software, look at my post above... Audacity is a wave editor. For multitrack, you will want to use a DAW. Check out Reaper which is free or n-track which is a very good and inexpensive DAW.
M
monica
New member
ok thanks, but i dont know what im looking for in an interface. does it depend on the DAW? if so, say if i were to get n-track, what should i look for in an interface?
Creamyapples1
www.murphycabs.com
an interface is an interface is an interface unless using Pro Tools (as far as I know, then you need something more specific) Most programs will recognize any audio card/interface though. The interface that is right for you is going to be the interface with the number of inputs and outputs that is going to suit your setup and your needs.
It really is going to depend on what instruments you want to record, at the same time? How are you playing back the sounds? etc etc
It really is going to depend on what instruments you want to record, at the same time? How are you playing back the sounds? etc etc
M
monica
New member
well, for the time being, ill be recording at most 3 instruments at the same time. what do you mean by how are you playing back the sounds?
Creamyapples1
www.murphycabs.com
like, computer monitors? actual studio monitors? are you going to need a headphone amp for multiple sets of headphones? stuff like that.
And you say 3 instruments? What 3 instruments? What mic'ing technique will you utilize? All stuff that needs to be pondered while figuring out a decent setup.
And you say 3 instruments? What 3 instruments? What mic'ing technique will you utilize? All stuff that needs to be pondered while figuring out a decent setup.
M
monica
New member
i was reading about monitors in another thread...for computer do i NEED them? if i do, what are some good ones?
Creamyapples1
www.murphycabs.com
As someone stated before, you're going to have to do some research to figure out what's going to work for you. There is no real "best" for any situation IMO. You're going to have to crack some books and burn the midnight oil and come back with some very specific questions.