G
gee1111
New member
I do and although Ive figured out basic operations Im stuck on some fundamental issues and would so appreciate some help
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ecc83
Well-known member
I do and although Ive figured out basic operations Im stuck on some fundamental issues and would so appreciate some help
I started on this PC recording game with Magix ms gen 6 (£9.99 from WH Smiths!) but then found a free version of Samplitude SE8 and never looked back (gen6 MIDI won't work on XP BTW) .
I have looked the later MMaker software but found it a bit "toy-town" compared to Sam. I suggest you download the free Samplitude Silver and use that if 8 tracks are enough for you. It is similar enough to MM to be an easy transfer of skills.
But you will have to be more specific about the "issues" otherwise none of us can help you.
Dave.
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gee1111
New member
Many thanks for that info Dave...I was on the brink of having to buy the Magix Music Studio, but the Silver is free and yes i will able to transfer skills.
So...Ive done a simple recording on silver and the current issues are the same:
1. there is a delay in my monitoring headphones on voice and guitar. I believe the correct term is latency? (you see, im more than just a pretty face!). Is there anything i can do about that. It isnt related to any effects. it is slight but enough to be a problem. i could not monitor recording but would prefer it if i could. I m using a M-Audio firewire solo interface
2.Im getting a rubbish guitar sound The voice seems to be ok.(se2200a mic). I have a Guild F1512 12 string acoustic with a fishman pickup. the guitar usually sounds awesome. Although it's not ideal i want to be able to record guitar via the pickup rather than mic. i know that won't be as good but it ive heard it sound a lot better than this via the pickup. By the way the guitar sound via the mic is better but also not great.
Would much appreciate help on any of this
Graeme
So...Ive done a simple recording on silver and the current issues are the same:
1. there is a delay in my monitoring headphones on voice and guitar. I believe the correct term is latency? (you see, im more than just a pretty face!). Is there anything i can do about that. It isnt related to any effects. it is slight but enough to be a problem. i could not monitor recording but would prefer it if i could. I m using a M-Audio firewire solo interface
2.Im getting a rubbish guitar sound The voice seems to be ok.(se2200a mic). I have a Guild F1512 12 string acoustic with a fishman pickup. the guitar usually sounds awesome. Although it's not ideal i want to be able to record guitar via the pickup rather than mic. i know that won't be as good but it ive heard it sound a lot better than this via the pickup. By the way the guitar sound via the mic is better but also not great.
Would much appreciate help on any of this
Graeme
E
ecc83
Well-known member
You are correct Graeme, latency is indeed the word!
The problem is this, lower latency gives you less delay but demands greater computer power, in the limit the sound will start to crackle and cut out but if you have even a passing good computer (less than 4 yrs old say) it should easily cope with the low demands of two tracks at a time.
I note from the manual that the FW solo has ASIO drivers and these are the bizz! When you have a track setup in Silver, hover the mouse arrow over the centre of the screen and click letter "y" A big box of "stuff" will appear allowing you to set almost everything up. Look near the top for drivers. I think Sam defaults to MME, click the ASIO blob. You will now almost certainly have to set the Solo as the ASIO device. If the delay is still not acceptable look into setting the Solo for a lower latency but if you go too far things will crackup. If you cannot get acceptable latency you might have issues with the PC, but even this is almost always sortable.
Not suprised that mic'ed guitar recording was not stellar! Not the easiest of tasks, you can find tutorials on the web, notable ones from Sound On Sound | Recording Techniques | Audio Technology | Music Production | Computer Music | Video Media
Direct in from the guitar is a bit of a puzzle. Is the Fishman an active pickup, i.e. does it use a battery? If so is it a good 'un?! If not you have a passive pup and need a pre amp.
And last thing for now. You should be recording with 24bits and at 44.1kHz and your average levels should be around -20 to-18 on the Silver's meters.
Dave.
The problem is this, lower latency gives you less delay but demands greater computer power, in the limit the sound will start to crackle and cut out but if you have even a passing good computer (less than 4 yrs old say) it should easily cope with the low demands of two tracks at a time.
