do i need to use an audio interface

  • Thread starter Thread starter mcmetal
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mcmetal

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hello i'm new to the forum & just starting to enter the world of pc recording.a few months back i tried recording my guitar to my pc.i tried to record to fat rock studio freeware a multi-track program and also to audacity.i'm using windows vista.my problem is that every time i recorded some guitar parts whenever i listened to playback it has a flange like effect on the guitar track.i didn't use no effects while recording other than distortion & miced my cab using a high z cable going into an 1/8 adapter & then to the mic input of the computer.i'm not sure if i had used a stereo or a mono adapter as i've read this can cause some noise.i also tried just speaking into the mic & recording but i didn't get the same flange effect on the vocal track.only happened with the guitar tracks.if anyone can help me out on what may be causing this it would be very helpful.also wondering if i need to use an audio interface when recording & if that may be causing some of my problems.i've been using a korg D-8 multi track recorder for a few years now and have done an o.k. job recording and mixing down to my pc using both sound recorder and audacity & burning to disc.i'm looking to start building a budget pc system for the extra flexability and i'm also gonna start using drum looping for my new project.
 
357mag said:
Either a mixer or an audio interface.
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Yes, altho I'd like to add: If you use a mixer, get one with a USB interface. Then you can bypass the sound card which, as noted, sounds like ass.. You can get an 8 channel USB mixer for ~$100, and your PC will recognize it as a sound card..
 
suprstar said:
Yes, altho I'd like to add: If you use a mixer, get one with a USB interface. Then you can bypass the sound card which, as noted, sounds like ass.. You can get an 8 channel USB mixer for ~$100, and your PC will recognize it as a sound card..
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so if i was to go with the USB mixer method what would you guys suggest would be a good cheaper($100/200) mixer that will work with windows vista.i was looking at mackie onyx-satellite package that looked o.k. til i seen it didn't come with vista drivers and was problematic.it's all too confusing cause i'll see something in my price range but then i don't want to buy something that won't work well with vista & i don't want to have to change operating systems.i've been thinking about just using audacity to create my drum tracks & recording the guitar tracks on my korg hard disc recorder.i could then send the guitar tracks to audacity & mix it all down together but then i'd be using the crappy sound card.
 
357mag said:
Either a mixer or an audio interface.
Click to expand...

well no you really need a new interface.
edit: oh i guess a usb mixer would work, but yes you need something higher quality to get into your computer
 
Sound Card

When you install a new USB audio interface on you computer, does it automatically bypass your inbuilt soundcard, or do you need to disable it yourself?
 
Aled_King said:
When you install a new USB audio interface on you computer, does it automatically bypass your inbuilt soundcard, or do you need to disable it yourself?
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Probably depends on a few things, and I don't have much Vista experience in this area, but my guess is that you do not need to disable the existing sound card, and that you merely need to choose the audio device that corresponds to your interface from within your audio recording software in order to use it.
 
that is my experience as well. the original sound device can still be used for system sounds if you wish, the important part is just selecting the new sound device from the recording software
 
corban said:
that is my experience as well. the original sound device can still be used for system sounds if you wish, the important part is just selecting the new sound device from the recording software
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My Laptop is on XP anyway. I'm using a EMU 0404 with Cubase - so does that mean I select that I want the EMU as my soundcard on the actual Cubase program?
 
I use a mixer going into a line in on my mac and it sounds fine.
 
Aled_King said:
My Laptop is on XP anyway. I'm using a EMU 0404 with Cubase - so does that mean I select that I want the EMU as my soundcard on the actual Cubase program?
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You should be able to select the EMU 0404 from within Cubase in Devices>Device setup.

Within XP you also need to go to the control panel, select 'Sounds and audio Devices', and make sure that the EMU 0404 is selected in the 'Audio' tab.
 
gecko zzed said:
You should be able to select the EMU 0404 from within Cubase in Devices>Device setup.

Within XP you also need to go to the control panel, select 'Sounds and audio Devices', and make sure that the EMU 0404 is selected in the 'Audio' tab.
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Thanks for the help Gecko. I'll give that a try.
 
i'll probably just go with an audio interface then but i'll have to research a little more on what will work well with vista.can anyone explain why i'm getting the flange like effect on my guitar tracks? like i said it doesn't happen with vocals and i'm using the same mic going into the same 1/8 inch adapter,same input.only thing i'm doing different is micing a cab.i've mixed down in audacity from my multi recorder & created audio tracks from cassettes and never had issues.
 
Do not use two soundcards or two interfaces. Disable the one you don't need in the BIOS. And disable System Sounds.
 
mcmetal said:
i'll probably just go with an audio interface then but i'll have to research a little more on what will work well with vista.can anyone explain why i'm getting the flange like effect on my guitar tracks? like i said it doesn't happen with vocals and i'm using the same mic going into the same 1/8 inch adapter,same input.only thing i'm doing different is micing a cab.i've mixed down in audacity from my multi recorder & created audio tracks from cassettes and never had issues.
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Well what kind of mic are you using to mic the cab? It may not be a flange like effect but more of a reverb from an untreated room. Im not exactly a vet but if your not having that problem with vocals id say it had to do with either how you mic'd the cab or some kind of reverb. Maybe someone else can get you a better answer.
 
i tried recording guitar again the other day and didn't have any problems with the effect now.did everything the same to see if i reproduce it.same mic,1/8 inch adapter,etc.tried mic input on the computer front/back and tried the line in jack.no problems.funny thing is that when it did it before it wouldn't start at the beginning of the track but kick in a few seconds after the track started.the only thing i did do different is i miced my small practice amp.before i miced my 4x12 cab.i did move into a new place & my old apt. had some pretty crappy electric.i had problems with breakers a lot but i don't see how that could have effected anything.i recorded to my multi-tracker with no issues.
 
Almost sounds like mild feedback / echo from either: 1. monitors being turned on during tracking or 2. the PC's internal mic picking up the signal out of phase and/or perhaps doubling the track. Just some ideas... Can you post a clip of the affected track?
 
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KineticSound said:
Almost sounds like mild feedback / echo from either: 1. monitors being turned on during tracking or 2. the PC's internal mic picking up the signal out of phase and/or perhaps doubling the track. Just some ideas... Can you post a clip of the affected track?
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nope.deleted the tracks months ago.when i bought my computer it was a big step up from my old & slow pc.i had wrote a new song and wanted to start recording it on my new pc and was pretty much just playing around seeing what i could do with some freeware called fat rock studios and audacity.it did the same effect on both programs but never when using my portable multitracker so it had to be computer related.i'll be getting an interface & studio monitors in the near future so i'll see what happens when i try to start recording again.got a lot of work to do creating the drum tracks for my songs with my samples.if by chance i run into issues again i'll post a clip.
 
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