Beginner's Digital Solution?

[Eep]

[Er, sorry to have this two places, but someone over in the Newbie forum recommended I put it here.]

Alright, I probably should say from the start that I don't really know what I'm doing . I've been reading various parts of this site (and the boards) for the last four hours, and I'm just starting to get a grip on this whole thing. I was given a large amount of (what I think is, from what I've read on this site) moderately good quality analog recording equipment. Unfortunately, I do not have it with me at the time, so I can't tell you the exact names of everything. It is in an empty room at my friend's house.

I know there is a Fostex 8-track recorder of some sort, it uses reel, not cassettes. It is from the '70s or '80s, like a large part of the equipment. There is a fairly large Ramsa mixing board. Bigger than my TV. In fact, that is still here... Alright, just looked... The box said: Panasonic Audio Mixer WR-8210A, and Ramsa was on it in various places as well. There is some sort of effects unit, some sort of stereo imaging thing - not quite sure about that one. A noise gate. A dedicated keyboard recorder thing. A patchbay (more than one actually, not sure why). A few other strange things. Not quite sure what type of mic it is, but it is XLR. Though, I believe there is a mic pre-amp as well. Or an impedance thingy (I don't have many of the technical terms down yet ).

Anyways, recently, I've been interested in a lot of synthesized music (like New Order, Suicide, and Radiohead to name a few examples). I'd like to be able to incorporate both my analog equipment with some form of digital solution so that I could use computer synthesizer programs rather than an actual synthesizer (to save money). And I'd like to be able to, when I'm just trying out some various melodies or stuff, record them on my computer in listenable quality just to send to friends and bandmates over AIM. I've been interested in getting an Audigy 2 Platinum for quite some time now, but upon finding this site, I heard about the Audiophile 2496.

First off, I don't have any clue as to how I could incorporate my analog equipment and my computer in the first place. Second, I do play computer games every now and then, and having DVD-A capabilities would be pretty nice too. I guess I really just want to know if I'll be able to use an Audigy 2 Platinum to incorporate electronic sounds with my analog recordsings. And probably to take the final analog recording and put it on my computer to be burned to CDs. I was also wondering what sort of software comes with the Audiophile 2496 and the Audigy 2 Platinum? I've seen lists of names, but I don't have a good idea to what these pieces of software actually do. Do either of them come with a computer synthesizer program? Or will I have to get that on my own elsewhere (what would you recommend)? Also, regardless of which soundcard you recommend, how would I do all that I mentioned above?

Any help is GREATLY appreciated. And you've got a wonderful message board here. So much information. It's been a major help already, until tonight, I wasn't sure if I was ever going to be able to use the analog equipment and I was on the verge of giving it back (where it would be put into storage and not touched for many years).

Oh, before I go, I guess I should post some comp specs...

Athlon XP 2100+
512 MB PC3200 DDR SDRAM (Corsair, w/ Heat-Spreader)
Right now, I'm using the integrated AC'97 sound just to listen to MP3s
the mobo is a Gigabyte 7VAXP Ultra
Gainward GeForce 4 Ti 4200 VIVO (I do some video editing as well)
Western Digital 80 GB HD w/ 8 mb buffer at 7,200 RPM
a cheap old 8 GB HD running at 5,400 RPM as its slave
a DVD-ROM, not sure who it is made by
Lite-On 52x CD-R/RW
420W Enermax power supply
all of this in a nicely cooled Lian-Li PC60 case with tons of firewire and USB2.0 ports to spare (well, four of each)
Oh yeah, I'm using Windows XP Pro
And it is all displayed on a 19 inch CRT monitor from Mitsubishi...

I guess a lot of that wasn't needed, but okay... Again, any help would be greatly appreciated. And thank you very much in advance.

One final note... Anyone ever listen to Fela Kuti?

 

[Jeff_D]

Nice computer- you could sell all that analog stuff and buy a nice sound card pre-amps and mics- or get a mixer and record everything to the tape

just a thought

-jeff

 

[jrosenstein]

OR you could have a lot of fun with the analog stuff. i wish just once i could happen across a bunch of equipment like that! in my opinion, you'll get a much better feel for what you're doing if you jump right in and make mistakes with what you've got.

an audiophile will do you well ... if you get a program to handle your MIDI and something like Fruity Loops to program samples, you'll be set to pump out all kinds of electronic stuff. you can send it from the computer onto the 8-track, or you can mix down everything onto the computer.

 

[Eep]

I tried the demo of Fruity Loops last night. And wow, my understanding of synthesizers is near none . So many knobs to mess with. Would an Audigy 2 Plat work just for pulling mixed down audio from the 8 track and for putting Fruity Loops stuff onto the 8 track? Because I have a feeling that I won't use any digital stuff I get much, especially because the analog equipment isn't located anywhere near my computer (it is over two miles away, at someone else's house ). I'm actually just about to head over there to try setting up the analog equipment . Does anyone know if the mixing board I mentioned is any good?

If you think I absolutely need the Audiophile to do any sort of digital recording, even low quality stuff, then I'll probably go with that. But it'd be nice to have the Audigy 2 Plat because of the DVD-A and the great game features.

Thanks for the help though . It is very appreciated.

Does anyone know how the stuff at http://www.kompressormusic.com is made? It is low quality, but it has a nice sound - the whole idea is hilarious though.

 

[jrosenstein]

yes, the audigy will be able to do the same kind of basic input/output as the audiophile. but m-audio's A/D converters seem to be better regarded than creative's. (and exactly what "great game features" do you mean? sounds like marketing to me) If you're really struck by a built-in surround decoder, maybe check out m-audio's "Revolution" ... http://www.m-audio.net/products/consumer/revolution_page1.php .

Ramsa is a pretty big name in mixers. If it is in good condition it should do an excellent job. i think "Son of Mixerman" has one as his main console. You could PM him and ask what he thinks of it.