First time recording and it sounds like it

[Big Boy]

I am new to recording my daughter and I picked up the guitar a few months ago and are doing really good. We thought it would be fun to try recording so we can hear what we play and go from there.

I bought a Konnetk 24 that came with Cubase LE. I have read the manual and can record and export into a wav file, set the parameters. However, when I play the file it sounds horrible. I have tried just recording the guitar and it is all distorted. Tried recording vocals into the mic (Shure58) and it is just as bad, no volume and heavy distortion. I have looked through the manual and am racking my brain as to why it sounds so bad. I am sure I am missing something simple. If anyone could give me some pointers I would greatly appreciate. Like my daughter says "Dad this isn't fun when it doesn't work..."

Thanks in advance.

 

[suprstar]

What are you plugging the guitar into, or re you mic'ing an amp with the 58? Are you sure you're not clipping the input? Ie gains are set to an acceptable level? What does Cubase's mixer say your max input level is for these distorted tracks? Without any more info I'd guess your gains are goofy.

Do you have another sound card on your computer? If you do, disable it in bios. Maybe install the ASIO4ALL drivers if that's not what your Konnekt came with.

 

[Big Boy]

I am plugged into the Konnetk 24 on Channel 1, I have set the gain per the manual, where I am not in the red. I will have the check the mixer on Cubase. However when I record it never shows I am in the red.

With the sound card I went to the control panel, sounds and audio devices, and under audio changed the card from SoundMAX HD Audio to TC Near for Sound PLayback and Sound recording. I was under the impression that the Konnetk was kinda like a sound card and would bypass the SoundMax.

I will look into the drivers, I know I updated the drivers for the Konnetk to the newest version and when I opened Cubase it would not recogonize the Konnetk. So I went back and uninstalled and reloaded with the older version and it allows Cubase to open.

 

[WhiteStrat]

How is the Konnect connected (no pun intended). I'm not familiar with that model, but it sounds like you're going out from the Konnect into the soundcard. Most interface/preamp combos (like the Konnect) have USB or Firewire connections. They don't even go into the sound card--just a USB or Firewire port.

 

[Big Boy]

I am connected via a firewire

 

[gecko zzed]

With the sound card I went to the control panel, sounds and audio devices, and under audio changed the card from SoundMAX HD Audio to TC Near for Sound PLayback and Sound recording. I was under the impression that the Konnetk was kinda like a sound card and would bypass the SoundMax.

The Konnetk does indeed replace your soundcard. This means that you should do your monitoring and general listening from it. Make sure your speakers and headphones are plugged into it. Going to the control panel is the right thing to do; make sure that for recording and playback, Konnetk is selected.

 

[Big Boy]

I tried monitoring from the headphones plugged into the Konnetk and I was able to adjust the gain, the volume on my guitar, the eq on my guitar, the output level, etc. I made a lot of progress tonight. It still sounds a little fuzzy but it is about 60% better. I guess realizing that the distortion was not coming from Cubase helped clear alot of things up. I will keep adjusting until I get it right. Thanks for all the input, its a learning curve...