Easy sound card, pre-amp, software solution for PC??

[gordholio]

Lord forgive me for posting so many questions in my first couple of weeks at this site. Anywho, I am in a very amateur 3-piece garage rock and roll band. We want to record ourselves. I auditioned a BOSS BR-8 but found it very limiting (difficult computer transfers, only two simultaeous tracks, zip disk hassles, etc.). I have looked into other self-contained digital workstations, but have come to the conclusion that I can spend the same amount of money on a true PC recording solution. (I have many of the components on hand already.) I am very familiar with PCs. I am going to build a Pentium 4 1.6 system with 256 MB RAM, a 40 GB hard drive, etc.

Question #1: We want to be able to record 4 tracks simultaneously. We want decent quality but can't afford a really expensive sound card. I currently have a chance to buy a new Delta 44 card (4 ins, 4 outs) for just $150. Is this a good solution? (If I go this route, I'll either buy two Audio Buddys or a Behringer 1604A Mixer for phantom power and pre-amps.) Are there any *good* sub-$400-500 all-in-one solutions (sound card, pre-amp, break-out box) with the ability to output four distinct simultaneous channels? With a good all-in-one, there'd be less cabling, and that would be a good thing, yes?

Question #2: One thing I really liked about the BR-8 was its ease of use. You just push the appropriately marked button and do that specific thing. Are there any good, inexpensive recording software programs (that support at least 4 simultaneous track recording) that are really easy to use. I don't need tons of advanced features. I just want to record our band either live or with overdubs and perform a few basic tweaks to make it good enough for our own use and some CDs for friends and perhaps(very) independent distribution.

Question 3: Are there any decent control surface/sound card combos? I know of the Tascam US428, but it's USB and USB doesn't seem as good as hardwired solutions. I just can't see how moving a mouse would be a good way to control sliders and levers.

Thanks very much. Feel completely free to answer any or all of my queries. I totally appreciate any input (please don't be too harsh if/when I sound ignorant!).

 

[AlChuck]

Question #1: We want to be able to record 4 tracks simultaneously. We want decent quality but can't afford a really expensive sound card. I currently have a chance to buy a new Delta 44 card (4 ins, 4 outs) for just $150. Is this a good solution? (If I go this route, I'll either buy two Audio Buddys or a Behringer 1604A Mixer for phantom power and pre-amps.)

Yes, the Delta is an excellent card. $150 new? Really?
I use a Behringer MX1604A myself with a Delta 66 and SB Live, and I'm very satisfied with what I can do with it.

Are there any good, inexpensive recording software programs (that support at least 4 simultaneous track recording) that are really easy to use.

I think SONAR is very easy to use. though it's also very deep and rather expensive. There are "lite" versions but they are limited to two simultaneous input tracks while recording. I also think Vegas is great and very easy to use but it's morphed into a video editing tool as well, so it might not seem to be the best choice on the surface. Still, it's got full-bore multitrack audio recording capability. Are you going to sequence and MIDI stuff with it? SONAR records MIDI tracks as well as audio, but Vegas only can synch to a MIDI clock or send MIDI synch messages.

I've heard lots of people tout nTrack from fasoft.

 

[dachay2tnr]

I just can't see how moving a mouse would be a good way to control sliders and levers.

You need to be introduced to envelopes, my friend. Vector based automation. You may never look at a fader again (except for the real ones on your mixer).

BTW, I agree with AlChuck, Sonar is a good program and fairly easy to use. It is a tad expensive, though. But the good news is you probably will never have to upgrade (except as newer versions come out).

 

[gordholio]

So...we meet again AlChuck.

Thanks muchly for the responses. I have purchased the Delta 44 for $250 Canadian (approximately $150 US). I believe it was wrongly priced at the store, but I asked them if that was the price and they said yes, so I got it. Who am I to argue?

You have the Behringer 1604A? May I ask you another ultra-newbie question? From what I understand, I can route four distinct, *unmixed* channels out of that board directly into the Delta 44? If that's the case, all four are pre-amped and available to be EQ'd on the board before they're sent to the sound card?

BTW, do you find it easy (once you've goten the hang of it) to use a mouse as a control device rather than the true physical controllers on a standalone multitracking recorder such as the BR-8?

Merci beaucoup.

gordo

 

[Aren]

Gordholio -

I have the 1604 as well, and actually like it. The 1604 has 2 pairs of stereo outputs: Main mix, and Alternative Mix. What you can do, is route Pre-amp1 to MainL, Pre-amp 2 to MainR, Pre-amp3 to AltL and pre-amp 4 to AltR. That way, you have 4 individual pres sent to your sound card. The board has seperate eq. for every channel, but unless I use it aas a filter, I usually don't like to eq. before recording, because once you did that, there's no turning back. You better off eq-ing using your recording software while mixing. Much more versatile.

Oren