best home pc solution?

[c_wilson]

Hi,

I'm very new to this home computer recording thing so I really just need some insight on what options I have for my setup. I am a solo songwriter and are looking for the best way to record my tracks without it sounding like it was done on a crappy 4 track tape recorder. I am using Adobe Audition to record the tracks because I used to use cool edit so I'm comfortable with the interface. My problem is that I am running my mics and acoustic guitars straight through my mixer and into the MIC input on my soundblaster Live! 24bit soundcard. The soundblaster Live cards don't have built in AISO drivers so I used some 3rd party (AISO4ALL) and it solved my latency issues. Now, the main issue is that when I record, I just can't keep it from sounding overdriven and muddy. Its like the card just can't take it or something. I want to be able to jam away at my acoustic or sing as loud as I want without holding back worrying about it sounding distorted. I can make it sound good only if its turned down very low. I've tried various combinations of levels on all the volume controls I can.

I'm assuming that using a PCI based soundcard is the best way to go, but which one? The two cards I'm looking at are the Soundblaster Audigy 2, and the M-Audio Revolution 7.1... Is Firewire and USB based recording a bad route to take? It seems like every review I read on USB based interfaces are terrible. I just need something that I can successfully record around 10-12 tracks latency-free with professional quality. I'm tired of screwing with all this stuff. I'm ready to start concentrating on my music instead of dealing with all the technicalities of recording. Is there any easier way? Thanks in advance for any insight. Peace....

 

[NYMorningstar]

Best solution is to post this in the newbie section:

https://homerecording.com/bbs/forumdisplay.php?f=3

 

[solo.guitar]

Sounds like you're recording too "hot", or loud.

Look at the volume meters at the bottom of Adobe Audition. To the right of them should be two boxes, if they turn red then you're clipping, and this causes distortion. Try messing with the faders on your mixer or the windows volume control panel.

Also, you shouldn't be using the MIC IN on the soundcard, instead, use LINE IN. It's the same jack, but you have to set your recording source as "LINE IN" through the Windows volume control panel.

The MIC IN uses the sound card's preamp, which is a piece of shit, and you could be clipping this and that's where the distortion is coming from.

Also, if you're going to get a new soundcard, get an M-Audio, not a SoundBlaster or anything by Creative. They work, but not nearly as well as something made specifically for recording.