Basic question about recording.

  • Thread starter Thread starter bloodloss
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bloodloss

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I've just recently considered spending some cash on some equipment; however, I don't know much about anything, so it's somewhat overwhelming trying to figure out what I might need. For sure, the first thing I want to do is be able to record bass and guitars well. I currently record into CoolEdit using a SBLive card. The results are not very flattering. So...

Where do I start? I was thinking that a new soundcard was in order. What does everyone else think?

Thanks.
 
That would be one way to get a very noticeable improvement.

Another would be to get a nice pre-amp.

One more easily noticed improvement would be a nice condenser microphone or two.

All three of these are the items I noticed the most right off the bat coming from a SB environment.

Another thing you WILL notice that requires no expenditure on new toys is the technique of setting your levels during a recording to get the hottest signal you can while NOT clipping.

Free improvement is fun!
 
For recording bass and guitar is it best to feed it directly, or mic it?

And, a pre-amp is different from a normal amp? I suppose I've always thought that pre-amp was always something you did, not something you had.

Thanks
 
Hehe, I'm trying to think of ways to use "preamp" as a verb, but I'm coming up short :)

A preamp, in this case, is an amplifier that takes a very low level signal like that produced by a microphone, and amplifies to line level. This process is fairly important to your overall sound, just as important as your microphone and recording device.

There is no "best way" to record a guitar. You record it the way it needs to be recorded. I know that sounds pretentious, but I promise it's the truth!

From a home studio perspective, I think that it's best to use the techniques that are reasonably well-available to you. Recording guitars direct with a POD is a much better solution than trying to mic some junky peavy amplifier turned up to 3 in your spare bedroom. On the other hand, if you've got a nice sounding, quiet room, a decent mic, a decent mic pre, a decent guitar amp, and the ability to crank your shit up without disturbing anyone, then mic'ing your cabinet might be the way to go.

Eventually you will do it all, but start with what you think you can manage -- what will give you the biggest gains with the least amount of work.

Slackmaster 2000
 
Welcome bloodloss. That's a pretty general question there. Details are valuable around here in order for people to lend the best hand ;)
You'll want to be sure that you have what you need as far as your computer is concerned as well as a soundcard upgrade. :D
 
After roaming around the boards, and all the replies to this thread, I think I am starting to get the big picture.

Essentially:

instrument(mic'd or direct) -> preamp -> mixer -> soundcard -> editing software

I'm sure this is only a very basic understanding. I'm also not very sure about the mixer and where it gets placed. The mixer essentially just sets the gain and levels before it hits the soundcard? However, instead of a mixer, can I use my computer to manage the levels?

Thanks
 
This can be the chain. Many like myself use the mixer as the preamp to send the mic signals to the soundcard. But you must research the mixer and the quality of the pres to be sure this is a safe route for you purposes. Or for less tracks or if you have more pres, you can just go from the preamp right to the soundcard with no mixer. Hope this helps :D
 
Further, if I use fruityloops to do drum tracks, should I just export it into a .wav file directly from the program and import it into CoolEdit? Or, should I run the output from my computer through a preamp -> mixer -> soundcard -> CoolEdit? That would make sure all my settings are the same, and give everything a "common sound." Or is that just absurd?

Thanks
 
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