Basic Questions

[BlueFlame]

Ok these questins may seem dumb but I need to better understand so here....

1) What is the difference in a loop and a sample.

2) Do you have to have a beat box/ drum machine/sampler while using software such as cakewalk...etc.

3) What is a pre-amp and must you have one with a mixer?

4) Why do you have to have monitors when you already have computer speakers.

5) Whats the difference in a condesendor mic and the other.

6) What is a synth or synth sounds ..... this concept I truly don't get.

7) Do you need a synth or is it built into your program (cakewalk...etc)

8) When is a firewall inerface needed?

Help this true noob understand these ^^^ concepts!!!!

 

[Tifstorey]

1: A Loop is basically a piece of audio which is literally looped over and over again to play again and again. A sample is basically a short piece of audio.. Dont really know how else to describe it..

2: I'm not familiar with cakewalk, but if it has midi then it may have a midi sound bank built in, you can trigger this by either a keyboard, drum machine etc. Some programmes also let you draw the notes in, but this is very time consuming and your probably better getting a cheap midi keyboard.

3: A pre amp is used before your microphone is recorded, this boosts the signal as microphones have a low signal rate. You dont have to use it with a mixer, but if you do, then you would have microphone>Pre amp> Mixer > Computer

4: Monitor speakers give a more true feeling to your audio work. They return a very flat sound which is better for you to finish the piece. Most entertainment speakers will have more bass for example, which will give you a misunderstanding when creating your piece.

5: A condenser microphone is a more delicate kind of microphone than dynamics. They also need phantom power (+48v) to work as they need the extra power. These are used mostly in studios as they offer better quality sound in most cases. Dynamic microphones are used in live cases in more cases.

6: A synth is basically a keyboard where you can change the audio your creating. They usually have many ways you can change the sound your creating.

7: Synths can be both hardware or software. Either in a keyboard form or a sort of plug in for software which you can create different sounds.

8: A firewall interface? I think you might be meaning firewire interface.. Basically firewire is a way of connecting both your interface to your computer. Firewire is the faster method of sending audio to your PC than USB, although there is another method called PCI which is an onboard card which fits directly into your machine.
An audio interface is basically a soundcard but are used more commonly for professional audio work as they have better A/D (Analogue to Digital) converters.

Hope that helps a little,

There are many people on this forum who have the same questions so have a search on here and you will probably find many answers.

Good luck

 

[BlueFlame]

Hey I understand alot more now and I appreaciate you spending time to help me better understand that. I have been looking in the past posts and already got some awnsers. Thx again.

P.S. IF anyone has anything to add plz feel free to do so.

 

[tourettes5139]

5) Whats the difference in a condesendor mic and the other.

A "condesendor" mic is a mic that sits on its throne in its tower, talks down to people and makes them feel bad.

 

[Tifstorey]

A "condesendor" mic is a mic that sits on its throne in its tower, talks down to people and makes them feel bad.

Damn them............

 

[ermghoti]

4) Why do you have to have monitors when you already have computer speakers.


Because your computer speakers are lying to you. If you are going out on a date, and you ask your grandmother how you look, she'll say "you are my perfect little boy and or girl!" If you ask your friends, they'll say "you have a yellow zit the size of a grape on your nose, and you must've mugged a hobo to get those clothes." If you ask a total stranger, they'll say "just stay home and rent porn, even if you could find a mate, it would be better if you didn't reproduce."

Computer and home entertainment speakers are your grandmother, cheap monitors are your friends, and good monitors are the total stranger. You need brutal honesty from monitors.