Help- can't find a good interface!

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notsirk

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Hello!

My goal is to be able to play directly through my computer (for reduced volume) and record with good quality sound. My problem is that I can't get a clean sound without a bunch of added distortion.

First I was using a mini mixer and running that through an Audigy2 ZS sound card which gave my a good recorded sound but what came through the speakers sounded terrible. I also read that Soundblaster cards aren't good because they resample down to 44.1khz. Also, I want to be able to record multiple tracks at once.

I upgraded to an external interface, the Lexicon Omega (USB 2.0), but I don't get a clean sound through the speakers (which are Alesis powered studio monitors) or a clean recorded sound. This only samples up to 48khz.

I tried the E-MU 0202 USb 2.0 which samples up to 192khz but it did was not compatible with Adobe Audition 2.0 and lacked some features I'd like to have.

My roommate has the Eridol UA-25 which sounds the best I've heard except for a high pitched squeal. My roomie gets around it by running through a Fostex digital multi track, through an optical cable, through to his computer. I don't know what the recording quality is through the Eridol because we don't have the drivers.

Does anyone have any suggestions or similar experiences that you have found a solution for? Any help would be greatly appreciated before I spend any more money.

Oh, and I'm running a PC with 2.5 gigs RAM if that helps.
 
Last edited:
You don't need to record at such high sample rates to get a clean sound. Are you recording directly into your computer? Ie: have your guitar or something else, hooked directly into the sound card/interface? As opposed to using a microphone?

Recording direct can sound bad anyway, especially if: You don't have a good instrument for it, you're recording too hot (clipping), or your interface sounds like shit.

If you hear distortion coming out of your speakers then you're probably clipping. Make sure your meters aren't anywhere near the red zone. Try to keep an -average- level of about -18db to -12db on the scale.

Also, I want to be able to record multiple tracks at once.
Click to expand...

How many? And what's your budget?
 
I am recording direct but through the amplifier which has an XLR out (both guitar and bass). I do adjust the level so that I don't get into the red.

I don't understand why in the past I've gotten a clean recorded sound but it sounds like shit when I'm monitoring. i.e. it sounds like shit while I'm recording but the playback sounds fine.
 
could have something to do with the way your are monitoring. the audigy is a horrible card to do recording with. you'd be way better off getting a cheap emu card or something designed for audio recording
 
notsirk said:
I am recording direct but through the amplifier which has an XLR out (both guitar and bass). I do adjust the level so that I don't get into the red.

I don't understand why in the past I've gotten a clean recorded sound but it sounds like shit when I'm monitoring. i.e. it sounds like shit while I'm recording but the playback sounds fine.
Click to expand...

What is your signal chain? For both recording, playback, and monitoring (while recording)?
 
When I was getting a recorded sound but crappy monitoring the (bass) chain went like this:
Bass guitar
FX
compressor/ sonic maximizer
Bass amp (XLR out)
Behringer mixer (line out)
Audigy card
Audigy out

My current setup (which sounds bad both recorded and monitoring) is:
Bass
FX
Compressor
Amp
Lexicon Omega (USB to PC; Direct out to monitors)
 
I'd normally say it's the amp as well but if you're getting a clean recorded sound through the audigy, a clean sound is apparently coming out of your amp. A few questions:

Is the xlr output from the amp a line-level or mic-level? - Omega has a max input on xlrs of -2dbu so if the xlr output is running at +4dbu, you could have some problems

When you were running through the behringer what sort of input was it running into (level)?

If you run through the behringer and use a line output to one of the line inputs on the Omega does it make a difference? Or have you tried running the output from the amp into a line-in on the Omega? You could try running a xlr to 1/4" TRS into one of the balanced inputs on the Omega if this isn't how you're doing it already.

Are there changes you can make in the recording software or Audigy support to change buffer sizes, etc? I know in Pro Tools the playback settings seem to effect not only the latency of playback but also the quality and distortion, clicking, etc can show up even if they're not in the actual audio file.

Also, don't record at 48khz for audio unless you're doing DVD audio, it will force your system to do a conversion when mixing down to 44.1 and there isn't enough of a benefit by recording at 48 for this to be a good trade-off. 192khz is only really used for situations where the final output is at 96khz and this is pretty rare. Being able to record at 24bit is also more important than at a higher sample rate.
 
notsirk said:
Hello!