I note from the manual that the FW solo has ASIO drivers and these are the bizz! When you have a track setup in Silver, hover the mouse arrow over the centre of the screen and click letter "y" A big box of "stuff" will appear allowing you to set almost everything up. Look near the top for drivers. I think Sam defaults to MME, click the ASIO blob. You will now almost certainly have to set the Solo as the ASIO device. If the delay is still not acceptable look into setting the Solo for a lower latency but if you go too far things will crackup. If you cannot get acceptable latency you might have issues with the PC, but even this is almost always sortable.
Not suprised that mic'ed guitar recording was not stellar! Not the easiest of tasks, you can find tutorials on the web, notable ones from Sound On Sound | Recording Techniques | Audio Technology | Music Production | Computer Music | Video Media
Direct in from the guitar is a bit of a puzzle. Is the Fishman an active pickup, i.e. does it use a battery? If so is it a good 'un?! If not you have a passive pup and need a pre amp.
And last thing for now. You should be recording with 24bits and at 44.1kHz and your average levels should be around -20 to-18 on the Silver's meters.
Dave.
G
gee1111
New member
Thanks Dave. Im definately learning, even if at a caveman's pace.
So what I discover is that by changing the buffer size to 512 samples (from1024) on the solo, the latency is ok. (I also increased it and saw how the delay clearly increases). I then did an experiment (after checking and adjusting the other levels as you suggested) and recorded the same guitar piece on 384 samples (which is zero delay) and also 3072 samples to see how this effected the quality of the recorded piece. There doesnt seem to be much, if any, difference...but now get this...it's still naf. (Maybe I should go back to my woods in Wales and carry on playing to the birds!). I am on the ASIO and Solo and my guitar fishman has a new battery. It may be useful to tell you that the naf sound does sound a bit like if you have a half flat pickup battery, but ive tested it with a meter and it is definitely new. Any other suggestions Dave?
So what I discover is that by changing the buffer size to 512 samples (from1024) on the solo, the latency is ok. (I also increased it and saw how the delay clearly increases). I then did an experiment (after checking and adjusting the other levels as you suggested) and recorded the same guitar piece on 384 samples (which is zero delay) and also 3072 samples to see how this effected the quality of the recorded piece. There doesnt seem to be much, if any, difference...but now get this...it's still naf. (Maybe I should go back to my woods in Wales and carry on playing to the birds!). I am on the ASIO and Solo and my guitar fishman has a new battery. It may be useful to tell you that the naf sound does sound a bit like if you have a half flat pickup battery, but ive tested it with a meter and it is definitely new. Any other suggestions Dave?
E
ecc83
Well-known member
Are you feeding the guitar into the instrument input?
If so don't, try one of the line inputs at the back.
The specification suggests that the Instr' input should handle the level OK but there might be some "voicing" going on. The line ins will definately be flat.
Can you perhaps get hold of a passive electric guitar to try or feed in a pod?
Dave.
If so don't, try one of the line inputs at the back.
The specification suggests that the Instr' input should handle the level OK but there might be some "voicing" going on. The line ins will definately be flat.
Can you perhaps get hold of a passive electric guitar to try or feed in a pod?
Dave.
G
gee1111
New member
Hi Dave. I followed your 2 suggestions.Sadly Im just not getting a sound that does my guitar justice. Plugging the guitar in at the back didnt make any difference and I tried a passive electric guitar and it wasnt very good either. Im wondering if there may be something not up to scratch with my interface or laptop. I am hoping a sound engineer guy I know is going to be able to arrange a rendezvous to try to help me but that is sometime in the future and will have to wait for that. If you have any other ideas great, but otherwise i will wait. A million thanks for Samplitude Silver and for trying.
Graeme
Graeme
A
AlanMAGIX
New member
A DI'd instrumetn will never give a very natural sound. Is it a possibility to record it using a mic? What's typical when recording acoustic guitar is to record with both DI and Mic, so you can blend the signals afterwards. If you are only recording DI make sure the battery is good, and that the gain on the guitar is up full and the eq flat. I have recorded many beautiful acoustic guitars with fine pickups and they never represent the true sound of the guitar.