Compatability - Use - Soundcards

[Music Man]

Hi Homerecording Members,
I'm totaly new in the recording at home business and I'm trying to find a good way to record music from my guitar and piano on my computer.

I have a Soundblaster 16 soundcard with 4.1 Soroundsound capability. And a Program called:

Steinberg Nuendo 2 ( This is a recording program )

I would love to hear as many Opinions from you about:

1. What is the best kind of recording with these abilities?

2. Which type of recording do you prefer personaly? why?

3. Do you know any Microphones, which would run with my Soundcard or do you know any Webpages, which would provide me with information?

Thank you very much.

I appreciate your help

 

[tappmusic]

I'm still in the very early stages of learning studio work, so please take this as just my tid bit of advice.

Stay away from any enhancing features that your soundcard offers. As I'm sure you already know, you don't want your monitors to help your music sound good, because then you'll be disappointed everytime you monitor it on your CD players.

I record my music through Cakewalk, and for a beginner, it's really taught me a lot. It's easy and has much more potential than I thought at first. My mother writes songs inspired by her faith and I've produced several of her demos. She takes them to the professional studio in her home town and they are amazed at how comparable they (my work) sound to what they're putting out.

I guess what I'm saying is . . . take your existing equipment, maximize your potential with it, be a perfectionist, and educate yourself everyday on how to be the best studio engineer in the world. That's my goal.

 

[shAkEz_gk]

Your soundcard is..how do I put this nicely.
Junk.

You should upgrade it.
For $199, you can get an E-Mu 1212M, and it's worlds above any soundblaster.

As for what recording I do, I record hip hop/rap/r&b, however out of them all, I love to record an r&b singer over any of the rest.
There's just something about producing a song, for a singer with major talent, and knowing without you, that song not have sounded so good.

 

[radzikk]

You should considder the upgrade in sound cards, but if that is not in your budget a decent mic and pre (or a sound card with integrated pre) might be a place to start.
As far as recording goes I kind of like good ol' fassioned analog.
As far as mics go you can use any mic into any input. A condenser is your best bet but you will need a pre amp, because these mics require "phantom power"
And read the "Big Mic Thread" it will answer the question of what kind of mic and how to use it very well.
-k

 

[MadAudio]

Use it for now to get your feet wet. But if you find yourself getting seriously into this, you will HAVE to buy a better soundcard. While the Soundblaster cards do what they were designed for, they are simply not pro audio.