My goal is to be able to play directly through my computer (for reduced volume) and record with good quality sound. My problem is that I can't get a clean sound without a bunch of added distortion.

First I was using a mini mixer and running that through an Audigy2 ZS sound card which gave my a good recorded sound but what came through the speakers sounded terrible. I also read that Soundblaster cards aren't good because they resample down to 44.1khz. Also, I want to be able to record multiple tracks at once.

I upgraded to an external interface, the Lexicon Omega (USB 2.0), but I don't get a clean sound through the speakers (which are Alesis powered studio monitors) or a clean recorded sound. This only samples up to 48khz.

I tried the E-MU 0202 USb 2.0 which samples up to 192khz but it did was not compatible with Adobe Audition 2.0 and lacked some features I'd like to have.

My roommate has the Eridol UA-25 which sounds the best I've heard except for a high pitched squeal. My roomie gets around it by running through a Fostex digital multi track, through an optical cable, through to his computer. I don't know what the recording quality is through the Eridol because we don't have the drivers.

Does anyone have any suggestions or similar experiences that you have found a solution for? Any help would be greatly appreciated before I spend any more money.

Oh, and I'm running a PC with 2.5 gigs RAM if that helps.
Click to expand...



smh...i have nightmares about this type of stuff when dealing with computer recording...so many problems i hear, i haven't even started to setup my daw and I'm almost dreading it, this is not good...I really wish companies would start making reel2reels again...
 
any luck???????????????


i;'m about to say fuk computers and have fun chyucking my ine out the window
 
pacman9000 said:
any luck???????????????


i;'m about to say fuk computers and have fun chyucking my ine out the window
Click to expand...

Maybe you can jump out the window afterwards. ;)
 
notsirk said:
When I was getting a recorded sound but crappy monitoring the (bass) chain went like this:
Bass guitar
FX
compressor/ sonic maximizer
Bass amp (XLR out)
Behringer mixer (line out)
Audigy card
Audigy out

My current setup (which sounds bad both recorded and monitoring) is:
Bass
FX
Compressor
Amp
Lexicon Omega (USB to PC; Direct out to monitors)
Click to expand...

Does the Lexicon have a DI?
 
pacman, if you had a firepod and spent maybe 2 hours at the reaper forum you'd be all fine and dandy

its not that hard to get the basics going anymore
in the last 2 years stuff has made a GIANT leap forward
 
pipelineaudio said:
pacman, if you had a firepod and spent maybe 2 hours at the reaper forum you'd be all fine and dandy

its not that hard to get the basics going anymore
in the last 2 years stuff has made a GIANT leap forward
Click to expand...

you think...?

what's a firepod?? firewire?

Disadvantages

* These are pretty new on the scene; firewire and USB may have issues with your motherboard (same as Firewire and USB soundcards may).

http://www.tweakheadz.com/choosing_a_mixer_p4.htm



i already know mly old 2002 pc's motherboard will have "issuesS'S" ..i can feel it
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
 
* * * * * * * * * * 8 out of 10

mackie onyx 1604


Feature:
Mine came with the firewire card. I would not recomend it for serious recording via the firewire card though. Totally do-able if you use tracktion (the mackie redording software) and are not interested in studio quaility recording. But if you use a cpu hogging program like Sonar (which gives a better end result than traction, despite being difficult to use by comparison)you better have a very up to date computer or you will not get good results. Seriously disturbing latency problems with high end recording software like Sonar Producer edition. "



http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--MACONYX1640
 
Pacman


I am currently testing a firestudio system, which has some quirks, I reccomend the firepod specifically because its drivers are PLENTY mature and use very little CPU, I did an entire album on one without issues, and the album was highly commended by the guys I was worried about

I still use RME for my main gigs but the firepod is no joke
 
pipelineaudio said:
Pacman


I am currently testing a firestudio system, which has some quirks, I reccomend the firepod specifically because its drivers are PLENTY mature and use very little CPU, I did an entire album on one without issues, and the album was highly commended by the guys I was worried about

I still use RME for my main gigs but the firepod is no joke
Click to expand...


thanks bro, I'll keep that in mind....
 
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