beginner ,need help

  • Thread starter Thread starter Hoi
  • Start date Start date
H

Hoi

New member
Dear all,i am just a beginner and want to record some demo song to my computer,My computer is PII 300,128m ram,sb64 sound card,
with a fostex 4-track recorder.I have try to record the guitar though a mic that plug in the sound card line in.The guitar sound are acceptable but have many teribble 'zzzzz' noise.I also have try to plug my guitar directly to my sound card.The sound is terrible.I want to know that which equipment i have to buy?Is that i buy a much good quality mic will reduce the 'zzzzz' noise?If yes,how much is it?Or any people can give me some advice,I use Cakewalk home studio 7.0 for my recording.thanks a lot!!!
 
Don't plug anything into the mic jack of the sound card - nothing wil sound any good. If you've got a 4-track, use that as a preamp, and run the putput of the fostex into the line in on the sound card.

BTW, this topic has been covered a lot in the forum, so do a search, and you'll find posts all about this (including why not to use the mic socket etc.)

- gaffa
 
The 'putput of the Fostex'?

Is that outboard gear? Put-put-put-put... :)
 
Oh, hahahahaha :)

Sorry - read 'output', as in line level signal.

- gaffa

Dobro, there's only 2 spelling mistakes, which I guess is not too bad....
 
Yes,after read other message,it helps me a lot,thanks a lot.
I have try to use the Foxtex line out connect to the sound card.The guitar sound are also terrible,But when i use some recorded guitar sound in my 4-track and connect to the sound card,then use Home studio to record it,it sound much better.
Is it my sound card quality problem?I think i have to buy a recordable sound card and a mic,is it will sound the same that what i hear directly through the guitar amp?Also,how about the 'zzzzz' noise,can it solve the problem?thanks a lot
 
you may need a better sound card yes. Also, are you using good speakers or the cheapie ones that came with your computer?
 
I use headphone to listen,so i can listen
a lot of 'zzzz' sound.It is also the things
i concern.
So,how can i cut these 'zzzz' noise,is it buying a good mic can solve this problem.
Cause i want to record the guitar through the guitar amp.Also,i have find some information and know that
recordable sound card have 2 line,DTA and ATD,How can i record the guitar?Is it right to connect the guitar jet directly to the
ATD one?But,if i want to record through the mic,which one the mic need to connect?Or,which sound is better,connect the guitar directly to the ATD,or use the mic to record the guitar sounds?Thanks a lot
 
Hoi,

The type of guitar sound you want (distortion, clean, classical) will determine how you record the guitar (mic on the amp, mic on the guitar, plug straight in). If you want a distorted sound, mic the guitar amp with just about any mic. Put it 2"-6" (5-15 cm) from the speaker on the guitar amp speaker. You can use this same arrangement to record clean guitar tracks too. If you are recording acoustic guitar, try placing the mic 4"-12" (10-30 cm) from the opening in the body of the guitar.

In any case, you will need to use the Fostex as your mixer and preamp for whatever you are running to the sound card.

I wonder if the 'zzzzz' sound you are getting is a ground loop hum. Is there any way you could post a sample (MP3 or short WAV file) somewhere I could listen to it? Ground loop hum problems can really be a pain to find the source.

Here are a couple of steps to try to determine where the noise is coming from. Unplug everything from your sound card (except your headphones) and record a few seconds then listen back. This is the noise that your sound card makes with nothing connected. Is the noise still there? If so, I would think you may need a new sound card.

If the 'zzzzz' sound is not there, try connecting the Fostex to the "line in" on the sound card and turn all of the volumes down on the Fostex and record a few seconds. Is the 'zzzzz' sound there now? If so, I bet you have a ground loop problem, but they can be hard to track down. It could also be a bad cord between the Fostex and the sound card. If the 'zzzz' sound is not there, it may be a bad mic or mic cable. Is your amp really noisy?

I hope this helps.

sb
 
hi hoi
i find that upgrading s/card to a s/blaster platinum live is a hell of a difference - then you can direct in - its designed for that.

they are really affordable now

g
 
Please help me to suggest a sound card with
my limited budget.
1.Creative Sound Blaster live + Sound blaster
live Drive II.SBL drive II seem can have a
MIC input that i can mic the guitar amp to
record the guitar sound.The price of SBL
is around $70 usd and drive II is $130
2.EGO Waveterminal 2496.It have 2 analog
input and 2 analog output.price around
$380
3.Midiman 2044,have 4 input and 4 output
.Price is around $240
Choise 1 and 2 are found in coputing centre
and 3 are found in Muscial instrument shop.
I live in Hong Kong so there is not much choise here and the price are quite expensive
in the instrument shop.My main purpose is
to record the instrument 1 trach by 1 trach
and mix it use Cakewalk.Also,i found a message that said Midiman 2044 have some problem with cakewalk.Is it right?
So,please give me some suggestion.Thanks a lot.

[This message has been edited by Hoi (edited 04-15-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Hoi (edited 04-15-2000).]
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top